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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousy and backbiting. The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to exchange. Macaws are monogamous, therefore the pairs had to be matched well. Range A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds in captivity, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call them their little blue friends and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as an authentic survivor who lost his family but was loyal to his home. They feel a strong bond to him and view their lives as like his. Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and gain a better understanding of how this species has lasted so long. It also helped them form a more accurate estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple, which was a crucial step in the recovery for this species. It was a remarkable achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has helped scientists to better understand how these birds can be restored to the natural world. The bird's survival has motivated people to act to save other endangered parrots and species. It has also prompted zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds. This working group is a model for how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered wildlife and endangered animals. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with an aim in common to save this unique bird. The group has accomplished a great deal of work, including preparing plans for reintroducing the bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to support field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction program. It has also established an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird. Habitat Threatened by poaching and habitat destruction, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction. A cult animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people around the world However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the brink. An international team has worked for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild. The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga, an arid region of flat savannah scrubland that is dotted with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819, and is one of the smallest known Neotropical parrots, with only sporadic sightings from the wild, a few captive birds and a few museum specimens. To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was created. It brought together Aviculturists who owned 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 establish an initiative to restore the population of Spix's Macaws back to their natural habitat. AWWP has acquired and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations. In the wild, Spix's Macaws reside in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They usually nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest. To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was recruited to become part of the field team. The community was given watches that would activate if Spix's Macaws are recognized. 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 it extinct in the wild on April 1, 2019. This was following the last wild parrot was lost in 2000. No additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction plan is in the process of trying to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga. This region in northeast Brazil covers approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nested in the hollows of old caraibeiras, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating 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 in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are expected to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information about food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost. The reintroduction program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It has also provided a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw which helps to discover the reasons behind its disappearance in the wild. Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the 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 and other bird species are social birds and have close relationships with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the “whichaka,” which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute note. They are well-known for flying high and fast when they are in an ecstatic mood. Breeding Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with one another by making a variety of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also adhere to a strict daily routine, from flight paths to bathing habits and are able to recognize the members of their flock. This is why they are the most sought-after pets and targets for illegal trade in birds. By buymacaw , only three Spix's macaws remained in the wild, with all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in the hope of pairing them. Since since then, all Spix's Macaws are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil. The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mixture of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws in captivity live at an breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between the German conservation center and Brazilian government expired and the possibility of repatriation or the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt. Despite their petty numbers of captive-bred Spix's macaws, captive-bred species show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat a sheikh in Qatar to buy from a collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program. In part because of this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is starting to grow, though not at a rapid pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. The selection of the right birds to release is also crucial. The macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives. The return of the Spix's Macaw to the wild may prove difficult, but it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help to protect the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more prevalent in the Caatinga and share areas with the Spix's macaws. These smart birds will help the macaws get accustomed to the region, and they will provide security in large numbers.