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Melody Blue Spix Macaw After a long period of anxiety and speculation, Brazilian and German conservationists have succeeded in reintroducing two couples back into their natural habitat. Their story is inspiring but also rife with backbiting and jealousies. The first challenge was obtaining enough birds to trade. The macaws are monogamous so the pairs needed to be matched well. Range A South African couple has taken on the mission to save the critically endangered Spix's macaw. The bird was declared extinct by United Nations in 2000 because of decades of habitat destruction and poaching. They have a small population of the birds kept in captive, and hope to release them into the wild close to Curaca. They refer to the birds as little blue companions, and compare their experience with that of Presley, the only known Spix's Macaw found in the wild. They call him a true survivor, who lost his family, but remained loyal to the area. They believe that their lives in Caatinga as akin to his, and they feel a deep connection with him. The discovery of the last Spix's macaw provided a valuable opportunity for researchers to study its behavior in the wild and gain a deeper understanding of how the species has survived for so long. It also allowed them to create a more accurate estimate of the historic population numbers of this unique bird. Researchers were able to gather crucial information on the bird's movements throughout the day, seasonal adjustment to drought, and food habits. Researchers also monitored attempts to reproduce using a hybrid Spix’s and Illiger’s macaw couple which was a crucial step towards the recovery of this species. It was a remarkable accomplishment that this bird was able to endure and thrive in the wild despite the smallest gene pool and it has helped researchers understand how these birds could be reintroduced back to the wild. The survival of the bird that was killed inspired people to take action in order to save other parrots and threatened species. It also inspired zoos and other groups to set up their own captive breeding programs for these exotic birds. This group is an example of how conservation groups as well as other organizations and individuals can collaborate to protect endangered animals and wildlife. It brings Brazilian governmental officials, zoo representatives, international holders of this unique bird and ornithologists to work together towards a common goal – the recovery of the Spix's Macaw. The group has accomplished a lot of work, including the creation of an idea for reintroducing this bird back into the wild. The group has also worked to raise funds for field research and community outreach as well as captive-breeding birds to support the reintroduction project. It has also created a permanent committee to recover the bird. Habitat At risk due to poaching and habitat destruction, the Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) was believed to be extinct in the wild ten years ago. Today, ornithologists and aviculturists continue to fight tirelessly to bring 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. However, this is only the beginning on the long-distance road to returning these birds. A multi-national team has been working for decades to breed and reintroduce Spix's Macaws that were raised in captivity into the wild. The Spix's macaw is native to a tiny area of northeast Brazil known as the Caatinga, an arid region of savannah scrubland that is flat, interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests. It was first documented in 1819 and is one of least-known Neotropical Parrots. There are only sporadic appearances in the wild, few birds in captivity and a few museum specimens. To preserve the dwindling population An international committee was established which brought together aviculturists who held the last remaining birds, as well as government officials. This group formed a partnership with the world-renowned non-profit organization Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar to develop a comprehensive program to reintroduce captive-bred Spix's macaws to their natural habitat in northeast Brazil. AWWP has acquired and is recovering 2,380 hectares of Caatinga near Curaca (Brazil) of the most pristine habitat. AWWP also breeds and raises birds to be released into the wild. This will create a genetically-pure source of animals for future generations. Spix's Macaws are usually found in trees and rarely seen on the ground. They typically build nests in hollows or holes in trees and hunt for fruit as well as seeds, nuts, and other plants. They will typically spend up to a third of the day in the nest. A local community was recruited as part of the field team in order to help identify Spix's Macaws. The members of the community were provided watches which could be activated if the Spix's macaw was detected, allowing them to keep an eye on the birds and their daily activities in the wild. This approach has been extremely successful. Diet The Spix's Macaw 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 1, 2019. This was after the last wild parrot disappeared in 2000 and no additional birds were discovered in subsequent surveys. However, a reintroduction project currently underway is trying to return 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 nuts and seeds. A reintroduction programme is underway to establish a natural population of the Spix's Macaw. Eight captive-raised Spix's Macaws were released in the wild in June. Twelve more birds are scheduled to be released in 2022. They will be joined by a group of Blue-winged Macaws that have been reintroduced and will provide information on food sources, nesting sites and areas to roost. The reintroduction programme has already collected vital biological data about the behavior of this rare bird, including details on daily movement patterns and seasonal adjustments to drought. It also has opened a window on the evolution of Spix's Macaws, which can help to understand the causes that led to their decline. Spix's Macaws eat the seeds, fruits and nuts of many species native to the Caatinga biome. This includes the pinhao-bravo (Jatropha mollissima) and the 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. Like all parrots, Spix's Macaws are highly social birds that bond closely with their parents. They are vocal and often mimic human speech and other sounds. They have a mating cry known as “whichaka,” described as an incredibly short and repetitive sound similar to the note of a flutist. They are known to fly high and fast when they are in a breeding mood. Breeding Spix's macaws are exceptionally intelligent and highly social birds. They communicate with each other with a variety of squawking and screeching sounds, and like many other parrots, they can mimic human speech. They also follow a very strict daily routine, from flights to bathing routines, and they can recognize members of their flock. This is why they are such popular pets and a target for the illegal bird trade. In the early 1980s, just three Spix's macaws remained 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, all Spix's Macaws known have been captive-bred – mostly in Brazil. The handful of Spix's macaws that are in captivity are made up of individuals who are descendants of just two individuals, which makes them vulnerable to disease and other environmental threats. The majority of Spix's macaws captivity live at a breeding centre in Germany. However this year, an agreement between a German conservation center and the Brazilian government ran out, leaving the possibility of repatriation or reintroduction into the wild in doubt. Despite Darling hahns macaw , captive-bred Spix’s macaws show 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. 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 remain healthy and produce. It is important to choose the right birds before release. Macaws must be at a reproductive age, and they should be paired with a sibling or a close family member. It could be difficult to get 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 is designed to safeguard the species' last remaining habitats. The eight Spix's macaws will soon be joined by blue-winged macaws, which are more common in the Caatinga and are found in overlapping areas with the Spix's macaws. These birds will help macaws adapt to their new surroundings. They will also provide safety by numbers.