Press Release

Spix's Macaw Video

Presley Lives: Spix's Macaw Returns to Brazil after Decades as a Pet in Colorado

The Spix's Macaw depicted in this video footage was recently discovered living as a pet in a Colorado living room and has now been repatriated to Brazil to join a breeding program. The World Parrot Trust was able to locate the bird, confirm its identity, contact the respective governments, provide much-needed supportive care for the bird, and help orchestrate the safe transfer back to Brazil. This video, taken days before he flew home illustrates a number of issues, some bode well for his future and some showing signs of his unfortunate past.

When first discovered last summer, Presley had recently lost his amazon parrot mate of some 20 years, he was having a number of physical problems, and had begun plucking the feathers from his chest. Following months of intensive care, he has been converted to a healthy diet, he can now maintain a normal posture, use his feet properly to climb and hold food, most of his feathers are growing back rapidly, his beak is heading toward normal, and he's perky and playful in a way that suggests he's recovered a great deal of his Spix's spirit. Naturally, decades of pet-life have led to him to be stimulated by humans and human music, the rhythms of his namesake being no exception. We hope that the discovery of the bird will be interpreted as a very positive event in the recovery of this species, and that the clips here will breathe a little levity in what we feel is a most unfortunate history for this individual bird.

Spix's Macaw Video (.mov format 2Mb) medium speed access

Spix's Macaw Video (.mpg format 5.7Mb) high speed access

Based on the fact that he was paired with a female mate for decades and the fact that he has retained substantial energy and animation, we are hopeful that if provided with a receptive female Spix's in Brazil, he will have the ability to breed successfully and contribute his much-needed genes to the next generation of Spix's Macaws. Given that he was taken from the wild so long ago, it's entirely possible that he carries the most unique genes of any of the surviving Spix's. If so, he and his progeny may play a crucial role in bringing some "new blood" into the remaining captive birds, all of which are closely related.