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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long period of worry and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists succeeded in reinserting two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring, but also filled with jealousies and backbiting. The first hurdle was to find enough birds to be traded. These macaws are monogamous, so the pairs had to be matched properly. Range A South African couple has taken on the task of saving the critically threatened 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 amount of the birds that are in captivity and they hope to release them close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as their little blue companions and compared their experience to the story of Presley, the last known Spix's macaw in the wild. They call him as a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They see their lives in the Caatinga as akin to his, and feel a strong connection to him. Researchers were able to research the behavior of the Spix's Macaw wild, and gain a better understanding of the reasons why this species has survived so long. Researchers were able to determine the historical population of this unique bird more accurately. Researchers were able gather crucial information on the bird's movements throughout the day and its seasonal adaptation to drought, and food habits. They even monitored attempts at reproduction with the hybrid Illiger's and Spix's macaw pair which was a crucial step in the rehabilitation of this species. It was an amazing feat that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild despite a limited gene pool, and it has also helped scientists understand how these birds can be returned to the wild. The survival of the last bird also encouraged people to take action to save other parrots as well as endangered species. This has also encouraged zoos to establish their own captive breeding programs for these exotic bird species. This group is an example of how conservation groups, other organizations and individuals can collaborate to save endangered animals and wildlife. This group consists of Brazilian government officials, zoo reps, international holders of the Spix’s macaw and ornithologists with a common goal to save this unique bird. The working group has already accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of plans for reintroducing the bird to the wild. The group also raised funds for community outreach as well as field research and captive-bred birds for the project. It has also established a permanent committee for the recovery of the bird. Habitat Ten years ago the Spix's Macaw (Cyanopsitta Spixii) was thought to be extinct. It was threatened by the destruction of habitats and illegal poaching. Today, aviculturists and ornithologists continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic bird back from the danger of extinction. glaucous macaw 's Macaw is known to millions of people around the globe thanks to a cult animated film and two sequels. But this is only the tip of the iceberg on the long road of returning these birds. For a long time, a global team has been trying to breed and reintroduce captive-raised Spix's macaws into the wild. The Spix's Macaw is a native species found in a tiny region of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga. This dry area is home to flat savannah scrubland and is interspersed with galleries and streams that flow through the season. It was described in 1819, and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, a few birds that are kept in captivity, and a handful of museum specimens. To protect the declining population, an international group was formed. It brought together Aviculturists who owned the last remaining bird, as well as officials from the government. The group forged a partnership with the world-renowned non profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation of Qatar to develop an initiative to reintroduce the Spix's Macaws to their natural environment. AWWP has purchased and is restoring 2,380 hectares of prime habitat in the Caatinga, near Curaca, Brazil. AWWP is also breeding and rearing birds to be released into the wild, providing the genetically pure source of animals for the next generation of. In the wild, Spix's Macaws are found in trees and are seldom seen on the ground. They typically build nests in tree holes or hollows and hunt for fruits as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They can spend up to one third of the day in the nest. To help track the Spix's macaws as well as their movements, a local community was recruited to join the field team. The community was provided with watches that would be activated if the Spix's Macaw was detected. This enabled them to track the birds in the wild and their daily actions. This method has proven to be successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw is the only species belonging to the genus Cyanopsitta. The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared it extinct in the wild on April 1st, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000, and no more birds were observed in subsequent surveys. A reintroduction plan is in the process of attempting to restore this critically threatened bird to its native home in the Caatinga. This dry forest is located in the region of northeast Brazil, covering approximately 10% of the country. Spix's Macaws nestled in the hollows of the old caraibeira trees, and they were also known to feed on nuts and seeds. A reintroduction plan is currently underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity were released into the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by Blue-winged Macaws that were reintroduced into the same area and will assist to share information about food sources and nesting and roosting sites. The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this bird, including details about daily movements and adjustments to drought. It also provides an insight into the natural history of the Spix's Macaw, helping to discover the reasons behind its disappearance 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 the linhas brasil (Senegalia tenuifolia) as well as the joazeiro (Ziziphus Joazeiro) and facheiro cactus (Pilosocereus pachycladus). They may also consume the fruit of acai palms (Acaia oliva) or mofumbo (Combretum leprosum). Spix's Macaws, like all parrots and other birds are social birds and form close bonds with their parents. They are extremely vocal and often imitate human speech and other sounds. They make a mating call known as the “whichaka,” which is described as a brief repeated grating sound that is like a flute note. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood. Breeding Spix's Macaws are extremely intelligent and social birds. They communicate by screeching, squawking, and other sounds. As with many parrots they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very rigid daily routine, ranging from flight paths to bathing habits and can identify members of their family. This is why they are so popular pets and a target for illegal bird trade. In the early 1980s only three Spix's Macaws were left in the wild, all of them poached. In 1995, poachers killed the male and female birds in an attempt to pair them. Since the time, all Spix's macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil. The handful of Spix's macaws kept in captivity are made up of individuals that are the descendants of only two individuals, which makes them susceptible to illness and other environmental issues. The majority of the birds in captivity are in the breeding center in Germany, but this year an agreement between the German conservation center and the Brazilian government was not renewed, casting doubt over future plans to return the birds and reintroduce them back into the wild. Despite their low numbers, captive-bred Spix’s macaws show some signs of improvement. This was evident when a Swiss breeder managed to 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 grow, but not at a rapid rate. Reintroducing them to the wild will require that they stay healthy and produce. Choosing the right birds to release is also critical. Macaws should be reproductive and be 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. ABC and its partners have established 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 they live in areas where the Spix's macaws also reside. These birds will assist the macaws adjust to their new surroundings and will also ensure safety through the sheer numbers.