Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched well.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 following years of poaching and price of blue macaw loss of habitat. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their journey with the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as being like his.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and better understand how this species has survived so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to gather important information about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird also inspired people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.

This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders Price Of Blue Macaw the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this unique bird.

The group has completed a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group also raised funds where to buy a macaw fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitat and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people around the world thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to returning these birds. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a few museum specimens.

To protect the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their native environment in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.

To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when a Spix's Macaw is identified. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily actions. This approach has been very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan is currently in progress to return this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction programme is in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They have been released back into the same area and will assist to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the Joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a brief continuous grating sound like a flute note. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. As with many parrots they can macaws be pets mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. They are very popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal bird trade because of this.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them vulnerable to disease and price of Blue macaw other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are in a breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and return them into the wild.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws that weren't part of the breeding program.

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage and be paired with an older sibling or close relative.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have established a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and live in areas where to buy a macaw the Spix’s macaws are also. These smart birds will help the macaws get familiar with the area, and they will provide security in large numbers.