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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists were able to reintroduce two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with backbiting and jealousies. The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was important to match pairs well. Range A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw. macaw cage was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds kept in captivity, and are hoping to release them into the wild near Curaca. They call the birds their little blue companions and have compared their journey to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They describe Presley as a true survivor who lost his family, but was loyal to his home. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as similar to his and feel a strong connection to him. The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of how this species survived this long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movement, its seasonal adaptation to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species. It was an amazing feat that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to better understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The bird's survival has encouraged people to take action to save other endangered parrots and species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set 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 wildlife and animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal – the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw. The group has accomplished a lot of work, including preparing an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group has also been working to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. It has also created an ongoing committee to help recover the bird. Habitat At risk due to habitat destruction and poaching, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to tirelessly work to bring this iconic bird back from the brink of extinction. The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people all over the world due to a cult animated film and two sequels. However, this is only the beginning on the long road of returning these birds. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity to the wild. The Spix's Macaw is an endemic species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland, scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was first documented in 1819 and is among the smallest known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, few birds in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens. To protect the population that is declining An international committee was established that brought together aviculturists that held the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws into their native environment in the northeast of Brazil. AWWP has purchased and is harlequin macaw in Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide an incredibly pure genetic source of animals for future generations. Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and seldom seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage to find seeds, fruits, nuts, and various other plants. They will typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest. A local community was recruited as part of the field team to help to track Spix's macaws. The community was provided with watches that would turn on when the Spix's Macaw was identified. This allowed them to track the birds in the wild as well as their daily activities. This approach has been very successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the family 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 was lost in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to return this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga. This region in northeast Brazil comprises about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were known to feed on seeds and nuts. A reintroduction program is now in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June and 12 more are scheduled to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will share information about food sources, nesting and roosting locations. The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this unique bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and the seasonal changes to drought. It also provides a window into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its extinction in the wild. Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, nuts, and fruits of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. Pinhao-bravo, linhas Brazil and facheiro (Pilosocereus Pachycladus) are all part of this diet. The acai palm (Acaia olive) and mofumbo (Combretum léprosum) fruits are also edible. Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds, and they have a close bond with their parents. They are very vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call called the “whichaka,” which is described as a short repeated grating sound that is similar to a flute. When they are in breeding mode they are known to fly fast and high. Breeding Spix's macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate with each other by making a variety of screeching and squawking sounds, and like many other parrots, mimic human speech. They have a strict routine, including flight patterns and bathing habits. They are also able to recognize other members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for the illegal bird trade. In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them poached. In 1995, poachers massacred the male and female birds as part of an attempt to pair them. Since then, great green macaw are captive-bred, mostly in Brazil. The Spix's Macaws that are in captivity are a mix that descends of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds that are in captivity are kept in 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 repatriate the birds and reintroduce them into the wild. Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to beat a sheikh from Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's macaws which weren't part of the breeding program. In part, due to this and other efforts the captive-bred bird population is beginning to grow, but not at a rapid pace. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. The selection of the right birds for release is also critical. Macaws must be reproductive and paired with close relatives or siblings. It could be difficult to get the Spix's Macaw back into the wild but it's important to try. To aid, ABC and partners have started a reserve system that aims to protect the last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are more common in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws are also. These birds will assist the macaws adapt to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through the sheer numbers.