Do you remember Blu from the movie Rio? You know the one where a bird called Blu is smuggled and taken to live with a lady named Linda and is thought to be the last of its kind but they end up finding another one named Jewel? Well, those 2 bird
s are Spix’s Macaws, also known as The Little Blue Macaw, they are native to the biggest rainforest in the world in the festive country of Brazil. Which is located in South America. 20 years ago in 2000 Spix’s Macaws were pronounced extinct in the wild. Today there only remains 160 of their kind which only exists in captivity. They are now known as the rarest parrots in the world! These gorgeous parrots have been endangered due to trapping for trade, and habitat loss deforestation. It is estimated that 20,000 square miles of the Amazon will disappear per year! Most of this is because of Cattle Ranching. Cattle Ranching not only contributes to 80% of the deforestation in the Amazon, but livestock is also responsible for 14.5% of Global warming emissions. Although the Spix’s Macaws population is small they are currently in a breeding program to increase their population.
Spix’s Macaw facts:
1. Spix’s Macaws can live for around 20 – 30 years in the wild!
2. Their scientific name is Cyanopsitta spixii.
3. In the wild Spix’s Macaws ate the seeds from Pinhao-brabo trees and Faveleira trees.
4. Whilst in the wild, they nested in the hollows of Caraibeira trees.