10 Real Reasons People Dislike Melody Blue Spix Macaw Melody Blue Spix Macaw
10 Real Reasons People Dislike Melody Blue Spix Macaw Melody Blue Spix Macaw
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with speculation and worry, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.
The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched 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 few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them near Curaca. They call them their little blue friends and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe him as an authentic survivor who lost his family but kept his faith in his region. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as similar to his and feel a deep connection with him.
Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and better understand the reasons why this species has lasted so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species.
It was a remarkable achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a very small gene pool. This has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the natural world. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos are also encouraged to develop their own captive breeding program for these exotic species of birds.
This group of experts is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international owners of the Spix's macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common to save this endangered bird.
The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. They have also formed a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered by habitat destruction and poaching that was illegal. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to tirelessly work to save this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction.
A well-known animated film and two sequels have made the Spix's Macaw known to millions of people around the world, but this is just the beginning in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. A team of international experts has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity back into the wild.
The Spix's Macaw is native to a small portion of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, that is dotted with creeks that flow through the seasons and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, with a few birds that are kept in captivity and a few museum specimens.
To save the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil.
AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds that will be released into the wild, thereby providing an incredibly pure genetic source of the animals for future generations.
Spix's Macaws can be website found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and search in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend as much as 1/3 of their time in the nest.
A local community was enlisted as part of the field team to assist identify Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when Spix's Macaws are identified. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This method has proven to be extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found 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 in the wake of the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan currently underway is trying to restore this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were amidst the hollows of old caraibeiras and were also known to eat seeds and nuts.
Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity 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 were reintroduced into the same area and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting sites.
The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable biological data about the behavior of the bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw and helped to better understand what led to its extinction in the wild.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants that are 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.
Spix's Macaws like all parrots as well as other birds are social birds and form close bonds with their parents. They have vocalizations and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. When they are in a breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they are able to mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets, and are frequently targeted by illegal trade in birds because of this.
In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals who are the descendants of only two individuals, making them susceptible to illness and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in the breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed and causing doubt about future plans to repatriate the birds and return them into the wild.
Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they remain healthy and produce. Selecting the right birds for release is also crucial. The macaws need to be at a reproductive age and be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a close family member.
It could be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These smart birds will help macaws to become accustomed to the region, and they will provide safety in numbers.