9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Melody Blue Spix Macaw

Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long time filled with worry and speculation Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational however, it is also filled with backbiting and jealousies.

The first challenge was finding enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to match pairs well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds kept in captive, and hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They call him as a true survivor who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong affinity with him.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has lasted so long. This enabled researchers to estimate the historical population of this unique bird more precisely. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, and its eating 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 a remarkable feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has allowed scientists understand how these birds can be restored to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. This has also encouraged zoos to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is a good example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian governmental officials, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.

The group has completed a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to 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 habitats and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.

A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's harlequin macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.

To protect the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws to their natural environment.

AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.

In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of the time in the nest.

To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. The members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected, allowing them to keep track of the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has proven very successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction program is currently in progress to return the critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.

The northeast region of 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 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 that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, including information about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also has opened a window on the natural history of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.

Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They may also consume the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from the flight path to bathing habits and why are the glaceous macaw and hyancith macaw so alike able to recognize members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.

In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since the time all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.

The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out and the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.

Despite their low numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some 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.

In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds to release is also crucial. The macaws need to be at a reproductive age, and they should be joined by an older sibling or close relative.

It may be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw keycaps back to the wild, but it is vital to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by the Melody blue spix macaw-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also provide safety by the sheer numbers.