Melody blue spix macaw, via buy-macaw.com,

After a long period of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.

The first hurdle was to find enough birds for the trade. Macaws are monogamous, so it was essential to match pairs well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small number of the birds kept in captivity, and they hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their experience with the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong connection to him and view their lives as being identical to his.

Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and better understand how this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important step towards the recovery of this species.

It was an amazing achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the natural world. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots and threatened species. Zoos and other groups to set their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.

This group of experts is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. The group is comprised of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this rare bird.

The group has accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established an ongoing committee to help recover the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered due to habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.

The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions around the globe thanks to a well-known animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.

The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland and is which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few captive birds, and a handful of museum specimens.

To preserve the dwindling population, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds and government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat.

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 to be released into the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations.

Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or tree holes and forage for fruit as well as seeds, 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 local communities were recruited to join the field team. The community was given watches that would turn on when the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This method has proven to be successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw 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 in the wake of the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to restore this critically endangered bird back to its natural home in the Caatinga.

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

A reintroduction program is now in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. 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 by a group of Blue-winged Macaws which have been reintroduced. They will provide information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.

The reintroduction program has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, including information about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its disappearance in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds 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 palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).

Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call known as the "whichaka," which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.

Breeding

Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other through a range of squawking and screeching sounds. Like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very rigid daily routine, ranging from flights to bathing routines and are able to recognize members of their family. They are popular as pets and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.

By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since the time, all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil.

The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix of birds, and are the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in the 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 reintroduce them back 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 a collector.

In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid pace. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it will be important to reintroducing these birds to the wild. The selection of the right birds for release is also crucial. Macaws must be of reproductive age and paired with close relatives or siblings.

The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will help the macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also provide safety by numbers.