It looks like being a good year for the Spix’s Macaw. News reaches us from the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, in the Arabian Gulf State of Qatar, of the recent successful hatching of five critically endangered Spix’s Macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii). The first two chicks hatched in late February, another on the 2nd of March, and - just before going to press - news came of a further two arrivals. All chicks hatched without complications in AWWP’s new bird nursery.

“What makes this breeding success extra important,” states the report, “is that this hatching came from AWWP’s genetically most important pairing, including the genetically most important female in the international studbook managed population.”

AWWP is currently home to 50 of the 66 Spix’s Macaws in the Brazilian Government’s international studbook managed breeding program.

It’s believed that the Spix’s Macaw has become extinct in the wild, the last known wild bird having been seen in October 2000.

The captive breeding program at AWWP aims to establish a genetically and demographically sustainable population, from which carefully selected birds can be re-established in their place of origin - the semi-arid “caatinga” biome of the Northern Bahia State in Brazil. Two key properties have already been purchased in this area, to provide a suitable habitat for the release of the Spix’s Macaws - the most recent being the 2200 hectare Concordia Farm by AWWP’s owner and founder, HE. Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohd. Bin Ali Al-Thani late last year.