Spix's Macaws

By Esther Hernandez

Meet the Spix's Macaws!

All animals are unique and each has a story to tell, it doesn’t matter whether it’s as big as a tiger or as small as a bee. Today I’ll be discussing the story of the Spix's Macaw a
beautiful bird from Brazil Spix's macaw, also known as the little blue macaw, is a macaw species that was endemic to Brazil. It is a member of the tribe Arini in the subfamily Arinae, part of the family Psittacidae. In short, it’s a blue exotic bird that has a very interesting story and a lot of history to unpack so let’s get started, shall we?

Discoveries

In 1819, Dr. Johannes Baptist von Spix, shot a blue parrot, while being at Sao Francisco River, region of Juazeiro, Brazil. Collected specimens for museums, the rest of the species were obtained from the captive birds.1832 Spix’s assistant Johann Wagler a Zoologist at the University of Munich, discovered the birds weren’t the hyacinth (a similar blue parrot). Instead a new species, Wagler named the bird's species after Spix’s and that’s how the bluebird species, Spix’s Macaw! In the 1850s a naturalist named Prince Charles Bonaparte suggested that the species would be part of the new monotypic genus-Cyanopsitta. In 1903 Othmar Reiser went on an expedition and reported two interactions with the birds. 18th and 21st of June, in the area of Parnaguá, Piauí, and were described as “extremely shy.”

Sightings & Reports of Trappings

In the past 20th century there have been reports of people sight-seeing for the Blue Macaws, back in their natural habitat Juazeiro, Brazil. In 1977-1984, according to locals, 9 Macaws were trapped and far from their natural habitat, which of course caused controversy. Trappers have been taking the birds in captivity, some end up killing them no doubt. In 1986 Paul Roth was on an expeditionin Joazerio and discovered three Spixs two of them being a breeding pair. In the 1960s locals described the population decline of thesebirds, because of the extreme level of captivity for commercial purposes.

Down to The Last Feather

Roth observed the birds in their natural habitat, that the birds live in big tall Caraiaba trees for nesting and roosting. Unfortunately, this was predictable to the hunters, trappers, and predators, easier to find them. Not only was that suffering the Spix's Macaws population, but the African Honey Bees, which colonized north-east Brazil. These were aggressive bees who have been said to kill the beautiful bluebirds in their nest holes. Continuing in the 80s Roth has heard reports about more birds going missing, then in 1988, the birds were considered extinct. Summer of 1990 International Council of Bird Preservation (ICBP) organized a search for surviving members, found only one bird and was considered the last one and Roth has been keeping it trapped. In October of 2000, the Brazillian Insitute for the Environmental and Natural Renewable Resources (IBAMA) were taken by surprise when they found out that the last bird was believed dead, although no body was found. Ever since then the Spix Macaw species were considered extinct.

Oh, Rio! Oh, Rio!

Blue Sky studios produced an animated movie called Rio, based on the events of October 2000. The protagonist is a male Spix Macaw named Blu who was born in a Brazilian jungle (assumingly Juazeiro, Brazil). One day the trappers and hunters began caging every animal left and right, Blu was caged while his wing was damaged so he was unable to fly. Thankfully Blu was sent to a good home by a human girl named Linda and have been best friends since. One day Linda (all grown up) was visited by a man named Tulio an ornithologist who informs Linda to go to Rio, Janeiro. Blu is the last male of his kind and Tulio wants Blu to mate with the recently captured female Spix's Macaw named Jewel. Linda agrees in order to save his species and goes to Rio, unfortunately meeting with Jewel was a mess since she wants to escape, and they do, then get captured by hunters. Blu again cannot fly so Jewel has to help him fly since being chained together. After a wonderful adventure with some new friends along the way, has learned to fly, reunited with Linda, and decides to stay in Rio.

The Birds Return!

22 years later, Spix's Little Blue Macaw has returned to Brazil! The exotic blue species fly free again after the help of conversion biologists, veterinarians, scientists, aviculturists, and the people of Brazil. Thanks to them and their 22 years of dedication to planning to help the exotic blue species. 8 captive-bred Blue Little Macaws were released into the wild on June, 11, 22. 12 more are preparing to be released in December 2022!

Fly Free My Friends

Now, the birds' story isn’t finished yet, but sure do they fly high! Take the story of The Spix's Macaw, the species needed help from humans in order to succeed. We should take this story and put it into the thought of how we need each other, and support each other until we can fly on our own! I sure hoped you’ve enjoyed this feathery story and that you’ve learned something today! Well sadly, I have gotta fly to a new venture I’ll see you later, farewell for now.

Bibliography

Historic Background of the Spix's Macaw. (2022, August 21). The beauty of Birds. https://beautyofbirds.com/spixsmacawhistoricbackground

Spix’s Macaw - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio. (n.d.). https://animalia.bio/spixs-macaw

Spix’s Little Blue Macaws Are Returning To The Wild In Brazil. (2022, June 15). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2022/06/15/spixs-little-blue-macaws-are-returning-to-the-wild-in-brazil/?sh=218e6876e596https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2022/06/15/spixs-little-blue-macaws-are-returning-to-the-wild-in-brazil/?sh=218e6876e596

Spix’s Macaw -Cyanopsitta spixii. What do we know today about this rare bird? (n.d.). https://www.bluemacaws.org/en-gb/article/what-do-we-know-today-about-this-rare-bird

Capatides, C. (2018, September 7). The blue macaw parrot that inspired “Rio” is now officially extinct in the wild. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blue-spixs-macaw-parrot-that-inspired-rio-is-extinct-in-wild/