After a long period anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was to get enough birds to trade. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be well-matched.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds in captive, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his, and they feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how this species was able to survive for so long. This also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment 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 can be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos are also encouraged to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species.
This group is a good example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with one goal in common to save this rare bird.
The group has accomplished a lot of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breed birds for the reintroduction program. It has also created 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 through the destruction of habitats and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird back from the brink extinction.
A popular animated movie and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This desert region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first described in 1819, and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with sporadic sightings from the wild as well as a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To save 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. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. 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.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to 1/3 of their time in the nest.
To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when Spix's Macaws are identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily movements. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. It was declared 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. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. A reintroduction program 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 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.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information on food sources, nesting sites and places to roost.
The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also provided an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume 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 bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles a flutist note. 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 each other by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a rigid daily routine, ranging from the flight path to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are frequently targeted by illegal bird trade because of this.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, making them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. 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 expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to repatriate the birds and reintroduce 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 buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be at a reproductive age, and they should be in a relationship with a sibling or a close family member.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, 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, which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws adapt to their new environment and will also offer protection by large numbers.