'Extinct' parrots make a flying comeback in Brazil

The Spix macaw, a bird that had once vanished in the wild, is now thriving in its South American homeland after a successful breeding programmeTwenty years ago, the future of the Spix's macaw could not have looked bleaker. The last member of this distinctive parrot species disappeared from the wild, leaving only a few dozen birds in collectors' cages across the globe. The prospects for Cyanopsitta spixii were grim, to say the least.But thanks to a remarkable international rescue project, Spix's macaws - with their grey heads and vivid blue plumage - have made a stunning comeback. A flock now soars freely over its old homeland in Brazil after being released there a month ago. Later this year, conservationists plan to release more birds, and hope the parrots will start breeding in the wild next spring. Continue reading...