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After a long period filled with uncertainty and fear, Brazilians and German conservationists managed to successfully reintroduce a couple of couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with jealousies and backbiting.

The first hurdle was obtaining enough birds for the exchange. Macaws are monogamous, so it was important to match pairs well.

Range

A South African couple has taken on the mission of saving the critically endangered Spix's macaw. This bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 owing to decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds kept in captivity and they hope to release them into the wild near Curaca. They refer to the birds as their blue-eyed friends and compare their lives with the journey 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 kinship to him and perceive their lives as like his.

The discovery of the last Spix's macaw offered an excellent opportunity for researchers to investigate its behavior in wild and gain a better understanding of how this species was able to survive for such a long time. This enabled 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, and its eating habits. Researchers also observed attempts to reproduce with a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was an important step in the recovery of this species.

It was a remarkable achievement that this bird lived and thrived in the wild despite having a very limited gene pool. This has enabled scientists to understand how these birds can be returned to the natural world. The survival of the last bird encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as threatened species. This has also encouraged zoos to create their own captive breeding program for these exotic bird species.

This working group is an illustration of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate in order to conserve endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian officials from the government 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 hythian macaw for sale.

The working group has already achieved a lot of work. This includes developing a plan to reintroduce the bird back to the wild. The group also raised funds to fund community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. The group has also established a permanent committee to recover the bird.

Habitat

Ten years ago, the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was considered extinct. It was endangered due to the und in trees and are rarely seen on the ground. They build nests in hollows or holes, and hunt in search of seeds, fruits, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to a third of the day in the nest.

To help track the Spix's macaws and their movements local communities were recruited to join the field team. Members of the community were given watches that could be activated in the event the Spix's Macaw was detected which allowed them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This method has proven to be extremely successful.

Diet

The Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) is the only species found in the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was in the wake of the last wild parrot vanished in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project is currently in progress to restore 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 percent of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also recognized for their dietary habits of eating seeds and nuts.

A reintroduction plan is currently in progress to restore a wild population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised birds were released into the wild in June and 12 more are expected to follow in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged macaws which have been reintroduced. They will share information on food sources, nesting and areas to roost.

The reintroduction program has collected vital biological data about the behavior of the bird, including details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provides a window into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to determine the causes that led to its extinction in the wild.

Spix's Macaws consume the seeds, fruits, and nuts of a myriad of plants native to the Caatinga Biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) and 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 and other birds, are social birds that have close relationships with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic sounds and speech. They have a mating cry known as "whichaka," described as an extremely short and repetitive sound that resembles the note of a flutist. When they are in breeding mode, they are known to fly high and fast.

Breeding

Spix's macaws are incredibly intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate using screeching, squawking, and other sounds. Like many parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also have a strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines, and they can recognize members of their flock. This is what makes them such popular pets, and also a target for illegal trade in birds.

In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, and all of them being poached. A plan to pair the male and female unsuccessful in 1995 when poachers killed both birds. Since since then all known Spix's macaws have been captive-bred mostly in Brazil.

The handful of Spix's macaws in captivity are a mix of individuals that why are the glaceous macaw and hyancith macaw so alike the descendants of only two individuals, leaving them at risk of disease and other environmental challenges. The majority of the birds in captivity are in the breeding center in Germany however, in the year 2003 an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government expired without renewal, casting doubt over future plans to repatriate the birds and then reintroduce them back into the wild.

Despite their low numbers the captive-bred Spix's macaws exhibit some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder was able to beat out a sheikh in Qatar to purchase from the collector three Spix's macaws which were not part of the breeding program.

In the wake of this and other efforts, the captive-bred birds are starting to reproduce, but not at a great rate. Maintaining their health and generating is crucial to reintroduce the birds into the wild. It is crucial to select the right birds prior to releasing them. Macaws should be of reproductive age and paired with siblings or close relatives.

It's not easy to get the Spix's Macaw back to the wild, but it's 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 the blue-winged Macaws. These macaws are common in Caatinga and live in areas where the Spix's macaws also live. These birds will help macaws become accustomed to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by large numbers.