16 Must-Follow Instagram Pages For Melody Blue Spix Macaw-Related Businesses
16 Must-Follow Instagram Pages For Melody Blue Spix Macaw-Related Businesses
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with speculation and worry, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with resentment and jealousy.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to trade. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was crucial to match the pairs well.
Range
A South African couple is working to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw which was declared extinct in 2000 following years of poaching and loss of habitat. They have a tiny population of the birds that are in captivity, and hope to release them in the wild near Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their lives to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as similar to his.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has survived for so long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They even monitored reproduction attempts using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair which was a significant step towards the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild with such an insufficient gene pool and it has also helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The last bird's survival also encouraged people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's macaw.
The working group has already completed a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also created 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 threatened by the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Aviculturists and ornithologists as well as other experts continue to fight to save this iconic bird from the brink of 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 beginning in the long-distance journey to bring these birds back from the edge. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws 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 consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, with a few birds in captivity and a handful of museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining, an international committee was created that gathered aviculturists who held the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
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 that will be released in the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are typically found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to one third of the time in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as 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 that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to return this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting and hyacinth macaw parrots for sale areas to roost.
The reintroduction program has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It has also provided an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo and linhas Brasil, as well as facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating sound called the "whichaka," which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute. When they are in breeding mode they can 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, and like many other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits and are able to recognize members of their family. This is what makes them the most sought-after pets and a target for the illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then the Spix's macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture of birds, and are the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at a breeding center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled which leaves future plans for repatriation and reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to purchase three Spix's Macaws for the collector.
In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, but not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds to release is also critical. Macaws must be reproductively mature and be in a relationship with an older sibling or close family member.
The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that will help to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were released recently will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These savvy birds will help the macaws become more used to the region and provide security in large numbers.