10 Facts About Melody Blue Spix Macaw That Insists On Putting You In Good Mood
10 Facts About Melody Blue Spix Macaw That Insists On Putting You In Good Mood
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period 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 jealousy and backbiting.
The first obstacle was obtaining enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous so it was essential to match pairs 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 loss of habitat. They have a few of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them near Curaca. They call them their little blue companions and have 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 kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong bond to him and see their lives as being identical to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how this species was able to survive for such a long time. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and its feeding habits. They also observed reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair, which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has allowed scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds.
This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists, with a common goal that is the recovery of this unique bird.
The group has completed a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the rehabilitation of the bird.
Habitat
At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world however this is only the beginning in the long road to save these birds from the edge. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a tiny area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, 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 one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens.
To protect the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their native environment in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has bought and is recovering 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide an animal that is genetically pure for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and search for fruits, seeds, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest.
To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed which allowed them to keep on top of the birds' movements and their daily movements in the wild. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in the year 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. A reintroduction programme is currently underway to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a pet macaw cost group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.
The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and adjustments to drought during the season. It has also opened a window on the natural history of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (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 often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles the note of a flutist. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They also adhere to a rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify the members of their flock. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.
The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in a breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.
Despite their petty numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program.
In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is crucial to select the right birds before releasing them. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage and be in a relationship with an older sibling or close relative.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These intelligent birds will aid macaws to become familiar with the area and will offer safety in numbers.