The No. One Question That Everyone Working In Melody Blue Spix Macaw Should Know How To Answer
The No. One Question That Everyone Working In Melody Blue Spix Macaw Should Know How To Answer
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched 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 tiny population of the birds that are in captivity, and hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a strong affinity with him.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. They even monitored reproduction attempts using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair, which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from the government as well as representatives from zoos, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal - the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including developing a plan for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world, but this is just the beginning in the long road to save these birds from the brink. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819, and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, few birds that are kept in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To preserve the dwindling population In order to protect the declining population, an international committee was created that brought together aviculturists that were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into reputable macaw breeder 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 who were reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost.
The reintroduction program has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of the bird, which includes details of daily movements and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a glimpse into the nature of Spix's Macaws, which helps to understand the factors that led to their extinction.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brasil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds, are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to a flutist note. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. Like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. They are very popular as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since then, 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 the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at a breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal and causing doubt about future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In part due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. It is important to choose the correct birds before release. The macaws need to be reproductively mature, and they should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relatives.
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 established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws adapt to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.