10 Facts About Melody Blue Spix Macaw That Will Instantly Put You In Good Mood
10 Facts About Melody Blue Spix Macaw That Will Instantly Put You In Good Mood
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce a group of couples into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also rife with jealousy and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws are monogamous therefore the pairs had to be matched properly.
Range
A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. This bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a tiny population of the birds in captivity and hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to them as little blue companions, and compare their lives to the journey of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family and kept his faith in his region. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as like his.
Researchers were able to study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand how this species has survived for so long. Researchers were able to estimate the population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able to gather crucial data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. They also observed attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix's and Illiger's macaw pair which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species.
It was a marvellous achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be restored to nature. The survival of the bird that was killed motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to establish their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common to save this rare bird.
The group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird.
Habitat
Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to do their best to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people across the globe however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws raised in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil called the Caatinga. This dry region is characterized by flat savannah scrubland, which is surrounded by galleries and seasonal streams. It was described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few captive birds and a handful of museum specimens.
To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was created. It brought together experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird 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 develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their native environment in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will provide the genetically pure source of animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt in search of severe macaw seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist to track Spix's macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This approach has proven very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature following the disappearance of the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and subsequent surveys did not find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to return this critically endangered bird back to its natural habitat in Caatinga.
This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. 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, which have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas Brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible.
Like all parrots Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the "whichaka," which is described as a short continuous grating sound similar to a flute. When they are in a breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and social birds. They communicate using 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 they can recognize members of their family. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds due to this.
In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws that are in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity are kept in a breeding centre in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled and the future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws are showing some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector.
In part because of 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 that they remain healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds to release is also crucial. The macaws should be reproductive and be paired up with siblings or close relatives.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild could be difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have developed a reserve system to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws that were released recently will be joined by the 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 adapt to their new surroundings. They will also ensure safety through numbers.