20 Questions You Need To Be Asking About Melody Blue Spix Macaw Before Purchasing It
20 Questions You Need To Be Asking About Melody Blue Spix Macaw Before Purchasing It
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time of uncertainty and worry, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with jealousy and backbiting.
The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly.
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 few of the birds that are in captivity and hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue friends, and compare their lives to that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but kept his faith in his region. They see their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his, and feel a strong affinity with him.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of why this species was able to survive for such a long time. This allowed researchers to estimate the population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movements, seasonal adjustment to drought, and its feeding habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.
It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and it has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This group serves as an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common: the recovery of this rare bird.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes developing an approach to reintroduce this bird back to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research as well as community outreach and captive-breeding birds for the reintroduction project. It also has established an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird.
Habitat
Endangered by poaching and habitat destruction The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A cult animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw famous to millions of people worldwide however this is only the beginning of the iceberg in the long road 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 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 flat savannah scrubland interspersed with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the smallest 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 was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's into their native environment in northeast Brazil.
AWWP has acquired and is renovating 2,380 hectares in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds that will be released in the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations.
Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees, and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They can spend up to one third of their day in the nest.
A local community was recruited as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was given 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 approach has been very successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the Genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in the year 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last known wild parrot disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to locate any additional birds. However, a reintroduction program is currently in progress 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 great green macaw nestled in the hollows old caraibeiras and were also known to eat nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and roosting locations.
The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this unique bird, including information on daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, seeds and nuts of numerous species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of 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 that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called "whichaka," described as a short and repetitive grating sound that resembles an acoustic note. They are often seen flying high and fast when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine that includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. This is what makes them so popular pets and targets for the illegal bird trade.
By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture that descends of only two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at an 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 return the birds and reintroduce them into the wild.
Despite their precarious numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws are showing signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program.
In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. It is important to choose the right birds prior to releasing them. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relatives.
Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild may prove difficult, but it is important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that is designed to safeguard the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws that are more common in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's macaws. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by the sheer numbers.