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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with resentment and jealousy. The first challenge was finding enough birds to participate in the exchange. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed to be well-matched. 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 that are in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their experience to the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong kinship to him and view their lives as being similar to his. The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of how this species has survived for such a long time. This also helped them create a more accurate estimate of the historic numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's daily movement patterns and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species. killer deal was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and has helped scientists understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has motivated people to act to save other species of parrots that are endangered. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds. This working group is a great illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered species of wildlife and animals. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, representatives from zoos, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common: the recovery of this rare bird. The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research, community outreach and captive-breed birds for the reintroduction program. The group has also established a permanent committee to save the bird. Habitat Endangered by habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was thought to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird back from the brink extinction. A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people across the globe however this is only the beginning in the long journey to bring these birds back from the brink. For decades, an international 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 native to a small area of northeast Brazil 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 described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic glimpses of the wild, few captive birds and a few museum specimens. To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was formed. It was comprised of experts in aviculture who had the last remaining bird as well as government officials. This group formed a collaboration with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment. AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations. In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They typically nest in hollows or tree holes and hunt for fruits seeds, nuts, seeds and other plants. They can spend as much as one third of the time in the nest. To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to become part of the field team. Members of the community were given watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been very successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the Genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting 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 country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat seeds and nuts. Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight birds that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to arrive in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws. They were reintroduced into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources, nesting and roosting sites. The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also has provided a glimpse into the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline. Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of numerous 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 Macaws are highly social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry called “whichaka,” described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles the note of a flutist. When they are in a breeding mode they can fly high and fast. Breeding Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and social birds. They communicate through screeching, squawking and other sounds. Like many parrots, they are able to mimic human speech. They follow a strict routine that includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They can also recognize other members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for illegal bird trade. In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them being poached. A plan to pair the last male and female was unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since since then all known Spix's macaws are captive-bred mostly in Brazil. The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mix of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt. Despite their petty numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat 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 starting to reproduce, though not at a rapid rate. In order to keep them healthy and producing, it is crucial to reintroduce the birds back into the wild. Choosing the right birds for release is also crucial. Macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives. It's not easy to bring the Spix's macaw back into the wild however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's Macaws who were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These birds will assist the macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also ensure safety through numbers.