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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long time with speculation and worry Brazilians and German conservationists were able successfully bring a group of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspirational, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting. The first obstacle was getting enough birds to exchange. The macaws were monogamous so it was important to match the pairs well. Range A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened Spix's Macaw. The bird 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 that are in captive, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their lives to that of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They call him as a true survivor who lost his family but was loyal to the region. They consider their lives in the Caatinga as akin 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 lasted so long. This allowed researchers to estimate the historical population of this rare bird with greater accuracy. Researchers were able to collect important data on the bird's daily movements, its seasonal adjustment to drought, as well as its eating habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery for this species. It was an amazing achievement that this bird survived and thrived in the wild despite having a small gene pool. This has enabled scientists understand how these birds can be returned to nature. The survival of the last bird also motivated people to act in order to save other parrots as well as endangered species. Zoos have also been enticed to develop their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species. This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can work together to protect endangered wildlife and endangered animals. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives, international holders of this rare bird, and ornithologists together with one common goal – the reintroduction of the Spix's macaw. The group has completed a great deal of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce the bird in the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. It also has established a permanent committee for the reintroduction of the bird. Habitat Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. severe macaw was endangered through the destruction of habitat and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction. A well-known animated film and two sequels have made Spix's macaw famous to millions of people across the globe however this is only the tip of the iceberg in the long-distance journey to save these birds from the edge. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and bring back Spix's macaws raised in a captive environment back into the wild. The Spix's macaw is native to a small area of northeast Brazil which is known as the Caatinga which is an arid region consisting of savannah scrubland flat scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, with a few captive birds, and a handful of museum specimens. To protect the declining population To help save the declining population, a global group was established. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird and officials from the government. The group formed a partnership with the renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to create an intensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Macaws Spix's to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil. AWWP has bought and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released into the wild. This will provide a genetically-pure source of animals for the future generations. In the wild, Spix's macaws will live in trees, and are not often seen on the ground. harlequin macaw nest in tree hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They can spend as much as 1/3 of their time in the nest. To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to become part of the field team. The members of the community were provided watches that could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected and thereby allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily movements in the wild. This approach has proven very successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species of the genus Cyanopsitta. It was listed as extinct in the wild in 2019 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature after the last wild parrot to be identified disappeared in 2000. subsequent surveys failed to find any additional birds. However, a reintroduction project is in the process of trying to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural home in the Caatinga. This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil that covers about 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws were a nesting species in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees and were known to eat seeds and nuts. A reintroduction programme is underway to re-establish 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 by Blue-winged Macaws that have been released back into the same area and will assist to share knowledge about food sources, nesting and roosting areas. The reintroduction program has collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, including information on daily movements patterns as well as seasonal adjustments to drought. It also opened a window on the evolution of the Macaws of Spix, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance. Spix's Macaws consume the fruits, nuts and seeds of many plants that are 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. Like all parrots like all parrots Macaws are social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating call called “whichaka,” described as a short and repetitive grating sound similar to the note of a flutist. When they are in a 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 squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a rigid daily routine, ranging from flights to bathing routines and can identify the members of their flock. They are popular as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this. In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since then the Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity, mostly in Brazil. The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mix, which is the descendant of just two individuals. This makes them more vulnerable to illnesses and other environmental issues. The majority of Spix's macaws that are in captivity live at a breeding center in Germany. However, this year, an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was canceled which leaves the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt. Despite their precarious number the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when the Swiss breeder beat out the sheikh of Qatar to buy three Spix's Macaws from a collector. In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are beginning reproduce again, although not at a great rate. Maintaining harlequin macaw and generating will be crucial for reintroducing these birds to the wild. It is essential to choose the right birds before releasing them. The macaws should be of reproductive age and be paired up with close relatives or siblings. Bringing the Spix's macaw back to the wild could prove difficult, but it is important to try. ABC and its partners have developed reserves to protect the last remaining habitats of this species. The eight Spix's macaws that were recently released will be joined by blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga, and they live in areas where the Spix’s macaws are also. These smart birds will help the macaws become more used to the region and will offer security in large numbers.