cousinmaraca11

Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long time with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully reintroduce a grouping of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with backbiting and jealousy. The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds to participate in the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so the pairs needed 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 after years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds their blue-eyed friends and compared their journey 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 and was loyal to his home. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as being similar to his, and feel a deep connection with him. Researchers were able study the behavior of the Spix's Macaw in wild, and to better understand the reasons why this species has survived for so long. It also helped them make a more precise estimation of the historical population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's daily movement patterns and seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They also monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and Spix's hybrid macaws which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species. It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird motivated people to act in order to save other parrots and endangered species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds. This group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together to protect endangered wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian governmental officials as well as representatives from zoos and international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal: the recovery of the Spix's Macaw. The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird into the wild. The group also raised funds for 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 Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was endangered through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to work tirelessly to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction. A popular animated movie and two sequels have made the Spix's macaw recognizable to millions of people worldwide however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long road to save these birds from the brink. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's macaws born in captivity to the wild. The Spix's Macaw is a native species to a small region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid region has flat savannah scrubland that is interspersed with seasonal streams and gallery forests. It was 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 preserve the declining population, an international group was created. It was comprised of Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and government officials. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to establish a program to reintroduce Spix's Macaws back to their natural environment. AWWP has purchased and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also raising and breeding birds to be released into the wild, providing a genetically pure source of the animals for the next generation of. In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other species. They typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest. To assist in tracking the Spix's macaws as well as their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. Members of the community were provided watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's macaw was observed and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their movements throughout the wild. This method has proven successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw 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 vanished in 2000. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction program is currently underway to try to restore this critically threatened bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga. This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of old caraibeiras and were recognized for their dietary habits of eating nuts and seeds. Reintroduction of the Spix's Macaw into the wild is currently underway. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more are expected to be released by 2022. They will be joined by 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 program has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including details on daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the nature of the Spix's Macaws. This helps to understand the factors that led to their extinction. Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all included in this diet. They may also consume the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum). Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are very vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as “whichaka,” described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to a flutist note. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly fast and high. severe macaw are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other through a range of screeching and squawking sounds. Like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their flock. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by illegal bird trade because of this. By the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, and all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of a plan to pair them. Since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil. The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix that descends of only two individuals. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and other environmental challenges. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity are kept in an breeding center in Germany. However, this year an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled, leaving the future plans for repatriation and the reintroduction of wild animals in doubt. Despite their precarious number the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program. In part, due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is starting to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing them to the wild will require them to remain healthy and produce. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws should be in a reproductive stage, and they should be paired with an older sibling or close family member. It may be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have established reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws are going to be joined by blue-winged macaws which are more common in the Caatinga and live in overlapping areas with Spix's macaws. These savvy birds will help the macaws get accustomed to the region and provide safety in numbers.