The Spix's Macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii) were extinct and out of the wild two decades ago. The good news is that there was a plan to reintroduce the animals in the country. In 2020, more than 50 captive-bred animals in Europe were brought here so they could breed.
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The problem arose because in the caatinga of Bahia, where the birds were released, there is a natural predator of the species. Out of 20 loose macaws, three have already been killed. Of the total number, two were released in June and now 12 in December. Of the three shot down, two were part of the first group.
The “identity” of at least one of the predators was discovered, which is the stilt hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens), but there are still some suspicions regarding other possible animals, such as the collared falcon (Falco femoralis) and the caracara (Caracara planus).
The project is being carried out with the macaws surviving close to the headquarters, which facilitates the necessary monitoring and feeding adequacy, as the birds need to learn again how to live freely in nature. Approximately 30 macaws are in captivity at the base of the project, serving as replacements for reintroduction and as breeders.
In addition, they end up attracting other animals of the species that are in nature.
Despite the confirmed kills, there is still a fourth macaw that has been missing since August, but the researchers have not been able to find it within the radius of operation of the conservation units. To increase the chances of finding the animal, the researchers must expand the perimeter of action, talking to nearby communities to see if they can find the bird.
In case the birds fly away from the headquarters, it is still possible for the researchers to follow them, as they have transmitters. When this distancing occurs, researchers need to reunite the bird with the group, as this increases the chances of survival.
According to the project, approximately 400 of them need to be released for a sustainable population of the species to be possible. This should be accomplished by reintroducing at least 20 of these birds annually.
As mentioned, there is a captivity in the country, which should increase the number of animals of this species, as there is also a breeding site located in Minas Gerais. Next year, an even larger group of macaws, between 30 and 50 animals, should arrive in the country to join the 50 that are already in national territory.
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