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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long time of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing couple couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also filled with jealousy and backbiting. The first obstacle was getting enough birds for the exchange. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs had to be well-matched. Range A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by the United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a few of the birds in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They call the birds little blue companions, and compare their lives with the story of Presley the only known Spix's Macaw in the wild. They say he was a true survivor, who lost his family, but was loyal to the region. They feel a strong bond to him and see their lives as being like his. The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided researchers with an opportunity to examine its behavior in the wild and gain a better understanding of why this species has survived for so long. It also helped them make a more precise estimate of the historic population numbers of this rare bird. Researchers were able to collect important information about the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. Researchers even monitored attempts to reproduce using the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw couple which was a crucial step in the recovery of this species. It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird managed to survive and thrive in the wild with such a limited gene pool, and has helped scientists understand how these birds can be reintroduced back to the wild. The bird's survival has inspired people to take action to save other species of endangered parrots. It has also prompted zoos and other organizations to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds. This working group is a good illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can work together in order to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. This group brings together Brazilian government officials, zoo reps international holders of the Spix’s macaw, and ornithologists to achieve one goal in common to save this endangered bird. The working group has already accomplished a lot of work. This includes the development of a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds to fund field research, community outreach and captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird. Habitat Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was believed to be extinct. It was threatened through habitat destruction and illegal poaching. Continued , aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the edge of extinction. The Spix's Macaw is well-known to millions of people around the world due to a popular animated film and two sequels. This is just 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 born in captivity into the wild. The Spix's Macaw is an indigenous species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This arid area is home to flat savannah scrubland that is scattered with galleries and seasonal streams. It was described in 1819 and is among the least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few captive birds and a few museum specimens. To save the declining population, an international committee was created which brought together aviculturists who were the last to hold the birds as well as officials from the government. 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 to their natural habitat in the northeast of Brazil. AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 acres of prime habitat in the Caatinga near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, which will provide the genetically pure source of the animals for future generations. Spix's Macaws can be found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They nest in tree hollows or holes and forage for fruits, seeds, nuts, and other plants. They typically spend up to three-quarters of the time in the nest. A local community was selected as part of the field team to help track Spix's Macaws. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was identified. This allowed them to monitor the birds in the wild and their daily movements. This approach has been extremely successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that it was extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot vanished in 2000. No additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in progress to try to bring back this critically endangered bird to its natural habitat in the Caatinga. This dry forest is a region of northeast Brazil which covers around 10 percent of the 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 arrive in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws. They have been released back into the same area, and will help to share knowledge of food sources and nesting and roosting locations. The reintroduction program has collected valuable biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movement patterns and adjustments to drought. It has also opened a window on the natural history of Spix's Macaws, which aids in understanding the causes that led to their disappearance. Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of a variety of plants native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia), along with 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 as well as other birds are social birds that form close bonds with their parents. They are vocal and frequently mimic other sounds and words. They make a mating call called the “whichaka,” which is described as a brief, repetitive grating sound similar to a flute. 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 by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots they can mimic human speech. They have a very strict routine, including the way they fly and their bathing habits. They also can recognize other members of their family. They are adored as pets and are often targeted by the illegal trade in birds due to this. In the early 1980s, only three Spix's macaws survived in the wild, with all of them being poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds as part of the hope of pairing them. Since the time the Spix's macaws have been captive-bred, mostly in Brazil. The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals who are the descendants of just two individuals, leaving them susceptible to illness and other environmental threats. The majority of the birds in captivity are in an breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and return them back into the wild. 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 in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws that were not part of the breeding program. As a result of this and other efforts, captive-bred birds are beginning to reproduce, though not at a high rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce these birds to the wild. It is essential to choose the correct birds before release. Macaws must be of reproductive age and be paired with siblings or close relatives. It could be difficult to bring the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, however, it is essential to try. ABC and its partners have created reserves to safeguard the last remaining habitats of this species. 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 live. These birds will help macaws become accustomed to their new environment and will also offer protection by numbers.