Melody Blue Spix Macaw

After a long period uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.

The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched properly.

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 loss of habitat. They have a small population of the birds in captive, and are hoping to release them in the wild near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their lives with that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as being like his.

The discovery of the last Spix's chestnut-fronted macaw price provided researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species survived such a long time. This also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing feat that this bird was able endure and thrive in the wild with such the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act to save other parrots as well as threatened species. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.

This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s hyacinth macaw price and ornithologists, with one goal in common that is the recovery of this endangered bird.

The group has achieved a lot of work. This includes the development of an approach to reintroduce this bird in the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to support field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. It also has established a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was threatened by habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.

A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's chestnut fronted macaw price famous to millions of people across the globe however this is only the beginning in the long road to bring these birds back from the edge. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is a native species to a small region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.

To preserve the declining population In order to save the declining population, an international group was established. It was comprised of aviculturists who held the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.

AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will provide an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.

Spix's Macaws can be 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 plants. They typically 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. The community was given watches that would activate if a Spix's Macaw Pet Store is detected. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction program currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.

This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.

A reintroduction plan is currently underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's macaw pet for sale. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and places to roost.

The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine, including routines for bathing and flight. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the male and female defeated in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in a breeding center in Germany however, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and return them into the wild.

Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three spix macaw for sale's Macaws from the collector.

As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a great rate. Maintaining their health and generating will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. The selection of the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws should be reproductive and be paired up with close relatives or siblings.

Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix’s macaws also live. These birds will help macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through large numbers.