Spix Macaw

In 1996 a previously wild caught female was donated to the project that was believed to be the former mate of the sole male; she was released into the wild to hopefully re-mate with the male. After 2 months of observation she was never seen again. She had been put into a large flight cage located in the males range for a period of time until the male was seen observing her. When she was finally released she was seen with the male for a month but after 2 months disappeared. Some feel that she was run off by the female Illigers that the male has paired with but this has not been confirmed. To date the male remains paired with the female Illigers Macaw.

    In 1996/97 three eggs were removed from the nesting cavity of the mixed pair. One was found to have an embryo. Genetic testing is being done to find out if these eggs were the result of a mating of the mixed pair or if the female Illigers had mated with another Illigers. When  the eggs were removed from the nesting cavity of the mixed pair, Illigers Macaw eggs were transferred from natural Illigers' nests to the nest of the mixed pair replacing the mixed pairs eggs that had been removed. At least one, possibly two chicks hatched but were considered to be predated by an opossum.