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FILM FAMED BIRD FINDS HOME – Erakina

November 27, 2021 8 Mins Read
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About: Film Famed Birds

Appearance

The Spix’s macaw is a small, elegant parrot with delicate blue-gray plumage, bright blue wings and tail, and an ash-blue crown. Around the eyes, there is an area of dark grey featherless skin. Male and female adults look similar, the female being slightly smaller. Juvenile Spix’s macaws typically are dark blue, with pale skin around their eyes.

Spix macaw bird

Movie buffs are quite familiar with this bluebird from the film Rio and Rio 2. Spix’s macaw, also known as the little blue macaw, is a native bird to north and south America. Spix’s macaw is a parrot with a long blue feathered tail. 

Spix’s macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), also known as the little blue macaw, is a species of macaw native to Brazil. It is a strikingly beautiful parrot characterized by its vibrant blue plumage and distinct facial markings.

The species gained significant attention due to the animated film “Rio,” where the last remaining Spix’s macaw named Blu was featured as the protagonist.

Spix’s macaw faced a severe decline in the wild primarily due to habitat destruction and trapping for the illegal pet trade.

By the late 20th century, it was considered extinct in the wild. However, conservation efforts have been made to reintroduce the species into its native habitat.

Efforts to save the Spix’s macaw have involved captive breeding programs and habitat restoration initiatives. These programs aim to increase the population of the species in captivity and eventually reintroduce them into their natural environment.

Several organizations and governments have collaborated on these efforts to help ensure the survival of this critically endanger macaw.

ABOUT IT

The Spix’s Macaw is currently the rarest parrot in the world – but hopefully, that will change in the coming years! This unusual species, known for its petite size and vibrant two-toned blue plumage, is so alluring that it was nearly driven to extinction first by specimen collectors and later by habitat destruction and poaching for the pet trade.

Today, it is considered extinct in the wild, but several ambitious conservation groups are attempting to resurrect the species as we speak. Wild-caught and pet birds alike are involved in a captive breeding program whose goal is to bring the species’ numbers and genetic diversity up as fast as possible.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because you may have seen it on the big screen – the 2011 movie “Rio” and its 2014 sequel “Rio 2” were, in fact, inspired by the Spix’s Macaw’s plight.

As of today, there are around 160 living Spix’s Macaws left in the world – but the good news is their numbers are increasing! In this guide, I’ll explain what makes the Spix’s Macaw so unique, give you a breakdown of its behavior, and provide an overview of the heroic conservation efforts that will hopefully bring this beautiful and unusual species back to the wild.

  • Spix’s macaw, also known as Cyanopsitta Spixii, scientifically belongs to the family of Psittacidae. 
  • It was named after a German naturalist, Johann Baptist von Spix.
  •  Like any other bird, it feeds on seeds and no special diet is needed.
  •  Both the male and female macaw look similar with minute differences in its size
  •  It breeds from November to March. It makes a mating call called “ Whichaka”. 
image of the Spix’s macaw
Spix’s macaw was declared extinct in wild
Spix's Macaw

Habits and Lifestyle

Spix’s macaws usually traveled in small family groups or pairs, hunting for food along the seasonal rivers, and nesting and roosting together in treetops. The Spix’s macaw in the wild was sedentary, and during the day it was active, moving according to food resources and availability of nesting.

It would also move in response to rainfall. These birds are shy, and they would fly off when an intruder approached. They are masters of mimicry and can mimic human voices and so they are “talking” birds. Macaws are noisy, lively birds that make their “kra-ark” cry almost every few feet they fly.

Spix’s macaws tended to travel in small family groups or pairs, hunting for food along the seasonal rivers, and nesting and roosting together in treetops. The Spix’s macaw in the wild was sedentary, and during the day it was active, moving according to food resources and availability of nesting. It would also move in response to rainfall.

Spix’s macaws tended to travel in small family groups or pairs, hunting for food along the seasonal rivers, and nesting and roosting together in treetops. The Spix’s macaw in the wild was sedentary, and during the day it was active, moving according to food resources and availability of nesting. It would also move in response to rainfall.

 

WHY IN THE NEWS?

  • Birdlife international conducted a survey and declared the Spix’s Macaw extinct. Later, IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature), a body determined to protect wildlife, declared that Spix’s macaw is extinct in the wild in 2000.
  •  Yet, few ornithologists believed that some remains of it would exist when there was news in 2018 that Spix’s macaw was spotted.
  •  20 years after being declared extinct, this bird is reintroduced in its natural habitat i.e, Brazil. It made a long flight from Germany to Brazil, which was happy news to many locals and ornithologists who were concerned about it.
  • 52 macaws were reintroduced in Brazil with an equal number of male and female ones.
image of the map of South America.
Spix’s macaw is a native bird to South and north america.

REASON FOR EXTINCTION

Brazil is one of the developing nations in the world. Due to its enormous economic activity, there have been continuous threats to its environment. World’s largest rainforest is the Amazon forest, which has its major part in Brazil. It is also a part of many rare birds like Spix’s macaw. 

  • Habitat loss and degradation due to development activities
  • Construction of dams and reservoirs on various rivers especially the Amazon
  • Trapping of wildlife for wild trade and illegal activities

All of these led to the extinction of the Spix’s macaw. These have been the reasons for the loss of other rare birds and animals too.

The Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) holds immense significance in the natural world for several compelling reasons. First and foremost, like all species, it contributes significantly to the rich tapestry of biodiversity.

Biodiversity is crucial for the balance and health of ecosystems; each species, including the Spix’s Macaw, plays a distinctive role in maintaining this balance. Whether it’s controlling insect populations or dispersing seeds, these activities are vital for the ecological equilibrium, ensuring the well-being of habitats like forests and supporting other flora and fauna.

Scientifically, the Spix’s Macaw provides a valuable subject for research. Studying rare and endangered species yields insights into evolution, behavior, and ecology. Discoveries made through such research often have broader applications, benefiting various other species, including humans.

Additionally, the cultural and economic value of the Spix’s Macaw cannot be overstated. This bird species holds cultural significance in Brazil and globally, becoming emblematic of conservation efforts and sparking interest in avian biodiversity.

Moreover, the Spix’s Macaw has a role in promoting ecotourism. Birdwatching, especially for rare and exotic species like the Spix’s Macaw, can drive local economies. The revenue generated from ecotourism not only supports conservation initiatives but also sustains communities. These economic benefits create a positive feedback loop, encouraging further conservation efforts and providing livelihoods for the local population.

Conservation is paramount in ensuring the survival of the Spix’s Macaw and other endangered species. The Spix’s Macaw, in particular, faces critical endangerment due to habitat loss and illegal trapping for the pet trade.

Conservation initiatives aimed at protecting this species involve preserving significant stretches of habitat. These efforts, while directly benefiting the Spix’s Macaw, also serve a broader purpose by safeguarding the habitats of numerous other species.

Lastly, there exists an ethical responsibility to conserve endangered species. Many people advocate for the preservation of all species based on the intrinsic value they hold. This perspective asserts that every species, irrespective of its utility to humans, has a right to exist.

Preserving the Spix’s Macaw, thus, is not just about protecting a single species; it embodies our commitment as stewards of the planet to preserve the diversity of life forms, ensuring a harmonious coexistence of all species on Earth.

CONSERVATION

  • CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and fauna) has declared Spix’s macaw in its list – 1. Any animal or bird placed in this list is prohibited from trading except for legal conservation and educational purposes.
  • IUCN ( International Union for Conservation of Nature ) declared this bird extinct in the wild way back in 2000. It has special protection status under it.
  • As a part of Brazil’s National Plan of Action for Conservation of Spix’s macaw, measures were taken to re-introduce this bird in its natural habitat.
  • ATCP ( Association for Conservation of Threatened Parrots), joined by the Brazilian government, took up the Captive breeding program in Germany, which facilitated the re-introduction of Spix’s macaw recently.
  • It also built Spix’s macaw Release, Breeding and Research Centre (RBRC) in the Caatinga region of Brazil.
  • Programs to prepare the local population for future co-existence were also taken up.

Fun Facts About Spix’s Macaw:

  • The Spix’s macaw is named after Johann Baptist von Spix, the German naturalist, who, in 1819, collected a specimen from the banks of Brazil’s Rio São Francisco in northeast Bahia. At this time, the Spix’s macaw was already rare.
  • The movie Rio was inspired by a pair of macaws which, in the year 2000, apparently vanished after escaping from captivity in the year 2000.
  • Spix’s macaw parents protect their chicks aggressively during the breeding season. When threatened, the birds will lie on their side on the ground to draw an intruder away from the nest.
  • A macaw’s beak is strong enough to easily crush a Brazil nut – and also a person’s knuckle.
  • Most macaws have black or gray eyes when young, these changing to yellow or brown as they mature.
  • A macaw’s tongue is slightly scaly, and dry, and inside it is a bone, making it an excellent tool to break open and eat its food.
  • pair was found in the wild consisting of a male Spix’s macaw and a female Blue-winged macaw. Unfortunately, they disappeared in 2000.

RECENT CONTROVERSY

Many people raised doubts about the funding given by the ATCP (Association for Conservation of Threatened Parrots). They doubted the lack of accountability and transparency in the funding process. Around 55,000 members signed up a petition to look at its finances.

Spix’s Macaw were thought to be extinct in the wild because of pet trade trapping and loss of the dry Caatinga forests in which it lives, according to the Birdlife website. Invasive African bees take over nest cavities, further pressuring the birds. But efforts are underway to restore the bird to their natural habitat.

Apart from the troubles, the locals and the ornithologists were very happy with the news.

-by Krishna Amrutha

Content Writer (Erakina By RTMN)

14-11-2021

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