Indigo Macaw is also known as Lear's Macaw is an endangered endemic species per IUCN criteria. Its population was tiny until its breeding location in the cliffs was discovered in the 1970s and set aside for protection. Previous to that, the bird was only known from the pet trade. We were able to stay at the famous Estação Biológica de Canudos (Lear's Macaw reserve) in the ranger's quarters so we could visit the cliffs first thing in the morning. This was probably my personal highlight of the whole trip to northeast Brazil.
In 1983 it was postulated that only 60 adult birds remained. After protecting this land and implementing compensation programs for farmers who previously shot the birds, they have turned around the decline and in fact there has been a robust recovery with something like 1200 birds surveyed.
The range is highly limited to this area in Brazil.
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