After a long period worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining 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 loss of habitat. They have a small amount of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue friends, and compare their lives with that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They say he was as a true survivor who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's Pixie mini macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species has survived for this long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this unique bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought and its food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The last bird's survival also motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group is a great illustration of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government, zoo representatives and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the recovery of the Spix's glaucous macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction program. They have also formed an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered by habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
The Spix's macaw parrot cost is known to millions of people all over the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long road of bringing these birds back. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's hythian macaw for sale is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, despite only sporadic sightings from the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To preserve the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, 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 into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has acquired 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 into the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team in order to help identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if a Spix's Macaw is identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven to be successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is in the process of attempting to bring this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil that covers about 10 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, including details on the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They can also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating noise similar to a flutist note. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly high and fast.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines and can identify the members of their flock. This is why they are such popular pets and a target for illegal trade in birds.
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 unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in an breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled and the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws must be reproductively mature and be joined by a sibling or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new environment and will also ensure safety through numbers.