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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long time with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also rife with backbiting and jealousy. The first hurdle was to get enough birds for the trade. 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 due to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small amount of the birds in captivity and hope to release them near Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compare their experience to the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They describe him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to his area. They feel a strong bond 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 a deeper understanding of why this species has survived for this long. This enabled researchers to determine the historical population of this rare bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather important information on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, and eating habits. They even monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaws which was a significant step in the rehabilitation of this species. It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped scientists to understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other species of parrots that are endangered. Zoos and other organizations to set up up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds. This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together to protect 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 one goal in common: the recovery of this rare bird. The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing a plan for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird. Habitat Threatened by habitat destruction and poaching The Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Aviculturists, ornithologists, and other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird from the brink extinction. The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people around the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the beginning on the long journey of returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild. The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species that is found in a small area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This desert region has flat savannah scrubland and is interspersed with galleries and seasonal streams. The first time it was described was in 1819 and is one of the least-known Neotropical parrots, with occasional sightings in the wild, a few captive birds and some museum specimens. To save the declining population, an international group was created. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and officials from the government. This group formed a collaboration with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to create an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat. AWWP has purchased 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 into the wild. This will give an animal that is genetically pure for future generations. In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and other species. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest. To aid in tracking Orville macaw parrot price macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. The community was given watches that would be activated if Spix's Macaws are identified. This enabled them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This method has proven to be extremely successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were found in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to bring this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga. The northeast region of Brazil is home to about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also known to feed on seeds and nuts. A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting sites and roosting locations. The reintroduction programme has already gathered valuable biological data on the behavior of this unique bird, including information on the patterns of movement throughout the day and adjustments to drought during the season. It has also provided a glimpse into the nature of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their extinction. Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad 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, Spix's Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They have a mating cry known as “whichaka,” described as an extremely short and repetitive noise similar to an acoustic note. When they are in breeding mode they can fly fast and high. Breeding Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, which includes flight patterns and bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for illegal bird trade. By the early 1980s, only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female foiled in 1995, when poachers killed both birds. Since then, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil. The few Spix's macaws kept in captivity are a mixture of individuals that are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are housed at a breeding center in Germany, but 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 then reintroduce them into the wild. Despite their petty numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh from Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program. In the wake of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce, though not at a high rate. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the right birds before releasing them. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives. The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild could prove difficult, but it's crucial to try. To aid, ABC and partners have created a reserve system which is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix’s macaws also reside. These savvy birds will help macaws to become familiar with the area, and they will provide safety in numbers.