10 Things That Your Family Taught You About Melody Blue Spix Macaw

Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was to get enough birds to be traded. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their lives to that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his, and feel a deep connection with him.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand how this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. They also monitored attempts at reproduction with an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid Mindy catalina macaw pair which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action in order to save other parrots and threatened species. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.

This working group is a good illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common to save this rare bird.

The working group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes the development of plans to reintroduce the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is known to millions around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long road of bringing these birds back. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity into the wild.

The Spix's Pixie mini macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga, an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.

To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as officials from the government. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.

AWWP has bought and is renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.

To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movement patterns and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They also eat the fruit of palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other birds are social birds and form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their family. This is what makes them such popular pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and Cleo female macaws for sale birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and return them back into the wild.

Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from a collector.

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce again, although not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be crucial for reintroducing the birds back into the wild. Choosing the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.