After a long time with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to participate in the exchange. These macaws are monogamous, therefore 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 years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their journey to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as being similar to his, and feel a strong connection to him.
The discovery of the last Spix's Macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of why this species was able to survive for so long. It also helped them form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable feat that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action in order to save other parrots as well as threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from the government, zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal: the recovery of the Spix's Macaw.
The group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also created an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to fight to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first 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 dwindling population, an international committee was established that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given 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 activities. This approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to restore this critically threatened bird back to its home in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows 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 into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction program has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as the seasonal changes to drought. It also provided a glimpse into the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which helps to understand the factors that led to their extinction.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 linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with 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 have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines and can identify members of their flock. This is why they are such popular pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since the time the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals who are descendants of only two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany however, this year 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 then reintroduce them back into the wild.
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 starting to grow, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to release. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
It may be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, but it's important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more familiar with the area and provide safety in numbers.
