After a long time filled with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies.
The first challenge was finding enough birds for the exchange. The macaws were monogamous, therefore it was important 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 in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call them their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw from the wild. They describe him as a true survivor who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in the wild, and to better understand how this species has survived so long. It also helped them create a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also monitored reproduction attempts using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a significant step towards the recovery of this species.
It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to survive and thrive in the wild despite an insufficient gene pool and has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic species of birds.
This group serves as a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw and ornithologists with a common goal: the recovery of this rare bird.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach and field research as well as captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to save 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 ten years ago. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's Macaw known to millions of people across the globe, but this is just the beginning in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws that have been raised in captivity into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga, an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international committee was formed that brought together aviculturists that held the last remaining birds and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, thereby providing an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations.
In the wild, Spix's macaws reside in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and search to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was selected as part of the field team in order to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was given watches that would turn on when a Spix's Macaw is identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily actions. This method has proven successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the family 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. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
This dry forest is a part of northeast Brazil which covers around 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were known to feed on seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws, which were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting areas.
The reintroduction programme has already obtained valuable biological data on the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the fruits, seeds and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and the Joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They can also eat the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws as with all parrots and other bird species are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to a flutist note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in a breeding mood.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, which includes the way they fly and their bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets, and also a target for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s only three Spix’s macaws remained in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed both male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since since then, all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, making them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity reside in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled and the future plans for repatriation and their reintroduction into the wild in doubt.
Despite their low 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 purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds prior to releasing them. Macaws must be reproductive and be paired with siblings or close relatives.
It could be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, but it's important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will help the macaws adjust to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.
