Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to trade. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be well-matched.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000, following decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a tiny population of the birds kept in captive, and are hoping to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as being like his.

Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. This allowed researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important data about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also 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 a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of parrots that are endangered. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.

This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve an aim in common: the recovery of this rare bird.

The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was threatened due to habitat destruction and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. This is just the beginning on the long road of bringing these birds back. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was first described in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with only occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and some museum specimens.

To save the declining population, an international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that had the last remaining birds and government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment.

AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.

Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can 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 group was recruited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

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

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

Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's macaw cage which helps to understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro Cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Spix's Macaws like all parrots as well as other birds, are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly fast and high.

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 follow a strict routine, which includes routines for bathing and flight. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them such popular pets and targets for illegal bird trade.

In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, which makes them vulnerable to disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in the breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild.

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

In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the correct birds before releasing them. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage and be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a close relatives.

It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw cage back into the wild but it is vital to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by numbers.