Buggy world

No sooner had biologists turned the page than the people living near the habitat of these birds said they had seen Ararinia azoles. More reports of sightings followed. Could it be a bird that survived? To check, pack five. In 1990 researchers took their equipment, binoculars, and notebooks and headed to Mago Spikes County.191

After combing the area for two months without success, the researchers saw a flock of green papagaios maracanãs, or Elinger's macaws, but noticed something strange. One member of the flock was different—larger and blue. They watched him for a week and learned that the Cheeks' macaw, which is sociable by nature, was attached to the Elinger's macaw to overcome its loneliness and find a mate. The green birds do not mind adopting this permanent blue companion as a friend—as for mating with him? Magu Elinger Polite Society!192

Because of their refusal, the Spix Magu would separate from his mates at sunset each day and fly to the tree where he had sheltered with his former partner, the Spix Magu for years—and this continued until 1988, when trappers caught his life partner and sold her into captivity. Since then, he has slept there alone—a lonely little clump of blue feathers perched on a lofty, sterile bough. Now, if a miracle does not happen, there is no doubt that the last Spix Magu to survive in the wild will finally be on the road The dodo—unless someone finds a partner. The idea became popular, and in 1991 the Project Ararinha-Azul was started. Its goal? To protect the surviving male bird, to find a female. partner, and made them mate in the hope that they would populate the area. Will the plan succeed?193

Progress is being made. The Brazilian Post Office has shed light on the fate of the planet's most endangered bird by issuing a postage stamp in its honour. In the northern state of Bahia, to stand by the surviving Magu Chipex. As the townspeople protect their "bird," which they called Severino, bird trappers are now in danger of being caught in the act. Severino is still flying here and there. The next hurdle has also been overcome—convincing the breeders to give up one of the six captive birds still living in Brazil. (See box.) One of the owners of these birds agreed, In August 1994 a young female of this bird, which had been captured as a fledgling by trappers, was placed on board a plane and carried to Kourasa to free it and make it live in its natural habitat again.

From the Internet *The Lonely Bird in the World — Watchtower

ONLINE LIBRARY* *

Chapter 50-51