The Sage Advice On Melody Blue Spix Macaw From An Older Five-Year-Old
The Sage Advice On Melody Blue Spix Macaw From An Older Five-Year-Old
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Melody Blue Spix Macaw
After a long time with uncertainty and fear Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully bring a group of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with resentment and jealousy.
The first challenge was to find enough birds to trade. 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 decades of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue friends and compared their journey 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 kept his faith in the region. They feel a strong connection to him and perceive their lives as being identical to his.
The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of how this species survived so long. It also allowed them to form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important details about the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was an important 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 limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be restored to nature. The survival of the last bird inspired people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos are also encouraged to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.
This working group is a good example of how conservation groups and other organizations as well as individuals can work together to protect endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with one goal in common: the recovery of this rare bird.
The working group has already completed a great deal of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.
Habitat
Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction.
A popular animated movie 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 journey to save these birds from the brink. For a long time, a global team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild.
The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small area of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area consisting of savannah scrubland flat that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of the lesser-known Neotropical parrots, with only few glimpses of the wild and a few birds that are kept in captivity and some museum specimens.
To protect the population that is declining An international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who had the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws in their native habitat.
AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares in the Caatinga close to Curaca (Brazil) of prime habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released in the wild. This will create the genetically pure source of animals for the future generations.
In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of their day in the nest.
To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would turn on when a Spix's Macaw is recognized. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily activities. This approach has been extremely successful.
Diet
The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its native home in the Caatinga.
The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeira trees, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds.
Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. 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 which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations.
The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as the seasonal changes to drought. It has also opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance.
Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants that are native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. They may also consume the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum).
Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other bird species are social birds that develop close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating call called "whichaka," described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound that resembles the note of a flutist. They are often seen flying fast and high when they are in the mood to breed.
Breeding
Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds. They, like other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, which includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their flock. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for illegal bird trade.
In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been bred in captivity - mostly in Brazil.
The few Spix's macaws in captivity are made up of individuals that are the 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 center in Germany. However this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled which leaves future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt.
Despite their shaky 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 purchase three Spix's Macaws from the collector.
In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a rapid pace. Keeping them healthy and producing will be important to reintroducing the birds back into the wild. The selection of the right birds to release is also crucial. Macaws must be in a reproductive stage and should be in a relationship with one of their siblings or a close relatives.
Reintroducing the Spix's macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it's important to try. To help, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight recently released Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with Spix's Orville macaw parrot price macaws. These smart birds will help macaws to become accustomed to the region, and they will provide safety in numbers.