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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long time with worry and speculation, Brazilians and German conservationists were able to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back to their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with backbiting and jealousies. The first obstacle was getting enough birds to participate in the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs had 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 following years of poaching and habitat loss. They have a small number of the birds that are in captivity and are hoping to release them close to Curaca. They refer to them as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives to the journey of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong connection to him and see their lives as like his. The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered researchers with an opportunity to study its behavior in the wild and gain an understanding of how the species has survived for this long. great green macaw were able to estimate the historical population of this rare bird more precisely. Researchers were able gather important information about the bird's daily movement patterns, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce with an Illiger's and a Spix's hybrid macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species. It was a remarkable feat that this bird was able survive and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and has helped scientists to understand how these birds could be reintroduced to the wild. The bird's survival has motivated people to act to save other species of endangered parrots. Zoos have also been enticed to create their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species. This working group is an example of how conservation groups and other organizations can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from government Zoo representatives as well as international owners of this rare bird, and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal: the recovery of the Spix's macaw. The working group has already accomplished a great deal of work, including developing an idea for reintroducing this bird to the wild. The group also raised funds to support community outreach, field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also set up an ongoing committee to oversee the recovery of the bird. Habitat Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching that was illegal. Aviculturists, ornithologists and other experts continue to work hard to bring this iconic bird from the brink of extinction. The Spix's Macaw is recognizable to millions of people around the world thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. This is just the tip of the iceberg on the long-distance road to returning these birds. For decades, an international team has been working to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild. The Spix's macaw is endemic to a small portion of northeast Brazil, called the Caatinga an arid area of savannah scrubland that is flat, scattered with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was described in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic sightings in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens. To preserve the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining bird, as well as government officials. The group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organisation Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to establish a rigorous program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's Macaws into their native environment in northeast Brazil. AWWP has purchased and is renovating 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga area, close to Curaca, Brazil. AWWP also breeds and rears birds that will be released in the wild. This will give a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations. Spix's Macaws can be found in trees, and seldom seen on the ground. They typically nest in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits, seeds, nuts and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest. To aid in tracking the Spix's macaws and their movements, a local group was invited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if Spix's Macaws are detected. This allowed them to monitor 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 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 vanished in 2000 and no additional birds were found in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to return this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in Caatinga. This region in northeast Brazil is home to about 10% of the entire country. Spix's Macaws were found in hollows old caraibeiras, and were also known to eat nuts and seeds. Reintroduction of the Spix’s Macaw into the wild is currently in progress. Eight birds raised in captivity were released into the wild in June, and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined in the area by a group of Blue-winged macaws who were reintroduced. They will share information about food sources, nesting sites and places to roost. The reintroduction programme has already collected valuable data from biology on the behavior of this rare bird, which includes details about the patterns of movement throughout the day and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the nature of the Spix's Macaw, helping to understand what led to its extinction in the wild. Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of many plants that are native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with the joazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They also eat the fruit of the palms of acai (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum). Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are social birds that have a strong bond with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic speech and other sounds. They have a mating sound called the “whichaka,” which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound like a flute note. They are known to fly fast and high when they are in the mood to breed. Breeding Spix's Macaws are highly intelligent and social birds. They communicate with one another through a range of squawking and screeching sounds. They, like other parrots, can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines, and they can recognize members of their flock. They are very popular as pets, and are frequently targeted by the illegal trade in birds because of this. In the early 1980s only three Spix's macaws were left in the wild. They were all poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since then all known Spix's macaws have been bred in captivity mostly in Brazil. The Spix's Macaws in captivity are a mixture, which is the descendant of only two individuals. This makes them susceptible to illnesses and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are kept in the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed which raises doubt about the future plans to return the birds and return them back into the wild. Despite their shaky numbers, captive-bred Spix's Macaws show signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder beat a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from a collector three Spix's Macaws that weren't part of the breeding program. In part due to this and other efforts, the captive-bred bird population is beginning to increase, though not at a speedy pace. Reintroducing the birds into the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before release. Macaws should be at a reproductive age and should be joined by one of their siblings or a close relative. It may be difficult to bring the Spix's macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. To help, ABC and partners have established a reserve system that will help 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 prevalent in Caatinga and are found in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will help macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also offer protection by the sheer numbers.