Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousy and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was crucial to match pairs well.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's harlequin macaw, which was declared extinct in 2000 following years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small population of the birds that are in captivity, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as identical to his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how the species survived so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's daily movements, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other parrots and threatened species. Zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists together with one common goal - the recovery of the Spix's macaw.

The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes the development of an approach to reintroduce this 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 an ongoing committee to oversee the reintroduction of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered through the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people all over the world thanks to a popular animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland and is interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.

To save the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and officials from the government. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation 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 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby 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 nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They typically spend up to one third of the day in the nest.

To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were invited to join the field team. Members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw purchase was detected and thereby allowing them to keep track of the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's hyacinth macaw parrots for sale (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 after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to restore this critically threatened bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

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

The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale, helping to determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. 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 extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including routines for bathing and flight. They also can recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since the time the Spix's macaws have been captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government ran out which leaves future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.

Despite their precarious number, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.

As a result of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds for release is equally important. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.

Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's crucial 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 are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also offer protection by large numbers.