Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was essential to match the pairs well.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 after decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compare their journey to the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They call him as a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to the area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his and feel a strong affinity with him.

The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain an understanding of how the species has survived for such a long time. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able to gather important information about the bird's daily movements and seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also inspired people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to conserve endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common: the recovery of this endangered bird.

The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes preparing an approach to reintroduce this bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction plan. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird.

Habitat

Threatened 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 fight to save this iconic bird from the brink extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions around the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long road of returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To save the declining population, an international committee was created that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds as well as officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.

AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing a genetically pure source of animals for the next generation of.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and search to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.

To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily actions. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to return the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga.

The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. 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 by Blue-winged Macaws, which have been reintroduced to the same area and will help to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting sites.

The reintroduction program has gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of many plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.

Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their flock. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by illegal trade in birds due to this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, which makes them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled which leaves future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.

Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.

In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the correct birds before release. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage and should be joined by an older sibling or close relatives.

It may be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These smart birds will help the macaws become more familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.