Melody Blue Spix Macaw

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

The first hurdle was to find enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was essential to ensure that the pairs were well-matched.

Range

A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's Blondie scarlet macaw bird, which was declared extinct in 2000 following years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a small population of the birds kept in captivity, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call them their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a strong connection to him.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived for such a long time. It also helped them form a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's movements throughout the day and Melody Blue Spix Macaw seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid Fiona hyacinth macaw bird for sale couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.

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

This group is a good example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with an aim in common: the recovery of this rare bird.

The group has completed a lot of work, including preparing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction project. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird.

Habitat

Endangered by poaching and habitaws are typically found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.

A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. Members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Buffy macaw bird for sale (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last known wild parrot disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird back to its home in the Caatinga.

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

A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.

The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as the seasonal changes to drought. It has also opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.

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

Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound like a flute note. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in an ecstatic mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from the flight path to bathing habits, and they can recognize members of their family. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.

In the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since the time all known 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 who are descendants of just two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the 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 a sheikh from Qatar to buy from a 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 beginning to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws should be reproductively mature and should be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a close family member.

It may be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild but it's important to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, that are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.