&~7 I A % £T7 te l AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE ^vthsoa/I^- NOV 1 6 1998 vJ-'BRARtE-S^ VOLUME 10# No. 1 1998^ THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY The Avicultural Society was founded in 1 894 for the study of British and foreign birds in freedom and captivity. The Society is international in character, having members throughout the world. Membership subscription rates per annum for 1998 as for 1997: British Isles £18.00: Overseas £21.00 (plus £6.00 for airmail). (U.K. funds please). The subscription is due on 1st January of each year and those joining the Society later in the year will receive back numbers of the current volume of the AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE. Subscription, changes of address, orders for back numbers etc. should be sent to: THE HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER, THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY, c/o BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 3HA, ENGLAND. Enquiries regarding membership should be sent to: THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, Stewart Pyper, 21, Primrose Hill, Nunney, Frome, Somerset BA11 4NP. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE welcomes original articles that have not been published elsewhere and that essentially concern the aviculture of a particular bird or group of birds, or that describe their natural history. Articles should be preferably typewritten, with double spacing, and the scientific names as well as the vernacular names of birds should be given. References cited in the text should be listed at the end of the article. Line drawings, black and white or colour photographs which illustrate a particular point in the article will be used where possible and should be clearly captioned. If authors wish their eventual return, they must say so when submitting the article and write their name on the back of each photograph. Tables and graphs will also be used wherever possible but authors should be aware of the constraints of reproduction, particularly regarding the width of the page which is 105mm. ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR Malcolm Ellis, Hon. Editor, The Avicultural Magazine, The Chalet, Hay Farm, St. Breock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7LH, England. Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 104 - No. 1 All rights reserved ISSN 0005 2256 1998 BREEDING THE FULVOUS-FRONTED PARROTBILL by M. & N. Curzon The Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill Paradoxornis fulvifrons is a very small bird, only about 12cm (4in) long, half of which is accounted for by the tail. It is among the smallest of the 19 members of the Parrotbill family, of which the best known is the Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus. The Fulvous- fronted Parrotbill is recognisable by its very short, globular bill (hence the name Parrotbill) and general fulvous coloured plumage, with an eye stripe extending to the nape, and a grey belly which at times looks almost whitish. Colour illustrations of this species can be seen in Birds of Sikkim and the Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (compact edition), neither of which are very true to life, for the live birds are very slender. They are found from south-eastern Tibet and eastern Nepal, through Sikkim and into China. There is the nominate form and three races, but we are unsure to which of these our birds belong. They were bought in February 1995 as ‘Grey-cheeked’ Parrotbills. One needs to be very careful when catching and handling them. They are very quick, especially when moving around the aviary. There they spend a great deal of time in the bushes and as they clamber about remind you of mice running along the branches. Their diet consists of finely chopped fruit, insectivorous mixture and mini mealworms. Generally a dish of nectar is also available and they have been seen to take some. After being kept in a flight cage they were put outside in the summer of 1995. They shared the aviary with some Red Avadavats Amandava amandava. This is the same aviary (14ft x 12ft x 8ft high (approx. 4.2m x 3.6m x 2.4m high)) in which in 1989 the late Donald Risdon bred the Royal or Golden-breasted Starling Cosmopsarus regius. The parrotbills nested in a box bush 1ft (30.5cm) from the central path in the aviary and 1ft (30.5cm) above the ground. However, the nest built mainly using coconut fibre, together with the eggs were washed away during a thunderstorm, after which there was no further nesting activity in 1995. The following year there was no nesting activtiy due to the fact that they 2 M'& N CURZON - FULVOUS-FRONTED PARROTBILL were housed in a 3ft x 3ft x 6ft high (approx. 0.9m x 0.9m x 1.8m high) flight, within the aviary in which we bred the Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus. This aviary was constructed principally to house new arrivals, where perhaps a new mate can be put to see how an original inmate reacts to it, or where an aggressive bird can be put perhaps to reduce its level of condition. The parrotbills spent time here due to the fact that we hoped to breed from our Red-headed Tits Aegithalos concinnus , but they disappeared due perhaps to vermin. On Saturday, 15th March 1997 the parrotbills were let into the main flight and started calling immediately. Within a few days they had started to build a nest but it took almost a month to complete, the same length of time that it took the bush, a shrubby honeysuckle, to thicken up after its winter pruning. The nest was 3?. ft (approx 1.1m) above the ground, 1ft (30.5cm) from the wire and 4ft (approx. 1 .2m) from the birdroom wall. On the morning of Tuesday, 29th April five blue eggs were found. They were very beautiful and looked like those of the Dunnock Prunella modularis. At the time we were not sure if the pair was sitting but ten days later on the 9th May, two young fledged. It seems a very short fledging period, unless of course they were disturbed and left the nest prematurely. From then onwards whenever anyone was in the garden the parents seemed to give an alarm call. The young appeared to be fully feathered, except that neither had a tail. They hopped about in the bushes, perhaps because they were still unable to fly. The parents did not appear to take any extra livefood, but we presume that they must have done. At the time, of the fruit offered, only grapes and sultanas were taken. They also took some of the insectivorous food, namely Witte Molen Universal paste. They also liked to run their beaks through seeding grasses. After the first few days only one youngster remained. The body of the other was never found. The surviving youngster was a very dull, pale version of its parents and lacked any of their fulvous coloration. The parents were never aggressive to other birds but were always noisy. After the young left the nest, the parents were caught and each fitted with a split ring, to distinguish them from the youngster, which has never been caught or handled. At the time of writing (9th December 1997) all three look alike. We are still unable to distinguish the male and female parents, but expect to be able to do so when they nest again. Watching them follow each other is like watching Long-tailed Tits A, caudatus. As autumn changed to winter, they would not go inside, even after the short, sharp bursts of cold frosty weather at night followed by heavy rain that we experienced here in Somerset. Their outside aviary is 3.6m x 3.6m x 2.25m high (approx, lift 8in x lift Sin x 7ft 4in high), with the indoor accommodation measuring 1.8m M & N CURZON - FULVOUS-FRONTED PARROTBILL 3 wide x 3.6m long x 1.8m high (approx. 5ft lOin wide x 1 1ft 8in long x 5ft lOin high) at the front and 2.25m (approx. 7ft 4in) at the back. Other occupants were a female Yellow-winged Sugarbird or Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus, pairs of Ruddy Ground Doves Columbina talpacoti , Orange-breasted Fruit Doves Ptilinopus aurantiifrons, Yellow- fronted Tinkerbirds, a male Roulroul Partridge Rollulus roulroul, Chestnut- flanked Zosterops Zosterops erythropoleura , and a female Quail Finch Ortygospiza atricollis and Rhodospingus Finches Rhodospingus emeritus. As described above, the Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill Paradoxornis fulvifrons, has been bred by M. & N. Curzon. This is probably the first successful breeding of this species in Great Britain or Ireland. Anyone who knows of a previous breeding is asked to inform the Hon. Secretary. * * * In his article Twenty-five Years at Cobham’ ( Avicultural Magazine, 103, 2: 49-66), Raymond Sawyer mentioned a number of species which have been bred there, which are almost certainly first breedings within Great Britain or Ireland. They are:-Wattled Ja9ana Jacana jacana , Black- winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Black-necked Stilt H. mexicanus , Masked Plover Vanellus miles , Violaceous Touraco Musophaga violacea. Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani, Plumbeous Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus, Blue Whistling Thrush Myiophoneus caeruleus, Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus. Red-tailed Siva Minla ignotincta , Southern Tit Warbler Parisoma subcaeruleum, Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis, Black- masked Crimson Tanager Ramphocelus nigrogularis , Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster, Emerald Starling Lamprotornis iris, Splendid Glossy Starling L. splendidus. Anyone who knows of a previous breeding of any of these species is asked to inform the Hon. Secretary. * * * Probably Another First Breeding During a telephone conversation, just prior to this magazine being printed, Raymond Sawyer mentioned that at Cobham, one of the pairs of Blue-bellied Rollers Coracais cyanogaster have three young, which at the time were almost ready to leave the nest. Another pair, he thought, also have young in the nest. Raymond also said that a pair of Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax have reared a youngster. 4 CHESTER ZOO BIRD REVIEW 1997 by Roger Wilkinson Chester Zoo is well known for its parrot collection and emphasis on working with breeding programmes for vulnerable and endangered birds. Our most important breeding in 1997 was that of the endangered Red-tailed Amazon Amazona hrasiliensis. These birds are part of the European EEP breeding programme co-ordinated from Dresden Zoo by Dr Hubert Liicker. Chester’s pair of Red-tailed Amazons arrived in 1995, the male from Paradise Park, Cornwall and the female from Loro Parque, Tenerife. This was their first breeding attempt and we were delighted when two strong chicks fledged in late July. Unfortunately one died shortly after fledging. The post mortem indicated a most unusual parasite, Besnoitia as being the cause of death. This is the first time Red-tailed Amazons have been bred at Chester and to our knowledge it is also the first breeding of this species on public display in any zoo. Roger Wilkinson Mount Apo Lorikeet Trichoglossus johnstoniae Another parrot bred in 1997 for the first time at Chester was the Blue¬ winged or Illiger’s Macaw Am maracana, now considered vulnerable in the wild, which hatched and reared two excellent chicks. Other parrots bred included four Red-fronted Macaws A. erythrogenys, three Green¬ cheeked Amazons A. viridigenalis, four Cuban Amazons A. leucocephalus, three Blue-eyed Cockatoos Cacatua ophthalmica, one Thick-billed Parrot Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha, four Derbyan Parrakeets Psittacula derbicina, one Splendid Parrakeet Neophema splendida and two Yellow-backed Chattering Lories Lorius garrulus flavopalliatus. WILKINSON - CHESTER ZOO BIRD REVIEW 5 Red and Blue Lory Eos histrio Roger Wilkinson Blue-Throated Conures Pyrrhura cruentata, Black-winged Lories Eos cyanogenia and Stella’s Lorikeets Charmosyna papou all hatched chicks but this year none were reared successfully. Important new arrivals to the collection included a pair of endangered Red and Blue Lories E. histrio and two male Mount Apo Lorikeets Trichoglossus johnstoniae (to join our two females) received on loan from Loro Parque. Both species have European ESB Studbooks. One of the newly formed pairs of Mount Apo Lorikeets spent time in a nest log but no eggs were laid. Other welcome arrivals to the 6 WILKINSON - CHESTER ZOO BIRD REVIEW collection were a pair of Leadbeater’s or Pink Cockatoos C. leadbeateri and two Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis. We received the excellent news that a male Carnaby’s White-tailed Black Cockatoo C. latirostris that we sent on loan to Rotterdam Zoo has successfully sired a chick. Mountain Peacock Pheasants Polyplectron inopinatum are another EEP breeding programme species which were bred for the first time at Chester in 1997, with one chick being foster-reared by a bantam. Other pheasants raised by foster parents or hand-reared included two Palawan Peacock Pheasants P. emphanum, two Himalayan Monals Lophophorus impejanus, two Golden Pheasants Chrysolophus pictus and six Lady Amherst Pheasants C. amber stiae. Three Satyr Tragopans Tragopan satyra were reared by their parents. A young male Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis reared by its parents was allowed to remain with them whilst they incubated a later clutch of eggs. Three chicks were hatched which the half-grown male helped to look after. A pair of Common Peafowl Pavo cristatus reared five chicks. The Green Peafowl P. muticus had fertile eggs but none were hatched this year. Two Roulroul Partridges Rollulus roulroul were parent-reared in their aviary in the Tropical Realm’. Sixteen Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa were hand-reared from eggs laid by birds in ‘Europe on the Edge’. The Red- legged Partridges hatched chicks in the enclosure but these failed to survive. Chinese Painted Quail Excalfactoria chinensis successfully reared a chick in the mixed ‘Finch Flight’. The Red-crowned Cranes Grus japonensis hatched and reared one chick and two West African Crowned Cranes Balearica pavonina pavonina were foster-reared by bantams. Our Blue or Stanley Cranes Anthropoides paradisea laid for the first time but the single egg was infertile. We were devastated when later in the year we lost the male of this pair and more than grateful to the Tropical Bird Gardens, Rode, for the loan of their male. The Demoiselle Cranes A. virgo again had infertile eggs and a new male has been received on loan from Dr Martin Bourne. Little Egrets Egretta garzetta in ‘Europe on the Edge’ were unsuccessful in rearing chicks in 1996 so we elected to take eggs for artificial incubation and hand-rearing. Two chicks were hand-reared before one of the pairs of Little Egrets successfully hatched and reared their own chick. Other species bred in ‘Europe on the Edge’ included Waldrapp Ibis Geronticus eremita which reared four chicks (and another three Waldrapp were bred in the ‘Big Flight’). Eight Dalmatian Pelicans Pelecanus crispus were received from Villars Les Dombes, France, to increase our flock to ten. We were asked to assist with collecting Lapwing Vanellus vanellus eggs from Hawarden Airport where there was a particular problem with these nesting waders presenting a hazard to the planes using this airport. A number WILKINSON - CHESTER ZOO BIRD REVIEW 7 of clutches of set eggs were rescued and returned to our Incubation and Rearing Unit. Most of these were hatched and reared and although we had some difficulties in establishing these in the vast ‘Europe on the Edge’ habitat, at the year end we held a total of nine Lapwings. This total included an additional two rescue birds which were received from Gronant Bird Help together with a Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria. The European Black Vultures Aegypius monachus again spent weeks extending to months sitting on their nest but again no eggs were laid. A pair of European Griffon Vultures Gypsfulvus were received on loan from Bristol Zoo during the winter and have already settled well in ‘Europe on the Edge5 . Perhaps their arrival may stimulate the European Black Vultures into reproductive activity this year. Other new arrivals included an Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus , which has been housed together with the Secretary Birds Sagittarius serpentarius and four Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura, one American Black Vulture Coragyps atratus and a Crested Caracara Polyborus plancus in the new ‘Condor Cliffs’ exhibit. Caribbean Flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber ruber and Chilean Flamingos P chilensis were both very late starting to nest. A dry spring which did not encourage nesting behaviour was followed by a June so wet that when eggs were laid, they sat in small pools of water in the nest depressions. This necessitated our removal of some eggs for artificial incubation which we replaced with dummy eggs and then returning them prior to hatching. Although two Caribbean chicks were hatched, neither survived and of four Chilean Flamingos hatched only one survived, giving us our poorest year with flamingos since 1990. Our successes breeding Humboldt’s Penguins Spheniscus humboldti over the last few years has resulted in them being so well represented in other European zoos that we agreed not to hand-rear any chicks in 1997. All chicks were left with their parents, resulting in three parent-reared youngsters. Six penguins were collected from Chester by Amneville Zoo in France and three birds, representing new bloodlines were received from Emmen Zoo, Netherlands. Waterfowl reared in 1997 included Hawaiian Geese Branta sandvicensis , Ruddy Shelduck Tadomaferruginea , Common Shelduck 7 tadorna , Black¬ billed Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna arborea , Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina , Laysan Teal Anas laysonensis , Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris , Chiloe Wigeon A. sibilairix. Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata and Smew Mergus albellus . We also hatched, but this year were not successful in rearing White-headed Ducks Oxyura leucocephala, but for the first time at Chester were successful in rearing Meller’s Ducks A. me lien, Falcated Teal A. falcata and Garganey Anas querquedula . Fourteen Speckled Pigeons Columba guinea , six Crested Bronzewing WILKINSON - CHESTER ZOO BIRD REVIEW Pigeons Ocyphaps lophotes and one Rock Dove Columbia livia were bred. Although we had some foot growth problems with newly fledged Luzon Bleeding Heart Doves Gallicolumba luzonica we eventually reared six youngsters from our two pairs. Two pairs of Nicobar Pigeons Caloeanas nicobarica each fledged a chick but this was soured by the loss of two of the breeding adults in the same period. Four Red Turtle Doves Streptopelia tranquebarica were received from the Tropical Bird Gardens, Rode at the year end and released into the free-flightarea of the ‘Tropical Realm’. Roger Wilkin . Humboldt’s Penguin Sphenicus humboldti Two Spectacled Owls Pulsatrix perspicillata and one Barn Owl Tyto alba were reared. Our pair of White-faced Scops Owls Otus leucotis have reared 1 5 youngsters over the last five years and are thought to now be more than adequately represented in the managed British zoo population. We followed the studbook co-ordinators request to split this pair, resulting in no breeding in 1997. A new female was introduced to the breeding male but they showed little interest in each other. Two Tawny Frogmouths Podargus strigoides were hand-reared and. two Kookaburras Dacelo novae guineae were reared by their parents. WILKINSON - CHESTER ZOO BIRD REVIEW 9 We had a less successful year with hornbills. The Great Indian Hornbills Buceros bicornis rn lidded- up but the female emerged without evidence of egg laying. Wrinkled Hornbills Aceros corrugatus and Trumpeter Hornbills Bycanistes bucinator both hatched chicks but these failed to fledge successfully and only one African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus epirhinus was reared. The touracos were more successful with three Schalow’s Touracos Tauraco schaloxvi and one Violaceous Touraco Musophaga violacea reared. The White -cheeked Touracos T. leucotis were late breeding and although chicks hatched none were fledged. Four Red-billed Magpies Urocissa erythrorhyncha were reared by their parents but this year neither pair of Superb Spreo Starlings Spreo superbus were successful in raising young. All four of our Superb Spreos have been in the collection between 13 and 14 years and were adult when received. Our longest living passerine in the zoo is a Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea received as an adult in 1978, which must now be at least 20 years old. In the ‘Tropical Realm’ the Emerald Starlings Lamprocolius iris fledged two chicks but these disappeared before the year end; possibly having escaped, for no bodies were discovered. Red-eared Bulbuls Pycnonotus jocosus, Pekin Robins Leiothrix lutea and Silver-beaked Tanagers Ramphocelus carbo also fledged chicks. One pair of White-rumped Shamas Copsychus malabaricus fledged several broods of chicks and a Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa was hand-reared. Mexican House Finches Carpodacus mexicanus. Zebra Finches Poephila guttata and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleus Uraeginthus bengalus reared chicks in the Finch Flight. We were especially pleased with the latter, as these commonly imported waxbills are so often neglected in zoo collections. New species received included Omei Shan Liocichlas Liocichla omeiensis, Red-legged Honeycreepers Cyanerpes cyaneus and Grosbeak Starlings Scissirostrum dubium all of which have been highlighted for co-operative management in European zoos. In total 87 species hatched chicks in the collection from which a total of 262 chicks from 72 species were reared successfully. The highlights were Chester Zoo’s first successes with Red-tailed Amazons, Illiger’s Macaws and Mountain Peacock Pheasants and the repeated breeding of several other conservationally sensitive species including West African Crowned Cranes. It was generally a good year for breeding but as always we also had our disappointments. With birds, no one year is like another, and we look forward to this breeding season knowing that there will be challenges and disappointments but hoping that at the end of the year there may also be further successes to report. Dr Roger Wilkinson is Curator of Birds at Chester Zoo, Upton by Chester CH2 1LH, England. He is on the Avicultural Society Council and is Coordinator of the Palm Cockatoo EEP. 10 THE STAR FINCH Neochima ruficauda by Anthony J. Mobbs Two races of the Star Finch are recognised, namely Neochima r. ruficauda which is the nominate form and found south of Rockhampton in Queensland and N.r. clarescens which is found across northern Australia. The former has less crimson around the facial area and the abdomen is creamy-white. It is reported as being very rare in the wild. Indeed, from recent reports, it appears that both races are becoming somewhat scarce in the wild. N. r. clarescens is more brightly coloured, with extensive crimson on the facial area and a more yellow abdomen. Although there are two recognised races, other than in their country of origin, they have become so interbred that it is virtually impossible to identify the two distinct races in captive bred birds. Star Finches can prove ideal subjects for the newcomer to Australian finches as well as to the more experienced enthusiast. The species is easily sexed, but the birds need to be nine months old or more before one can be certain of the sex of each individual. Young males can often be sexed at an early age as the majority usually start to sing shortly after being weaned. However, one cannot always be sure that non-singing birds are in fact females, until full adult plumage is attained. In full adult plumage male Star Finches have the entire front of the head, ear-coverts and throat crimson. Adult females have less crimson on the facial area. Also the white spotting which appears on the ear-coverts, mesia and throat is not so prominent in the female as it is in the male. Star Finches will breed readily in either cage or aviary. They will also mix well with other species which are approximately the same size. Few pairs attempt to build a nest from scratch. Because of this, it is best to partly fill nest-boxes with soft hay before placing them in position. A small amount of nesting material should also be placed within easy reach of the breeding pair and the supply should be maintained at least until the chicks have hatched. The reason for this is that many males (especially when the breeding pair is housed in a cage) will continually take material from the nest while the female is incubating. In some cases, so depleting the nest, the female deserts. I put this behaviour down to boredom. If extra nesting material is made available to the male, he can occupy himself with this rather than robbing the nest. The average clutch is five to six eggs. Incubation usually begins after the fourth egg is laid. Although both birds take turns in incubating, it is the female which incubates during the night period and for lengthy periods throughout the day. It can take from between 12 to 15 days for the eggs to hatch, according to how well the birds sit. Star Finches are extremely light MOBBS - STAR FINCH 11 sitters and even the most steady pairs will leave the nest at the least provocation. Because of this, nest inspection is easily carried out. However, as Star Finches are less tolerant of nest inspection than most other species of Australian finch, I would suggest the eggs be inspected for fertility only once, the best time being some seven to eight days after incubation commenced. The nest should not be inspected again until the chicks are approximately ten days old. At this age, well fed chicks should be ready to be fitted with size C closed-rings. Once the rings have been fitted, the nest should not be inspected again until the young have fledged. Copyright A. J. Mobbs Star Finch chicks 12 days old Star Finch chicks usually fledge when they are approximately 20 days old. It is important not to accidentally disturb them just before fledging, as if they leave the nest prematurely, one may find it impossible to persuade them to return, even to roost. Immature birds have the upperparts dull olive-brown with the underparts brownish-buff, fading to white on the lower breast and turning to pure white on the abdomen and under tail-coverts. Their beaks are black; legs and feet brown. Young Star Finches begin to moult into a subadult plumage when they are approximately eight weeks old. When this moult is completed, the birds will look very much like poorly coloured adults. The males will have a certain amount of crimson on the facial area, but not nearly so much as a fully adult bird. Females in subadult plumage, may have a certain amount of crimson on the forehead, but their overall colour will be much paler than that of the males. The beaks of both sexes will have turned from black to red and the legs and feet will have become yellow. It may be six or seven 12 MOBBS - STAR FINCH months before the young birds again begin to moult. When this moult is completed, the birds will be in full adult plumage and therefore easy to sex visually. As a basic diet Star Finches can be offered either a good quality foreign finch mixture, or one can do as I do and supply plain canary seed, white millet and panicum millet in separate dishes. Spray millet can be supplied ad-lib. Small oyster shell, limestone and mineralised grit should be available at all times, as should cuttlefish bone. Every two or three days, flaked cuttlefish bone should also be offered, especially to laying females. An -added source of calcium much enjoyed by Star Finches is shells from chicken eggs. Clean shells should first be placed in a saucepan of hot water which is allowed to simmer for two or three minutes, after which the shells can be removed and allowed to dry out completely. They can then be stored in a screw top jar ready for use. Before offering the shells to your birds, first place about a quarter of a shell in the palm of your hand and then crash it into small pieces with your thumb. The pieces can then be offered to your birds by placing them on top of the grit. I give Star Finches of all ages about a quarter of a whole shell about every three or four days. Laying females can be offered the shells more frequently. Any uneaten shell should be removed after 24 hours, otherwise it may become soiled with droppings. As with the majority of Australian finches, Star Finches enjoy greenfood and such items as thoroughly washed lettuce and spinach should be offered on a regular basis. Greenfood taken directly from the wild must be thoroughly washed under clean running water before giving it to your birds and care should be taken that it is gathered from an area which has not been fouled by cats or dogs or sprayed with chemicals. If in doubt, then do as I do and supply only commercially grown lettuce. Even the latter must be thoroughly washed before use. Clean water for drinking must, of course, be available at all times. Star Finches, especially when rearing young, can often be persuaded to take a good proprietary brand of egg food. Sprouted seeds are usually relished and should be offered ad-lib to pairs with chicks. Both' these foods must be fed fresh each day, any remaining after 24 hours being discarded. Mutations Although reports have appeared of a fawn mutation of the Star Finch, as far as I am aware, few are known outside Australia. However, the yellow mutation is well established both in Europe and the USA. The pied mutation is also well established in Europe, but as far as I know, is very scarce (maybe even unobtainable) in the USA. Both mutations are recessive; i.e. if either mutation is mated to a normal Star Finch, then only visual normals split for MOBBS - STAR FINCH 13 the appropriate mutation are produced. In the UK, most yellow Star Finches are as robust as normals and because of this, most yellows are now mated together (rather than to normals), thus eliminating the need for split birds. Copyright A J. Mobbs Immature Star Finch, male, pied mutation. The crown and white bill will become red when the bird becomes fully adult (see text) Pieds are also mated together regularly. However, the latter mutation requires outcrossing from time to time to pure normals of good size. Otherwise their size and stamina quickly deteriorate. When first it appeared in the UK, the pied Star Finch was extremely popular. In the majority of cases only the extremities are pied (i.e. the flight and tail feathers and also part of the head) and no doubt due to this the mutation quickly lost favour and at present few breeders appear to be persevering with pied Star Finches. Another feature of this mutation which can prove disappointing (especially if a breeder is not aware of the fact), is that many young birds which appear heavily pied whilst in immature plumage, will, if the pied area is around the face and on the beak have the pied areas replaced with the ‘normal5 colour, i.e. bright crimson, when the bird moults into full adult plumage. I have seen the occasional bird with pied areas of plumage on the body as well as the extremities, but such birds appear to be the exception rather than the rale. The combination of yellow and pied has recently appeared, although as yet I have seen . only colour photographs of this mutation. Anthony J. Mobbs has recently written a small book of 40 pages about the Star Finch. It is priced at £3.95 post paid and is available from him at:- 65 Broadstone Avenue, Walsall , West Midlands WS3 1JA, England. Tel / Fax: 01922 477281 /E-mail: Mobbs.Birdbooks@btinternet.com.uk. 14 THE SUCCESSFUL PARENT REARING OF A PESQUET’S PARROT Psittrichas fulgidus AT LORO PARQUE by Roger G. Sweeney Pesquet’s Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus remains an uncommon species in zoological collections with records of captive breeding being comparatively scarce. Successful breedings have during the past 20 years been recorded in a number of collections including Loro Parque, Palmitos Park, Bronx Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Jurong Bird Park and that of Antonio de Dios in the Philippines. Despite these successes the captive status of Pesquet’s Parrot is still fragile and breeding can not be described as consistent in any of the collections which have reared this species. The majority of birds which have so far been raised have been hand-reared. The reason why more breeding pairs have not been given the opportunity to rear their own young is unclear. Los Angeles Zoo has recorded some success with parent rearing. Pesquet’s Parrots have been kept in the collection at Loro Parque for many years and successful breeding has taken place in the past. The male of the pair which is currently on exhibition was reared at Loro Parque. In recent years, however only clutches of infertile eggs had been laid. Two pairs with the potential to breed are currently housed in the collection, each of which laid two clutches of infertile eggs during the early and middle part of the 1997 breeding season. In November both pairs laid a third clutch, and the eggs of one pair proved to be fertile and resulted in the hatching of a chick in early December. When first seen the chick appeared strong and had food in the crop and therefore was left with its parents. Intervention with the view to artificial rearing was considered unnecessary so long as the chick was observed to be developing well in the care of its parents. The pair of Pesquet’s Parrots which hatched the chick are housed in the new off-exhibit breeding centre. Both parents were bred in captivity and were hand-reared and so it was particularly pleasing to see them rear their offspring successfully. The male was reared at Jurong Bird Park and the female was reared at Bronx Zoo. They were introduced to each in 1996, in one of the older breeding centres, and at the beginning of 1 997 were relocated to the new breeding centre where they are currently housed in an aviary which measures 12m long x 1 .5m wide x 2.5m high (approx. 39ft long x 5ft wide x 8ft high). A nesting log was prepared from a segment of the trunk of a Washington Palm, and placed towards the rear of the aviary. We partly hollowed out the nesting cavity, but left the main part of the excavation to the birds. The aviary is furnished with three main horizontal perches which extend across the width of the aviary at the front, middle and rear of its length. Smaller perches are positioned in front of the entrance to the nest SWEENEY - PESQUETS PARROT 15 and at the front of the flight. The birds are fed twice-daily on a special liquidised diet, the ingredients of which include apple, pear, papaya, banana and carrot. In addition segments of fresh fruit are attached to the perches and a feeding dish of Prettybird Lory Select pelleted diet is provided. Clean drinking water is available at all times and once a day the birds are given a ten minute shower from an overhead sprinkler system. The pair in the breeding centre began their first clutch of 1997 on 1st July, when two eggs were laid. These were removed later when they were overdue and were considered to be infertile. A second clutch was laid on the 10th September. On this occasion the first egg was laid in the nest and the second was found on the front feeding tray and was taken for artificial incubation. The egg in the nest was removed when it became overdue, and like the previous eggs was considered infertile. However, the egg which was artificially incubated was suspected of having been fertile and that the embryo had died early in its development. This led us to suspect that some of the eggs previously thought to have been infertile might in fact have been fertile and had suffered a similar fate due to poor incubation behaviour by the pair. When they began nesting again, this time in November, we left them undisturbed for the first ten days, until the 19th November, when the nest was inspected and a clutch of three eggs was seen. They were left undisturbed until we expected them to hatch and on the 8th December we checked the nest and found a chick which appeared to be two or three days old. The remaining two eggs did not hatch. The chick appeared in good condition and had food in the crop, therefore it was not disturbed. On the 28th December, I briefly removed the chick from the nest so that one of the staff veterinarians could check the bone development, which appeared perfect. We decided against the use of a closed leg band as Pesquet’s Parrots have proved susceptible to leg problems, particularly Hyperkeratosis which can be problematic with metal leg bands. Instead the local CITES officials were informed about the chick soon after it hatched and were invited to observe the chick and its development. The preferred method of identification marking for this species is to place a micro-chip in the breast muscle once the chick is fledged. From the third week of February onwards the chick could be seen each day looking out from the entrance of the nest, but it did not fledge until 14th March, when it left the nest in the morning and joined its parents perching in the aviary. From the first day out of the nest the chick looked strong and confident and seemed comfortable in flight and when landing. Within a few days it was seen feeding by itself and by April was regularly taking food directly from the food dish. On the 2nd April the chick was captured for a veterinary examination and so that a micro-chip could be placed in its breast muscle in the presence of the local CITES officials. The -chick had good 16 SWEENEY - PESQUET’S PARROT body condition and is now independent and looks strong. This success is especially pleasing because Pesquet’s Parrot is very much in need of more consistent breeding in captivity, and also because the chick was reared by its parents. This point is even more significant when one remembers that both parents are captive bred and hand-reared. This new breeding pair are comparatively young and so it is to be hoped that Loro Parque can look forward to many more successful years ahead with this pair, now that they have registered their first success. Roger G. Sweeney was Curator of Loro Parque from March 1994 until May 1998. He now works as an international avicultural consultant and can be contacted by writing to:- Dymocks Mill Cottage, Oldcastle, Nr Malpas, Cheshire SY14 7NE, England. * * * EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ECHO PARRAKEETS Psittacula eques echo ON MAURITIUS 1996/97 The 1 996/97 breeding season was the most productive in recent years. A total of 33 chicks hatched and 23 survived to fledging: 20 in captivity and three in the wild. In May 1997 the total population was estimated at 76-87 birds: 50-61 birds in the wild and 26 birds in captivity. This represents about a 50% increase since last year. The wild population includes 14-19 females, 33-39 males (a ratio of about 1:2) and three fledglings. Of these, six or seven are believed to be sub-adults and one year old birds, including five or six males and one female. A survey of the Black River Gorges National Park in August and September 1996 discovered six new breeding groups bringing the total to 13 known wild breeding groups of which 12 bred. The main focus of the work included intensive nest site management, rescuing eggs and chicks from failing nests, clutch and brood manipulations and predator control. Thirty-four eggs were laid in the wild of which 14 were harvested and two died as embryos. Eighteen chicks hatched in the wild of which 1 1 were rescued, four died in the wild and three fledged. In May 1997, the captive population comprised 13 males, 12 females and one juvenile of unknown sex.. There were two adult males and four adult females and one established breeding pair. Eleven wild pairs are likely to be genetically represented in the captive population. Twenty-six chicks were handled at the breeding centre, 20 of which fledged. Captive SUMMARY - ECHO PARRAKEETS 17 management focused on hand-rearing and 20 chicks were hand-reared or partly hand-reared, 1 6 of which fledged. The remaining chicks were reared by Ring-neck Parrakeets P. krameri foster parents. Disease affected most of the chicks and caused some mortalities in chicks and at post-fledging. A release into the wild of captive bred Ring-neck Parrakeets has been carried out to develop release techniques suitable for Echo Parrakeets. A release of captive bred Echo Parrakeets into native forest is intended within the next year, following the lUCN’s Reintroduction Specialist Group guidelines. In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the known wild population of Echo Parrakeets. Some of this is undoubtedly due to a real increase in the number of birds but is also a result of additional birds being found due to more intensive fieldwork. It is recommended that future work focuses on improving the productivity and survival of the Echo Parrakeet by improvements in nest site management, supplemental feeding of wild birds, disease control and improved diet for the captive birds. This will require a greater investment in the project. The Executive Survey reproduced above, preceded the Echo Parrakeet Management Report for 1997, presented at the 1998 International Aviculturists Society Convention, which can be read in full in that Society’s Proceedings. It is reproduced here by kind permission of the International Aviculturists Society (P.O. Box 2232, LaBelle, Florida 33975, USA.) and Dr Carl Jones, who in giving his permission, added that earlier this year they released 11 captive reared Echo Parrakeets, of which at the time of writing ( 10th May 1998), ten were still alive. They joined three released in June 1997. The conservation of the Echo Parrakeet is one of a number of projects managed by the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation. 18 ABBOTSRURY SWANNERY by John Fair, Don Moxom and Malcolm Ellis The origins of Abbotsbury Swannery are lost in the mists of time. The first known mention of it is in 1393, on a long roll of sheep or goat skins sewn into strips with sheep sinews. The strips formed the Monks’ Court Rolls and were the record of wrongs adjudicated upon by the Abbot of the monastery to which the swannery belonged. The entry in question refers to the seven pence fine, which must have been quite a sum in those days, imposed on William Squillor, the monastery swan herd, for lowering hatches or sluice boards and raising the level of the Fleet, thereby flooding the swans’ nest site at nesting time, something which occasionally still happens accidentally. Although there is no written proof of the existence of the swannery prior to 1 393, it seems certain that a colony of Mute Swans Cygnus olor had been nesting in the Fleet long before this date. It is probable that the swans were already there when the monastery was founded in the 1 1 th century, and that the monks merely took advantage of their presence, and potentiality, as a source of food and income. They also bred pigeons in the pigeon house which, still stands near the Tithe Barn. As well as providing the medieval monks with fresh meat, the swans’ wing quills were used to make quill pens and their down was used to stuff pillows. At one time the Fleet was known as 'Anglice a Meare’, from the Frence word Anglicing , meaning pinioning or the removal of part of the wing. Presumably, this was done so that the swans could be penned and fattened for the table. Even nowadays, Lloyds of London use quills from Abbotsbury swans to enter shipping and other insurance losses in its Doom Book , and the white headpieces on the helmets of the Queen’s bodyguard, the Gentleman at Arms, are made from the soft feathers from under the swan’s wings. Several hundred feathers are needed for each helmet and enough are supplied to complete one a year. All Mute Swans living on open water in England today legally belong to the Queen. The only exceptions are the Abbotsbury swans and those on the River Thames belonging to the Worshipful Company of Vintners and Dyers. The Abbey of St Peter’s ownership of the Abbotsbury swans ended in 1539, following Henry V Hi’s dissolution of the monasteries, at which time both the village of Abbotsbury and the estate were acquired by the Strangeways family. Fifteen generations later they are still owned by the same family and to show the family’s ownership, the swans are nicked with a sharp knife on the outside of the web of one foot. This mark is called the 'Hive of Ilchester’, from an old word for indentation, and possibly refers to a series of small inlets' along the back of the Fleet - Hodden Hive, Langton Hive, FAIR, MOXOM & ELLIS - ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY 19 Chickerel Hive. As well as being marked, the swans are fitted with numbered white rings. Ringing has revealed that 15 years is a good age for an Abbotsbury swan. At the time of the swannery’s 600th anniversary in 1993, the oldest swan was a 16 year old female. The record stands at 25 years. Abbotsbury Swannery is roughly midway between Bridport and Weymouth, Dorset, on the south coast of England. The Fleet is a brackish lagoon, eight miles (almost 13km) long, sheltered from the English Channel by the Chesil Bank, a geologically unique shingle bank some 17 miles (approx. 27km) long. The Fleet is vital to the continued existence of the swannery - without it there would be no colony. The shallow water of the Fleet is rich in Eel Grass Zostera marina , which makes up a large part of the 81bs (approx. 3.6g) or so of plant matter which each swan consumes daily. One of the main reasons that the swans nest close together at Abbotsbury (the present nesting area covers only about five acres (approx, two hectares)) is to do with their management and feeding. Feeding helps reduce the need for larger territories normally needed to find sufficient food to feed the growing cygnets. Management of the swans really begins in earnest at nesting time. The position of each nest is recorded on a map, as is the ring number of each bird, the date each egg is laid and the date it hatches. Normally the swannery is lucky to have any eggs before the beginning of March, but this year, perhaps as a result of the mild winter and spring, the first egg was laid on the 1 3th March and the first cygnets hatched 30th April, a fortnight earlier than usual. Mute Swans usually lay one egg every two days (on average). The average clutch size at Abbotsbury is five. This year there were one or two nests with ten eggs and another with 1 2, but in the case of the latter, it is felt certain that four of these were laid by a ‘cuckold swan’. Incubation begins when the clutch is complete and usually takes 35 days from when the last egg is laid. All the eggs hatch within about 24 hours. When the cygnets are two days old, and dry and fluffy, but before their parents first lead them to the water, each is given a small web tag which is numbered. This can prove very helpful, as cygnets easily become confused and get lost in such a big colony. The swanherd then has to decide whether to return them to their parents or foster them. This may depend on a number of things - the distance from the nest to the water, how good the parents are at looking after their young, and how many other swan territories the family has to walk through on its daily journeys to and from the water. To make their journeys easier, staff sometimes accompany them. A way of helping pairs which in recent years have begun nesting farther from the Fleet is to feed them in temporary troughs, which also saves the families having to cross other pairs’ territories. They are fed in this way three times a day, which can mean that food and water has to be carried to over 100 nests. In spite of the care the birds receive, only 1 00 or so cygnets survive each 20 FAIR, MOXOM & ELLIS - ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY year from six times this number of eggs. The least successful swans are newly paired birds and young birds nesting for the first time. To relieve the pressure on the territories, some of the earliest families to hatch are put in pens. These are usually the most dominant and well established. By removing them, space is created round their vacated nesting areas, providing new territories for pairs nesting later. Birds usually accept being moved, and at the same time can be given extra cygnets to foster. Parents with less than three cygnets are never chosen, as it is thought that the adults can count up to three and would be unlikely to take on extra young. During the 1997 breeding season 106 pairs nested and out of the 565 eggs laid, 427 hatched, with a 39% survival rate among the cygnets, which is considered very good. There is always a high proportion of swans on the Fleet which do not nest in any one year. This may be because of a number of reasons, e.g. they may be too young, or may not have a partner. In any one season usually only about one-third of the population is involved in nesting. The national population has increased by 42% since the last census in the 1980s. Recent mild winters have helped the swans’ survival rate. On the other hand, hard winters can decimate their numbers. Many hundreds of swans died on the Fleet during the severe winter of 1962-1963, and well over 100 died during the winter of 1986. During February in particular, food can become scarce. Over 1,000 swans regularly winter on the Fleet. Last year’s annual count recorded 1,381 wintering there, including many visiting birds from the Somerset Levels and other neighbouring localities, attracted by the Fleet’s rich source of natural food. They are joined by up to 20,000 other waterfowl, including nearly 9,000 Wigeon Anas penelope, mostly from Russia, and 2,500 Brent Geese Branta bernida from Siberia. In the early spring, in order to reduce the pressure on the plant food, wheat is fed to them in the water about one mile (approx. 1 .6km) from the swannery. Every two years the Abbotsbury swans are rounded up. This takes place in July, when most of the birds are moulting and unable to fly. The annual moult takes six weeks and among the first feathers to be shed are the flight feathers. Rounding up so many birds is obviously a mammoth task and for it the swannery staff are joined by some 60 helpers from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Oxford, and other field workers, who use boats and canoes to shepherd the swans ashore where they are penned. Although the aim is to round up the entire population, invariably some have completed their moult and manage to get airborne and escape, and the final total penned is usually some 650 to 800 swans. Broken and missing rings are replaced (usually 1 00 or so swans are found to have no ring). The rings ensure that individuals can be identified in the interests of better management and the understanding of population dynamics. It is the main reason for rounding-up the swans, but the FAIR, MOXOM & ELLIS - ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY 21 opportunity is also taken to check each bird for wounds and feather lice, and to take a blood sample. They are also weighed. One bred at Abbotsbury about 15 years ago, had a wingspan of 7ft lOin (approx. 2.4m) and weighed 421bs (19.050kg), a good 121bs (5.443kg) more than most other big cobs. There is an authenticated record of a Mute Swan in Germany, which weighed 471bs (21.318kg). Duck Decoy In 1655 the new owner of Abbotsbury, Sir John Strangeways and his son Giles, leased land on the edge of the Fleet to a John Hearne, for the construction of a duck decoy and a ‘little house adjoyneigne’. This same decoy is one of only five still in use in Britain. Not only is it the oldest working example, but is also the one truest to its original design. Only two tunnels (or ‘pipes’) now run from the square decoy pond near the swans’ nesting site, though a third nearby leads directly to the Fleet lagoon. The mesh covering each tunnel is supported by locally cut ash or willow hoops and the entire ‘pipe’ is about 50m (approx. 164ft) long. As well as tapering, it is curved slightly so that the ducks entering it cannot see the fate of their companions at the other end. Tame ducks act as decoys, and grain is used to help entice the birds along the tunnel. Once inside, the ducks are driven towards the tail by the decoyman, who appears from behind one of a number of reed screens placed at an angle along the outside of the tunnel. It may sound simple, but a lot depends on the skill of the decoyman. The earliest surviving records of the Abbotsbury decoy date back to 1662 and list 1 12 ducks being supplied to the kitchens at Melbury, and the sale of a further 966. Traditionally, the annual haul averaged about 500-600 ducks, though in the 1920s 2,564 were taken in three seasons. Most were eaten locally, with any surpluses going to market in London. Wildfowl caught in the Abbotsbury decoy nowadays are ringed and released in the hope of learning more about their migratory movements. Ringing started at Abbotsbury in 1937 with Teal A. crecca and Mallard A. platyrhynchos. Other wildfowl ringed there since include Gadwall A. strep era. Pintail A. acuta, Shoveler A. clypeata, Wigeon, Pochard Aythya ferina and a Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanopteral Wildfowl ringed at Abbotsbury have been found in 14 different countries, inevitably most have been shot, although the ring from a Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula was recovered from the eyrie of a pair of White¬ tailed Eagles Haliceetus albicilla in Finland. Sub-tropical Gardens The sub-tropical gardens in which peafowl and pheasants roam free are the surviving nucleus of the original gardens planted by Elizabeth, 1st Countess of Ilchester on the steep slope between the beach and the mock 22 FAIR, MOXOM & ELLIS - ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY castle (no longer there), which she had built in 1765 as a summer residence. Reed and Withy Beds Situated mainly around the swannery, they provide shelter for the nesting swans and important habitat for a range of plants, birds and other animals. Because so many reed beds have disappeared or are under threat, those at Abbotsbury are, whenever possible, managed in such a way as to encourage wildlife. Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus , Sedge Warblers A. schoenobaenus, Reed Buntings Emberiza schoeniclus and Bearded Tits or Reedlings Panurus biamicus are among the birds which benefit from this policy. In the autumn flocks of Swallows Hirundo rustica , Sand Martins Riparia riparia and Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava feed and rest there before flying south to spend the winter in Africa. The village of Abbotsbury still has many picturesque thatched roofs, thatched with reed from Abbotsbury’s own reed beds, as they have been since time immemorial. Several hundred bundles are also set aside to be used as nesting material by the swans and it is also used to renew the screens lining the tunnels of the duck decoy. As well as being used to make hoops to support the mesh covering the tunnels of the decoy, the willow is still used to produce spars, the wooden staples, for fixing the thatch to the roofs of the houses in the village. Almost all the information for this article was taken, much of it word for word, from Abbotsbury & the Swannery by John Fair and Don Moxom, photographs by Peyto Slatter, published in 1993 by the Dovecote Press. My thanks go to the book's authors and also to David Wheeler, Manager of Abbotsbury Swannery, who provided me with a copy of the book and obtained the authors ’ permission for me to make use of material for which they retain the copyright. - Malcolm Ellis Published in 1993 to celebrate the 600th Anniversary of the swannery, this superbly illustrated, 87 page (265mm x 238mm) paperback book, which originally cost £9.95, is now available price £5, including p&p, from:- Abbotsbury Swannery Shop, Abbotsbury Swannery, New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4JG, England. 23 WELFARE OF CAPTIVE PARROTS by Victoria White Without a stimulating environment captive parrots, in order to relieve their boredom, often resort to self-mutilation (most commonly feather plucking), over-eating or other behavioural problems such as stereotypic movements. Cage size presents a major problem for pet parrots, which, if kept for long periods in cages which are too small can show severe behavioural problems. As a general rale parrots should be able to spread both their wings and turn in a cage without them touching the sides, although this can be unrealistic with some of the larger macaws (Csaky, 1995). Boredom is another common problem with pet parrots which can lead to behavioural problems. The suggestions made in the following sections concern all caged parrots and can be related to both pets and zoo specimens. Feather plucking is a common problem, often seen in companion birds and zoo specimens. To some degree different species of parrots may have diverse causative factors that influence feather problems and certainly the age that feather plucking starts has a great deal to do with the reasons (Blanchard, 1 996). There are many psychological and physical factors which are involved in feather plucking, a common reason given being sexual frustration. While this can be a cause in adult birds it is certainly not the only problem especially in immature specimens. Disease, injury, malnutrition, allergies and/or a sub-standard environment are physical factors which all lead to excessive feather problems. Feather plucking, whether due to physical or psychological problems can cause noticeable bald patches and is seen especially in areas the bird can easily reach. Typical feather plucking sites include the wing skin fold (wing web), inner thighs and breast (Rosenthal, 1993). Two major physical causes of plucking can be an inadequate diet lacking in calcium and vitamin A, and a low environmental humidity and/or insufficient bathing. Both calcium and vitamin A are essential nutrients for growth and maintaining condition in skin, feathers and tissues, and moisture (either in the air or applied directly to the skin) is needed to prevent skin dehydration which can cause flaking, itching and subsequent feather plucking. Disease and injury also can cause feather picking but with correct husbandry these rarely occur. Psychological or behavioural problems often result in feather plucking. This is often seen in hand-reared birds (Blanchard, 1996) where there has been no guidance by an adult of the same species, resulting in the learning of the wrong preening techniques, similarly wrong techniques can be learned by very young birds if housed with or near birds of a different species, whose preening techniques may be copied. As there are distinct differences in feather morphology between species this can often cause problems. 24 WHITE - WELFARE OF CAPTIVE PARROTS Copying is common in young birds and includes copying the habits of others, a bird may start feather plucking simply by watching another bird pluck and proceeding to do the same. Insecure, poorly socialised birds, those with phobic tendencies or birds subjected to sudden change (such as change of environment) often show stress related feather plucking which can become habitual if the bird receives more attention than usual when it plucks. Poor early socialisation can cause confusion when the bird is placed in a social environment (a shared cage, a public display etc.). This can result in serious behaviour dysfunctions and is normally seen in birds under two years old when it manifests as feather plucking (Blanchard, 1996). When behaviours are frustrated, increased aggression often results. This is usually directed at pen mates but it may be self directed (Bareham, 1973). This can take the form of feather plucking which in this instance may be attributed to a lack of stimulation in the environment. This may be rectified by providing more space, a companion, more ‘toys’ or time out of the caged environment. Environmental enrichment has long been recognised as a method of reducing or alleviating behavioural problems including feather picking (King, 1992). This will be considered later on. Another behavioural problem witnessed in captive animals are stereotypic movements. Stereotypies tend to arise when the normal behavioural expression of a motivational state is restricted or blocked (Lawrence & Rushden, 1993). When these behaviours occur in a captive environment, both the behavioural and spatial needs of the animal must be examined. There are two basic forms of stereotypic movements found in a zoo environment (Stookey & Watts, 1998). One of these, pacing, is said to occur when the animal moves repeatedly back and forth in a straight line, a circle, or a figure of eight pattern. In captive parrots this may take the form of pacing along a perch, or climbing up and down or along the aviary wire. While stationary acts, which can constitute stationary stereotypies, are repeated non locomotive acts, such as rocking, head tossing or weaving, swaying movements and repetitive head bobbing, often seen in captive parrots. Boredom and inactivity due to lack of stimuli can be seen as two of the main causes of stereotypic behaviours. It may also be that these movements develop as escape attempts which are incompletely carried out due to a lack of space in the caged environment (Bareham, 1973, Stookey et ah, 1998) and also that they may increase with outside stimulation. The arrival of visitors, or the keeper at feeding time, or sudden noise all cause an increase in behaviour (Bareham, 1973) When it is presumed that stereotypic behaviours have occurred due to lack of stimuli then the environment in which the animal is kept should be examined. If the environment is found to be lacking in content and does not arouse any species typical behaviours then environmental enrichment WHITE - WELFARE OF CAPTIVE PARROTS 25 techniques should be considered. When the limits of the cage simply mean a distinct demarcation of territory for the animal, ideal conditions for captivity have been achieved (Hediger, 1964). This, however, is not often seen with captive parrots. To enrich the environment of a caged animal it should be made as naturalistic as possible so that it resembles the habitat the animal occupies in the wild. This can be done with relative ease by, for example, adding extra vegetation. For captive animals vegetable matter may have many other kinds of significance (Hediger, 1964) for example; food, support (an opportunity for climbing, home, living space, sleeping and nesting space), means of sharpening and abrasion for beaks and claws, building materials for nesting, cover or camouflage. In all these different ways vegetation can enrich a caged environment and stimulate the creatures living in it. Other forms of enrichment, such as placing Toys’ in the cage can also bring about a decrease in stereotypic behaviour. Enrichment experiments on Crimson-breasted Conures Pyrrhura perlata perlata (Van Hoek & King, 1977) using rope, branches, wooden baskets, egg boxes and hidden fruit to enrich the environment, all produced positive effects. Observed effects were increased locomotion and a decrease in preening behaviour which, in environments lacking stimuli can become habitualised in the form of feather plucking. A further study using food based enrichment techniques (Coulton, Waran & Young, 1997) which encourage foraging behaviour showed that providing extra foraging opportunities for parrots is a useful form of enrichment. During enrichment periods the birds spent significantly more time allopreening than in the baseline or post enrichment periods. As the majority of parrots forage for food in the wild this gave the birds a chance to exhibit a species typical behaviour. Providing several different enrichments allows animals to perform a greater range of behaviours, become more active in captivity and decrease the likelihood of habituation to certain enrichment items. The goals of enrichment are varied (Powell, 1995) and include: increasing activity levels, providing opportunities for species typical behaviours, decreasing or eliminating stereotypic or self destructive behaviours, improving captive breeding and rearing of offspring, and educating the public. Abnormal behaviours exhibited in captivity (those which would not normally be seen in the wild) can be lessened or corrected by providing more adequate environmental conditions, proper care and correct nutrition. It has been proven that with the appropriate care and environmental conditions, stereotypies, feather plucking and other detrimental behaviour can be lessened or eliminated and that these conditions are necessary for maintaining healthy and content cage birds. A good marker for suitable captive conditions is an animal’s reproductive state, if it is reproducing successfully it can be said that the correct 26 WHITE - WELFARE OF CAPTIVE PARROTS environmental conditions have been achieved. Indirect and anecdotal evidence indicates the importance of physical and temporal complexity for reproduction (Carlstead et al., 1994). Chronic stress may compromise reproductive physiology and behaviour, enrichment reduces stress by providing increased opportunity for behavioural coping responses. Environmental enrichment may also influence reproductive success by stabilising social groups, reducing aggression and increasing affiliative and play behaviours. To conclude it can be said that by enriching the environment of captive animals, their welfare can be improved. The enrichments may be food or play based, both decrease the occurrence of stereotypic behaviours and, in captive parrots, incidences of feather plucking. The more diverse an environment an animal is provided with, the more relaxed and content that animal becomes to the point where it reproduces successfully, a positive indicator that ideal or near ideal conditions for captivity have been achieved. References Bareham, J.R. (1973). General behaviour patterns for wild animals in captivity. The welfare and management of wild animals in captivity. Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Blanchard, S. ( 1 996). Feather Picking. Proceedings of the International Aviculturists Society Convention. http://www.funnyfarmexotics.com/IAS/Blanchfp.html. Carlstead, K., Seidensticker, J. & Baldwin, R. (1991). Environmental enrichment for zoo bears. Zoo Biology, 13,3-16. Carlstead, K. & Shepherdson, D. (1994). Effects of environmental enrichment on reproduction. Journal of Biogeography, 13, 447-458. Coulton, L.E., Waran, N.K. & Young R.J. (1997). Effects of foraging enrichment on the behaviour of parrots. Animal Welfare, 6, 357-363. Csaky, K. (1995). Keeping your pet bird happy and healthy. Proceedings of the International Aviculturists Society. http://www.funnyfarmexotics.com/IAS/ Hediger, H. ( 1 964). Wild animals in captivity - an outline of the biology of zoological gardens. Dover Publications Inc. Hollman, P. ( 1997). Behavioural disorders in psittacines 2 - therapy. Tierarztliche Praxis, 25, 356-362. King, C.E. (1992). Parrot well being - does it deserve more attention? PsittaScene, 4, 7-8. Lawrence, A.B. & Rushden, J. (1993). Stereotypic animal behaviour - fundamentals and applications to welfare. CAB International Newberry, R.C. (1995). Environmental enrichment - increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 44, 229-243. Powell, D.M. (1995). Preliminary evaluation of environmental enrichment techniques for African Lions (Panthera leo). Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, 4, 362-370. Rosenthal, K. ( 1 993). Differential diagnosis of feather picking in pet birds. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians : pp 108-112. Stookey, J.M. & Watts, J. (1998). Applied ethology home page. httm://duke.usask.ca/-stookey/ Van Hoek, C.S. & King, C.E. (1991). Causation and influence of environmental enrichment on feather picking in the Crimson-bellied Conure ( Pyrrhura perlata perlata). Zoo Biology, 16, 161-172. 27 BODY MASSES (WEIGHTS) OF PARROTS by Johannes Erritzoe The importance of avian body mass (weight) is well understood. In this paper, the masses (weights) of 328 individuals from 1 12 species of captive parrots are recorded, along with their sex and condition. The birds all come from Danish captive collections. The masses were obtained using a balance weight, and the sex was determined by internal inspection. Age determination was made by studying the size of gonads, the form of the oviduct, and the presence or absence of bursa Fabricii, all methods described by Erritzoe (1985). Taxonomy follows Forshaw and Cooper (1989). * = no weight information in Forshaw and Cooper (1989). LORIINAE Black Lory Chalcopsitta atra Cf ad 201.8g fat Duyvenbode’s Lory Chalcopsitta duivenbodei Cf ad 21 L2g a littlefat * Cf ad 1 8 1. Ig normal * Cf ad 181. 5g normal * Black-winged Lory Eos cyanogenia $ ad 134.8g Violet-necked Lory Eos squamata Cf ad 118. lg * E. s. reciniata Cf 1 12.5g a little fat * Red Lory Eos bomea 9 ad 118.1g a little lean * Rainbow Lory (or Lorikeet) Trichoglossus h. haematodus Cf ad 143. lg very fat Cf ad 143. 5g a little fat cf ad 112.9g Cf ad 158. 9g Cf ad 96.9g normal Cf imm 75.2g normal Cf ad 129. 2g a little fat 9 ad 102. 8g 9 ad 105. 5g normal 9 ad HO.lg a little fat Yellow & Green Lorikeet Trichoglossus flavoviridis 9 47. 8g normal * Perfect Lorikeet Trichoglossus eutelus Cf 53. 3g normal * 9 ad 59.9g normal * Goldie’s Lorikeet Trichoglossus goldiei 9 ad 43. lg 9 ad 48.9g normal Black-capped Lory Lorius lory Cf ad 161. 2g normal 9 ad 96.5g lean 9 ad 173. 5g normal Chattering Lory Lori us garrulus Cf ad 144.8g normal * Papuan Lory Charmosyna papou 9 ad 71.5g a little fat CACATUINAE Galah (or Roseate Cockatoo) Eolophus roseicapillus Cf ad 266.4g normal 9 ad 374.8g fat 28 ERRITZOE - WEIGHTS OF PARROTS PSITTACINAE Desmarest’s Fig Parrot Psittaculi rostris desma resti i Cf ad 84.6g a little fat Cf ad 68.6g normal 9 ad 108. 8g fat Edwards’ Fig Parrot Psi ttacu l i rostris edwardsi i 9 ad 88.0g normal Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus Cf juv 61.7g * 9 juv 57.4g * Blue-crowned Racket-tailed Parrot Prioniturus discurus Cf 86. Og Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorhynchos Cf ad 148.0g lean* 9 ad 144. lg lean* Blue-naped Parrot Tanygnathus lucionensis Cf imm 168.0g lean Cf 168.0g Muller’s Parrot Tanygnathus sumatranus Cf ad 173.0g lean Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus Cf ad 331.0g 9 ad 342.7g normal 9 ad 351.0g Australian King Parrot Alisterus scapularis Cf imm 204.6g Cf ad 175. lg lean Cf imm 178. 2g normal Cf ad 132.2g lean Cf ad 200. lg normal 9 ad 191 .Og normal 9 ad 145.4g lean 9 ad 179.0g 9 imm 190.2g a little fat Amboina King Parrot Alisterus amboinensis Cf ad 106. 7g Cf ad 1 1 1 .Og Red-winged (or Crimson-winged) Parrot Cf ad 1 13.5g a little fat Aprosmictus erythropterus Cf imm 109.2g normal Cf imm 98.2g a little lean Cf ad 130.2g normal Superb Parrot (or Barraband Parrakeet) Cf ad 121. 8g normal Polytelis swainsonii 9 ad 166. 5g 9 ad 155.5g normal 9 81.5g a little lean 9 132. 8g normal Regent Parrot (or Rock Pebbler) 9 ad UO.Og lean Polytelis anthopeplus Cf juv 149.0g normal Cf ad 152. Og Cf 148. 5g normal 9 ad 148. 2g normal 9 imm 140. 8g normal 9 imm 158.6g Princess Parrot (or Princess of Wales’ Parrakeet) Cf ad 98. lg a little lean * Polytelis alexandrae Cf ad 106.9g normal * Cf ad 99. 6g normal * (fad 1 16.3g * Cf 93. 6g a little lean * 9 ad 83.9g a little lean * 9 ad 95. 5g 9 102.5g * EKRITZOE - WEIGHTS OF PARROTS 29 Red -capped Parrot (or Pileated Parrakeet) Purpureicephalus spurius C f ad d imm 9 ad 93. 8g 73. 2g 95. 8g normal very lean a little lean Malice Ringneck Parrot (or Barnard’s Parrakeet) dad 106. Og normal Barnardius barnardi d imm 91. 8g lean 9 imm 72. 8g very lean (Cloncurry Parrakeet) B. b. macgillivrayi d ad 116.6g normal d’ad 107.4g 9 ad 107. 8g normal d ad 126.6g normal Port Lincoln- Parrot (or Parrakeet) dad 106. 5g lean Barnardius zonarius d ad 95. 5g normal dad H4.7g d imm 126.0g very lean 9 imm 113.0g 9 ad 129.4g 9 ad 120.5g normal 9 116.8g lean (Twenty-eight Parrakeet) B.z. semitorquatus d ad 141.5g a little lean Green Rosella Platycercus caledonicus 9 ad 91. Ig lean 9 imm 73.0g lean 9 imm 100.8g a little lean 9 102. Ig Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans d ad 148. 9g fat dad 149. 5g d imm H4.5g normal 9 ad 109. 5g a little lean 9 imm 90.5g a little fat 9 ad 131. 9g normal Yellow Rosella Platycercus flaveolus d ad 148. 2g a little lean d imm 93.4g a little lean Adelaide Rosella Platycercus adelaidae dad 168.0g. very fat d imm 103. Og normal 9 ad 97. 5g 9 imm 82.2g normal Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius dad 85. 5g normal 9 ad H5.2g 9 imm 78.7g normal i Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitm d ad 132.3g fat d ad 124.5g Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus dad 83. Ig normal dad 8-6. Ig Western Rosella Platycercus icterotis d imm 45.0g lean d 64.9g fat d imm 65. Ig normal Red-ramped Parrot (or Parrakeet) d ad 70.3g very fat Psephotus haematonotus dad 56. 2g normal d imm 70.0g normal d imm 65.6g 9 ad 57.3g lean 9 ad 62.2g a little lean 30 ERRITZOE - WEIGHTS OF PARROTS Mulga Parrot ( or Many-coloured Parakeet) O’ ad 55.1% Psophotus varius d ad 522% normal O’ ad 45. 2g lean d imm 50.0g 9 ad 46. 7g normal 9 ad 45 .4g lean 9 imm 39.7g a little lean 9 imm 50.5g fat 9 imm 44.3g normal Golden-shouldered Parrot (or Parakeet) d ad 49. 6g normal Psephotm chrysopterygius d ad 50.5g normal Yellow-fronted Parakeet (or Kakariki) d imm 50. Ig * Cyanoramphus auriceps 9 41. 5g * Red-fronted Parakeet (or Kakariki) d ad 65.4g normal C. novaezelandiae d ad 65.0g Bourke’s Parrot (or Parakeet) dad 36. Ig normal Neophema bourkii d 34. Ig d ad 31.0g a little lean 9 ad 49/1 g normal 9 ad 35. 6g normal Blue-winged Parrot (or Parakeet) dad 39. 6g a little f.i.r Neophema chrysostoma dad 55. 2g fat d ad 35. 3g normal d 34. Ig 9 ad 32.0g normal 9 ad 39. 8g fat Elegant Parrot (or Parakeet) Neophema elegans d imm . 42. Ig * 9 ad 32.1g normal * Turquoise Parrot (or Turquoisine Parakeet) d ad 31.5g a little lean Neophema pulchella d ad 28. 7g d imm 25. 4g normal Scarlet-chested Parrot (or Splendid Parakeet) d ad 30. Ig Neophema splendida d ad 36. Ig normal dad 39. 6g dad 35. Og normal d 34.8g a little lean d 25.1% normal d 21.1% dad 33.2% normal 9 imm 23.6% Swift Parrot (or Parakeet) Lathamus discolor d ad 69.1% a little fat dad 65.8 g normal 9 ad 71.3% normal 9 ad 70.0% fat 9 75.7 g 9 ad 12.2% Black Parrot Coracopsis nigra dad 113.7 g very lean 9 ad 230. 2g Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus 9 ad 368. 5g normal 9 ad 427. 3g fat P. e. timneh d ad 281.3g normal 9 ad 202.3g lean ERRITZOE - WEIGHTS OF PARROTS 31 Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus d ad 9 ad 122.9g 101.7g normal lean Red-bellied Parrot Poicephalus rufiventris d ad 1 10.7g a little lean dad 1 16.7g a little lean Meyer’s Parrot Poicephalus meyeri d ad 96. 2g a little lean d ad 138. 3g a little fat dad 1 14.0g normal dad 105.8g normal 9 ad 82.3g lean 9 ad 73. 7g lean 9 ad 81.6g Grey-headed (or Madagascar)Lovebird d ad 26. 5g Agapornis cana d 28.7g normal 9 ad 25. Og normal Red-faced Lovebird Agapornis pullaria dad 32.4g d ad 33. 6g a little fat d ad 27.0g lean 9 ad 29.9g normal 9 ad 31.2g normal Black- winged (or Abyssinian) Lovebird d ad 50.9g normal * Agapornis taranta d ad 43. Ig normal * Peach-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis d ad 40. Og 9 ad 34.7g Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri 9 imm 30.1g Masked Lovebird Agapornis personata 9 ad 40.8g Nyasa Lovebird Agapornis lilianae d ad 26.0g normal 9 imm 29.3g Black-cheeked Lovebird Agapornis nigrigenis d ad 33. 7g * Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis d ad 26.2g normal * d imm 30.5g * dad 25.3g normal* 9 ad 22.2g normal* Philippine Hanging Parrot Loriculus philippensis d ad 32.0g normal 9 imm 35. Og normal Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus 9 ad 41. 6g normal* 9 imm 30.0g normal Alexandrine Parrakeet Psittacula eupatria d ad 171. 7g a little lean Rose-ringed (or Ring-necked) Parrakeet d ad 95. 8g normal Psittacula krameri d ad Bldg 9juv 69.4g normal Plum-headed Parrakeet Psittacula cyanocephala dad 64.9g d ad 54.2g normal d ad 70.2g normal d ad 69.2g v. little lean Derbyan Parrakeet Psittacula derbiana d ad 219. 8g fat* Moustached Parrakeet Psittacula alexandri d ad 89.2g normal P. a.fasciata dad 91.7g very lean Red-bellied Macaw Ara manilata dad 29L5g a little lean 9 ad 250.0g normal 9 ad 299. 2g normal 9 253. 5g normal Illiger’s Macaw Am mar ac ana 9 ad 252.0g normal * 9 ad 297. Og * 32 ERRITZOE - WEIGHTS OF PARROTS Red-masked Conure Aratinga erythrogenys d ad d ad 1 16. 6g 119. 8g a little lean * a little lean * Golden-capped Conure Aratinga auricapilla d imm 102.7g normal * 9 ad 103. 8g normal * 9 ad 132. 6g normal * Jandaya Conure Aratinga jandaya 9 ad 117-0g * Orange-fronted (or Petz’s) Conure 9 ad 50.4g * Aratinga canicularis 9 ad 67.2g a little lean Brown-throated Conure Aratinga pertinax d imm 63.3g a little lean 9 imm 63. 6g normal Patagonian Conure Cyanoliseus patagonus 9 ad 206. Ig normal 9 ad 216. Ig a little fat 9 ad 195. 3g a little lean Maroon-bellied Conure Pyrrhura frontalis 9 ad 99.6g normal Austral Con u it Enicognathus ferrugineus d ad 100.2g * Slender-billed Conure Enicognathus leptorhynchus d ad 223. 2g fat 9 ad 236.7g a little fat Monk (or Quaker) Parrakeet Myiopsitta monachus 9 ad 72.0g Sierra (or Aymara) Parrakeet Bolborhynchus aymara d 23.6g lean* 9 ad 21. Ig lean* Barred (or Lineolated) Parrakeet d imm 45. 7g normal Bolborhynchus lineola d ad 29.2g 9 ad 56.9g a little fat Andean Parrakeet Bolborhynchus orbygnesius 9 imra 34.3g normal* Mexican Parrotlet Forpus cyanopygius 9 ad 13. 8g * d ad 25.6g * d ad 22.5g * 9 ad 30.2g normal* 9 ad 28.5g normal* 9 ad 26.4g normal* Green-ramped Parrotlet Forpus passerinus d ad 21. 4g a little lean d imm 21. 8g normal F. p. viridissimus 9 ad 26. 3g normal dad 23. Ig normal 9 18.2g normal 9 ad 31.4g Blue- winged Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius dad 22.9g normal 9 imm 16.4g a little lean Spengel’s Parrotlet F.x. spengeli dad 21. 2g normal* d ad 20.7g lean* d 21.4g * 9 26.3g normal* 9 ad 28.2g * 9 20.3g * 9 ad 30.5g normal* F. x. flavissimus d ad 21.0g * 9 24.8g * Spectacled Parrotlet Forpus conspicillatus dad 20.6g normal* 9 20.5g * Pacific(or Celestial) Parrotlet Forpus coelestis d ad 21.9g normal* 9 ad 22.7g ERRITZOE - WEIGHTS OF PARROTS 33 Yellow-faced Parrotlet Forpus xanthops Cf ad 30. 3g a little fat* cf ad 32. 9g normal* Cf imm 24. 2g 9 ad 27.5g * 9 26. 8g * Canary-winged Parrakeet Brotogeris versicolurus 9 ad 52.5g lean* Grey-cheeked (or Orange-winged)Parrakeet 9 imm 47.7g * Brotogeris pyrrhopterus Golden-winged Parrakeet Brotogeris chrysopterus Cf ad 53.4g a little lean Tui Parrakeet Brotogeris sanctithomae 9 49. lg * Pileated Parrot Pionopsitta pileata Cf ad 106.2g normal 9 ad 72.7g lean Rose-faced Parrot Pionopsitta pulchra 9 ad 137. 3g normal* Red-billed (or Coral-billed) Parrot 9 imm 1 13.8g lean* Pionus sordidus Scaly-headed (or Maximilian’s) Parrot 9 ad 199. 8g Pionus maximiliani White-capped Parrot (or White-crowned Pionus) 9 1 20. 1 g lean Pionus senilis Plum-crowned Parrot( Pionus) Pionus tumultuosus 9 ad 156.2g a little lean* Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus) Pionus chalcopterus Cf ad 141 .8g lean * White-fronted Amazon Amazona albifrons Cf ad 129.0g lean 9 ad 156.4g a little lean Tucuman Amazon Amazona tucumana 9 imm 214. 3g normal * Green-cheeked Amazon Amazona viridigenalis Cf ad 205 .4g lean * * Cf ad 215.9g lean * Lilac-crowned Amazon Amazona finschi cf ad 203. Og a little lean* Cf ad 316.0g normal* 9 ad 231.0g * 9 ad 205. Og a little lean* Red-lored Amazon Amazona autumnalis Cf ad 183. 7g normal (Lilacine Amazon) A. a. lilac ina Cf imm 226. 8g lean* Blue-fronted Amazon Amazona aestiva Cf ad 393. 5g a little fat Cf ad 404. 5g fat 9 1 82. 7g lean A. a .xanthopteryx 9 ad 329. 8g * Yellow-crowned (or Yellow-fronted) Amazon Cf ad 486.0g normal Amazona ochrocephala Cf ad 434. 5g normal 9 imm 204. 5g lean 9 ad 547. Og Orange-winged Amazon Amazona amazonica Cf imm 284.7g normal 9 ad 265. Og lean 9 ad 217. 5g lean Mealy Amazon Amazona farinosa 9 ad 492. 3g normal Hawk-headed Parrot Deroptyus accipitrinus Cf ad 232. 6g normal References ERRITZOE, J. (1985). Geschlechts- and Altersbestimmung bei Vogeln. Der Prdpaartor 31:81- 93. FORSHAW, J.M. & COOPER, W.T. (1989). Parrots of the World (Third Edition), Blandford Press, Dorset, England. 34 BOOK REVIEWS A GUIDE TO GRASS PARROTS Toby Martin is one of Australia’s best known aviculturists, a specialist in Neophemas - or grass parrots, as they are known there. He has lectured at many meetings, including some in the UK. In 1989 Australian Birdkeeper published his book A Guide to... Neophema & Psephotus Grass Parrots - an invaluable and colourful manual on the subject. Now the revised edition has been published. This is even more colourful, containing photographs of some of the newer mutations. Its 88 glossy pages contain an incredible 1 80 colour photographs. This is true to Australian Birdkeeper’s style of never stinting on colour. As a photographic guide to species and mutations alone it is worth much more than the £13.95 for which it sells in the UK. Some of the mutations depicted are not available in the UK; nevertheless, it is interesting to observe that in Australia there are pied, cinnamon, red-winged and olive Hooded Parrakeets, for example. Redrump mutations are shown in 3 1 photographs - the lutino opaline is especially eye-catching. This book covers all the Neophemas , Redrumps, Many-colours, Blue¬ bonnets, Hoodeds and Golden-shouldereds. Under each species there is information on sexing and mutations. In addition there is advice on housing, feeding, breeding, nest-boxes, hybrids (they must be avoided, says the author), ringing, keeping records and surgical sexing. This is a highly practical guide, written as the result of years of experience. For example, Toby Martin relates how one day he found a number of young birds (Bourke’s, Turquoisines and Splendids) dead on the floor in holding aviaries. His first thought was that cats or owls had disturbed them during the night. When he mentioned the occurrence to another breeder, he asked if there were any Elegants in the same aviary. There were. He was told that Elegants ‘bomb’ the other birds at dusk and hit them on the head with their beaks. He went to the aviaries at dusk - and that is exactly what was happening. Since then he has never housed young Elegants with other Neophemas. This book is an absolute must for all breeders of these beautiful Australian parrakeets. It is available price £13.95 plus 75p postage from The Bookshop, Southern Aviaries, Tinkers Lane, Hadlow Down, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 4EU. Tel:0 1 825 830283 & 830930/Fax:0 1 825 83024 1 . It is also available from other avicultural booksellers. Rosemary Low BOOK REVIEWS 35 AFRICAN BIRDS IN FIELD & AVIARY: A guide to a mixed collection This latest offering from South Africa’s Avicultural Research Unit (ARU) is a valuable addition to modern avicultural literature for it contains much original material - particularly in relation to nutrition (with detailed information about foods consumed in the wild by many species), breeding behaviour, husbandry, descriptions (including, where applicable, succinct but informative notes on identifiable races and an invariably useful array of synonyms for many species. I confess that I remain somewhat nonplussed by the choice and range of species chosen for inclusion in the book. They include among others partridges, francolins, button quail, guineafowl, pigeons and doves, sandgrouse, parrots and a comprehensive array of weavers, whydahs, waxbills, etc. Softbilled species are not included, but - oddly, I think - the Congo Peafowl makes an appearance among better known gallinaceous species. When judging any good book - and this is a good one - reviewers, if they are honest, will admit to a need to discover some kind of pinprick error on which to heap criticism if only to prove they have read the work from cover to cover! Well, I spotted one or two minor inaccuracies: Baglafecht (Weaver) becomes ‘Bagafecht’, in both text and index. There are also one or two type lapses in which capitals should have replaced lower-case. But there is so much that is good and informative, and the authors’ efforts to make the book useful are so transparently obvious, that such transgressions should not be allowed to diminish its value to aviculturists. Edited by Neville Brickell and Trevor Konigkrammer, one of its most important aspects is that it draws heavily on the experience and expertise of many practicing South African aviculturists. It has more than 270 pages including a central section of generally excellent colour photographs depicting 47 species. Many accurate black-and-white illustrations by Rex M. Shirley and Karen de Klerk complement the informative text. Aside from the separate species’ descriptions and information, there are chapters dealing with housing, breeding, feeding, diseases, vermin, catching and handling - even hints on photographing birds in captivity. There are also 15 pages of distribution maps covering 300 species. Would this be a worthwhile addition to your library? Well, if you keep or are particularly interested in the families dealt with (specifically: Phasianidae - Spurfowl, Guineafowl, Francolin and Quail; Turnicidae - Button Quail and Quail Plover; Pteroclididae - Sandgrouse; Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves; Psittacidae - Parrots, Parrakeets and Lovebirds; Ploceidae - Sparrows, Weavers and Widow Birds (Whydahs), Estrildidae - Waxbills, 36 BOOK REVIEWS Mannikins, Twinspots, Firefinches, etc, Fringillidae - Finches and Canaries and Emberizidae - Buntings) the answer is a definite ‘yes5 for you are likely to find much between its covers (it is soft-back, by the way) that will be new to you, if you reside outside South Africa. It is published by African Bird Book Publishing, 1 00 Innes Road, Durban 4001, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Tel/Fax: (SA code followed by) 031 239701 . It is not available in some countries but copies can be sent to the UK by surface mail at an inclusive cost of £16.00. Taking account of the present high price of books, this price represents excellent value. On a purely personal note, I had never expected my name to be included among among a book’s references in company with the late A.D. (Dudley) Nourse, one of South Africa’s cricketing legends and an aviculturist of considerable ability who maintained a large collection at his home in Natal. I was introduced to him during a 1950’s Springbok tour to the UK and we met on a couple of occasions at Old Trafford cricket ground when he broke- off from net practice to talk about birds in general - and specifically how he might be able to add one or two European species to his collection. I have not allowed this reminder of what I remember as a privileged and much cherished relationship to influence my opinion of what I regard as an admirable book. Frank Woolham THE BIRDS OF THE WESTERN PALEARCTIC Oxford University Press recently published this two volume, boxed, concise edition based on The Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Birds of the Western Palearctic, which was completed in 1994. The original nine volumes have been condensed into the present two - Vol-I Non-passerines (Ostrich to Woodpeckers) and Vol.2 Passerines (Tyrant Flycatchers to Warblers) - totalling over 1 ,800 pages. They have been edited by Dr David Snow and Professor Christopher Perrins. This new concise edition includes an additional 80 species. This is the result of new species having been recorded in the region during the intervening years (the original project began in the 1 970s) and others having been reclassified, and brings the total number of species described to 936. It is a fantastic array of species including as it does all the usual western European species, plus those of eastern Europe and western Russia, the Middle East and North Africa. Also included are North American vagrants/ accidentals and ‘exotic’ introductions and escapees. In the latter catergories are species such as the Avadavat, Common Waxbill, African and Indian Silverbi 11s, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Streaked Weaver, Common Myna, Ring-necked Pairakeet, Monk (or Quaker) Parrakeet, and Chilean Flamingo BOOK REVIEWS 37 which has been recorded breeding in Germany and the south of France. Not in these categories, but included in their own right are the Blue-naped Mousebird, which gets as far north as Mauritania and has been observed in northern Mali (and therefore just within North Africa), and the Grey-headed Kingfisher, whose range includes the Cape Verde Islands. The 600 colour plates, the majority of which occupy just over one-third of a page each, illustrate most if not quite all of the species (I noticed that a few of the ‘exotic’ introductions/escapees are not illustrated) and races, showing when applicable an example of a male, female and juvenile in various plumages, e.g. summer, autumn, first winter; many birds are also shown in flight. The artists include (in alphabetical order) Norman Arlott, Trevor Boyer, Robert Gillmor, Alan Harris, Ian Lewington, Chris Rose and Dan Zetterstrom. With the inclusion of an extra 80 species and more than 230 new colour plates to illustrate these additional species or to replace earlier paintings, it is obvious that an enormous amount of other material has had to be omitted in order to condense the original nine volumes into the present two. I have not been able to compare this edition with the original, but gather that the typeface in the two volume set is marginally smaller, the sonograms have gone and, of course the text has been drastically slimmed down. So, while really serious birdwatchers may not find all the information they would like, aviculturists with an interest in the birds of this vast area will in the main, I think, find it a splendid addition to their library. It is not cheap, of course, but then few bird books are these days, especially such well produced books with so many colour plates. It is available only as a two-volume hardback set (ISBN 0 19 854099 X) priced £150. It can be ordered from specialist booksellers or direct from Oxford University Press by telephoning 01536 454 534 (within the UK) or +44 1536 454 534 (from abroad)/ E-mail: book.orders@oup.co.uk. Birds of the Western Palearctic is also about to become available on a CD-ROM, described as combining ‘the landmark nine volume series, the new concise edition, extensive video footage and sound recordings.’ Oxford University Press is also publishing at regular intervals in the form of a journal, BWP Update. Malcolm Ellis * * * NATIONAL DATES This year’s National Exhibition of Cage and Aviary Birds will be staged the 5th and 6th December, at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, and the Avicultural Society hopes that it will again be invited to have a stand there. 38 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR At the Council Meeting held on the 4th April, I reported to the Council that there had been absolutely no response to A Suggestion for a New Award’ by Philip Schofield (Vol.103, No.3,pp. 143-144 ), in which he suggested a new award that recognises ‘ services to aviculture ’. Neither had I received any response to the questions 1 posed under the heading ‘ What do you think?’ The lack of any response must have come as no surprise to one of my predecessors as Editor, namely Prof Hodges, who has long been critical of the almost total lack of response from the membership to issues raised in the magazine. Since the Council Meeting I have however received one reply. It came from Philip King in Canada. He started his letter by asking if I remember him from 1964-1966, when he worked at the Bird House at London Zoo? / do and recall that he was nicknamed lP. King Robin '. I had though forgotten that I proposed him for membership of the Society, back in those days when this was how it was done. He still has his letter of acceptance from A. A. Prestwich, and has remained a member ever since. Philip arrived in Winnipeg in 1972, to work in the newly-planned Tropical House (similar in design to that at Chester Zoo) being designed by the then- Director, Clive Roots, who hired him. Philip is still at Winnipeg Zoo. He said nothing though about the present whereabouts of Clive Roots, who many members will remember principally from when he was Curator at Winged World, and described in the magazine many notable UK first breedings there. - Ed. With regard to the suggestion for a new award and in answer to the question ‘ What do you think?’, Philip King wrote:- ‘Basically I agree with the concept of broadening the criteria for qualification, and think that focusing on propagation in all its aspects rather than first breedings alone would be a good step. I think one has to take care, however, to use the definition ‘aviculture’ very carefully. Does, for example, breeding vast quantities of birds for the pet or hobby market equate to the successful and repeated propagation of an endangered species, or a species rare or difficult to keep in captivity? I think not. If one looks at the stated objectives of the Society - ‘the study of British and foreign birds in freedom and captivity’ - one should assume that this would seem to indicate rather substantial values. I have been a member of the American Zoo & Aquarium Association for almost as long as I have been a member of the Avicultural Society, and it has changed its philosophy regarding the awarding of the Edward H. Bean Award, which used to be for first breedings only. It is now given for such things as breeding programmes almost exclusively. In short, I suppose that I agree 39 with broadening the scope of the award, but first breedings should continue to be eligible. Lastly, a revival of the ‘Letters to the Editor’ feature would be a welcome move, especially if answers or comments are to be provided. * * * COUNCIL MEETING A Council Meeting was held on Saturday, 4th April 1998 at Paultons Park, Hampshire. The following members were present: Prof. J.R. Hodges and R.C.J. Sawyer (Vice Presidents), K.J. Lawrence (Chairman), M. Curzon, M. Ellis (Hon. Editor), R. Grantham, N. Hewston, R.E. Oxley, S. Pyper, P.J. Schofield, J. Trollope, Ms. Rosemary Wiseman. During 1997 there was again a small increase in membership and it is now higher than it has been for some time. The Council expressed its gratitude to the Hon. Secretary/Treasurer and his staff at Bristol Zoo for their continued help with the smooth running of the Society, which remains in a sound financial position. It was agreed that the use of colour illustrations have added considerably to the quality of the magazine, and it was agreed to budget for colour illustrations in the magazine during 1998. With this in mind, the Council agreed to the Hon. Editor’s suggestion, that he relaunch the Colour Plate Fund. It was agreed to award the Society’s Medal for the first breeding of a species in Britain and Ireland to Eric Callaghan for the breeding of the Three- banded Rosefinch Carpodacus trifasciatus, and the Society’s Certificate of Merit to Leeds Castle for the breeding of the Toco Toucan Ramphastos toco. The Council noted that the young were parent reared. The Rev. Ramon Noegel was elected an Honorary Life Member in recognition of his outstanding contribution to aviculture and W.D. Cummings, who joined the Society in 1948, was also elected a Life Member. The Society has been asked by the International Touraco Society, to note that the latter holds its AGM on the first Sunday in April. Next year this will be 4th April. We have therefore been requested to keep this particular weekend free. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the owners of Paultons Park for allowing us to hold our meeting there. 40 NEWS & VIEWS CANARY ISLANDS CONVENTION Members are reminded that the IV International Parrot Convention, hosted by Loro Parque, will take place the ! 7th 20 th September. Enquiries about the convention should be directed to: - The Secretary, IV International Parrot Convention, Loro Parque, 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain. Fax: 34 22 375021/E-mail:loroparque@jet.es. * * * YELLOW-TAILED PYTILIA Geoff and Hilary Welch, who have undertaken several expeditions to Djibouti, north-east Africa, and studied the autumn migration of raptors, the endemic Djibouti Francolin Francolinus ochropectus and the threatened Arabian Bustard Ardeotis arabs, have discovered what they believe is a previously undescribed race of the Melba Finch or Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba and a sunbird which does not appear to resemble any known species. The male pytilia’ s forehead, face, throat and upper breast are golden- yellow instead of the usual red and the outer tail feathers are bright yellow, with the central tail feathers being greenish. His bill is pinkish with a grey culmen and the legs and feet are also pinkish. In the absence of a museum specimen, the race has been provisionally named the Yellow-tailed Pytilia. A fuller description along with a colour photo and a painting of the male pytilia and of the sunbird, can be found in the African Bird Club Bulletin , Vo 1.5, No.l, March 1998, together with colour photos of the Djibouti Francolin, which looks very like ErckePs Francolin F. erckelii. * * HAND ON PYTILIA Details of the pytilia described above has, Neville Brickell has written to say, caused South African aviculturist, Kenny Hand, to recall informing the late Prof. Christo Pienaar of his (Kenny Hand’s) 1986 observation of pytilias with a similar coloration occurring alongside those of the nominate race in an area of the Kathu district of northern Cape Province. Recently a photograph was published in the South African bird keeping magazine Avizandum and this has aroused much interest by aviculturists there. Kenny Hand’s aviary successes with these birds have revealed that the nestlings and immature birds do not differ from those of the nominate race, it is only when they reach maturity that they get the yellow coloration in their plumage. * * * NEWS & VIEWS 41 OUT FOR A DUCK The Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa carophyllacea is generally thought to have become extinct in the wild in 1935. There have however been reports occasionally of sightings of it, coming mostly from northern India and northern Burma, and the suggestion that it may be breeding in adjacent areas of Tibet. Now, two Britons, Peter Gladstone and Charles Martel!, have set off to search for it on a lake and an area of marshland 14,000ft (approx. 4,250m) above sea level and 1,000 miles (approx. 1,600km) east of the Tibetan capital, Llasa, where it is reputed to be breeding. It was reported that they will also be looking for the Himalayan Mountain Quail Ophrysia supercilliosa which was thought to have become extinct in 1868, but of which there was a rumour of one being shot in the period 1948-1952 and an unconfirmed sighting in 1982. Photo D. Seth-Smith Pink-headed Ducks at Foxwarren Park. The last surviving specimen there died around the end of the Second World War Although it is though to have become extinct in the wild in 1935, the Pink-headed Duck survived in captivity for a few years longer. The following item is reproduced from News & Views, Vol.74, No.4, p.153, 1968:- ‘ Visitors to Foxwarren Park during 1925-1938 were greatly privileged had they but known it, to see some of the last survivors of what is now generally believed to be an extinct species - the Indian Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa carophyllacea. Our late President Mr. Alfred Ezra, through the good offices of his brother Sir David Ezra, of Calcutta, received five living specimens, three drakes and two ducks, in July 1925. One drake died as a result of an accident and another, a month after arrival of an infection of the eye. In 1929 ten more ducks arrived, most of which were retained at Foxwarren Park. By 1938 there was but a sole survivor. In 1941 Mr Ezra recorded: ‘At one time I had as many as ten of these birds, and some of them lived over ten years’ (Avicultural Magazine , 1941, p.141). There was a pair at Cleres in 1925, 42 NEWS & VIEWS and a further two pairs reached there in 1929. This duck has not been reliably reported in the wild since 1935, apart from a correspondent in the August, 1966, number of the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, who claims to have shot one of a flock of six on 27th January, 1947, in Bihar; and to have seen five to eight of them in 1948-49 on Lake Manroopa. An extensive two-year search has just been concluded in Burma. No trace of this duck was found and it must be regarded as definitely extinct there.’ * * * NEW EDITOR Garry Coward- Williams is the new Editor of the weekly magazine Cage & Aviary Birds. He has taken over from Peter Moss, currently Editor-in- Chief of the IPC birdkeeping titles, who is retiring at the end of this year. * * * NOTEWORTHY END TO 1997 Last year some 776 chicks were successfully reared to independence at Loro Parque. Plum-crowned Pionus Pionus tumultuosus , Blue-eyed Cockatoo Cacatua ophthalmica, Hoffmann’s Conure Pyrrhura hoffmanni and Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna all bred successfully for the first time and 1997 ended with the hatching of a Pesquet’s Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus, the rearing of which is described on pp 14-16. Sixty-eight cockatoo chicks were raised, including a Gang-gang Callocephallon fimbriatum, two Red-vented Cockatoos Cacatua haematuropygia, a Citron-crested Cockatoo C. sulphurea citrinocristata , eight Moluccan Cockatoos C. moluccensis and the aforementioned Blue¬ eyed Cockatoo. Among the 74 Loridae chicks reared, probably the most important were nine Red and Blue Lories Eos histrio, two Mount Apo Lorikeets Trichoglossus johnstoniae and a Mitchell’s Lorikeet T haematodus mitchellii. Other breedings of particular note included three Blue-naped Parrots Tanygnathus lucionensis , four Green-winged King Parrots Alisterus chloropterus moszkowskii, a Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus and a New Caledonian Horned Parrakeet Eunymphicus cornutus. The Greater Vasa Parrot Coracopsis vasa and Lesser Vasa or Black Parrot C. nigra bred, as did both the park’s forms of the Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus erithacus and P. e. timneh and all seven Poicephalus species. The Cape Parrots P robustus had a particularly good breeding season, with five pairs rearing a total of 1 4 young. Seventy -five macaws were reared, the majority by their parents. Thirteen Red-fronted Macaws Ara rubrogenys were produced by four breeding pairs and three pairs of Blue-throated Macaws A. glaucogularis raised six chicks. NEWS & VIEWS 43 The Blue-throated species now has an international studbook. The conures all had a good breeding season in which 81 Aratinga, eight Cyanoliseus, eight Enicognathus and 171 Pyrrhura were reared. The most productive were the Sun Conures A. solstitial is which produced 36 young, followed by the Crimson-bellied Conures P. perlata perlata with 3 1 , the Pearly-throated Conures P perlata lepida with 27 and the Blue-throated Conures with 24 young. In addition to the Plum-crowned Pionus, four other Pionus species produced young. Seventy-five Amazon parrots were reared and both the Hawk-headed Parrots Deroptyus acciptrinus and the Purple-bellied Parrots Triclaria malachitacea again reared young. On Thursday, 17th December 1997, Loro Parque celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its founding. Wolfgang Kiessling, owner of Loro Parque and President of the Loro Parque Fundacion, together with more than 500 guests assembled in the park. The guests included leaders of the local authorities, representatives of the tourist sector, diplomats from various European, African and Asian countries, scientific advisors to the fundacion, and many more. NEW BIRD PARK A new bird park, called Planataria, has opened in the Duisberg area of Germany, close to the border with Holland and Belgium. The emphasis is on parrots. Among the rarer species which can be seen there are Blue¬ headed Macaws Ara couloni , Yellow-lored Amazons Amazona xantholora. Coral-billed Pionus Pionus sordidus , Red-capped Parrots Pionopsitta pileata, Hoffman’s Conures Pyrrhura hojfmanni and Rose-crowned Conures P. rhodocephala. * * * YEAR OF CHANGE Last year was a year of change on the bird section at Bristol Zoo and will be remembered for the building of the new, large walk-through aviary, the Wallace Aviary. Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, it displays birds from Indonesia and the Philippines, the region of the world explored by Wallace and the study of whose natural history led him to propose his theory of evolution through natural selection, at about the same time that Charles Darwin was formulating his own theory about the origin of species. The building work meant that many of the zoo’s birds had to be housed in temporary accommodation but, thanks to the excellent work of the bird staff and the support of other departments, some good breeding results were achieved. The year began with the flamingoes cohabiting with the storks and geese. It is the first time this has happened. Much time and thought has gone into 44 NEWS & VIEWS designing the new flamingo exhibit and on its completion it is hoped to substantially increase the size of the flock, with the view to breeding these wonderful birds. The Hawaiian Geese or Nene Branta sandvicensis proved that they were unconcerned about sharing with the flamingoes by hatching young which for the first time were allowed to remain with their parents. Three goslings were raised and the flock now numbers nine. Two pairs of Roulroul Partridges Rollulus roulroul were imported from Arnhem Zoo for the new aviary. When its completion was delayed, they spent the summer laying eggs, with the result that by the end of the year the number of Roulroul Partridges had risen to 13. A new male received early in the year settled down quickly and produced the desired result with the Palawan Peacock Pheasants Polyplectron emphanum, also destined for the new aviary, which produced four young during the summer. Bristol Zoo continues to do well with Luzon Bleeding Heart Doves Gallicolumba luzonica and now has two pairs, which raised young during the course of the year. Towards the end of 1997, Bartlett’s G. criniger, were also added to the collection. The zoo is strengthening its links with the Philippines and hopes to ensure that these and other species are protected in the wild. A single Bali Starling Leucopsar rothschildi was reared. This may not seem particularly notable, but if one considers that at the last count there were only 14 remaining in the wild, each one reared has great significance. The zoo was also especially pleased to breed an Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, which was hatched in an incubator and reared by keepers. This species is rarely bred in zoos and is therefore another significant achievement. The Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus have been sent to Chester Zoo, thereby allowing Bristol Zoo to modify the aviary which now houses the Toco Toucans Ramphastos toco , Lilacine Amazons Amazona autumnalis lilacina and various passerines. * * * TWIN SUCCESS Paignton Zoo’s pair of Australian Cassowaries Casuarius casuarius which last year produced their first youngster, have gone one better this year and two chicks have been produced. The male incubated the eggs for 60 days and is now caring for the chicks. The adults, which came from Edinburgh Zoo ten years ago, will only tolerate each other for as long as it takes them to mate and are normally housed in separate runs. Prior to last year, the pair’s breeding attempts all ended in failure. It was not until as part of the zoo’s redevelopment plan, they were moved to their new woodland enclosure, which aims to replicate their natural habitat, that they started to breed successfully. 45 The Avicultural Society FOR THE STUDY OF BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIRDS IN FREEDOM AND CAPTIVITY OFFICERS AND COUNCIL 1998 President MISS RUTH EZRA Vice Presidents K.W. DOLTON (Britain) CJ.S. MARLER (Britain) Mrs. E.S. RISDON (Britain) Prof. J.R. HODGES (Britain) Dr. H. QUINQUE (France) R.C.J. SAWYER (Britain) Honorary Editor M. ELLIS Honorary Secretary - Treasurer G.R. GREED ■Members of Council (as at 1st January 1998) M. CURZON R. GRANTHAM N. HEWSTON K.J. LAWRENCE (Chairman) R. E. OXLEY S. PYPER P. SCHOFIELD S. TONGE J.T. TROLLOPE R. WILKINSON Mrs. R. WISEMAN 46 OFFICERS OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY PAST AND PRESENT PRESIDENTS 1894-1895 The Countess of Bective 1956-1963 D. Seth-Smith 1895-1920 The Rev. and Hon. F.G. Dutton 1964-1967 Miss E. Maud Knobel (later Canon & Lord Sherbourne) 1968-1972 A.A. Prestwich 1921-1925 The Rev. H.D. Astley 1972-1985 Dr. J. Delacour 1926-1955 A. Ezra, OBE 1986- Miss R. Ezra HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT 1972-1987 A. A. Prestwich VICE-PRESIDENTS 1894-1895 The Rev. and Hon. F.G. Dutton 1967-1983 J.J. Yealland 1895-1900 The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Berkeley 1970-1980 Miss P. Barclay-Smith, CBE 1896-1899 Sir H.S. Boynton Bt. 1973-1994 D.H.S. Risdon 1899-1906 A.F. Wiener 1973-1982 J. D’Eath 1906-1937 Her Grace the Duchess of Bedford 1974-1979 W.G. Conway 1925-1927 Her Grace the Duchess of Wellington 1978-1982 W. Van den bergh 1925-1935 The Lady Dunleath 1980-1990 F.C. Barnicoat 1925-1942 H.R. Filmer 1982-1985 Miss R. Ezra 1925-1951 Dr. E. Hopkinson, CMG, DSO 1984-1989 Dr. H. Quinque 1938-1962 J. Spedan Lewis 1984-1989 The Rev. R. Noegel 1949-1963 Miss E. Maud Knobel 1984-1989 Dr. K.C. Searle 1950-1955 D. Seth-Smith 1984 R.C.J. Sawyer 1952-1961 E.J. Boosey 1985 Prof. J.R. Hodges 1958-1970 Allen Silver 1986-1991 Prof. S. Dillon Ripley 1962-1978 G.S. Mottershead 1995- K.W. Dolton 1963-1974 Sir Crawford McCullagh, Bt 1996- Mrs. E.S. Risdon 1964-1967 A. A. Prestwich 1996- Dr. H. Quinque 1996- C.J.S. Marler HONORARY SECRETARIES 1894-1896 Dr. C.S. Simpson 1916-1919 Miss R. Alderson 1896-1899 H.R. Fillmer & Dr. A.G. Butler 1899-1901 J. Lewis Bonhote 1919-1920 Dr. L. Lovell-Keays 1901-1903 R. Phillips & Dr. A.G. Butler 1903-1904 R. Phillips & Dr. A.G. Butler 1921-1922 J. Lewis Bonhote 1904-1909 T.H. Newman & Dr. A.G. Butler 1922-1948 Miss E. Maud Knobel 1909-1914 R.I. Pocock & Dr. A.G. Butler 1949-1970 A.A. Prestwich 1914-1916 T.H. Newman & Dr. A.G. Butler 1971-1989 H.J. Horswell 1990- Geoffrey Greed HONORARY ASSISTANT SECRETARIES 1950-1970 Miss Kay Bonner 1991-1995 Mrs. June Sherborne 1971-1 989 Mrs. Mary Harvey 47 HONORARY TREASURERS 1894-1897 H.R. Fillmer 1920 Dr. L. Lovell- Keays 1897-1899 O.E. Cresswell 1921-1922 I. Lewis-Bonhote 1899-1901 J. Lewis Bonhote 1923-1948 Miss E. Maud Knobel 1901-1906 W.H. St. Quentin 1949-1970 A.A. Prestwich 1906-1913 J. Lewis Bonhote 1971-1989 Hi. Horswell 1913-1917 B.C. Thomasett 1990- Geoffrey Greed 1917-1919 A. Ezra HONORARY EDITORS 1894-1896 Dr. C.S. Simpson & H.R. Fillmerl925 The Marquess of Tavistock 1896-1899 H.R. Fillmer D. Seth-Smith 1899-1901 O.E. Cresswell 1926-1934 D. Seth-Smith 1901-1907 D. Seth-Smith 1935 The Hon. Anthony Chaplin 1907-1908 D. Seth-Smith & Dr. A.G. Butler (later the Rt. Hon. Viscount 1908-1909 D. Seth-Smith & Frank Finn Chaplin) 1909-1910 Frank Finn & I. Lewis Bonhote Miss E.F. Chawner 1910-1912 J. Lewis Bonhote 1936-1938 Miss E.F. Chawner 1912-1917 The Rev. H.D. Astley 1938-1973 Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith, CBE 1917-1920 Dr. Graham Reeshawe 1974-1978 J J. Yealland 1920-1923 R.I. Pocock & D. Seth-Smith 1979-1990 Mary Harvey 1924 The Marquess of Tavistock 1991-1993 Prof. J.R. Hodges (later His Grace the Duke of 1994-1995 Frank Woolham Bedford) 1996- Malcolm Ellis HONORARY ASSISTANT EDITOR 1968-1973 Dr. C.J.O. Harrison ' MEDALLISTS OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY THE PRESIDENT’S MEDAL Miss Phyllis Barclay-Smith CBE - 14th March 1960 Arthur Alfred Prestwich - 14th March 1960 Dr. Jean Delacour - 13th March 1967 Walter Van den bergh - 21st February 1973 Donald Risdon - 21st October 1989 THE KNOBEL AWARD Stee Bergman, DSC - 14th March 1960 Curt af Enehjelm - 14th March 1960 THE EVELYN DENNIS MEMORIAL AWARD Mrs K.M. Scamell -13th November 1967 THE D.H.S. RISDON AWARD for the best article published in the magazine Robin Restall, 1995 Anthony J. Mobbs, 1996 48 ROY HARVEY Roy Harvey, founder of Birdworld, near Farnham, Surrey and a former Avicultural Society Council Member, has died aged 67. Roy was originally a dairy farmer, when in the mid-1960s he and his wife Pat had to decide whether to sell their farm and buy a larger one, or give up farming and turn their hobby of bird keeping into a full time interest. They chose the latter, and after a long search found the site of a rundown nursery, which was overgrown and a total mess, on which to start their bird garden. Surrounded by the Alice Holt Forest and situated beside a main road, close to several large towns and within easy reach of London, it proved to be a wise choice. Birdworld opened to the public the 15th June 1968. Over the years an excellent mixed collection has been built up and an incubation research station, education facilities, a bookshop and aquarium added. In 1996, the Avicultural Society’s Certificate of Merit was awarded to Birdworld for the first breedings in Britain and Ireland of the Black-crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani edouardi. Mountain Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron inopinatum and Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Picoides macei. It continued to be run successfully by the Harvey family until very recently, when it was bought by the family company which owns the garden centre adjacent to Birdworld. The Society offers its condolences to Roy’s widow, Pat, daughter, Kate, and sons David and Rob. COLOUR PLATE FUND Colour illustrations have become a regular feature in recent issues of the magazine and have, we hope you agree, added to the quality and enjoyment of the magazine. So that this can continue and the number of colour illustrations can perhaps even be increased, we are relaunching the COLOUR PLATE FUND. Members who would like to make a donation to the fund are asked to send their donation to: Hon Treasurer, Avicultural Society, c/o Bristol Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, England. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to - Avicultural Society (Colour Plate Fund). Sex Your Birds by DNA Avian Biotech International (UK) can determine the sex of parrots and many other species using a single drop of blood or feather. .c,'or b0/ 1 to 5 birds: £18.00 per sample g ^ 6 to 10 birds: £17.50 per sample. g Diagnostic tests also available - for further details: Phone/Fax (01872) 262737. E-Mail abiuk@globalnet.co.uk Avian Biotech International (UK), P.O. Box 107, Truro, Cornwall, _ England TR1 2YR _ AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE back numbers. A large stock is available including some early issues. Sales are by post only. Further details are available from: Hon. Secretary, Avicultural Society, c/o Bristol Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, England. * * * PARROT BOOKS Three new publications from Rosemary Low PARROT QUIZ BOOK 96 pages - 54 quizzes. Captivating. Jam-packed with information. Foreign Birds. £5.95 post paid. £7.50 outside Europe. PARROT BREEDING REGISTER Pages for record keeping (stock list, birds bought, breeding records, etc.) plus information table for 150 parrot species, ring sizes, etc. £8.75 post paid in the UK, outside Europe £10 surface, £15 airmail. PARROT BREEDING 160 pages, 60 colour photos. Packed with helpful advice. £19.95 post paid in UK. Outside Europe £25 airmail, £21.50 surface. Send for full list of parrot books by Rosemary Low to Dept. 9, INSIGNIS PUBLICATIONS, P.O. Box 100, Mansfield, Notts NG20 9NZ (Fax: 01623 846430) CONTENTS Breeding the Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill by M. & N. Curzon . 1 Chester Zoo Bird Review 1997 by Roger Wilkinson . 4 The Star Finch Neochima ruficauda by Anthony J. Mobbs . 10 The Successful Parent Rearing of a Pesquet’s Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus at Loro Parque by Roger G. Sweeney . 14 Abbotsbury Swannery by John Fair, Don Moxom and Malcolm Ellis . 18 Welfare of Captive Parrots by Victoria White . 23 Body Masses (Weights) of Parrots by Johannes Erritzoe . 27 Book Reviews Guide to Grass Parrots . 34 Birds in Field and Aviary: A guide to a mixed collection ..35 The Birds of the Western Palearctic . 36 Letters to the Editor . 38 News & Views . 40 Officers and Council 1998 . 45 Officers of the Avicultural Society Past and Present . 46 Obituary - Roy Harvey . 48 Published by the Avicultural Society, England. Produced by Data Publishing Service, Cheddar. MAGAZINE -gMlTHSO/y^ NOV I 6 1996 _ VOLUME THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY The Avicultural Society was founded in 1894 for the study of British and foreign birds in freedom and captivity. The Society is international in character, having members throughout the world. Membership subscription rates per annum for 1998 as for 1997; British Isles £1 8.00: Overseas £21 .00 (plus £6.00 for airmail). (U.K. funds please). The subscription is due on 1st January of each year and those joining the Society later in the year will receive back numbers of the current volume of the AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE. Subscription, changes of address, orders for back numbers etc. should be sent to: THE HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER, THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY, c/o BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 3 HA, ENGLAND. Enquiries regarding membership should be sent to: THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, Stewart Pyper, 21, Primrose Hill, Nunney, Frome, Somerset BA11 4NP. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE welcomes original articles that have not been published elsewhere and that essentially concern the aviculture of a particular bird or group of birds, or that describe their natural history. Articles should be preferably typewritten, with double spacing, and the scientific names as well as the vernacular names of birds should be given. References cited in the text should be listed at the end of the article. Line drawings, black and white or colour photographs which illustrate a particular point in the article will be used where possible and should be clearly captioned. If authors wish their eventual return, they must say so when submitting the article and write their name on the back of each photograph. Tables and graphs will also be used wherever possible but authors should be aware of the constraints of reproduction, particularly regarding the width of the page which is 105mm. ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR Malcolm Ellis, Hon. Editor, The Avicultural Magazine, The Chalet, Hay Farm, St. Breock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7LH, England. Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 104 - No. 2 All rights reserved ISSN 0005 2256 1998 SAVING THE ENDANGERED ORANGE-BELLIED PARRAKEET by J. R. Hodges There can be no doubt that captive breeding has provided a means for the conservation of several species of birds which have been threatened with extinction. Often there has been no real hope for their re-establishment in the wild because of the disappearance of their natural habitat. However, it cannot be denied that their preservation as aviary-bred strains, rather than as stuffed, decaying specimens in museums is desirable. This opinion is apparently not shared by the so-called ‘recovery team’ for the Orange-bellied Parrakeet Neophema chrysogaster which continues its efforts to save the species from extinction. The team consists mainly of a large group of amateur and professional biologists and bureaucrats from State National Parks and Wildlife Services. It has spent a lot of money and generated a wealth of publications with a conspicuous lack of success in achieving its objective. The Orange-bellied Parrakeet is no less critically endangered now than it was in 1984 when the recovery team was set up. Although they have resorted to captive breeding to produce specimens to release into the wild, they have neither been prepared to distribute potential breeding birds to reputable aviculturists nor even to take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. I think that the team’s scorn for aviculture and aviculturists is the fundamental reason for its dismal performance which appears doomed to failure. The Orange-bellied Parrakeet (‘Parrot’ in Australia) is not unlike the Elegant N. elegans or the Blue- winged N. chrysostoma but the green areas are an intense bright grass-green and the blue frontal band and wing edges are a very deep royal blue. The chest and breast are yellow and the belly is a bright flaming orange. The incredible shimmering loveliness of the first male which I saw in the wild was enchanting. The present-day habitat of most of the couple of hundred survivors of this species is within a few miles of Melaleuca in south-west Tasmania where they breed between October and March. They then migrate from this unpopulated, virtually unexplored wilderness area, via King Island in the Bass Straits, to the coastal areas of 50 HODGES - ORANGE-BELLIED PARRAKEET south-west Victoria where they spend the winters on the salt marshes, dunes and pastures near the coast. In complete contrast to their summer habitat, this is an area which is being increasingly lost to industrial development. The Tasmanian habitat has been improved by controlled burning to enhance the growth of seeding grasses on which the birds feed and by the introduction of artificial nest-boxes which have been acceptable to many breeding pairs. The Victorian habitat, particularly the most important area in Port Phillip Bay, has been constantly threatened by industrial development but, recently, the Victorian Government has become more sympathetic and has allocated appropriate wetland areas for the conservation of the Orange-bellied Parrakeet and other migratory birds. Organised counts are being made every year by volunteers. The numbers in Tasmania are fairly constant but those in Victoria appear to be dwindling. Attempts are now being made to use tiny transmitters to trace the birds and improve the accuracy of the counts. The work has provided great advances in our knowledge of the biology of the Orange-bellied Parrakeet but, regrettably, has not yet led to a significant increase in the population of the species in the wild. Their re-establishment appears to present almost insurmountable problems. However, they can still be seen in fair numbers at Melaleuca where a small observatory has been built using materials brought in by helicopter. Melaleuca can be reached by boat, by a week’s arduous hike or by air. Of course, I chose the latter and, with my wife and two friends, chartered for about £800 (approx. US$1,280), a Cessna aircraft from a company called, rather unimaginatively, ‘Paravion’. Early one morning last October when the weather was fair enough we took off from Hobart for Melaleuca with two pilots flying through the clouds with the mountain tops suddenly appearing at frequent intervals perilously close to the wing tips. After about an hour’s flight the clouds appeared to part and before us was the west coast and the sea. We could see the hide quite close to the landing strip in the middle of unattractive country, with a few eucalypts and lots of scrub surrounded by barren rocky slopes. We landed and after a walk through the uninviting scrub, a boat ride and a picnic on the boat in the pouring rain, we made our way to the hide where we were greeted by two young, enthusiastic ornithologists. They were volunteers spending their holidays camping and working at the site. The hide was a fairly large wooden building. Its walls were plastered with informative posters on the natural history of the locality and there was even a television set receiving live pictures, from a nest-box in a eucalypt close by, of a sitting female with the male standing in the entrance hole. The hide provided a perfect view of a group of trees in which the birds were nesting in natural hollows as well as in the artificial nest- boxes. There was also a long perch with a feeding tray placed in a strategic HODGES - ORANGE-BELLIED PARRAKEET 51 position for a perfect view of the birds from the hide. Here, and in the surrounding trees, were about 20 of these lovely birds with their conspicuous flame-orange underparts contrasting with the general greyness of the sky and landscape. With them were a few Green Rosellas Platycercus caledonicus and Beautiful Firetails Stagonopleura bellum of which the Orange-bellied Parrakeets seemed more nervous than of the Green Rosellas. After watching them for an hour or so we reluctantly left the hide, boarded our aircraft and departed, flying back to Hobart along the beautiful southern coast with lovely beaches and no people. It had been a wonderful and exciting day. A member of the recovery team since its inception is Peter Brown who was once a member of the Council of the Avicultural Society. Before emigrating to Tasmania he was in charge of the birds at Hare wood Bird Garden near Leeds. Although he had developed reservations about the ethics of aviculture and the part which it can play in conservation he was instrumental in the development of a captive breeding programme. When I visited the aviaries with him in 1985 Rock Parrakeets N. petrophila and Blue-winged Parrakeets were being used in a pilot study. The success of these breeding trials and the subsequent release of the aviary-bred birds led to the extension of the breeding experiments with Orange-bellieds and when I visited the establishment again three years later with Peter Brown there were a few pairs breeding successfully. Unfortunately several of the young birds developed beak and feather syndrome and many of them died. The unfortunate occurrence of this avicultural scourge, which is now known as Psittacine Circoviral Disease, appeared to destroy the possibility of introducing aviary-bred birds into the wild but the viral disease was soon found to occur in wild Orange-bellied Parrakeets. Work is still being done on the disease and it is now possible to identify birds carrying the infection and perhaps it will lead to the development of an effective vaccine. I visited the breeding complex, again with Peter Brown, last year. The aviaries had been moved to a new location less exposed than the one I had seen previously. The breeding results have improved considerably and 20- 30 young healthy birds have been produced almost every year. Since 1 99 1 ten or more captive bred birds have been liberated annually mostly at Melaleuca but some at Birch’s Inlet which is about 70 miles (approx. 1 1 3km) north of Melaleuca and where a breeding colony existed many years ago. The captive birds remained in the release area at Melaleuca, most of them paired with other released birds or with wild birds and many pairs were successful in rearing their young. However the aviary-bred specimens tended to be reluctant to migrate and most left Melaleuca much later than the wild stock, many never to be seen again. However some have made it and have been seen in Victoria, and a few have returned to Melaleuca. Obviously, they can migrate but they do not seem very keen. 52 HODGES - ORANGE-BELLIED PARRAKEET Keeping the breeding pairs in adjoining aviaries in one location, risking the possibility of losing the entire stock through an infectious disease appears to me to be poor conservation policy. In spite of their own avicultural success the members of the recovery team are apparently so scornful of aviculture generally that no sympathetic consideration has been given to distributing some of the stock to well-known, competent aviculturists. However, some captive bred birds were transferred to Healesville Sanctuary, near Melbourne, but, as far as I know, no reports of the outcome have appeared. I cannot understand why the appropriate departments in Tasmania and Victoria have not adopted or even considered the policy of the Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management with respect to the Naretha Blue-bonnet Parrot Northiella haematogaster narethae. Working with a few private aviculturists the department has instituted an outstandingly successful and financially profitable breeding programme with this rare race of the Blue-bonnet. In contrast, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent by the Tasmanian and Victorian authorities on a very ambitious programme to conserve the endangered Orange-bellied Parrakeet but still there are no more specimens in the wild than there were when the scheme was commenced nearly 20 years ago. Perhaps it is no wonder that the Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett, called it all a fuss over a ‘trumped-up corella.’ 53 INSTANCES OF ABERRANT PLUMAGE AMONG AFRICAN SERINUS SPECIES by Neville Brickell and Trevor Konigkramer The species which in southern Africa we call the Yellow-eyed Canary and which most aviculturists elsewhere call the Green Singing Finch Serinus mozambicus is, of course, a popular and long-established avicultural subject. The closely related Black-throated Canary or Yellow-rumped Seedeater S. atrogularis is also a well-established avicultural subject, but has never been as popular as the former. The Oxford Dictionary defines aberrant as ‘straying from moral standard or diverging from normal type’. Thirty-nine years have passed since Michael P. Stuart Irwin, Director of the National Museum in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe reported interesting examples of instability in the S. mozambicus and S. atrogularis group from southern Mozambique, where aberrants have been found in flocks of Yellow-eyed Canaries or Green Singing Finches. The latter probably are of the race S. m. grand , which occurs in the extreme northern part of Zululand (South Africa) and the extreme southern part of Mozambique. Skead (1960) suggested that this is something which would be worth further investigation. However, it was not something which was taken up by Dr Phillip Clancey (1996) in his up-dated work on the birds of southern Mozambique. Irwin stated: ‘These differ from mozambicus both in colour and pattern and show an approach in characters to atrogularis. The mantle is a uniform brown (streaked) instead of the usual green; the feathers on the crown have darker and broader centres, but with pale isabelline edges; sides of face to lores dusky, eye-stripe faint or absent; dusky grey-brown loral streak present and in this character showing affinity with mozambicus. The entire underparts are isabelline; bill dark horn, more strongly pigmented than in other species, but closer to atrogularis’ . Recently while fishing on the bank of the Pongola River in the Ndumu region, in thick foliage adjacent to the water’s edge Trevor Konigkramer observed approximately 30 individuals of the Serinus family which he was unable to identify in Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa (1993). The birds were feeding on the fruits of the Black Jack Bidens pilosa and the yellow flowering heads of the Gallant Soldier Galinsoga parviflora. Feeding alongside them were small family groups of Bully Canaries S. sulphuratus , Lemon-breasted Canaries S. citrinipectus and Yellow-eyed Canaries or Green Singing Finches. Neville Brickell who was on a photographic trip to northern Zululand was located and was able to photograph one of these unidentified canaries for future reference. 54 BRICKELL & KONIGKRAMER - ABERRANT SERINUS SPECIES Neville Brickell Possible natural hybrid in the wild A project is already underway to produce the following hybrids:- Yellow-eyed Canary x Black-throated Canary Yellow-eyed Canary x Lemon-breasted Canary Black-throated Canary x Lemon-breasted Canary Captive bred examples will then be compared with those photographed in the field. If any aviculturist has already produced hybrids between any of the species listed above and has good photographs of them from which comparisons can be made, they are asked to contact the Director, Avicultural Research Unit, 1 00 Innes Road, Durban 400 1 , KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. References Clancey, P. A. (1996). The Birds of Southern Mozambique. African Bird Book Publishing, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Maclean, G. L. (1993). Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. Skead, C. J. (Ed.) (1960). The Canaries, Seedeaters and Buntings of Southern Africa. The South African Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. KEEPING AND BREEDING FIG PARROTS OF THE GENUS Psittaculirostris AT VOGELPARK WALSRODE 55 by Martina Muller and Norbert Neumann The representatives of the genus Psittaculirostris are medium-sized (lScm-2Qcm (approx. 7in-73.4in long)), stocky parrots, with colourful plumage. Their most prominent features are the extremely short, rounded tail, the elongated ear-coverts and proportionally large bill with a prominent notch in the upper mandible. Fig parrots are distributed throughout different regions of New Guinea, where they can be found primarily in fruit-bearing trees, especially fig trees. Here, we do not attempt to give full descriptions of the three Psittaculirostris species, as they can easily be distinguished by referring to the relevant literature or the photos used to illustrate this article. We believe that the following short notes should be sufficient: Desmarest’s, Golden-headed or Large Fig Parrot P. desmarestii Occurs in forested lowlands, hill forests and occasionally the savannas of the western Papuan islands, as well as western and southern New Guinea, locally up to 1,500m (approx. 4,900ft). Unlike the other species of this genus, which are monotypic, up to six well defined geographical races of it have been described. All are mainly green with the typical contrasting fiery- orange forehead and orange-yellow crown and nape, blue breast markings and blue on the flight feathers. In this species the sexes are alike. SalvadorPs or Whiskered Fig Parrot P. salvadorii Endemic to lowland forest and the forest edge, up to 400m (approx. 1,300ft), in northern Irian Jaya. Extensive logging and land clearance, associated with extensive trapping, are considered to be causing a rapid decline in its numbers and have led to it being listed as vulnerable. Sexual dimorphism is well developed in this species: adult males have a red breast, whereas adult females have broad bands of pale bluish-green across their breast. Both sexes have a blue mark behind the eyes. Edwards’ Fig Parrot P. edwardsii Distributed throughout lowland and hill forest, also partly cleared land, in north-eastern New Guinea. This species was in the past thought to be a race of Salvadori’s Fig Parrot. The most striking features of Edwards’ Fig Parrot are the broad blue-black band on the upper breast, the red belly and lower breast (females lack this red on the breast) and the broad black line through the eyes to the hindcrown and nape. 56 MULLER & NEUMANN - FIG PARROTS Their fascinating behaviour and vivacious nature make fig parrots among the most attractive of the parrots. They are gregarious, very active and playful birds, which become tame easily. While acclimatising and keeping the Psittaculirostris species is no longer a problem, breeding successes still need to be improved in order to establish viable populations. In the mid- 1970s a good number of fig parrots were imported into Europe and the USA. At that time there was no detailed information available about these species, we knew only that keeping fig parrots seemed to be difficult, and therefore only a few enthusiasts purchased these birds. Vogelpark Walsrode was one of the first institutions to take up the challenge to keep these three species of fig parrots and to improve the breeding results with them. During the early years the loss of some birds had to be accepted, but this led to even more intensive efforts to achieve satisfying breeding results. Up until that time and - still today sometimes - there are those who believe that a deficiency of Vitamin K, which delays blood-clotting, causes the death of these birds. Therefore even the slightest injuries such as those caused by flying against the wire of the enclosure, are supposed to be the reason for birds bleeding to death. As an additional supply of Vitamin K did not result in any improvement in the keeping of the adults or in the hatching of chicks, we decided to try other ways. The first improvements came when we added an amino-acid supplement to the food. We noticed increased breeding activity and did not lose any of the adults. During this ‘time of experimentation’ chicks hatched, but died within the first 18 days. At that time, about the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, the results of investigations by keepers in the USA were published which dealt with the causes of death in Psittaculirostris chicks. The surprising result of these investigations was the fact that young fig parrots are obviously unable to digest the seeds of figs and apples, etc., as adult birds do. Even soft and spouting seeds are a potential danger to young birds. These results caused us to reconsider the diet we fed to the fig parrots and, together with other breeders, we worked on a new combination of ingredients. After a short period of re-adaption to this new diet, it was very well accepted by the birds. Today, the Psittaculirostris species’ diet consists of the following, which is fed to them twice a day in clean bowls. It is sufficient for approximately ten birds. 3 tablespoons of cooked rice 1 medium-sized, cooked potato (cut into pieces) 1 large, peeled and steamed apple (with the core removed) 1 steamed carrot 1 banana MULLER & NEUMANN - FIG PARROTS 57 2 tablespoons Humana Spezial (powdered special diet for babies, which is free of lactose, fructose and refined sugar) 2 tablespoons of soft oat flakes lA teaspoon Korvimin (powdered vitamin/mineral supplement for birds) 10 ml honey Vi teaspoon of oil (olive or wheatgerm oil) Vs lettuce or Chinese cabbage Approx. 100ml water All of the ingredients are mixed in a blender until they form a paste-like substance. We also offer a variety of spouted seeds and pulses, including sunflower seeds, mung beans and a seed mixture intended for pigeons. These are soaked in 5 litres (just over I gallon) of water to which we add two Chinosol tablets to prevent them from becoming mouldy. They are soaked for approximately eight hours, after which they are thoroughly rinsed with clean running water and then kept in a sieve and allowed to sprout for about 24 hours. In addition to the above, we also offer maize and rice which has been boiled for ten minutes. Every other day 5ml of one of the following supplements is added to the food: powdered yeast, Muschelkalk (ground shells which provide calcium), powdered soya-malt, Nekton Tonik K (vitamin/mineral supplement for seed¬ eating birds). The food for the adult birds consists of the above mentioned paste (fed twice a day) and, once a day, one tablespoon of spouted seeds and pulses and half a dried fig (which has been soaked) per pair. The seeds, pulses and figs are provided up until two days before the chicks are expected to hatch. From then until the chicks are 14 days old, the only food we offer the birds is the paste. Then from 15 days old onwards, we add ten blanched mealworms per day. When the young birds have fledged, we again feed our basic fig parrot diet (the paste, seeds, pulses and figs) and stop offering mealworms. About two weeks after fledging the offspring can be separated from their parents. They should though be kept in a quiet area, as at the beginning they are very timid. As fig parrots like to use branches on which to clean their bills, they should always have access to branches which have not been treated with pesticides. The birds also peel the bark off the branches, and so get additional minerals, roughage and tannin acids which have a dietetic effect. It should be borne in mind that fig parrots are very active birds, which enjoy bathing. They are also very curious. During the breeding season, 58 MULLER & NEUMANN - FIG PARROTS N. Neumann Desmarest’s Fig Parrot male (left) and female (right) however, they can become very stressed, which can result in them abandoning or even killing their chicks. This does not necessarily take place at the time of the disturbance, but often occurs some days later. Aggressive behaviour between males and females is seen only rarely, and it is more or less easy to set up pairs. Keeping the birds in flocks of two or more pairs, however, makes a big difference and, at breeding time, the pairs should be kept separately. When keeping Psittaculirostris species in a group of three pairs in a large enclosure, we found that all may hatch chicks, but only those of one of the pairs survive to the age of fledging. We assume that one of the pairs is dominant and suppresses the others, also the females sometimes become very aggressive towards each other and bad injuries can result. Pairs do not in most cases seem to be difficult to please with regard to nest-boxes, but there are some pairs which start breeding only after the nest- boxes have been changed several times. The type of nest-box which is preferred differs from pair to pair. Some tend to breed in small boxes which have just a single entrance hole, others use boxes which have an extra opening on the opposite side to the entrance hole, and some pairs prefer to gnaw a second hole in the nest-box while incubating the eggs. When the chicks reach about 14 days old the parents use this extra opening through which to remove the chick’s droppings, which is a great help in keeping the nest-box clean and dry. MULLER & NEUMANN - FIG PARROTS 59 N. Neumann Salvadori’s Fig Parrot male (right) and female (left) N. Neumann Adult pair of Edwards’ Fig Parrot male (right) and female (left) 60 MULLER & NEUMANN - FIG PARROTS With the Psittaculirostris species incubation takes about 22 days and the chicks fledge at about 45 -50 days old. After a further 14 days the young are independent of their parents and can be separated. They are sexually mature at 18 months to two years old, when the plumage is in full colour. With Salvadori’s Fig Parrots there is a difference between the sexes at the age of 14-18 months, and with Edwards’ Fig Parrots the males start to show typical male coloration at about ten months at the earliest. By exchanging our experiences and newly-gained knowledge about the husbandry and breeding of fig parrots, these beautiful birds which are unique in appearance and behaviour, will more and more find their way into the hearts and aviaries of 'parrot people’. Today, keeping fig parrots is one of the most wonderful experiences those interested in keeping parrots can have, especially as they no longer have to face the problems experienced with them in the past. Bibliography Amdt, T. (1990-96). Lexicon der Papageien. Pp. 85-87. Bretten, Germany. Forshaw, J.M. & Cooper, W.T. (1989). Parrots of the World (Third Edition). Lansdowne Editions. Low, R. (1983). Das Papageienbuch. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany. Robiller, F. (1997). Papageien. Volume 2. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany. Martina Muller is Curator at Vogelpark Walsrode, Zoologischer Garten , D-29664 Walsrode, Am Rieselbach, Germany. Tel:(0 51 61)2015-2017/ Fax:(051 61)82 10 /E-mail: office@vogelpark-walsrode.de / Internet: http:/ /www. vogelpark-walsrode . de THE FIRST UK BREEDING OF THE CROWNED HORNBILL Tockus alboterminatus AT LEEDS CASTLE 61 by Laura Gardner In February 1996 a pair of Crowned Hornbills Tockus alboterminatus were purchased for the Leeds Castle aviaries. We decided to work with this species following our success with the closely related Von der Decken’s Hornbill T. deckeni ( Avicultural Magazine , 98, 2: 44-47). The new birds appeared quite drab in comparison to the Von der Decken’s, but as their general condition improved so did their appearance. Adult birds are dark brown with a white breast and leg feathering and all but the central tail feathers are broadly tipped with white. There are distinctive flecks of white feathering above and behind the eyes, the irises of which are golden coloured. The bill is dusky red, with the male’s bill generally being larger than the female’s. The male’s throat patches are black and those of the female are blue. The call of this hornbill is a high-pitched piping whistle, unlike the throaty calls of Von der Decken’s Hornbill. Copyright Scott Montgomery Adult female Crowned Hornbill At the beginning of the 1997 breeding season two nest-boxes were provided, one in the shelter and the other in the aviary. The boxes were of a parrakeet nest-box design with a entrance hole just big enough for the female to squeeze through. The base of the boxes was approximately 1 2in (30.5cm) below the tip of the entrance hole. Nest material consisting of peat and moistened shavings were added and pressed firmly into the base of the boxes. 62 GARDNER - CROWNED HORNBILL On May 20th the female was seen inside the nest-box in the aviary and was starting to mud-up the entrance hole. She spent the next ten days going in and out of the box until May 31st, when the male was seen offering nesting- material to the female inside the box. Later that same day he was seen offering livefood to the female which now seemed to be sitting tight, although the entrance hole had not been completely mudded up. Throughout the first week of June the male continued to feed the female and also continued to take up twigs and leaves. On June 3rd however the female left the box. She was looking tatty and had no tail feathers and had obviously begun to moult. Despite being a little concerned about her condition we decided to leave her in the aviary. The male remained protective of her and fed her the choicest livefood. Two days later she returned to the nest and continued to mud-up the entrance. The female was now incubating properly and both birds were continuing to mud-up the entrance hole. At this point, in addition to the main feed, locusts were fed by hand to the male twice a day. The male took the locusts directly to the nest and fed them to the female. In this way we could gauge the health of the female by her appetite and also ensure that the male was playing his part. On July 1 6th there was a sudden increase in the amount of locusts taken to the nest. We assumed that at least one chick had hatched and the following day the keeper heard a chick squeaking inside the box. The next day at least two voices were heard coming from inside the box. Approximately 20 locusts were being taken at each feed and waxmoth larvae were also introduced to supplement the other livefood. Foods such as fruit and pinkies were also offered to the female from the main food dish, but only after the livefood had gone. Early on August 11th the female began breaking open the mud sealing the entrance hole and by 1 1.30am she had left the box, having been inside for 67 days. She was fully feathered and appeared well, although her bill was very dirty. Later that day both adults were taking livefood to the nest- box and the two chicks were re-sealing the entrance from the inside. During the next week the male would take livefood to the female and she would feed the young. On August 1 8th, both chicks were seen panting due to the very hot weather and one side of the nest-box was hosed with water in order to cool the chicks inside. Three days later the slit in the mud was enlarged by the female, but the chicks continued to re-seal it from inside. On the 25th the female re-entered the nest-box and re-emerged an hour later. This behaviour was repeated three days later; we assumed that the female was trying to encourage the young to leave the nest or was wanting to lay a second clutch. On September 2nd, at mid-day, one of the youngsters finally fledged. This was 47 days after the chicks had first been heard in the nest. The juvenile looked very GARDNER - CROWNED HORNBILL 63 Copyright Scott Montgomery Juvenile Crowned Hornbill hatched at Leeds Castle much like the female but with a shorter, paler coloured bill and without the blue throat patches. As with the young Von der Decken’s Hornbills, the eyes were pale blue-grey. When begging for food it gave a low piping call which was always answered by the adult male. 64 GARDNER - CROWNED HORNBILL The following day the male was seen trying to entice the second youngster out of the nest-box, which he did by sitting on the nest-box perch holding livefood, but not offering it to the youngster there at the nest entrance. This obviously proved too tempting for the second youngster and it left the nest later that day. Within 24 hours of the second chick fledging the female was back inside the nest-box with the entrance hole mudded-up again. For the next two days keepers and the male hornbill were kept busy feeding livefood to the youngsters. The male however was not taking food to the female in the nest and the following day she left the nest-box and spent most of the day feeding. She was still fully feathered and had obviously not started to moult. The next day the female was back in the box and was begging for food at the nest entrance but the male was still too busy feeding the young to feed the female as well. For the next five days the female was fed livefood in the nest by keepers but she re-emerged within a couple of days. She was fully feathered and there was no sign of any eggs having been laid. At this point the nest material reached to within 4in (approx. 10cm) of the entrance hole. A second food dish was placed in the flight for the youngsters, which soon learned to feed themselves, although they continued to beg from the parents for about six weeks. The nesting behaviour of the female continued over the following couple of weeks but no more eggs were laid that year. As described above, the two youngsters, which have now been placed on breeding loan, were parent reared to independence. To our knowledge this is the first UK breeding of this species. As described by Laura Gardner, the Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus, has been bred at Leeds Castle. This is probably the first successful breeding of this species in Great Britain or Ireland. Anyone who knows of a previous breeding is asked to inform the Hon. Secretary. At the time that the above breeding account was submitted (13.8.98) the pair had two more young in the nest. If anyone else is breeding this species and would like to make up unrelated pairs could they please get in touch with Laura Gardner at:- Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent ME 17 IPL, England. Tel: 01 622 765400/Fax:01622 735616. 65 The following article was first published in the magazine in 1934. Mrs Wharton-Tigar was at the time a prominent member of the Society and is credited with being the first person in the UK to have bred the Vinaceous Firefinch Lagonosticta larvata vinacea (in 1933) and the Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula (in 1936). - Ed. AN AMATEUR’S EXPERIENCE IN IMPORTING HUMMINGBIRDS by Mrs Wharton-Tigar In September last year (1933) I accompanied my husband on a short visit to Pernambuco, Brazil. This place is practically unexplored from an avicultural point of view, so I was determined to try and bring home a collection of rare birds. With this end in view, I made a hurried study of the birds to be found in that part of Brazil, and in this I was greatly helped by an article by a Mr Forbes, written in The Ibis in 1881, on the birds he saw in Pernambuco when on a visit there. Late in July I met Mr Seth-Smith and he had accepted my offer to obtain and bring over 20 hummingbirds for the zoo. As I was returning in November and my stay in Pernambuco would only last three weeks, I rather wondered if I had been rash in making this offer! ' We chose the Royal Holland Lloyd line to travel on, as it was the only line we could find that would let us bring back birds and would undertake to keep them warm. We sailed from Southampton on the SS Zeelandia on 28th September, and early dawn of 12th October saw us nearing Pernambuco. As we slowed down to await the pilot boat the air was delicious, clear and not too warm; the port showing itself in a very long line of twinkling lights. After some hours we slowly got alongside the quay, and as we got in we could see local people with pineapples, highly painted gourds, and many large cages of birds, Squirrel Monkeys, marmosets, and other small mammals, which they try to sell to the passengers, mostly, of course, on the home-coming boats. I noticed that the birds offered were not in good condition, usually sticky, the manakins and hummingbirds especially. The state is generally known by the name Pernambuco, but the town there is really called Recife. It is divided into three parts by the River Capiberibe, which winds in and out, separating the portions known as Recife, Santo Antonio, and Boa Vista. Bridges across give the place a gay appearance and in various parts of the town there are small public gardens which I thought were quite cleverly laid out. They are planted with beautiful trees of different sorts, some of the acacia family, resembling huge laburnums; big bushes of oleanders (poisonous to birds, by the way) and bougainvillia 66 WHARTON-TIGAR - IMPORTING HUMMINGBIRDS (really a creeper) throw rods 15-20 feet (approx. 4.5m-6m) long, covered with the gayest flowers in bright crimson, purple and even orange. There are hibiscus, with large single flowers in shades of pink, red and yellow, and tropical lilies with scented white and rose flowers - these appeared to be crinums - and palms, often in wonderful variety, tower up into the sky. Some of these must be quite a 100 years old. The trees are mostly tall and branching, bearing such fruits as the mango, the jack fruit, the jaboticaba, the caju, the mangaba, the araga, the goiaba, the sapoti, and the abacate. All these, when in flower, are a great attraction to the birds, especially the sugarbirds, quits, and hummers, and when in fruit tanagers and thrushes abound. The morning air is most exhilarating out there, and the people of the country are very early risers; from 5am-7am'is by far the nicest part of the day, the temperature then being about 75 °F (23.9°C). In the middle of the day, in the houses, it rises to from 80°F - 85°F (26.7 °C - 29.4°C), but the welcome sea breeze prevents the heat from becoming oppressive. The houses are built to withstand the great heat, with verandahs and plenty of windows which are always open. We were there in the very dry season and the heat was terrific, but I was surprised to find that I could get about with less discomfort than over here during a hot spell. When I arrived at the 'pension’, which we had chosen especially because it had a large garden, I found that our room was immediately opposite a very large tree (a ‘jambo’ with pinkish fruits looking like small pink wax pears and tasting like cotton wool dipped in sugar and water!). This was not then in fruit, but was covered with masses of creamy white blossoms from about 15ft (approx. 5.4m) up to a great height and circumference. As I looked up I saw hundreds of bananaquits of several varieties, some very tiny, others a little bigger, some very bright yellow, others duller (It seems that the names bananaquit or quit used to be used for several different species , such as sugarbirds or honeycreepers, tanagers and grassquits. Ed.). I also noticed several Yellow Tanagers Calliste flava (probably what is now called the Burnished-buff Tangara cay ana flava. Ed.), this being a very common bird in Pernambuco; and, besides seeing a number in this tree, I often heard their sweet little song when sitting in the garden under the sapoti trees. These latter were just ripening, their queer fruits rather like a bad pear. The tree opposite my window was a great source of pleasure to me; at 5.00am next morning I awoke and looked out, and had a splendid view. Birds were constantly backwards and forwards - including many varieties of the blue tanagers, some a glorious powder blue, some grey, and some nearly green. I never managed to buy any of the duller ones or of the glorious bright blue ones that might have been something even better. I saw a lot of lovely little yellow birds with orange red heads, which I know now were Orange-headed Tanagers Thlypopsis sordida. I also frequently saw a WHARTON-TIGAR - IMPORTING HUMMINGBIRDS 67 beautiful thrush with crimson sides, all sorts of doves, and many other birds which were too far off to be distinguished. I lost no time in going to the market at St Jose. This is a very disappointing place for birds, but surprises do occur. The bird portion is small and close to the sugar cane section. The birds are all together, usually in very large cages. Among others were Pope Cardinals Paroaria dominicana in rough condition, Saffron Finches Sicalis flaveola , the several grey Sporophila that they call ‘Patativas’ and which are bought by Brazilians as song birds. Often there are big cages of caciques: I saw some very bright yellow ones but did not buy any as they are not popular in England. There were plenty of Brazilian Hangnests Icterus icterus , which if caught wild are quite cheap, but if pale coloured are hand-reared and command a high price. Soon after I landed and made enquiries about bird collecting I was told of a Swiss who was very keen on birds, and who, they told me, had reared hummers from the nest. I lost no time in finding out where he lived. His name is Mr Cordier and he lives with his charming Brazilian wife in a bungalow where he has quite large aviaries, well equipped and thought out. I arrived there on a Sunday afternoon and he took me round his aviaries at once. They certainly were a fine sight and I never had a greater thrill. He must have had at least a hundred hummers, all in glorious condition: the ‘Bizorro’ as they call it (probably the Reddish Hermit Phciethornis ruber , a tiny brown thing no larger than a bumble bee), some of the larger wood hermits, and jacobins with glistening white tails and wings, all of which had been in his aviaries for months. He showed me with pride a tiny Horned S ungem Heliactin cornuta which nothing apparently would induce him to part with. He found a mate for it, however, and I persuaded him to let me have the pair; but, alas, they both died on almost the first night on the journey home, after the rough usage they had on the quay and on the ship before I could get things straightened out. Besides the hummers there was a glorious collection of manakins - White-bearded Manacus manacus and the Red-headed Pipra rufocapilla , rare tanagers. Russet-crowned Crakes Laterallus viridis, water tyrants, and even a swallow! I was soon told that I could have none of these treasures as they were all booked to go to Germany via Havre in a few days. I believe some of the hummers were bought by Mr Ezra for the zoo. I felt crestfallen, but Mr Cordier told me that more could be found and collected for me. I told him what I wanted and he said he would find all he could, and he did. It was a great disadvantage of course to have to bring over newly caught birds, and under a week before I sailed for home most of my manakins, Hooded Tanager Nemosia pileata and several others were still being hand-fed. What an 68 WHARTON-TIGAR - IMPORTING HUMMINGBIRDS education it was to watch Mr Cordier do this. If the newly caught birds do not start to feed very quickly he liberates them and they fly straight back to the forests. Besides Mr Cordier I went to a certain Joao da Malta, who had been trained by Mr Cordier, and from him I got White-bellied Seedeaters Sporophila leucoptera , the five hummers of a new species, the Stripe-breasted Starthroat Heliomaster squamosa and several of the rarer birds I brought over. Around Pernambuco, in the surrounding towns, there are held on Sundays various fairs. I managed to attend two of these and on each occasion I was fortunate in finding something rare. I was in Brazil for three Sundays and would have managed to attend several more fairs - feiras as they are called over there, but could not, as my husband took a marked objection to standing about in the blazing sun while I bargained with the locals. So I had to give up the idea and we went to Boa Viagem instead, where surely there is the most perfect sea bathing in the world. Mr Cordier undertook to cage and pack all my birds, besides getting me through the Brazilian Customs (no easy matter) and to buy me all the necessary foods for the journey home. I had taken out well-made cages for the birds to be brought home in, but on arrival I found that I could not bring these in without paying an exorbitant duty, so they remained in board until I left - I never opened them again until I arrived back in London. They would also not allow me to land my supply of dried flies and ants’ eggs and would have destroyed them if influence had not been brought to bear! These were also put in bond and I was allowed to reclaim them as I left, and they proved very valuable for feeding the birds on the way back. They also object to mealworms, so I left mine on board in cold storage, and was very glad of them later. I should mention here that we came home on the same steamer as we went on, the boat cruising down to Buenos Aires and back during our stay in Pernambuco. Another good way of picking up birds is to meet the Lloyd Braziliero boats from Para and Manaus. I went on board several times, and on one occasion I bought a pair of stilts Himantopus sp. from one of the sailors. The poor birds were in a very bad condition, all crowded together in a tiny basket. I also saw two fine Hyacinthine Macaws Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, but could not buy of course. I saw Sun Bitterns Eurypyga helias and trumpeters P sophia sp., but I know very little about this type of bird so I did not buy any. I just missed a very rare little monkey and fell in love with ‘Chico’, a little Capuchin Monkey now at the zoo. How fond he was of me. I well remember his joy on my appearance at the door of the bird cabin. Not having seen him for several months, I am wondering what my reception will be like when we meet again. WHARTON-TIGAR - IMPORTING HUMMINGBIRDS 69 I shall never forget the day we left Pernambuco. After waiting on the quay with the birds in crates from 10am until 7pm in the evening, we were absolutely exhausted. All the large, roughly made crates were dumped on board, and I was left to try and make Dutch stewards understand what I wanted done with them. None of the bigger cages would fit in a cabin, so to make matters worse, I had to take all the wicker cages out of the hummer crates and carry them one by one to the cabin. The smaller cases with wire fronts were all placed in a position so that the birds got no light or air. Blank despair can only describe my feelings; add to this acute seasickness and you will see how black things seemed. The ship had allotted to me a third-class cabin in the worst part of the ship for my birds, but luckily other passengers complained and I was moved to two outside cabins in a more secluded and unused part of the ship. The heat was so great that within a minute of entering the cabin everything I wore was as wet as if I had got into a bath. I arranged the birds as best I could and went from them to my bed for several days, wondering if I could manage to hold out, and to add to my troubles the glass hummer bottles kept on breaking at such a rate that I thought I should never manage to keep any hummers alive. I can only put this down to the terrible heat as, I am glad to say, none cracked after Madeira, so the situation was saved. I was greatly assisted on board by a charming Dutch lady, Mrs Van Eeghen, who offered to help and joined me at 6.30am and 4.30pm when we fed the birds. At midday I also changed the hummers’ food. It used to take us two hours to do all the feeding twice a day, working hard. I followed out Mr Cordier’s instructions about feeding to the letter, and they were pretty strenuous. On the whole the losses I suffered were moderate considering the terrible and very sudden changes in temperature. After Vigo it became very cold, and owing to the determination of my kind friend, Mrs Van Eeghen, the place was kept warm enough. She was a great help in managing the Dutch engineer and the purser, and also in organising the preparation for landing the birds at Southampton and tackling the stewards in their own language. We packed everything as warmly as we could, stuck paper over cracks in the crates, and hoped for the best. Overseer Bailey, of the zoo, came on board at Southampton and we had an hour and a half on the tender and a long train journey before depositing the birds safely in London. No losses occurred,- however, and the hummers were hurried to the zoo, the other birds to my home in Hampstead. It may be of interest if I give below a list of some of the birds which I finally managed to land in England. The following are first importations alive, so far as is known: Stripe- 70 WHARTON-TIGAR - IMPORTING HUMMINGBIRDS breasted Starthroat Heliomaster squamosa, Long-tailed Hermit Phaethornis superciliosus , Hooded Tanager Nemosia pileata, Orange-headed Tanager Thlypopsis sordida, Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster. White- headed Marsh Tyrant Arundinicola leucocephala , Moustached Wren Thryothorus genibarbis, Lined Antshrike Thamnophilus pilliatus. Masked Water-Tyrant Fluvicola nengeta. Other birds I brought over included: White-bellied Seedeater Sporophila leucoptera , Reddish Finch or Capped Seedeater S. bouvreuil , Yellowish Finch Sycalis luteola. Pectoral Sparrow Arremon taciturnis, Yarrell’s or Yellow¬ faced Siskin Carduelis yarrellii, Eastern Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis, White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus , Red-headed Manakin Pipra rubrocapilla, Blue-backed Manakin Chiroxiphia pareola , Superb Tanager or Seven-coloured Tanager Tangarafastuosa, Red-necked or Festive Tanager T. cyanocephala , Blue and Black Tanager Tanagrella cyanomelaena, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia Euphonia pectoralis. Flame-crested Tanager Tachyphonus cristatus. Black-faced Tanager Schistoclamys melanopsis. Green Honeycreeper or Black-faced Sugarbird Chlorophanes spiza, Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana , Picui Dove Columbina picui , Scaly-breasted Ground Dove C. passerina , Ruddy Ground Dove C. talpacoti , Scaly Dove Scardafella squammata , Russet-crowned Crake Laterallus viridis. Hummingbirds: Green-throated Mango Anthracothorax viridigula, Blue- chinned Sapphire Chlorestes notatus , Rufous-throated Sapphire Hylocharis sapphirina, White-chinned Sapphire H. cyanus. Glitter-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata. Swallow-tailed Hummingbird Eupetomena macroura, Ruby-topaz Chrysolampis mosquitus. Mrs Wharton-Tigar used mainly scientific names, and some English names, many of which have long since fallen into disuse, and / had considerable difficulty tracing the modern equivalents. With the help of Anthony Mobbs, Daniel Shearing, Jeff Trollope and Dr Robert Pry s- Jones of the Natural History Museum, Tring, I think that I have managed to come up with most of the correct modern names, but I am not one hundred percent certain in some cases. 71 September 15th, Hancock House published the Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories by Rosemary Low, an acknowledged expert on these birds and a frequent contributor to the Avicultural Magazine. The publisher offered the Avicultural Magazine the opportunity to publish the following extracts to coincide with the publication. From the publishers point of view it is, of course, a way of helping publicise this important new title which is available only by direct mail order, while from the Society's point of view, it provides the magazine with important material about a group of birds which is of considerable interest to many members. So far as 1 am aware, the publication of extracts, from a newy published book is something which has never been done before in this magazine. However, in view of the interest in the subject matter, the author's atanding within the Society and the avicultural community generally, and the need to find sufficient material to publish in the magazine, I decided to go ahead. The first of the extracts, on Bacterial Infections, is just one of some 91 lory-related topics which are covered and the extract on the Black-capped Lory is the first of the individual species accounts. So as to remain as true as possible to the book, I have retained, as far as possible, the general style and North American spellings, but because of the smaller format of the magazine, have been unable to retain the two columns of text. -Ed. HANCOCK HOUSE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE LORIES Bacterial Infections Bacterial infections are a major cause of death of captive lories. Species of bacteria most likely to be responsible are those of the genera Salmonella and Klebsiella , and also Escherichia coli. However, E. coli may be part of the normal intestinal flora and is not necessarily pathogenic. The main reasons why death from gram-negative bacterial infections is common in lories is because they are fed a liquid diet which often has a high content of simple sugars. In warm temperatures this is a perfect medium for the growth of bacteria. This is why the liquid food should be changed twice daily or even three times in temperatures over 35°C (95°F). Lory cages and aviaries need cleaning more frequently than those of other parrot species. If this task is neglected, harmful bacteria will proliferate. In my experience, salmonellosis is the most serious disease from the viewpoint of the lory keeper in a warm climate. Annually it will make itself known in summer. Because affected birds seldom show abnormal behavior until a few hours before death, treatment usually comes too late. If birds are not inspected several times daily, nothing abnormal will be noticed and a bird could be picked up dead. Although at least one avian pathologist of 72 LOW - LORIES note believes that lories which carry salmonellosis do not exist (i.e., exposed birds are either noncarriers or die), this was not my experience. I recall the sad case of a beautiful male red-flanked lorikeet. Two of his females and most of his young had died. Repeated tests gave the result that he was shedding Salmonella. The reluctant decision was made to euthanize him. Poor breeding results, and deaths of adults and chicks, should always be investigated by an avian veterinarian. There is a high possibility that gram¬ negative bacteria are responsible. The cause could be poor nest hygiene. It is not advisable to accept chicks for hand-rearing from other collections because of the disease risk. However, a decade or more ago a breeder asked me to hand-rear the chicks from his pair of blue-streaked lories, whose chicks invariably died at a few days old. He brought me a newly hatched chick; it, too, died soon after. The postmortem report read as follows: This chick showed a very pale, mottled liver and some congestion of the lungs. Culture from lungs, liver and intestine all produced a heavy, pure growth of a haemolytic Streptococcus (apparently of Group C, otherwise known as Streptococcus zooepidemicus ). There is little doubt that the origin of the bacteria is the nest environment. Contamination of the chicks just after hatching, or possibly of the eggs prior to hatching, is the cause of the problem. I impressed on the owner the need to clean and disinfect the nestbox. In the next clutch both eggs hatched. I cannot recall whether I received them just prior to hatching or as newly hatched chicks. This time both chicks were successfully reared. It must be realized that bacteria are found naturally in most living organisms, internally and externally. The type depends upon the species. The normal intestinal flora of parrots is made up predominantly of a group known as gram positive, such as lactobacillus, staphylococcus and streptococcus. These bacteria usually take several weeks to colonize the tracts of newly hatched chicks and are passed to the chick by its parents or other organisms with which it comes into contact. The natural intestinal bacteria (or flora) aid in the digestion of food which the bird itself cannot digest, and protect against the colonization of harmful bacteria such as those mentioned above, and also Pseudomonas. It must be remembered that treating bacterial infections with antibiotics and antifungal preparations also results in the destruction of the ‘friendly’ microorganisms. In other words, their use weakens the bird’s immune system. This is why they should never be given on a regular or prophylactic basis or given at a greater strength than that recommended by a veterinarian. LOW - LORIES 73 Genus* Lorius The members of this genus are unmistakable: large, stocky lories with longish, broad tails. All species have the wings green, and red predominates in the body plumage. They are handsome birds. In immature plumage, in most (or all?) species, the greater underwing coverts (the outermost feathers only) are broadly tipped with black. This is confirmed in domicellus , lory and chlorocercus. According to their plumage, Lorius can be divided into two groups: (1) the black-capped species: purple-naped, black-capped, purple-bellied, white-naped and yellow-bibbed; (2) the single species without the black cap, the chattering (yellow-backed) lory. These lories originate from New Guinea and surrounding islands, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. In aviculture, the chattering and the black-capped are well known and cherished. One species, the purple-naped, is rare. The yellow-bibbed was almost unknown until the 1980s, but its numbers are increasing. The purple-bellied is almost unknown outside New Guinea and the white-naped has never been in aviculture. The Lorius species are exceptionally attractive aviary birds but their loud voices may deter some people from keeping these otherwise desirable lories. They make excellent pets, and some become good mimics. If kept singly they need plenty of attention to compensate for the lack of a partner of their own kind. They are highly intelligent and playful and will make use of every kind of swing or toy provided. Unlike some lories, they need at least 20 to 30 percent solid foods (fruits and vegetables and even a few sunflower seeds) in their diet, in addition to nectar. Black-capped Lory Lorius lory (Linnaeus 1758) Native names: Fore, Korio; Gimi, Korio ; Daribi, Somu Description: Forehead, crown and nape are black; the rest of the head is red and a red band separates the nape from the mantle; in most birds the, middle of the band is a bleached or washed-out shade of pink. The upper part of the upper breast is also red. A broad collar of dark blue joins the same color on the mantle and on the lower breast, extending to the underparts, under tail coverts and thighs. The shade of blue is brighter, more violet, on the lower abdomen, ventral area, under tail coverts and thighs. Rump and upper tail coverts are crimson, the bases of the feathers being gray and green. The wings are green with a bronze patch on the primary coverts. Underwing coverts are red and there is a broad band of yellow across the underside of the flight feathers. The tail is red above at the base, dark blue at the tip; the underside is gray-tinged yellow. The beak is orange; the iris is orange with 74 LOW - LORIES a narrow inner ring of pale yellow, a narrow ring of black and a wide ring of orange. The legs are black. Length: 29-30 cm, nominate race; jobiensis and cyanuchen are slightly larger and the other subspecies are smaller. Weight: 230-250 g, nominate race; about 180-240 g in erythrothorax. Immatures: These birds of the nominate race differ from adults in having the dark blue of the upper breast extending higher up, as far as the throat in some individuals. Up until the age of 18 months or so, the area between throat and upper breast gradually loses the dark blue feathers. The bill is brown on fledging, gradually becoming dark yellow with dark grey at the base of the upper mandible. The iris is dark brown. An immature erythrothorax looks rather different from the adult, as it has a complete collar of dark blue, while adults of this subspecies have a half collar which does not meet below the throat. By about ten months of age the dark blue feathers of the throat are lost, so the collar is then incomplete, and remains so. In some young the collar is narrow; in others it may be 2cm wide. The beautiful iridescent violet-blue of the post-torqual band is notable. The complete collar of dark blue is present in cyanuchen. In jobiensis , immature birds have duller plumage with green feathers on the flanks. The blue band which in adults extends from the lower breast to under the wings, is only partly formed (Tiskens 1993). In erythrothorax , and almost certainly in all subspecies, the lesser underwing coverts are blue toward the carpal edge of the wing. The greater underwing coverts are very broadly tipped with black. Sexual dimorphism: Plumage is the same in male and female but beak shape usually differs slightly. The upper mandible is normally broader, and more protruding, in the male; the female’s beak therefore appears more rounded and less elongated. Subspecies: Seven or more subspecies are generally recognized, but only six appear to be valid. Their identification has caused aviculturists confusion. In the U.K. Trevor Buckell studied skins in several museums to assist aviculturists in pairing together the correct races. He came to the conclusion that salvadorii and viridicrissalis were synonymous with jobiensis , but later had reason to believe that salvadorii was a valid form. L. 1. viridicrissalis supposedly differs from salvadorii by the more blackish blue on the hindneck. Forshaw ( 1 989) describes the underwing coverts as mainly black with some dark blue in males, and as dark blue in females. The subspecies can be divided into two groups for ease of identification: ( 1 ) those with red underwing coverts: lory, somu, and erythrothorax (the LOW - LORIES 75 latter sometimes known as the red- breasted lory); (2) those with black or dark blue underwing coverts: cyanuchen, jobiensis (known as the Jobi lory) and salvadorii (Salvadori’s black-capped lory). Within these groups, the subspecies can be recognized by noting the following points. 1 . In lory , the blue of the abdomen and upper breast extends over the back, forming a continuous area; sornu is easily distinguished as it lacks any blue on the nape or breast, these areas being entirely red; erythrothorax has the abdomen blue, the breast red, and the blue of the collar extending slightly and irregularly onto the upper breast. The demarcation between the red of the breast and the blue of the abdomen is an almost straight line. 2. Although jobiensis agrees with erythrothorax in having the breast and interscapular area red and the blue of the collar extending slightly on to the upper breast, it differs from group one subspecies in having blue underwing coverts and no yellow under the wings; cyanuchen differs from jobiensis in lacking red on the nape. Thus there is only one red band, that on the interscapular region, thus this is the only subspecies with no red on the back of the head, as its name suggests ( cyanuchen means blue nape). According to Buck ell. salvadorii differs from jobiensis in having the abdomen black, with the odd green feather in some specimens (dark blue abdomen in jobiensis ), in being smaller, and also in the shade of red, which is not the rose red of jobiensis . Natural history Range: 1. The nominate race is from Vogelkop, Irian Jaya (extreme western New Guinea) and the nearby western Papuan Islands of Waigeu, Batanta, Salawati and Misool (see Gazetteer). L l erythrothorax occurs in Irian Jaya, from the southern parts of Geelvink Bay and from the Onin Peninsula eastward to southeastern Papua New Guinea and the Huon 76 LOW - LORIES Peninsula. Its range meets that of somu in the Fly River area. The southern New Guinea subspecies, L. 1. somu , is known from the Karimui Basin and south of that area, from the mouth of the Purari River, from the Fly River and from the Lake Kutubu area (Forshaw 1989). Coates (1985) gives its range as the south side of the main ranges from the Ok Tedi area, Western Province, to the Karimui area of the Chimbu Province. 2. L. /. jobiensis is restricted to the island of Japen (formerly called Jobi) and the Mios Num Islands in Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya. L. l.cyanuchen is restricted to Biak and Supiori islands (see Gazetteer), Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya. L. 1. salvadorii comes from northern New Guinea, from Astrolabe Bay through the lowlands westward to the Aitape area and, if viridicrissalis is synonymized with salvadorii, even further westward, with a disjunct distribution extending as far west as Mamberamo River. Habits: This is principally a bird of lowland forests and, in New Guinea, is uncommon above 1,000 m(3,280 ft.). It is seen in pairs or family groups; larger numbers congregate to feed but do not stay together. In virgin forest, where it occurs along with small flocks of green-naped lorikeets and dusky lories, the latter two species are found consistently several hundred feet higher (Diamond 1972). Beehler, Pratt and Zimmerman (1986) state that it occurs in small parties, foraging in the canopy of forest and forest edge. It usually flies at canopy level. Coates (1985) gives its habitat as primary forest, forest edges, tall secondary growth and partly cleared areas, being absent from monsoon forest, gallery forest and coconut plantations. In 1991, Thomas Arndt searched for cyanuchen on Biak and reached the conclusion that its population was small. He saw several black-caps of other subspecies offered for sale in the market in Biak town, and one cyanuchen, but a dealer told him that the latter was seldom caught (Arndt 1 992). However, John Tabak (pers. comm. 1995) bought 2 cyanuchen in Biak markets at different times and stated: “They are readily available in the local markets, being the most esteemed lory amongst Biak people on account of their character and reputation for speaking ability. They are common household pets. They and the sulphur-crested cockatoos are the main species of parrots traded in Biak.” He commented that cyanuchen is still fairly common in the wild in northern Biak and on Supiori Island, which remain well forested, but that he observed it less often than black-winged lories and Rosenberg’s lorikeets in January and February of 1995. However, it is not possible to obtain a permit to export cyanuchen from Biak without the personal consent of the national minister of forests. Newman (pers. comm. 1994) observed erythrothorax in the Varirata National Park, 48 km (30 miles) from Port Moresby. He saw groups of two to four birds, plus a single specimen perched at the forest edge. Most LOW - LORIES 77 sightings were in the area of the park headquarters and car park. I had a fleeting glimpse of three birds not far from the park entrance (coming from Port Moresby) in November, 1994. It was midday, so few birds were in evidence. Opened in October, 1973, Varirata is the first national park of PNG. (It was dedicated to present and future generations, “for wise use, education and understanding of the ways of nature.”) The black-cap is usually seen in flight, when it is conspicuous and noisy. Coates (1985) describes its vocalizations as follows: “The flight call is an oft-repeated variable loud musical whistled note, sometimes disyllabic or trisyallabic and often given as pairs of upslurred notes, sometimes interspersed with other notes. A variety of loud whistles and piercing squeaks are given when perched.” Its repertoire can contain pleasant and varied phrases, at least among captive birds; but there is considerable variation. Accounts by other ornithologists differ. Beehler, Pratt and Zimmerman (1986) describe “a short series of melodious whistles or squeals, more like the call of a wader (or Golden Myna) than of a parrot: wheedle, wheedle. Song is a long series of phrases, each of a few notes repeated over and over before beginning a new phrase. Sometimes gives a monotonous series of identical notes suggesting a goshawk.” Diamond (1972) has a different, perhaps slightly fanciful, but equally accurate account: “The commonest vocalization consists of two identical squeals in immediate succession, with a quality as of sleigh-bells when heard in the distance; this double squeal cannot be confused with the voice of other New Guinea parrots. In addition, a variety of high piercing squeaks and loud whistles may be emitted, particularly when the birds are perched.” Diamond suggested that, judging by the trees frequented, it feeds principally on flowers, secondarily on fruits. Others have recorded it feeding on the climbing Freycinetia. Coates states that it feeds in the canopy, mainly on pollen, nectar, flowers and fruits, also insects. Pollen and small insects have been found in the stomachs of birds collected in the Weyland Mountains, Irian Jaya. Nesting: Little has been recorded. In the Markham Valley (west of the Huon Peninsula) a pair was excavating a nest hollow in a dead tree at the edge of a garden, in October. One egg in the British Museum (Natural History) measures 27.0 x 22.0 mm (Harrison and Holyoak 1970). This is quite small - but there is considerable variation in eggs laid by some females. For example, three measured from one female erythrothorax at Palmitos Park were 29.0 x 24.6mm, 30.0 x 24.1mm and 27.8 x 24.0mm. A second female laid one which measured 30.5 x 26.8mm. One egg laid by a salvadorii measured 31.4 x 25.5mm (van Dooren pers. comm. 1995). 78 LOW - LORIES Status/Conservation: Common to fairly common. The exception is cyanuchen from Biak, whose small population is believed to be declining. Due to its restricted habitat, this is the most vulnerable subspecies and conservation measures should be instigated. No such measures are known to be necessary for black-capped lories from other parts of the range. Some trapping for trade occurs, but large importations of this species have not occurred, presumably because it is not a flock species and tends to be wary. As from 1987, importation from Indonesia into European Community countries was prohibited. Aviculture Status: The subspecies lory and erythrothorax are well known; cyanuchen is almost unknown, and the other subspecies have occasionally been available. Clutch size: Two Incubation period: In the Canary Islands about 25 days, but as long as 27 days has been recorded for the first egg, also 26 days. For the second egg, 24 days has been recorded on several occasions. Paul Tiskens (pers. comm. 1994) found that in Germany eggs of erythrothorax hatched after 26 to 28 days and johiensis after 25 to 28 days (the difference presumably being due to when the female started to incubate). One egg of a salvadorii hatched after 25 days (van Dooren pers. comm. 1995) Rosemary Low Newly-hatched Lorius lory erythrothorax LOW - LORIES 79 Newly hatched chick: Weight, 9g; covered in long, white down, longest on the back and flanks; the down on the forehead and crown is grey; feet are pink with dark gray “heels” and the toes have black nails. The beak is dark brown. Chick development: 3 to 6 days, feet turning gray; day 8, down feather tracts visible under skin of wings and body; day 9, gray head down only just discernible; days 10 to 13, ears opening; day 1 1, eyes slitting; day 13, eyes half open; day 16, gray second down erupting on wings and breast; day 19, second down erupting all over; day 23, first contour feathers erupting on head, breast and scapulars, red “blush” on cheeks (feathers developing under skin); day 28, head and underparts half feathered; day 50, fully feathered, beak dark brown. Chicks are ringed with 8.5 mm rings between 14 and 17 days; Tiskens (pers. comm. 1994) ringed chicks with 8 mm rings at 1 6 to 1 8 days. Chick growth: Records the weights of two parent-reared chicks from different pairs at Palmitos Park. No. 1 hatched on 28/1/95 and No. 2, on 12/ 3/95. Both were the only chicks in the nest The rearing food consisted of a mixture of Nekton -Lori., Milupa baby cereal and honey, with the addition of half a fruit twice daily, usually apple, pear or banana. These weights are contrasted with approximate weights of two parent-reared jobiensis in the collection of Andrea and Paul Tiskens in Germany (chicks No. 3 and No. 4) and one parent-reared salvadorii belonging to G. van Dooren in the Netherlands (chick No. 5). Age at independence of hand-reared young: Great variation recorded by author, from only 44 days in a single reared alone to 68 days in two reared together; most are feeding on their own before the age of seven weeks but may still require some food from the spoon. Young in nest: In the Canary Islands, average 69 days; but between 61 and 77 days recorded. The shorter periods generally occurred during the warmest months. In the U.K., 65 to 70 days, but only 57 days for one particular pair recorded by Trevor Buckell, 80 LOW - LORIES Age in days Black No. 1 -capped lory weight table Weight in grams No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 day hatched 9 e - 10 fc 1 12 e 11 e 12 fc 2 14 e 14 ne 15 fc 3 17 fic 17 ne 17 fc 4 20 fic 23 fc 19 fic 5 24 nf 25 fic 26 fc 6 27 nf 26 e 28 fc 7 34 nf 37 fc 37 fc 8 40 nf - 37 fic 9 57 vfc 42 e 45 fic 10 57 fic 57 nf ringed 55 fc 11 58 nf 55 e 65 fc 12 55 ne 73 vfc 71 fc 13 62 fic - 81 fc 14 76 ne 82 fc 60 91 fc 15 80 ne 93 fic 100 fc 16 76 fic - 104 fc 17 82 e 98 fic 108 fic 18 90 ne - 129 fc 19 132 fc - 20 125 ne - 21 - - 22 149 nf - 130 23 146 fic - 24 152 fc 150 150 25 147 fic 162 fc 26 167 nf 159 fic 27 173 fc 164 ne 140 28 170 fic 157 e 29 169 e 182 fc 160 30 180 fc 165 e 31 173 ne 177 e 32 170 e 182 ne 33 203 fic 170 e 34 191 e 173 ne 170 35 209 fc 179 e 36 193 e - 190 37 196 e 193 fic 38 190 e - 39 215 fic 184 e 40 197 e - 41 202 e 195 fic 200 42 215 e - 43 221 fic - 210 44 223 fic 187e 45 216 ne - 46 220 fic - 47 214 e - 48 216 e 191 e 49 224 e - 50 245 fc - 52 217 e - 53 - 186 e 57 - - 200 59 - - 210 fc = full crop, fic = food in crop, nf = nearly full, vfc = very full crop, e = empty, ne = nearly empty LOW - LORIES 81 General: The black-capped is popular among those who are able to keep the larger and noisier lories. It has color and character and is one of my own favorites. Its complex behavior and vocalizations make it a most interesting and amusing bird in the aviary. Tame birds are excellent pets and often become accomplished mimics and whistlers. Perhaps because of its scientific name (it was the first lory to be described) it somehow stands almost as a symbol for the whole family of lories. To me, this is the quintessential lory, possessing all the attributes which give this group so much appeal. Tiskens and Tiskens (1993) agree: “The Black-cap is one of the most beautiful and interesting of the lories, and ideally should not be missing from any collection of lories.” However, they warn: “If you still have ‘beloved’ neighbors, then one should not wish for this lory since its call can be loud and shrill.” Despite this, black-caps are quite often kept as pets. Like most Lorius species, they can become very talented mimics of the human voice. They have such endearing mannerisms as to be irresistible as a pet to the true lory lover. However, he or she must be prepared for the frequent cleaning in the vicinity of the cage in return for the joy of having a black-cap share his or her life. From the late 1970s, importations of black-caps gradually became fewer; not enough were bred to maintain numbers and by the mid-1980s it was considered to be one of the rarer species. Prices rose. This, of course, added to its desirability, and more interest was shown in breeding it. Its numbers have since grown steadily. In the breeding centre at Palmitos Park the lories are housed in a large, high, airy, enclosed building, each pair confined to a suspended cage 2m (6 ft. 6in) long. They were set up for breeding at the end of 1989. Between January, 1990, and March, 1994, 84 eggs were laid by several females of the subspecies erythrothorax and by one nominate lory . February and March are the most likely egg-laying months on Gran Canaria. During the period mentioned above, the number of eggs laid for each month was as follows: January-4; February-15; March-14; April-7; May-7; June-9; July-4; August- 9; September-6; October-O (molting); November-5; December-4. Forty-one of these eggs produced chicks of ringing age or older. Fertility was high, and most chick losses occurred in the few days after hatching. Oblong or L-shaped nestboxes are attached to the outside of the cage, for ease of inspection. Females tend to be secretive about having eggs and will quietly leave the nestbox when someone is in the vicinity. Unless the nest is checked daily when laying is suspected, the laying dates may be unknown. I inspect the nest about once a week during the incubation period, and daily after the chicks hatch. With the exception of one female who was more aggressive, females would leave quietly when I opened the door, and return quickly. They ceased to stay in the box during the day when the young were 82 LOW - LORIES Rosemary Low Pair of Lorius I. lory with newly-fledged fostered Lorius l. erythrothorax about three weeks old, but usually came to watch when I was weighing chicks. They accepted the routine without any fuss, unlike many lories with chicks. The black-caps are normally excellent parents. One female killed her first youngster on the day it hatched, but thereafter reared her young successfully. Occasionally two chicks hatch but, with the pairs in my care, more clutches produced only a single chick. Many young were left with their parents for several months after fledging. On one occasion a single youngster remained in the cage for the entire rearing period of the young one from the following clutch; the two were eventually removed from the cage at the same time. I remember the day on which the chick from the second nest hatched. Oddly, the whole family was in the nestbox; the young one must have been curious about the new arrival! In the warm climate of the Canaries, fairly spacious nest-boxes can be used. This experiment might not have been successful in a small nestbox. Their diet consisted of a mixture of Nekton-Lori and Milupa baby cereal with some honey added. Fruit was offered once or twice daily. Pear and banana at the correct stage of ripeness (not hard, but not overripe) and guavas are favored; apple, cactus fruits, loquats and other fruits in season are readily accepted. I occasionally gave them a few grains of dry sunflower seed. When offered branches of casuarina with small fruits (cones), the seeds were removed first, and then the entire branch was destroyed. Courtship behavior was difficult to observe in the breeding pairs, except for the preliminary phase. This consists of rapid bobbing up and down with the feet anchored to the perch, and swaying from side to side. I have also LOW - LORIES 83 Rosemary Low Lori us lory erythrothorax stripping willow branches observed males briefly holding open the wings to show the striking yellow area on the primaries. The behavior of my hand-reared and somewhat imprinted male, when he attempts to copulate with my hand, is described here, but I am not certain if this is entirely typical. After the preliminary phase described, he makes a rhythmic squeaky sound, sometimes blowing (roughly equivalent to hissing in Trichoglossus). This is followed by a drawn- out “Fooh\ ” Experiences of breeders with other subspecies are of interest. In Germany, Andrea and Paul Tiskens had a female jobiensis who was paired with a male of the nominate race. The resulting young had the breast patch clearly defined as in erythrothorax. Finally, in 1991, they were able to obtain a male jobiensis. The other male was removed from earshot - but it was several months before the female would tolerate the new male or allow him near the nestbox. Mating was first observed in January, 1992. The female laid on March 20 and 24, but both eggs were infertile. She laid two fertile eggs in June. The first hatched on July I or 2 and the second, on July 4. The young left the nest for a short time on September 1 , and by September 1 2 were spending most of the day out of the nest (Tiskens and Tiskens 1993). 84 BOOK REVIEWS HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD The arrival of Volume 4 of the Handbook of the Birds of the World marks completion of a third of this impressive work. Like its predecessors, it is in every sense a heavyweight - nearly 700 pages measuring 3 10 x 240 mm, 70 colour plates illustrating hundreds of birds, more than 250 colour photographs, 850 distribution maps and over 7,000 bibliographical references. Purchasers will need a bookcase or bookshelf of some substance for this volume weighs nearly 4kg. Of course, if you pay more than £100 for a book of this kind you are entitled to expect quality - and this is precisely what has been provided in successive volumes. Although the various contributing Editors are drawn from countries around the world, the editorial team is based in Barcelona where the volumes are produced, and one assumes there is close liaison between Lynx Edicions staff and the production people which almost certainly accounts for the impeccable nature of the finished product. Certainly, as well as looking good the book has a comforting feel to it and one cannot fail to appreciate the unmistakable aura of excellence which is reflected in practically every aspect - from paper quality and colour reproduction to printing and binding. Even the dust wrapper has a suggestion of permanence about it! Although all of the first four volumes have been universally welcomed by ornithologists, many aviculturists will probably have been less interested in the first three which covered Ostriches to Auks. Volume 4 marks the start of a series of nine volumes dealing with many families to which bird keepers are more likely to relate. Just six familes are included in the present volume - Sandgrouse, Pigeons and Doves, Cockatoos, Parrots, Touracos, and Cuckoos - in itself a clear indication of the comprehensive treatment which typifies the series so far. Arrangements are exactly as in the first three volumes - lengthy introductions to each family covering morphological aspects, habitat, general habits, voice, food and feeding, breeding, movements, relationship with man, status and conservation. Species text is concise, up to date and - although I cannot claim to have read all of the million or so words that lie between the covers - accurate. Putting these volumes to practical use I have found them extremely useful, although I was blown slightly off-course when attempting to sort out some of the races of the Zebra Dove Geopelia striata , to find that G. s. placida is now given species status as the Peaceful Dove G. placida - one of a number of classification changes. The colour plates are not, shall we say, Thorburn or Bateman-type works BOOK REVIEWS 85 of art with birds depicted against beautifully drawn landscapes. But they are accurate and well drawn, albeit one or two having a look of museum specimens about them. However, as an aid to identification of species and distinctive races they are excellent. The standard of photographs reproduced in all four volumes has been consistently brilliant. All are of a technically high standard and I appreciate the considerable number which depict birds engaged in specific activities. I particularly like a charming picture of a tightly-packed line of Scaled Doves Scardafella squammata soaking up the early morning rays of the sun on a chilly morning. Another to take my eye is a Buff on’s Touraco Tauraco persa buffoni attempting to intimidate the photographer by means of a spectacular threat display. There are many such illustrations and I am sure anyone who picks up a copy of this volume, or indeed any of those previously published, will recognise their high quality. This is an aspect of the book which should not be ignored - it is a pleasure to handle, either as a valuable reference or simply to leaf through the pages. While the first three volumes generated what can only be described as ‘rave’ reviews in many of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals, one or two reviewers - presumably having exhausted their stock of superlatives have made carping observations about alleged minor shortcomings in this volume. A pity. For while one or two pinprick errors may reveal themselves to a meticulous proof reader they do not detract from what is destined to be a publishing triumph. Handbook of the Birds of the World is published by Lynx Edicions (in association with BirdLife International) Passeig de Gracia, 12, 08007 - Barcelona, Spain and costs £110. It is also available from good booksellers. The internet offers an excellent means of finding out about it, as it obviously offers much more space than any review or brochure. By visiting the publisher’s web site at: - http://www.hbw.com - several texts can be read or downloaded and a selection of plates and photographs from the first four volumes can also be viewed. Frank Wool ham MESSAGES FROM AN OWL Max Terman is a professor of biology at a small college in a Kansas country town. One day in 1988 he was asked to collect an apparently abandoned owlet - ‘a squawking ball of grimy cotton with a gaping black beak’. ‘Stripey ’ as the Great Homed Owl was to be called, became a research subject for the ecology and animal behaviour students. But the owl was not to be confined to a cage. Three months after she was found she was released with a transmitter on her leg. Throughout her life - or at least for the eight years documented in Messages from an Owl - ‘Stripey’s’ behaviour and movements were monitored. 86 BOOK REVIEWS Max Terman’s narrative is a highly readable and informative account of the relationship he developed with the owl over the years. The detail is remarkable, providing not only an insight into the life of an individual owl but discovering aspects of owl behaviour which would have been difficult with a truly wild owl. What was interesting was the fact that ‘Stripey’ reacted to other humans, but not to the author, as though they represented danger. One day, for example, when she was nearly two years old, she was sitting in a tree, refusing to move, when the author approached and tried to coax her down. But when two pheasant hunters appeared, she took off at once and flew half a mile. ‘This made his (sex unknown at that time) relationship with me all the more mysterious’ wrote Terman. He wanted to know whether a hand-reared owl could become truly wild - find a mate and rear young. When ‘Stripey’ was three years old she found a mate. When she was almost exactly five years old, they hatched their first two chicks. In this book Max Terman raises an interesting issue from the perspective of one who observed over a long period exactly what happened to a released owl which, incidentally, he fed at intervals for two years or more. He wrote: ‘The more wildlife ecologists learn about behavioral development in an individual, the more we realize that releasing naive, captive-reared animals to the wild is not the way to repopulate an area. If there is a surplus of such essentials as good nesting and escape cover, food, and water, natural populations will expand on their own. It is only as a last resort (no natural populations) that planted animals from captive breeding should be used. Planted animals simply compete with other animals already there. Ignorant of how to behave in the wild, set loose in a strange place, they rapidly die of starvation or fall prey to local predators... If I learned anything from ‘Stripey’, it was that if animals are to be released, they must first be trained to live in the wild - they cannot survive automatically.’ At the conclusion of the book Max Terman wrote: ‘Despite being reared by humans, ‘Stripey’, has still retained her true, identity, reproducing three times. Her behaviour has been both complex and simple, wondrous and perplexing. While I did not find the imprint of a man in an owl, I did discover something greater in me.’ The real value of this book lies in its clever combination of feeling and precise scientific observation. If it had been only the latter, it might have been dull. Messages from an Owl (ISBN 0-69 1 -04822-3) is published in paperback by Princeton University Press, New Jersey, USA. In the UK it is available price £1 1 .95 plus £4 postage from NHBS Mailorder Bookstore, 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN. Rosemary Low BOOK REVIEWS 87 THE BIRD COLLECTORS In the early days of collecting curios, bird skins might have seemed preadapted for this purpose. Plumage colour, texture and patterns make them desirable objects. The thin skin, once stripped from the flesh held the feathers in place as a unit, and then it was easily dried, as were head and legs. Skins were light and compact for packing, and if later reshaped by a taxidermist the feathers helped disguise any imperfections. When travellers and explorers began to visit new countries inevitably the brighter bird skins and feathers were among the trophies that they brought back. These became not merely curiosities but decorations, for clothing and ornaments, and, as mounted exhibits, part of the furnishing of great houses and institutions. The demand generated an extensive trade. Massive collections began as an expression of power or wealth but the need to identify and arrange these did much to encourage the new scientific classifications, which in turn gave rise to a need for specimens from all over the world, and a justification for the great private collections and those of national museums attempting to become as comprehensive as possible. All this could only be achieved through the long-term efforts of a huge number of collectors, people of all kinds, and of varied occupations and professions, through a period of about two and a half centuries. Barbara and Richard Meams have attempted to provide an overview of such collecting within the confines of a single volume, although to fully cover the whole would probably require a multi-volume series. It is a very impressive compilation, packed with details, and with interesting and entertaining asides. Most of the people involved left written records of their work, and to cope with the enormous volume of material the authors have produced a text that systematically but briefly examines collecting and its aspects; the early explorations and trade; the array of people who collected including amateurs from other professions - army, medical and religious; women; and professional collectors (seemingly all male). They survey the accumulators of large collections anf finally try to deal with the advent of a change of outlook involving ideas of protection and conservation and the need to reconcile these with the justification for collections and the continuation of collecting. A great number of people are included, mostly with lively biographical summaries, but these are often brief and even so the authors are forced to use a limited selection of what are seen as typical examples. They also admit to an ‘Anglo-centric’ bias, which nevertheless still leaves them with an overcrowded stage. They include some tabulation of 1 9th century museum ornithologists, early ornithologically important voyages, and significant private collections- and some useful bibliographies. The book is illustrated with photographs and prints of some of the characters involved , sometimes BOOK REVIEWS at work in the wilds and sometimes looking as stuffed as their specimens, and a few sketch maps of exploration. It offers a good picture of the complex network of past individuals and their efforts that underlie our present-day knowledge of a part of the natural world around us. The Bird Collectors by Barbara and Richard Meams (ISBN 0-12-487440- 1), Academic Press, AP Natural World Series, 465 pages and numerous monochrome photos, is priced £34.95 in the UK. In the USA, enquiries should be directed to:- Sales Department, Academic Press, 525 B Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, California 92101-4495. Tel: 619 231 0926/Fax 619 699 63 80/E-mail name@acad.com Colin J.O. Harrison POULTRY FOR ANYONE Many aviculturists find space in their collections for poultry - particularly some of the more ornamental breeds of bantams. Recently published Poultry for Anyone by Victoria Roberts is likely to find favour with experienced poultry hands as well as mere beginners. Why? Because its author is better qualified than most to compile such a work. She is not only an excellent writer but has much practical experience of her subject having once run an enterprise which not only tried to conserve all the old breeds but also bred them and eventually had 150 varieties on display to the public. Victoria has also served for many years on the council of the Poultry Club of Great Britain and has recently edited the British Poultry Standards. At present she is training to be a vet. In this book she approaches her subject with almost missionary zeal, writing with great enthusiasm and a healthy leavening of humour. Thus, on the subject of the male Quail Barbu d’ Anvers bantam: ‘They have a habit of attacking anything and everything in sight... they are so quick on their feet that they usually come off best when attacking large fowl, rather like David and Goliath’. Elsewhere she reminds us that it was the late Herbert Whitley, founder of Paignton Zoo and a long-standing member of the Avicultural Society, who, ‘...obsessed with blue birds... perfected both standard and bantam blue Minorcas’. Well crafted descriptions of 44 breeds detail their history, plumage, character, utility and any special requirements in terms of husbandry. There are also four short but useful appendices including a remarkable one of just four pages which succeeds in instilling into even the veriest beginner just about everything they needed to know in order to make a successful start with poultry. Such informative brevity is a rare gift among authors of books of this kind! Complementing the text are 90 specially commissioned photographs by Michael Corrigan which also reach a high standard of excellence. BOOK REVIEWS 89 The book’s foreword has been contributed by no less a poultry keeper than Her Grace, The Duchess of Devonshire who reveals a lifelong interest in the subject (continued to this day) and tells readers she was ‘...brought up with hens’ and would hate to be without them. Her three sisters also kept poultry and one, Pam was responsible for importing the magnificently named Appeezeller Spitzhauben into this country from Switzerland. Now there’s a breed name to roll around your tongue. Imagine offering your neighbour some of their surplus eggs: ‘Oh yes’, you could say, loftily, ‘try half-a-dozen of these - they’re from the Appenzeller Spitzhaubens, you know’. In terms of one-upmanship, it beats the output of a pen of Rhode Island Reds any day of the week. Poultry for Anyone by Victoria Roberts is published by Whittet Books Limited, Hill Farm, Stonham Road, Cotton, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP 14 4RQ and costs £19.99. It is distributed in Canada and the USA by Diamond Farm Book Publishers, PO Box 537, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607, USA. Frank Wooiham RED-TAILS IN LOVE Red-tails in Love is a wonderful combination of a naturalist’s diary, a mystery and a (somewhat unconventional) love story. The book describes the adventures of ‘Pale Male’ and his succession of mates (the Red-tailed Hawks of the title), but this is no anthropomorphic fantasy. Continuing a long tradition of naturalists who observe and record events in their local environment in exquisite detail, Marie Winn describes the daily triumphs and tragedies of life in New York’s Central Park. One of the main themes of the book is the close co-existence of wildness and city, and it provides a great insight into life in New York. Comparisons are drawn throughout between Thoreau’s 19th century descriptions of nature in the wilderness at Walden Pond, and the sometimes desperate existence of the birds and animals that manage to thrive in the heart of a 20th century city. No-one reading this book can fail to be moved and excited by the story of the Red-tailed Hawks’ persistence and ingenuity, as over a period of years they successfully raise several broods, converting many people to hawk- watching as they do so. The book is full of interesting and surprising facts, and the excellent and evocative descriptions of the characters involved in the story, both human and bird, make for a compelling read. Red-tails in Love, A Wildlife Drama in Central Park by Marie Winn (ISBN 0 7475 4042 X) is published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. It costs £13.99. Shirley Ellis 90 VIDEO REVIEW PHILIPPINE COCKATOO: THE LAST CHANCE? A Frenchman, Marc Boussekey, has been instrumental in developing a conservation programme for the Philippine Cockatoo. For nearly a decade he has been visiting the Philippines and, in particular, the island of Palawan. This was thought to be the last stronghold of the cockatoo and is the only island where it occurs in significant numbers and where much forest is still intact. Palawan measures 400km x 40km (approx. 248ml x 25ml), and remains relatively untouched by tourism and development. Philippine Cockatoo: The Last Chancel tells the story of his conservation work there and of the discovery of a small population of cockatoos on the uninhabited island of Rasa, off the east coast of Palawan. The video shows wonderful film of them flying at dusk to roost in the mangroves. On Palawan they are seen at night roosting in the wind-blown coconut palms (There is also a brief shot of a Great-billed Parrot.). One can see interesting footage of a pair at its nest, and feeding two chicks inside. Chick growth has been monitored in a few nests. The weight of a chick at one month was recorded as 300g. The breeding season starts in February or March and the young leave the nest in the middle of the rainy season. The population of this small cockatoo, found only in the Philippines, has been reduced to between 1 ,000 and 3,000 birds. Habitat destruction is the main reason for its decline but it has also been trapped for the pet trade (local and international) and, in the past, killed as a pest because it was considered to be a rice ‘pirate’. Today its numbers are too low for it to do much damage in the rice paddies. But, despite its protected status, it continues to be trapped. The video shows a pet shop owner removing a cockatoo when it is realised that interest is being shown in this illegally held bird. The conservation programme, spear-headed by Marc Boussekey, is vital for its survival. For more information, to make a donation towards the project or to obtain the English version of the video, write to Marc Boussekey, Espace Zoologique, 42800 St Martin-La-Plaine, France - Fax: 33 4778 36099. Rosemary Low 91 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR When I lived in Hong Kong from 1989 to 1995 I travelled a great deal around the Asia Pacific region, including a few short visits to Australia and 1 also visited Africa, and was frequently able to study muni as and mannikins in the wild. My book on the genus was a direct result of this. But birds were essentially a secondary part of my life, since I also had a job to do. Since retiring from business and moving to Venezuela, I am now a full-time ornithologist. But munias and mannikins are almost a thing of the past. I say almost, because we do have thriving feral populations of both the Tri coloured Munia Lonchura Malacca, and the Java Sparrow L oryzivora in the rice-growing country of Acarigua. I actually have four of the former in my aviary. I’m hoping to be able to get in some field study of both in August. I was delighted to receive a letter from Dr Robert Payne of the Museum of Zoology in Michigan, and learn that he is engaged in a comprehensive study of genetic relationships among estrildids, especially munias and mannikins. Using the complex and very expensive process known mitachondrial DNA, or mita-DNA, Dr Payne is working out the relationships of the various species. This is truly monumental, and the results will be invaluable - not to say enlightening- to all who are in the least interested in estrildid finches. While the laboratory work may well be complex, costly and time consuming, the aquisition of the raw material for the research is the very opposite. All the scientists need are two fresh feathers from a bird. There is usually enough flesh and blood attached to the root of a newly dropped or pulled feather (even though you’d not see it with the naked eye) for them to be able to analyse the DNA of the bird it came from. There is a problem of course, and that is actually getting feathers. Which brings me to the purpose of this letter. Dr Payne wrote to me to see whether I could help in getting feathers for him to analyse. I will of course be sending feathers from our two 'Venezuelan’ munias, but these will hardly contribute anything new. What are needed are feathers from all those species that come from New Guinea and the far flung Indonesian islands, and parts of Africa, birds that can be found in the aviaries of many members of the Avicultural Society. And this presents an opportunity for aviculturists to make a truly significant and meaningful contribution to scientific knowledge that has never been greater. This letter then is to appeal to all keepers of scarce and unusual waxbills, munias and mannikins to please collect some feathers, and send them direct to Dr Payne in the United States. Please don’t ignore this because you think somebody else will act. From experience, I know that far fewer people will 92 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR respond than one might imagine. I would be most grateful and genuinely thrilled, if British aviculture would really make a mark for itself. Here’s what you should do. Firstly, be absolutely sure to keep feathers accurately identified. Any that are even slightly doubtful in origin must be discarded. My suggestion is to use those very small plastic bags that can be used for keeping buttons and other small bric-a-brac in. Place the feathers in a bag and label it with the species’ name. Please, never put feathers from different species together. Birds kept in cages can be relied upon to drop feathers regularly. However, birds that are in aviaries are a different matter. If you are catching up your birds to bring them indoors for the winter, there’s every chance they’ll drop a feather or two in the net. Great! Just be sure of the origin of those feathers, and pop them into a bag, and write the species’ name on it at once. The best feathers of all are those pulled from the bird. But, only consider this if you have experience and know what you're doing . If so, then only two feathers from the secondaries, or the tail is enough. Please do not even think of doing it with birds that are breeding or in any other way are in special care. If you have the misfortune to have a bird die, then you’ll be able to pull a few feathers with equanimity, the knowledge that- they will contribute to an important research project could be a small consolation for the loss. Send the feathers in an ordinary envelope to: - Robert B. Payne, Curator of Birds and Professor of Zoology, 3019 Museum of Zoology, 1109 Geddes Avenue, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA. If the envelope is bulky enough become a package, you should identify the contents on the customs label as, ‘Bird feathers for scientific study. Absolutely inert and sterile. No commercial value at all’ . If you feel happier contacting Dr Payne for mailing instructions, you can get in touch with him by fax ore-mail as follows: -Fax: 734-763-4080/E-mail:rbpayne@umich.edu I’m certain that Dr Payne will acknowledge all contributions. Please do remember this letter when your birds are moulting. Thank you very much indeed. With very best wishes. Robin Restall, Research Associate, Coleccion Ornotologica Phelps, Caracas, Venezuela. E-mail address: - restallr@omnes.co.ven 93 NEWS & VIEWS NOTABLE SUCCESSES In the Zoological Society of San Diego Annual Report , Dr James M. Dolan, Director of Collections, reports that during 1997 the park’s bird department hatched the first Southern Bald Ibis Gervnticus calvus to be bred in the Northern Hemisphere. Seven California 'Condor Gymnogyps californianus chicks were hatched, bringing the total number hatched there to 59. Other notable breedings included five Pink backed Pelicans Pelicanus rufescens , five species of horn bills - the Red-knobbed Acems cassidix, Wrinkled A. corrugatus , Papuan A. plicatus , Black Anthracoceros malayanus and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Rucorvus abyssinkus , two Asian Woolly¬ necked Storks Ciconia episcopus and one RuppelPs Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppellii. In December a Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja was hatched in the zoo’s bird department. Also hatched in 1997 were three Micronesian Kingfishers Halcyon cinnamomina , a species now extinct in the wild, whose captive population hovers around 50. For the second year five Empress of Germany’s Bird of Paradise Paradisaea raggiana augustaevictoriae were reared. San Diego Zoo is one of only two zoos to raise this species in the USA. Six Cuban Amazons Amazona leucocephala were hatched and reared and, two Pesquet’s Parrots Psittrichas fulgidus were hand-reared, the only chicks of this species produced in 1997 in the USA. The young Harpy Eagle mentioned above and another one hatched at San Diego Zoo, along with two hatched at The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho have recently been released in Soberania National Park in Panama. * * * MORE BLEEDING HEARTS A newly discovered population of Negros Island Bleeding Heart Doves Gallicolumba keayi has been observed by German ornithologists on the island of Panay in the Philippines. The team from the Ruhr University succeeded in photographing the birds and found two being kept as pets. These have now been donated to the Bleeding Heart Project and will be housed in a four-aviary complex in the new breeding centre which is under construction at the Rescue and Breeding Centre, Bacolod City, Negros. Dr Edgardo Delima, a senior veterinary officer, formerly at the King Khalid Wildlife Centre in Saudi Arabia and the Philippine Raptor Centre, has been appointed officer-in-charge. * * * 94 NEWS & VIEWS YELLOWLEGS IN LANCASHIRE A Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes which appeared alongside other visiting waders at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s Martin Mere centre during the 1997/8 winter eventually remained in the area for some months. In June it was joined by a second Lesser Yellowlegs, the first time two of these New World waders had been seen at the Lancashire reserve. Astonishingly a third bird, this time a Greater Yellowlegs T. melanoleuca , put in a fleeting appearance at about the same time. * * * EARLY NEWS FROM LORO PARQUE The Pesquet’s Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus hatched last December at Loro Parque, the breeding of which was the subject of an article in the previous issue {Avicultural Magazine , 104, 1:14-16), by mid-March could be seen sitting at the entrance to its palm-log nest hole fully feathered and almost ready to fledge. Forty-four species had produced young by then, and others were laying or incubating eggs. Three young Red and Blue Lories Eos histrio had been hatched, adding to the total of more than 20 chicks which have been reared successfully during the past three years. The Mount Apo Lorikeets Trichoglossus johnstoniae had produced a single chick and the hope was that they would improve on their yearly average of rearing two or three young. The Musk Lorikeets Glossopsitta concinna had reared two young. A new pair of Moluccan Cockatoos Cacatua moluccensis had raised their own two chicks, which means that Loro Parque now has two pairs of this species which rear their own young, as well as two pairs whose young need to be hand-reared. Four young Leadbeater’s Cockatoos C. leadbeateri were already independent, and four females reared in 1994 had just been paired with males and two were already incubating eggs. As stated in the article about fig parrots earlier in this issue, Edwards’ Fig Parrot Psittaculirostris edwardsii is among the more difficult species to keep and breed, therefore it is good to report that two chicks had been hatched. Two pairs of Green-winged King Parrots Alisterus chloropterus moszkowskii had produced four young. The Pyrrhura conures had got off to a very good start, with four species already having produced 20 young. A pair of a fifth species, Hoffmann’s Conure P hoffmanni , was incubating five eggs. Two Short-tailed Parrots Graydidascalus brachyurus and three Pileated Parrots Pionopsitto pileata have been added to the collection. NEWS & VIEWS 95 LONDON ZOO According to the Zoological Society of London’s recently published Annual Report , notable new arrivals include a pair of Rufous-legged Owls Strix rufipes , a female Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros and two pairs of Red-billed Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax . Three Green Imperial Pigeons Ducula aenea aenea and five D. a. paulina were hatched during 1997, one Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis, two Black¬ winged Lories Eos cyanogenia, 12 Black-cheeked Lovebirds Agapornis nigrigenis and two Cape Parrots Poicephalus robustus suahelicus. Other birds bred included a Rusty-barred Owl S. hylophila, two Lilac-breasted Rollers Coracias caudata, 14 Gouldian Finches Chloebia gouldiae and five Bali Starlings Leucopsar rothschildi. * * * NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK African Birds in Field and Aviary - A guide to a mixed collection edited by Neville Brickell and Trevor Konigkramer, which was reviewed in the previous issue (pp. 35 -36) by Frank Woolham, is now available from Hampshire Breeders & Books, 12 Inwood Road, Liss, Hants GU33 7LZ. Tel: 01730 301340. It is priced £15.95, which includes post and packing. * * * BP OFFERS AWARDS WORTH £54,000 University students are invited to enter for the 1999 BP Conservation Programme Awards to secure funding, support and training for international conservation projects. Application packs and further information are available from:- Katharine Gotto, BP Conservation Programme, Birdlife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge OB3 ONA, England. Tel:01223 27731 8/Fax :0 1223 277200/E-mail: bp- conservation- program rne @ bird 1 i fe . org . u k . The closing date for applications is November 16th 1998. * * * DNA SEXING The previous issue included an advert for Avian Biotech International (UK) DNA bird sexing service:- P.O.Box 107, Truro, Cornwall TRI 2YR. Tel/Fax: 01872 262737/E-mail:abiuk@globalnet. co.uk. The Society is grateful to Avian Biotech International (UK) and also to Hancock House Publishers (in this issue), for supporting the Society by advertising in the magazine. For further information about advertising in the Avicultural Magazine please contact the Hon. Editor. 96 MORE ABOUT VETS AT THE NATIONAL The National Exhibition of Cage and Aviary Birds, commonly called the National Cagebird Show, or quite simply ‘the National’ has been held annually for over 50 vears but it is only relatively recently that the veterinary profession became actively involved. From 1986-1989 two veterinary surgeons, Professor John E. Cooper FRCVS and Dr Francis Scullion MRCVS, donated their time and services to the three-day show and, working closely with the official inspection commitee, helped to ensure that birds on display or being offered for sale were properly housed, watered and fed and, when necessary, provided with first aid and veterinary care. In 1990 veterinary students participated for the first time. Four undergraduates - from Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool veterinary schools - attended and, in addition to assisting in the routine veterinary work, carried out observational studies on the health and welfare of birds on display. This exercise proved very popular and as a result undergraduate involvement is now a standard feature of the show. Details are sent out to all the British veterinary schools in the autumn and the many applications to participate are assessed in November. Competition is keen and unfortunately only a small number of those applying can be accepted. In 1 995 there was a further innovation when invitations were extended to postgraduate students on the Royal Veterinary College/Institute of Zoology MSc in Wild Animal Health. These people are able to play a particularly valuable part at the show since they are qualified veterinary surgeons and thus can accept more responsibility. In particular, they assist in the work of the inspection committee and in following up problems relating to the welfare of birds that are offered for sale on trade stands. The involvement of undergraduates and postgraduates at this large and prestigious exhibition each year continues to prove very successful and enables students with an interest in birds not only to help but also to learn. It provides a unique opportunity for closer links to be formed between the veterinary profession and aviculturists, the results of which can only be beneficial in terms of the health and welfare of birds. Further information is available from:- Professor J. E. Cooper, FRCVS., Wildlife Health Services, PO. Box 153, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 2ZA, England. Tel/Fax: 01933 228560. * * * THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL This year’s National Exhibition of Cage & Aviary Birds will be staged the 5th and 6th December, at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. HANCOCK HOUSE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE LORIES Rosemary Low Hancock Wildlife Research Center is proud to present Rosemary Low’s last 20 years of lorie research. This classic title will be printed in limited numbers. By restricting the sales to only direct mail (not available through book stores), we have kept the retail price reasonable - by simply not building a book store’s huge discount into the pricing. To make ordering easier we have toll free phone and fax numbers and protected E-Mail or you can mail in your order to the address below. Special Limited Edition (only 100 copies) includes special binding and signed print, Red-chinned Lorikeet (Charmosyna rubrigularis) by Gamini Ratnavaria $300.00 ARATINGAS * AUSTRALIAN PARAKEETS 1 50 Pages, 5 V X 8V*\ H/coveri j 232 Pages, 5 V2" X 8V2", H/cover color photos throughout, I color photos throughout, location maps $29.95 US+s/h $29.95US+s/h (15%of (15%of subtotal)(Air add 30%) HHUflB subtotal)(Air add 30%) 432 pages 8V2" xll", Hard Cover 175 color photos & dozens of maps $70.00 US + (Surface anywhere $5.00) (Air in Europe $22.00; Other $30.00) hancock house Send VISA, Mastercard or Money Order in US dollars to Hancock Wildlife Research Centre, 1431 Harrison Avenue, Blaine WA, 98230-5005 USA Phone: 604-538-1114; Fax: 604-538-2262 E-Mail: sales @ hancockwildlife.org Web Site: www.hancockwildlife.org HANCOCK HOUSE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE LORIES 423 pages 175 colour photos Signed copies available from Rosemary Low P.O. Box 100, Mansfield, Notts NG20 9NZ Tel/Fax: 01623 846430 Please send for full list of parrot books COLOUR PLATE FUND Colour illustrations have become a regular feature in recent issues of the magazine and have, we hope you agree, added to the quality and enjoyment of the magazine. So that this can continue and the number of colour illustrations can perhaps even be increased, we are relaunching the COLOUR PLATE FUND. Members who would like to make a donation to the fund are asked to send their donation to: Hon Treasurer, Avicultural Society, c/o Bristol Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, England. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to - Avicultural Society (Colour Plate Fund). CONTENTS Saving the Endangered Orange-bellied Parrakeet by J. R. Hodges . . 49 Instances of Aberrant Plumage among African Serinus Species by Neville Brickell and Trevor Konigkramer . 53 Keeping and Breeding Fig Parrots of the Genus Psittaculirostris at Vogelpark Walsode, Germany by Martina Muller and Norbert Neumann . 55 The First UK Breeding of the Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus at Feeds Castle by Laura Gardner . 61 An Amateur’s Experience in Importing Hummingbirds by Mrs Wharton-Tigar . 65 Extracts from the Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories Bacterial Infections . 71 Genus: Forius . 73 Book Reviews Handbook of the Birds of the World . . 84 Messages from an Owl . 85 The Bird Collectors . 87 Poultry for Anyone . 88 Red-tails in Love . 89 Video Review Philippine Cockatoo: The Last Chance? . 90 Letters to the Editor . 91 News & Views . 93 More about Vets at The National . 96 Published by the Avicultural Society, England. Produced by Data Publishing Service, Cheddar. Sir^ AVICULTURA MAGAZINE VOLUME 104 No. 3 THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY The Avicultural Society was founded in 1894 for the study of British and foreign birds in freedom and captivity. The Society is international in character, having members throughout the world. Membership subscription rates per annum for 1998 as for 1997: British Isles £18.00: Overseas £21.00 (plus £6.00 for airmail). (U.K. funds please). The subscription is due on 1st January of each year and those joining the Society later in the year will receive back numbers of the current volume of the AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE. Subscription, changes of address, orders for back numbers etc. should be sent to: THE HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER, THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY, c/o BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 3 HA, ENGLAND. Enquiries regarding membership should be sent to: THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, Stewart Pyper, 21, Primrose Hill, Nunney, Frome, Somerset BA11 4NP. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE welcomes original articles that have not been published elsewhere and that essentially concern the aviculture of a particular bird or group of birds, or that describe their natural history. Articles should be preferably typewritten, with double spacing, and the scientific names as well as the vernacular names of birds should be given. References cited in the text should be listed at the end of the article. Line drawings, black and white or colour photographs which illustrate a particular point in the article will be used where possible and should be clearly captioned. If authors wish their eventual return, they must say so when submitting the article and write their name on the back of each photograph. Tables and graphs will also be used wherever possible but authors should be aware of the constraints of reproduction, particularly regarding the width of the page which is 105mm. ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR Malcolm Ellis, Hon. Editor, The Avicultural Magazine, The Chalet, Hay Farm, St. Breock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7LH, England. Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 1 04 - No. 3 All rights reserved ISSN 0005 2256 1 998 AN UNUSUAL NEST SITE OF AN AFRICAN SUNBIRD by Neville Brickell The White-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia talatala measures 10.5cm - 1 1cm (approx. 4'A in) long. The male has a bottle-green head and breast and a white belly. The female is very similar to females of other sunbird species, being uniformly dull brown above and off-white below with indistinct streaking. The immature resembles the female. Neville Brickell Male White-bellied Sunbird Even though sunbirds are popular aviary subjects, especially the White- bellied here in South Africa, few breeding records exist, yet it is the commonest sunbird in southern Africa. We are aware that the White-bellied Sunbird breeds between July-February, particularly during the months of September-October, and that it lays 2-3 eggs which are variable in colour and markings and are incubated by the female alone for 1 3 days. We also know that the nestling period lasts 14-15 days. 98 BRICKELL - UNUSUAL SUNBIRD NEST Sunbird’s nest in shorts hanging on rotary dryer In most cases the nest is built in the leafiness of branches or branch-ends where the chaffy bulks merge into the clustered leaf masses and make it less visible from the outside. Other recorded sites include bushes at the side of streams, in trees at the edge of dongas (dry watercourses), with individual records of nests in a cactus plant, against a leaf, and in a thistle which had previously held the nest of a mouse. Unusual sites for other species have included the Olive Sunbird N. olivacea using the old nest of a pair of Thick¬ billed Weavers Amblyospiza albifrons and the Lesser Double-collared Sunbird N. chalybea using the nest of a pair of Karoo Prinias Prinia maculosa. Peter Craig-Cooper and I were greatly fascinated by what we saw when we were invited to photograph a most unusual nest site of a White-bellied Sunbird in a garden in Queensburgh, a suburb of Durban. Standing in the centre of the lawn was a rotary clothes dryer and pegged to one of the lines were a few items of clothing which had been left on the dryer for three days while the occupants of the house were away. On their return they were surprised to see a bird entering and leaving a nest in the turned-up leg of a BRICKELL - UNUSUAL SUNBIRD NEST 99 Peter Craig-Cooper Female White-bellied Sunbird in nest pair of pyjama shorts. The nest was made of dried blades of grass, with paper, poultry feathers, dried leaves and spider cocoons incorporated into the ‘tail’ of the nest which hung below the nest chamber. As there were no trees in the vicinity to provide shade of any sort throughout the day, a towel was draped over the shorts in the hope of lessening the penetration of the sun’s rays, and was done without disturbing the sitting bird. Unfortunately, we were not present when the fledglings left the nest. Bibiography Skead, C. J. (1967). Sunbirds of Southern Africa. Published for the South African Bird Book Fund by A. A. Balkema, Cape Town. Neville Brickell and Peter Craig-Cooper are members of the Wildlife Society of South Africa Photographic Section. 100 FLAMINGOS AT WHIPSNADE by Nick Lindsay Whipsnade started keeping flamingos in 1947, when a small flock of Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber roseus was introduced into the park. These were joined in 1954 by the first Rosy Flamingos P. r. ruber and in 1 956 by Chilean Flamingos P. chilensis. Although all three went on to breed, the decision was made in the mid-1980s to focus purely on the Rosy Flamingo. It was not until 1971 that the first Rosy Flamingos hatched at Whipsnade, since when a total of 1 1 6 have been hatched, with the peak year being 1982, when 12 hatched. Up until 1993 the number hatched each year varied from one to 12. Only in one year, 1972, were no flamingos hatched. Missing one year was not of too great a concern. Recently, however, we started to get concerned when they went for more than one year without hatching any young. The vagaries of the British weather were used as an excuse, as well as the fact that eggs were lost, probably to vermin and, there was the feeling that disturbances at night were causing some birds to desert. After the third year without any hatching it was decided that some action was required to try to resolve the situation. It was difficult to pinpoint any one factor that could have been preventing them from breeding successfully. The area had not changed in many years, the management protocol was the same and the colony size was still reasonable, numbering over 40 birds. It is known that the population is ageing with half of the birds being aged 25 years or older, but this should not have been significant either. It was therefore decided to take action on all areas of the management of the birds. The pond was drained and cleaned and the nesting area was enlarged and new soil was brought in. New plants were positioned to provide better screening of the nesting area and some fence panels added to provide extra security behind the site. More waterfowl were added to the pond in the hope that their efforts to breed might help stimulate the flamingos and a change in diet was also made to a different commercially prepared flamingo pellet. The final action taken was one of timing. The colony is confined in a shed during the winter to prevent problems with frostbite or through birds becoming trapped in the frozen pond. There is always the possibly of late frosts at Whipsnade but it is also important to allow the colony to establish itself on the nesting site early in the season. It was therefore decided to allow the birds out earlier and risk the problems of a late frost which luckily did not arise. When released into their improved area in 1997 the flamingos built 1 1 nests, all of which went on to contain eggs, although only three went on to hatch, in July. This was regarded as a very satisfactory result but again LINDSAY - FLAMINGOS AT WHIPSNADE 101 could have been down to the weather and idiosyncrasies within the colony. We were delighted therefore this year that the flamingos produced nine eggs, four of which hatched. The very changeable weather this spring and summer resulted in the flamingos treading as early as March, only to be put off and having to start again in May. Luckily they were persistent, eventually laying in June and July. It is not known exactly which factors caused them to fail to breed for four years but the recent successes are very encouraging. As a nice addition this year, the staff on the Asian region hand-reared a Greater Flamingo from Flamingo Gardens and Zoological Park at Weston Underwood, near Olney. The colony there is on breeding loan from Whipsnade and it came from an egg hatched there and gave Whipsnade staff an opportunity to hand-rear this difficult species. Once the Rosy Flamingo chicks were independent the hand-reared Greater Flamingo was integrated with them away from the main colony. After a few days, when all the chicks seemed settled, they were returned to the colony and have all been accepted. The Greater Flamingo will be moved to join the appropriate race in the future, however this period of socialising will be beneficial to the hand-reared bird and allows us to continue to monitor its development relatively easily. Nick Lindsay is Curator at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 2LF, England. Tel:01582 872171/Fax:01582 872649. 102 FIRST STEPS FORWARD IN THE BREEDING OF THE PLUM-CROWNED PIONUS Pionus tumultuosus AT LORO PARQUE by Roger G. Sweeney The Plum-Crowned Pionus Pionus tumultuosus has a unique blend of qualities which make this species fascinating to aviculturists. Its beauty, quiet and interesting behaviour combined with considerable captive management and breeding challenges have ensured that for those who have been fortunate enough to work with this species in captivity on the few occasions when successful breeding has been achieved, the breeding of few other species could have given greater satisfaction. The Plum-crowned Pionus measures about 29cm (approx. 1 1 ‘/2m) in length. Weights recorded for the adult pair at Loro Parque at the end of the 1 996 breeding season were: male 224g and female 265g. The general colour is green which is paler on the underside of the body. The feathers of the sides of the head are red, tipped purple, with white bases to the feathers showing through, particularly below the eyes. The crown of the head is darker red, which becomes purple-red on the neck and breast. The under tail- coverts are bright red with yellowish-green tips. The bill is olive-yellow; the legs and feet are grey. Immature birds vary from the adults in having the nape and hindneck green like the back, the cheeks and breast are also green. The under tail-coverts of immature birds are also yellowish-green with only slight red markings. Little recent field information is available to assess the size of the wild population although it is known that this species prefers high altitude mountain regions at 2,000m (approx. 6,500ft) and higher in eastern Peru and Bolivia, which is perhaps the main limiting factor to the size of the wild population. The Plum-crowned Pionus has always been extremely rare in aviculture and poor captive breeding results have now brought the Plum-crowned Pionus to the point where it has almost disappeared from aviculture. A single male was present at Loro Parque for many years, until a young female was located in South Africa, bred there by Dr Deon Smith. The pair settled down well together but no signs of breeding were recorded prior to my arrival at Loro Parque in 1 994. As with all of the other pairs of Pionus, the pair of Plum-crowned have two feeding periods each day. At 7.00am they are given a main dish of approximately 60g of diced salad which comprises items such as apple, pear, lettuce, tomato, orange, beetroot, alfalfa, red pepper, banana, palm fruit and carrot. A second food dish supplies the birds with approximately 30g of commercial pelleted food (Pretty Bird Hi- protein special) which is available to the birds throughout the day. At 3.00pm SWEENEY - PLUM-CROWNED PIONUS 103 the remains of the salad are removed and replaced by a new dish containing approximately 50g of mixed seed and grain such as sunflowers, safflower, corn, millets, oats, niger and hemp, and cooked pulses such as mung beans, black-eyed beans, lentils and chick peas, etc. Copyright Loro Parque Plum-crowned Pionus at Loro Parque Drinking water is available to the birds at all times and is from a special filtered supply which passes through a series of chlorination, reverse osmosis filtration and finally ultra-violet light sterilisation. In addition the birds are provided with daily showers in the late morning or early afternoon from a fine mist spray sprinkler system which is included in the design of every exhibition cage in the parque. 104 SWEENEY - PLUM-CROWNED PIONUS During the early part of the 1994 breeding season, the pair were transferred to a newly constructed exhibition area for Pionus and had settled down well by the second part of 1994, but without showing any signs of nesting behaviour. No serious attempts were made at breeding by the pair during 1995 or 1996, most probably due to construction work taking place from mid- 1995 to early 1996 on a new cinema in the parque very close to the Pionus cages. When this disturbance ceased in spring 1996 the behaviour of the birds improved and indications of breeding were observed. The female spent several weeks during which she frequently entered the nest-box and the nesting medium was chewed into a scrape, but no eggs were laid. In spring 1997 the pair again began to show signs of breeding behaviour, and on February 19th laid their first egg. The clutch eventually consisted of three eggs but after they had been in the nest-box for several days it was evident from nest-box inspections that they were not being incubated properly. I removed the eggs and placed them in an incubator. When first candled they all had large air-cells, but no sign of fertility could be seen. After five days in the incubator all three eggs began to show embryo development but none of the embryos survived past 16 days of incubation, probably due to the early period of poor brooding by the parents. The pair continued to show breeding behaviour and a second clutch of eggs was laid, beginning on April 27th. On this occasion we had the option of a pair of Maximilian’s Parrots Pionus maximiliani which were incubating nearby and which could be considered as potential foster-parents. The Plum- crowned Pionus laid four eggs in their second clutch and so two eggs were removed and fostered under the Maximilian’s Parrots. The other two eggs remained with the natural parents, together with one of the Maximilian’s eggs so that the clutch-size of the Plum-crowned Pionus was not changed too dramatically and numbered three instead of four eggs. The remaining Maximilian’s Parrot eggs were taken for artificial incubation and rearing. The pair of Plum-crowned Pionus failed to hatch their own eggs, but did hatch and rear the single Maximilian’s Parrot chick thereby demonstrating good parental ability. Once the Maximilian’s Parrot chick was a few days old, the two unsuccessful Plum-crowned Pionus eggs were removed, measured and necropsied. Both showed embryo death at mid-term of incubation. External measurements of the eggs were 38.3mm x 27.4mm and 34.6mm x 27.0mm. Meanwhile the pair of Maximilian’s Parrots had managed to hatch both of the Plum-crowned Pionus eggs that they had been given. On discovering that the chicks had hatched our thoughts turned immediately to considering what steps could be taken to reduce the possibility of fungal conditions such as aspergillosis, which have been the most significant problem in the successful breeding of this species in captivity. Prior to the breeding season SWEENEY - PLUM-CROWNED PIONUS 105 the nest-box was disinfected and provided with clean wood shavings as a nesting medium, and these were lightly dusted to prevent a parasitic infestation. By the time that the chicks hatch the nesting medium has become soiled, not to a degree which would normally cause me concern, but in the case of this species extra caution was deemed prudent. We waited until the fifth day and then the nesting medium was quickly replaced with clean shavings. The chicks when viewed closely are among the most attractive that can be encountered in the Parrot family. The primary natal-down is dense and soft white in colour, similar to that of newly hatched Keas Nestor notahilis and chicks of the black cockatoos of the genus Calyptorhynchus. On June 12th the chicks were handled briefly to ascertain if they were ready for closed leg bands to be fitted, and at this time they were weighed and crop and cloacal swabs were taken as a precaution. The chicks appeared in very good body condition but the cultures from the cloacal swabs showed a significant growth of E. coli (more than is routinely seen from other similar parent reared chicks of this age), and so a three days course of antibiotics was administered without any significant interruption to the chicks’ growth rate. Subsequently, the wood shavings were changed regularly until the time of fledging. On July 15th we suffered a great disappointment when we discovered that one of the chicks had died in the nest-box. The necropsy was inconclusive, although a fungal infection was considered the most probable cause. The remaining chick was then removed from the nest-box and transferred to the clinic. Now close to being fully feathered the chick was initially given three feeds a day and was subject to close observation. The young bird seemed strong and showed no sign of either fungal or bacterial infection, but it remained very nervous. After two days it was introduced to a young Lilacine Amazon Amazona a. lilacina which, due to a leg fracture just before fledging, had also been brought into the clinic. The Lilacine Amazon was more confident in its behaviour and began feeding from the food dish almost immediately. The Pionus remained more nervous but certainly became more confident in the company of the Amazon and after a week was also starting to eat from the food dish. The chick was eventually eating on its own four weeks after being brought into the clinic. The young bird was now in beautiful condition with a richness in the coloration of the plumage which was even more striking than that of the male parent which I have long considered to be one of the most beautiful birds in the parrot collection at Loro Parque. The above article was written when Roger G. Sweeney was Curator of Birds at Loro Parque. He can be contacted by writing to:- Dymocks Mill Cottage, Oldcastle, Nr Malpas, Cheshire SY14 7NE, England. 106 The following article was first published in the magazine in July 1934. Walter Goodfellow was born in 1866 and died in 1953. Alan Gibbard wrote about him in the Avicultural Magazine , 92, 4:220-221, and noted that an Obituary notice written by David Seth-Smith was published in the magazine in 1955. Goodfellow is credited with having brought to the notice of science the Mount Apo Lorikeet Trichoglossus johnstoniae and the Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus mikado, and with introducing the first living specimens of them to aviculture. He also brought to Britain the first Duivenbode's Lories Chalcopsitta duivenbodei and Bulwer ’s Pheasants Lophura bulweri - in 1 91 9. -Ed. THE ROYAL PARROT FINCH Erythrura cyaneovirens regia by Walter Goodfellow I think the introduction of this beautiful finch to this country is quite a landmark in aviculture. Why it has been so long delayed 1 don’t know unless it is the difficulty and expense in getting to the far off islands where it lives. It was first described by Dr Sclater in 1881 from a skin collected by Captain Kenneth Howard, R.N., on the island of Epi in the New Hebrides, and this skin and a spirit specimen are still the only ones in the British Museum. American collectors, however, were out there a few years ago, and got a good series of skins from the type locality and other small islands nearby, which together form what is known as the Shepherd Group. It was to these islands Mr Shaw Mayer and I went. For a long time I had this bird in my mind hoping one day to be the first to get it alive, but the great drawback was, that these islands are very poor in bird life, and there was nothing else there to make it worthwhile in case of failure. Last year when Mr Mayer returned from New Guinea I found he had been considering the same thing, so we joined forces and set out. I must say though that when we left England it was perhaps more with the intention of going to New Guinea, but as yyie had first to go to Australia in either case, we decided to leave it open until we got to Sydney and saw how the boats fitted in. When we found there was one leaving for the New Hebrides in five days we made up our minds to risk it, as it was by no means certain if Royal Parrot Finches would be in sufficient numbers to pay expenses, and I am afraid they were not. Vila, the only port in the islands, is some ten days from Sydney, and from there on it is difficult to get to some of the islands, and always with great delay, so if we made a wrong choice much time would be lost and great expense incurred. This is one of the drawbacks in going to the more GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH 107 out of the way very small islands, some of which are so unhealthy, and the chance of getting any accommodation at all uncertain, as camping out during six months of the year is quite out of the question owing to the possibility of hurricanes which periodically devastate the islands. Two such occurred last year on the island where we collected, and one last January while we were there, of which more later. I doubt if there is one New Hebrides island without any parrot finches. Close around the little settlement of Port Vila we saw small flocks of the Blue-faced E. trichroa every day feeding on the grass seeds in the coconut plantations; and on some of the islands further north (Ambrym for one) E. c. serena and the Blue-faced are both to be found. The former of these, also a beautiful bird, was first discovered as far back as 1860 when MacGillivray procured one on the island of Aneyteum right down south. This distribution is rather curious as typical regia also inhabit an island in the Banks Group in the extreme north, while the intervening islands have other sub-species. We thought it best to go to the type locality and get true regia, which after all is the most beautiful of all the parrot finches either from the New Hebrides or elsewhere. When in full plumage I think there is no doubt that it is the most beautiful finch known. Gouldians Chloebia gouldiae look pale and washed out in comparison with the striking contrast of the scarlet, blue and green of the Royal Parrot Finch, and I may as well say here it seems to be as hardy as any finch known. Out of all ours we only lost three. One of these we had to destroy because of a deformed leg, and the other two escaped in Tahiti on our way home when the cages were being cleaned out under very difficult conditions. What our birds had to go through and survived only ourselves know. We changed to three boats before we got home, and sometimes this was late at night after the birds had gone to bed. Colon on the Panama Canal was one port where we changed from a French boat to an English one. The cages were lowered by ropes over the side into a launch at 1 0.00pm, and none too gently either, and then left in the Customs shed all night on shore. To hear the birds dashing about it seemed as if they would all be fatally injured. After we arrived at Vila from Sydney our steamer was making a special trip to some of the principal islands, so we took advantage of this to become acquainted with them before deciding on a collecting ground. In this way we visited Malekula where there are still cannibals inland, Esperitu Santo, Tangoa and many others, finally returning to Vila. A week later we embarked on a still smaller boat, indescribably dirty, for our final destination, which we reached after three days. I shall always see the picture in my mind of this beautiful island as we approached it in the early morning through a sea like glass. It rose before us mountainous, and clothed in tropical verdure to its summits, and how we scanned it through our glasses to see if we could 108 GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH detect any open grassy spaces where the finches would be likely to feed, but in vain. The boat only stopped long enough to put us and our baggage ashore and then was off again. Had she stayed longer I really believe after we had been on shore a day we should have re-embarked and chosen another island as this seemed so unpromising. We neither saw any of the finches nor any ground where they would be likely to feed (from our point of view), nor even any suitable grasses, neither did the local people seem to know the birds we were after. It was several days before we could make them understand, and longer before we definitely got its true local name, although we had the assistance of two white traders who spoke the language. We had mentioned the redhead, so they jumped to the conclusion that it was the Cardinal Honeyeater Myzomela cardinalis we wanted and gave its name ‘Susupaumiel’. At length after interviewing scores of local people we made them understand, and found the right name, which is ‘Taputi’; the ‘u’ is pronounced like a double ‘o’ and means a grass-plucker. In some of the villages they called it ‘Taput’ without the final 1'. When asked where they were to be found, they pointed to the great banyan trees. My experience of other species of the family was that they went in flocks, fed on the ground, and were easy to catch, so we were inclined to think that we might still be on the wrong track, but when they told us the Americans on the yacht La France had been after the same bird a few years before, we thought they must be right, as we knew they had collected skins of the Royal Parrot Finch on this island. We found one might live there for months or even years and never see one, because after all it is true they live in the tops of trees and feed on fruit. In a way it is practically a fruit-eating finch. Two traders who had lived there for years had never seen the bird or heard of it, neither had the only white woman, the daughter of the pioneer missionary, who was born and brought up on the island and spoke the local language fluently. I mention this to show how concealed the birds must be in their treetops, and this on an island where the number of species is very small. There are several kinds of ficus or banyan trees growing on the islands, so one or other is never without fruit, and it is on these the regias feed. Some of these trees are simply stupendous, but the one they liked best is called ‘Nambiilifer’ with the accent on the second syllable, and after that ‘Naida’. The others were not of much consequence so far as their fruits were concerned, and I imagine they only eat them when times were hard. The ‘Nambulifer’ was the size of a large cherry, dark maroon on the outside. The birds bite through the rather hard outer flesh to get at the tiny fig-like seeds embedded in a sweet pulp in the centre, which they crack and eat; so it is easy to understand why they have such strong bills for their size. When GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH 109 feeding they pluck a ripe fruit and carry it to a stout branch, where holding it under their strong claws, peck through the outer part until they reach the seeds, and each bird always returned to the same branch it had chosen. By watching this and placing lime there, was the way they were caught. This was tedious work as they were only obtained one by one and sometimes for days together none at all. Of course we had to have local help, and like all such people, although they were well paid, quickly tired of the work as the novelty wore off, and left us; in fact most of them seemed to think it derogatory to catch birds at all except for food, and laughed at those who did. We never found one man who carried on right through to the end. It was rather surprising how few full-plumaged birds were caught. We must have had quite 20 before we got one with a red head, although at the last they were rather more numerous. We arrived on the island in early December, and some of those caught then still showed the iridescent lumps at the gape, and had more or less yellow bills of the very young birds, so I think they commence to breed in October or even earlier. A nest containing three very young birds was brought in after the first week. This is placed in a fork, or between two branches 30 feet (approx. 9. 1 m) or more above the ground. It is a large domed structure more oblong than round, rather loosely constructed 1 8 inches (460mm) deep, with the opening at one end. The materials used in every case were dried grass, dead leaves, fibre and the curly tendrils of some vine. The whole thing had a very bleached appearance and many of the dead leaves were skeletonised. All over the island grow great thickets of a tall reed-like grass 12 feet (approx. 3.6m) or more high which are used by the inhabitants to thatch their houses, and it is the long narrow leaves of these, torn up, which the birds use. The fine fibre had also been stripped out and very freely used. This seemed rather a dangerous material, as a young bird from the first nest had got some of it tightly twisted round a leg bringing the foot up to the thigh, and so completely crippled I had to destroy it. In another nest was one entangled by the wing, which was so badly swollen I thought it would have to go too, but it eventually got all right and now I can’t pick the bird out, but it was bad for a long time. The nests have no lining but at the bottom is a loose litter of broken grass and leaves probably caused by the birds shuffling about. It was always difficult to get the young ones without breaking up the nest, for as I have mentioned before, their feet and claws are very strong, even more pronounced when young, and with these they hold on to anything they can grip, so much so that whenever one was picked up it always brought another with it, either by the head, wing or leg, and tightly they held them too. The claws were also used freely for climbing about. The opening to 110 GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH the nest was usually fouled by droppings which consisted entirely of fig seeds, dry and trodden quite hard. No nest contained more than three young ones, and on two occasions only two, but in both these under the litter was a clear egg pure white, so evidently three is the complete clutch. When first hatched the bill is flesh-coloured. This quickly turns to yellow and before they leave the nest it has become orange. This looked strikingly beautiful against the dark blue heads of the first plumage, but would probably not look so well against the scarlet of the adult stage. The upper mandible quickly changes to a dingy black, beginning at the tip and spreading upwards, but the sides of the lower mandible remain more or less yellow for a long time. The legs and feet at first flesh-coloured, gradually get darker, and finally blackish. In all I reared 1 7 young ones, but one caught a chill after it could feed itself, through bathing late in the evening during the hurricane when the temperature fell very low, and died the next morning; and another from the last nest of all jumped from my hand onto the verandah at Vila just as the sudden darkness of the tropical night came on, and was lost under the house. The remaining 15 arrived here safely. They were among the most delightful youngsters I have ever reared. They all had enormous appetites, and it was really delightful to see a row of them all with their orange bills wide open asking for food. At first the iridescent nodules at the gape were bright blue, but quickly lost their brilliance as the birds grew. On the palate were two crescent¬ shaped patches, black, and very conspicuous when the mouths were open. Long after they could feed themselves they still liked to be hand-fed, and whenever I opened the cage door they jumped out of my hand and arm with beaks wide open. I reared them on a mixture of fig seeds (crushed at first) with the yolk of hard-boiled egg and biscuit meal which seemed to suit them perfectly, and they were as easy to rear as any birds I have ever had. At first the food was well moistened with water, but later given fairly dry. When canary seed was supplied they took to it at once. In their first plumage they had the head and upper breast very dark blue shaded into a much lighter greenish-blue on the underparts, the rump dark red and the tail brownish-red, the back and wings dirty green. At the time of writing (May) they are now five and four months old, and all have red heads, but not quite the bright cherry red of adult birds. Some, probably the older ones, are quite bright blue on the back and fore-breast. It is not a fact as an American ornithologist states (he was judging only from skins) that they moult straight from the nest plumage to the adult, for the first change is nothing like so bright, nor is the body entirely blue. This can be seen by the pair in the Bird House at London Zoo. Individual birds seem to vary in some particulars as we caught birds still showing the blue nodules at the gape, while some of our hand-reared ones lost them even before they were GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH 1 1 1 able to feed alone, and others again still showed them much later. Also the bills turned black in some cases much sooner than in others from the same nest. The females, according to the same ornithologist, are supposed to have the wings entirely green, while the male has the wing-coverts the same blue as the body, but we are still uncertain if this is quite correct. On January 24th two young ones were brought to me which could not have been more than a few hours old. They were so feeble and tiny, barely an inch (25mm) long, it seemed impossible to do anything with them. They were entirely flesh-coloured, body, bill and legs, and opened a minute oblong mouth with the tips of the bill so slightly developed as to be all but invisible, but the dark crescent marks on the palate and the blue spots at the gape were highly conspicuous. I did my best with them and failed, but they lived for four days. The island we were on was entirely waterless so far as springs or wells were concerned. The local people depend upon rain water and the birds likewise. Fortunately the rainfall is heavy, but at times they suffer from a shortage. We found the Royal Parrot Finches extremely difficult to get on to seed. At one time we thought we might have to bring them home as fruit-eating finches. It was no good trying to starve them on to it, we did this for several hours first thing every morning, neither would they take soaked seed. For weeks we looked in vain for husks, then after a time a few grains of canary seed were eaten by a few, but not enough to keep them alive. At first we gave them their natural figs cut in half, and these they ate in quantities, but made a dreadful mess of the cages and themselves by throwing the outer red part about which stained everything crimson. Then we started to take the seedy centres out on the point of a spoon, and mixed it with biscuit and the yolk of hard-boiled egg. Flours and hours were spent every day over this until we loathed the very sight of the fruits; moreover, the outer part of the nai'da variety contained an acid which after a time burnt away the skin on the fingertips until they bled and became extremely painful. We put a local man on the job, and at first he rather laughed at the effect of the fruit on us, but after a few days he suffered just the same. We had thought that his fingers would be harder. The birds were very fond of egg and 1 think this kept them from falling off in condition. We kept up this egg and biscuit even after they had taken well to seed, so we landed here without one weak or thin bird. After we had left the islands and could get apples, we gave them some every day, and greatly they enjoyed it, and lettuce also. Unless one has great patience, and is prepared to stay on the islands until the birds are well on to seed, it would be useless to go there for them. We were quite afraid to move out of reach of the figs, not knowing how the birds would fare when these were suddenly and entirely stopped. 112 GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH The Blue-faced Parrot Finch E. trichroa and Red-headed Parrot Finch E. psittacea certainly feed on grass seeds in the wild, but I imagine those with entirely red heads, must have similar feeding habits to those of the Royal Parrot Finch. Perhaps this is why so few Peale’s E. c. pealei ever come over, because so few survive until they are eating seeds. E. c. cyaneovirens and E. c. serena have not yet been imported, but as neither of them is as beautiful as E. c. regia , it is hardly worth while bringing them when you can get the other. E. c. cyanovirens comes from Samoa and pealei from Fiji. There is still one more beautiful species to come, this is the Tri-coloured Parrot Finch E. tricolor from Timor, discovered by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1 868. It is a green bird with the face and the whole of the breast blue. It seems very desirable, and I have no doubt it is a grass feeder as Timor has much open grass country. I have landed in the island, but never collected there. I mentioned how the New Hebrides are subjected to hurricanes and that in January it was our ill luck to experience one. For more than two weeks before we had constant high winds often reaching gale force and gloomy skies. Later, as the wind grew still stronger, came torrential rains without ceasing day or night. It seemed impossible to imagine so much rain, just as if a sea was overhead, so solidly it came down, and one began to wonder if the sun would ever shine again. The wind still increased until it reached the peak which lasted more than a day. The palms bent nearly double, and many snapped in two, while large branches were falling from other trees all around. Nearly all leaves were stripped off, and the noise and chaos bewildering. 1 was alone at the time, living in a ramshackle iron shanty anything but watertight at the best of times, and two miles (3.2km) from the nearest village. Mr Mayer was away weather-bound on a small island off the coast unable to return. During the two worst nights I got a local man to come and stay with me as I was afraid if the place went I should be unable to cope with things single-handed. The local people were anxious for me to move to the village, but for many reasons it was impracticable, as in the first place I doubt if we could have got even the cages through the storm. Some of the men spent the daylight hours with me, and with tree trunks and heavy chains strengthened the place as much as possible, but most of them were occupied in looking after their own places. Everything inside was a foot (30cm) deep in mud and water, with bed and everything else wet through. Cooking was mostly out of the question as fires were hard to keep alight. How I looked after the birds I don’t know, for they were not yet eating seed, and fruits were impossible to get. Egg and biscuit was about all they had, and even this under very difficult conditions. 1 used to wonder how the birds were faring outside, for it seemed impossible that any could live through GOODFELLOW - ROYAL PARROT FINCH 113 it. A young zosterops was picked up near the house, blown from the nest, which I managed to save and rear. The parrot finches must have suffered, as all the ripe figs were stripped from the trees and lay rotten on the ground. After the hurricane had died down I saw many boys pass by with bunches of dead birds they had picked up. Yet after all this, just a week later, I had the two youngest E. c. regias I have mentioned brought to me, so their nest had escaped, and the parent birds must have sat through it all and hatched out the eggs. These hurricanes must do considerable damage to bird life throughout the islands. It was days later before we began to hear again the beautiful notes of the honeyeaters and the screeching of the lorikeets, but 1 thought not so freely as before. At the same time I was hand-rearing the young parrot finches I also brought up successfully 16 zosterops of two species, the Yellow-fronted Z. flavifrons perplexa and Grey-backed Z. lateralis vatensis. Some of these were very newly hatched when brought in, but all lived, and also four Massena’s Lorikeets Trichoglossus haematodus massena. The zosterops were reared on that invaluable fruit papaya (called in some parts pawpaw) and the yolk of hard-boiled egg, while the lorikeets, of course, were brought up on the sweet milk mixture. Now we have introduced the Royal Parrot Finch over here, it remains to be seen who will be the first to breed it. The answer came the following year, when it was bred by C.H. Macklin, whose accoun t of the breeding was published in the magazine in 1935. BREEDING OF THE ROYAL PARROT FINCH by C. H. Macklin In April 1934, 1 obtained from Messrs. Goodfellow & Mayer a pair of Royal Parrot Finches from the first importation. They were young birds and one still in juvenile plumage with the blue head, but they turned out to be a true pair, although the sexual difference did not show clearly until their first full moult nearly a year after I obtained them. Then it was easy to see that the male had considerably more blue than green in the body plumage in comparison with the female and his red head was distinctly brighter; the red also extended a little further back on the nape of the male. When 1 first got them their wings were badly frayed, but they were so wild in a cage that I decided to risk it and put them in an outdoor aviary; here they spent most of their time climbing and hopping about in the shrubs and soon the male was flying well, but the female was rather weak on the 114 MACKLIN - ROYAL PARROT FINCH wing. By the end of the summer they had grown new flight feathers and were both in very good plumage, but had made no attempt whatever to nest. They ‘did themselves’ very well, taking large quantities of softfood, mealworms, spray millet, apple and greenfood, seeding grass, chickweed, and lettuce; they took very little of the ordinary seed mixture of canary and millet. In October I took them indoors and tried to steady them in order to show them, and did manage to send them to Cambridge, Hitchin, and Leicester, where they took first prizes in their class; steadiness was not one of their good points, and at Nottingham they dropped to ‘Commended’, for by this time they had worn off a lot of feathers round the beak and broken some of their tail and flight feathers. This was in November, and I then put them in an indoor aviary, where they were much quieter than in the cage, in fact cage life definitely does not suit them. About the end of February they started a good moult which they finished early in April. On April 15th I put them outdoors in the same aviary they had occupied the previous summer. This aviary was designed for waxbills with 3/s in ( 1 Omm) mesh wire and consists of a glass-fronted shelter 4ft 6in x 5ft x 5ft 6in high in the front and 6ft 6in at the back (approx. 1 .4m x 1 .5m x 1 .7m high in the front and 2m at the back); matchboard sides, boarded floor, and boarded and felted roof; a covered flight with open front and boarded floor 4ft 6in x 5ft (approx. 1 ,4m x 1.5m) and an open flight 12ft x 5ft (approx. 3. 6m x 1.5m). The back of the flight is an ivy covered wall and there are growing shrubs of box, euomymus and prunus; the floor is partly turfed and partly a sanded path. The parrot finches had for company pairs of Cherry Finches Aidemosyne modesta, Cuban Finches Tiaris canora, Aurora Finches Pytilia phoenicoptera , Greater St. Helena Waxbills Estrilda astrild , Green Avadavats Amandavaformosa, Lavender Finches E. caerulescens and a male Amethyst- rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zelonica; they were therefore the largest birds in the aviary, but they have always been well behaved, taking very little notice of the other occupants except to get the biggest share of the mealworms, of which they are very fond. Within a week of being turned out they began to build a nest and chose for the site a ‘Hartz’ travelling cage hung up in the top corner of the inside shelter farthest from the door to the flight. I had put a wisp of hay in the cage, and they proceeded to fill it up with grass stems, dead leaves, pieces of straw, and fibrous grass roots which they found in the flight. On examining the nest after the young birds had flown I found it was very compactly made; the entrance was in the form of a sloping tunnel which went up about three inches (7.5cm) to the nest proper. They took about a fortnight to construct the nest and on May 15th I dared to investigate with my finger and could just reach the nest cavity and feel that there were eggs. After this I left the MACKLIN - ROYAL PARROT FINCH 115 nest severely alone and did not even venture into the shelter. Both the birds sat, the female chiefly at night and the male during a good part of the day. On June 3rd I heard faint squeaks coming from the nest, and for the next week the young birds were loud in their clamour for food but were quieter later. The parents fed them frequently, using chiefly the softfood and mealworms; they also helped themselves to the sunbird’s nectar quite freely at this time and ate a good deal of apple and seeding grass. On June 9th I got a peep at the nest while both the parents were out in the flight and, by using an electric lamp and mirror, could see that there were two youngsters and that they were just getting their wing and tail quills. On June 22nd they were ready to leave the nest; in fact for a day or two I had seen two little yellow bills at the entrance. Unfortunately it turned very hot and the temperature rose tremendously inside the shelter where the nest was, near the roof, and one of the youngsters collapsed and died in the nest entrance; the other I found in the outside flight; he was quite strong on the wing and roosted outside in the ivy and never went back to the nest. The young had dark green bodies and wings, deep blue heads, and red tails and tail-coverts; the beak was orange yellow, ornamented at the corners of the wide gape with four luminous blue spots; the legs and feet were whitish grey. Both parents fed the youngster frequently, regurgitated food from the crop in the usual grassfinch manner. By June 25th he was pecking at spray millet and soon helped himself to softfood. He is now (July 11th) quite independent and is doing well. The beak is still yellow but the luminous spots at the corners have nearly gone and he has lost his babyish look and is now as big as the female. The parents have built a second nest in the shelter again but this time in a small wooden box about 6in x 4in x 4in (approx. 15cm x 10cm x 10cm), with half the front open; it is again very compact, made of grass stems, bits of straw, dead leaves and roots; no feathers were used either time. There are now three eggs and the birds have just started to sit. I am hoping this time to be able to supply some live ant ‘eggs’, which they liked last year and which will probably be better for the young birds than too many mealworms. The Royal Parrot Finch is a fascinating little bird but needs extra care; it does not do well in a cage and will not live on seed alone, for it is much keener on livefood and softfood. The male has apparently no song and their only note is a high-pitched bat-like squeak which they use to call to each other. 116 A FERAL ALEXANDRINE AND OTHER ESCAPEES by Philip Schofield One day in May 1997 1 arrived at the children’s home where I work, to find a wooden box on the lawn, covering a pile of fruit and nuts. The box was propped up by a stick, to which a length of string was attached. At the other end of the string was a hopeful small boy, who told me a ‘green parrot’ had been in the garden and that he was going to catch it and sell it for a small fortune. Later that day the bird turned up again, revealing itself to be an adult male Alexandrine Parrakeet Psittacula eupatria. Very wary, it came no closer than the top of a 50ft (approx. 15m) tall conifer at the end of the garden. I borrowed a Larsen cage trap of the kind normally used to catch crows and magpies. With a male Ringneck P. krameri in the decoy compartment, and his mate in an aviary nearby, the two Ringnecks called to each other continually. This we felt would be irresistible to the free-flying Alexandrine. Through many attempts with the Larsen, over a period of weeks, the Alexandrine showed no interest at all. One evening, while removing the male Ringneck and trap from the roof, I was hailed by a neighbour who asked me to stop trying to catch the fugitive. ‘It’s a wild animal and it’s called George’ she told me. It transpired that this lady was hand feeding ‘George’ every afternoon at her bird table. Some fifteen months later, having survived a mild winter, this happy arrangement continues. Excessively wary in other situations, the Alexandrine flies to our neighbour’s bird table for his daily handout. Having seen Ringnecks feral in this country, and wild in Pakistan, the Alexandrine appears somewhat less graceful on the wing, although a powerful flier. Goodwin (1989) refers to a female Alexandrine consorting with feral Ringnecks in Kent, emphasising the former’s much heavier appearance when flying. Feral Ringnecks are scarce in Dorset; given ‘George’s’ lack of interest in confined ones it would be interesting to see if he relates any more positively to free-flying parrakeets. Even in his solitary state, he forms an attractive addition to our local garden birds. Local rumour maintains that a pet parrot was lost by a holidaymaker in Weymouth some nine miles (almost 13km) away in the spring of 1997. Early life as a caged pet might account for this Alexandrine’s apparent lack of interest in other parrots. Two years ago, I let a friend have a pair of young Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis , both hatched in 1996. The female had been reared by a bantam and then reintroduced as a grown bird to her natural parents, so was well socialised to Barnacles. The young gander had been obtained, with a brother and their'parents from some people who maintained that both goslings had been reared by two female white domestic geese, after being deserted by SCHOFIELD - FERAL ALEXANDRINE 117 their parents. While I find this difficult to believe and the brother has paired appropriately, the gander given to my friend has demonstrated a very odd outlook on life. Within weeks of being moved, he had bonded with a female Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus of the same age. This could not be allowed, so the offending gander and his intended Barnacle mate were removed to an enclosed lake where the gander’s natural parents had become established. For the next eighteen months the young male Barnacle failed to associate either with the other Barnacles or with Snow Geese A. caerulescens. With his reported upbringing by domestic geese, he might have shown an interest in the white Snows. One day in the spring of 1998, a Lesser White-front (unlikely to be of genuinely wild origin) flew in and has stayed ever since, firmly paired to the young Barnacle gander. That the White-front appears to be a male makes no difference to the strength of their relationship. Escaped Zebra Finches Poephila guttata turn up where least expected. I retrieved one from someone’s conservatory, and a small flock of pied examples on a local grazing marsh one summer were reported initially as out-of-season Snow Buntings Plectrophenax nivalisl Zebra Finches that have got out here, always decamped immediately and permanently, while Bengalese sat about happily until someone popped a net over them. A wandering Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus attracted to others in an aviary, flew in as soon as I opened the door. Twice in recent years I have stopped my car to examine an apparent road-killed Tawny Owl Strix aluco, which turned out to be a female Reeves’ Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesi. Escaped avicultural subjects can be a danger to native species, and occasionally to farmers’ crops. When not taken too seriously, they also make life more interesting. Reference Goodwin, D. (1989). Further Notes on Feral Rose-Ringed Parrakeets Psittacula krameri in Kent. Avicultural Magazine, 95, 1:36-37. Philip Schofield, who is an Avicultural Society Council Member, is by profession a social worker and lives in Dorset in the south-west of England. He specialises in Galliformes, waterfowl and seed-eating pigeons, and also keeps Demoiselle Cranes and a few softbills. 118 ANOTHER BIRD-KEEPING CLERIC by Frank Woolham By comparison with the Rev. C.D. Farrar, whose name illuminates several of the pages of Dave Coles’ First Breeding Records , that of another bird- keeping parson, the Rev. J.R. Lowe appears only once as a result of his success in 1966 with Tickell’s Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae. But despite this disparity I suspect the two clergymen probably had much in common - a conclusion based on familiarity with Farrar’s classic Through a Bird Room Window and later through my friendship with this other bird-keeping clergyman who was, in effect, Farrar’s counterpart 60 years on. While my late father was the person who first instilled an interest in bird keeping by ensuring I had feathered birthday presents from an early age (and while he never exhibited, he retained an eye for a good finch, mule or hybrid throughout his lifetime), it was Jack Lowe who really influenced my thinking from the time I first met him in the early 1960s. If he was around today I am sure he would disagree with my theorising about our friendship - which I believe had its roots in the fact that both of us were somewhat haphazard in our choice of species. In other words we were more inclined towards mixed collections than a desire for any kind of specialisation - a lack of discipline which would, quite properly, be deplored nowadays. Canon Lowe was vastly more experienced in the care and management of species which, for me, were generally no more than items on a wishful shopping list. But at the time I kept foreign softbills and seedeaters, a few British finches, Light Sussex bantams, the odd few pheasants and waders, some small doves and quail; I even owned several hemipodes when we first met. Jack had a variety of small foreigners ranging from Violet-eared Waxbills Uraeginthus granatina to hummingbirds, various British finches and softbills, a stud of Norwich Canaries, a pen of Marans and a loft housing some excellent racing pigeons. There was also ‘Sparky’ - a macaw of indeterminate species which presided over the garden at Jack’s Backford vicarage from the security of a lofty apple tree. As readers will again recognise, there was, regrettably, little or no specialisation in our respective collections but I suppose (and I hope members will pardon a poor pun) we were birds of a feather. I almost collided with Canon Lowe at a National Show in the 1950s - a first and entirely inauspicious meeting for we exchanged not a word. It was at a time when British softbills were exhibited and if my memory serves me right, the near coming together was the result of a joint desire to admire a pair of Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia curruca. At the time his parish was at Coin St. Aldwyn in Gloucestershire and WOOLHAM - ANOTHER BIRD-KEEPING CLERIC 119 since I lived in Manchester there seemed little prospect our paths would cross again in the immediate future. But in the early 1960s the long arm of coincidence touched us both: I was transferred from my company’s Manchester office to Liverpool and Meg and I chose to live in Chester. Coincidentally, at around the same time, Jack Lowe and his family moved from Gloucestershire to a new parish near Chester - just a couple of miles down the lanes from our new home. We allowed what we thought was a decent interval to elapse (about a week) following the announced date of the Lowes’ arrival before driving over to Backford in the hope that an aviculturist I had long admired from a distance might be at home. He was. It was a hot summer afternoon (remember them?) and we watched fascinated from outside the gates of the vicarage’s large garden as a tall silver-haired figure materialised from a tangle of undergrowth to immediately berate a perspiring workman who was attempting to transform around five miles of aviary mesh and (at a conservative estimate) half a forest of larch poles into a range of aviaries. A short and heated altercation followed from which we gathered the man had misunderstood one of the Canon’s more obscure instructions regarding a supply of running water in the aviaries - an excellent idea but one which, ten years later, had still not materialised. Fortunately our arrival dissipated the clergyman’s irritation to some extent and we retired to the tranquillity of the vicarage for cold beers all round. The chap building the aviaries was not forgotten, either. k Better give that bloody man a glass of water'. Jack instructed his ever-patient wife, Phyll who, as we soon discovered, had the invaluable ability of being able to take her husband’s occasional eccentric lapses in her stride, thus ensuring that tradesmen ranging from window-cleaners to milkmen, sundry members of the Parish Council and other tiresome intruders were held-off at arm’s length, but always in a state of what might be described as uncertain optimism. While the Canon’s bird-keeping interests were wide-ranging I always had a sneaking feeling that British insectivorous species were particularly dear to his heart, although foreign species were also prominent in his collection. Most of the birds were housed outside only during the spring - autumn period, after which they were transferred to various spare rooms in the vicarage - even the bathroom provided accommodation from time to time. The workman we had seen on our first visit eventually produced an excellent range of aviaries, built against an ancient wall which might once have been part of a stable block or some other substantial structure. None was provided with anything resembling a formal shelter and in any case, within a couple of years, such refinements would have been superfluous for the interiors supported some of their owner’s favourite plants - nettles, brambles, bindweed and other natives which were cultivated with the sort 120 WOOLHAM - ANOTHER BIRD-KEEPING CLERIC of zeal an enthusiastic gardener lavishes on prize dahlias and chrysanthemums. This natural cover was eventually so dense that Jack found himself locked inside on one occasion when, as he remained unseen in the green wilderness, his grandson helpfully bolted the safety porch door fearing (he later claimed) the birds might escape. I particularly remember his success with Tickell’s Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae in the mid-1960s. Both male and female were tame, confident birds - what is more they were compatible and shared an indoor flight without problem throughout the winter. The following spring they were transferred to one of the larger aviaries. Although Jack was cautiously optimistic about their chances, I suspect he had given no serious thought to the possibility of a first successful UK breeding of the species for, as was often the case at Backford, they were part of a larger community of birds sharing the flight. However, all went well and the Tickell’s, astonishingly tolerant of both companions and their owner’s frequent presence in the aviary, hatched three fine youngsters. Jack Lowe was also an enthusiastic breeder of mules and hybrids - not on a regular basis but usually as a result of having a likely-looking pair of something or other on his hands. At around the time his flycatchers bred, this other interest was given a shot in the arm when he succeeded in producing a hybrid between a male Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus ianthinogaster and female Violet-eared Waxbi 11 U. granatina. One youngster was reared - a male - and despite my aversion to such mixed marriages 1 had to concede that it was a particularly handsome bird. Writing about the achievement in the Avicultural Magazine in 1966 he explained that each of the parents had lost their mates as a result of ‘...a contretemps with a flying squirrel’. It was a revelation I only came upon a few years ago and it certainly threw new light on something which had puzzled my wife and myself at the time. I can now reveal that the squirrel in question, "Flip' had previously belonged to Meg and lived at liberty in our dining room. The little animal spent the hours of daylight asleep in a box above the pelmet, becoming active towards dusk. When he first saw ’Flip’, Jack was captivated and eventually made a point of dropping in quite often, late in the afternoon, in the hope the flying squirrel would be out and about. At the time Meg had her hands full with two small children and in view of our friend’s obvious interest we wondered whether he would like to have ‘Flip' at Backford. To say he was delighted is an understatement and a couple of days later he took the animal home carrying the box as proudly as if he had just been given a new rare bird to add to his collection. A couple of weeks later an unusually subdued clergyman appeared at the door wanting ‘...a quiet word with Meg’. The two of them disappeared WOOLHAM - ANOTHER BIRD-KEEPING CLERIC 121 into the kitchen and when I went through to make some coffee I noticed Jack doing a spot of hand-wringing and talking to Meg with the practiced air of a man accustomed to breaking bad news. But things seemed perfectly normal over coffee and biscuits and eventually he departed, as usual throwing a wisecrack in my direction. ‘Well, that’s rather sad’, said Meg afterwards - and went on to explain the Canon’s mission. The flying squirrel had died. I expressed my condolences and asked what had happened - had it died in its sleep, contracted an illness, got itself trapped in the bell tower? ‘No’, explained Meg, ‘they found him drowned in the font’. Reflecting on the matter the following day, I remembered that ‘Flip’ had lived at the vicarage - and the nearest font was 300yds (approx. 275m) down the lane at St Oswald’s. Best, I thought, to let departed squirrels rest in peace! My friend and I frequently visited bird shows where Jack was usually held in considerable awe by his fellow birdmen, for he knew what he was talking about and was not averse to offering opinions about anything from the quality of the tea to the condition of some of the exhibits - although his comments were invariably tongue-in-cheek. Quite often there were problems actually getting to these events for we travelled in the Lowes’ venerable Austin Cambridge (by coincidence finished in a rather fetching shade of clerical grey), and the Canon harboured a belief that, except when forced to reverse, the gear lever was purely for ornament. Thus we would move off from the vicarage somewhat haltingly in third gear, remaining thus even when forced to halt at traffic lights or reduce speed in order to make a turn, until the vehicle staggered to a halt. The consequences of this unswerving faith in the internal combustion engine’s ability to rise above such mistreatment were obvious to all but the driver for during the course of most of our journeys the engine would eventually begin to stutter, miss and eventually give up the ghost with a sort of strangled sigh. My chauffeur invariably remained at the wheel for a minute or two, muttering abuse while fiddling with the choke and ignition. When, predictably, these activities failed to effect a cure, the next tactic was to get out, walk round the vehicle and deliver a couple of hearty kicks - usually to the tyres. Whether through luck or divine intervention, when he again got back behind the wheel the car invariably started after which he engaged first gear (for he knew the rudiments of what he was supposed to do) and we would resume our journey ... with third gear selected almost as soon as the car was in motion again. In what he often described simply as ‘the job’ he was a first-rate country parson, much loved by his parishioners at Backford and, I am certain, his other parishes. For he was a diligent and caring churchman who cared deeply for all the members of his flock, although he could be aloof in certain 122 WOOLHAM - ANOTHER BIRD-KEEPING CLERIC situations and sometimes gave the impression of being an autocrat - which he most certainly was not. Backford was his last parish before retirement and even today, 30 years on, he is fondly rememberd by some of the older inhabitatants. Two other kinds of birds also claimed his interest - racing pigeons and poultry. His pigeons were something of a talking point around the parish for their comings and goings occasionally had an impact on events at St Oswald’s. Like the rest of his birds, the pigeons were of good quality - and no slouches in the matter of long, cross-country flights when they headed for their loft from some remote outpost where they had been released. Some of these journeys were made at weekends and it was not unusual for the birds to arrive back on Sundays. But while services continued at their normal times, regulars knew they would not be kept over-long as the sermon would be brief and to the point. Sometimes the home-going congregation would catch sight of their still robed vicar heading at speed (he was 6ft 6in (almost 2m) in height with long strides to match) for the pigeon loft so he could ‘clock-in’ his feathered travellers as they arrived. I often thought that alongside his flycatchers, Whinchats Saxicola rubetra and other delightful little softbills, a splendid pen of Marans were another particular source of pride - especially the cock, a magnificent bird which must have weighed seven or eight pounds (about 3.4kg) and regularly attacked its owner’s shins whenever he entered the pen. The birds were housed in quite a large grassed enclosure surrounded by a 6ft high (approx. 1 ,8m) wire-netting fence and with a shed for roosting. I have the clearest recollections of an unfortunate incident involving these particular birds when I was at the vicarage one day. Jack and myself had retired to the bathroom to admire a recently acquired hummingbird - a Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thaluraniafurcata - when his wife called urgently that a Fox was in the hen pen. A rapid sequence of events followed as Jack grabbed a gun from the hall and headed in the direction of the poultry as I trailed in his wake. We were in time to see the Fox heading for a shrubbery, beyond which was open countryside, with a still struggling hen Maran in its jaws. My friend, a good shot, took quick aim in the general direction of the rapidly disappearing intruder and sent a hail of lead shot in the general direction of Fox and hen pen. Simultaneously his prized cock Maran collapsed, mortally wounded, and reduced to a twitching bundle of feathers. As we reached the scene of the crime the bird’s owner delivered a short soliloquy on the subject of four¬ legged poultry thieves. It does not bear repeating here. This has been more about the man than his birds. But while he was a member of the Avicultural Society for many years and was a respected figure within aviculture, little has been written about him. I hope these notes rectify WOOLHAM - ANOTHER BIRD-KEEPING CLERIC 123 that omission. We shared many opinions and had only one real disagreement, for after my juvenile flirtation with mule breeding I eventually developed a deep aversion for hybrids of all kinds - a major shortcoming in Jack Lowe’s view but one which, nevertheless, caused him great amusement. Eventually, though, he decided it was time to make a conciliatory gesture after I had said something unkind about the offspring of a finch and a Norwich Canary. ‘My dear boy’, he said, ‘I know you can’t even bring yourself to use the term ‘mule’ so why don’t you just call them ‘his Reverence’s mongrels’? He was a keen and experienced observer of wildlife, and it was always an enlightening experience to spend an hour or so in his company walking the fields or exploring a stretch of woodland. And while his collection of birds dominated the vicarage and its gardens, there were all manner of other odds and ends about the place; a tropical fish tank, axolotls, the odd snake - even, for a while, a flying squirrel! For his grandchildren, who were part of the Lowes’ extended family at the vicarage, and our two small sons, there was the chance to sit on the broad back of ‘Adam’, a donkey of slightly dubious temperament. He was a gelding but the Canon attributed his occasional bouts of irascibility (he was once spotted trotting past the French windows, the wreckage of a field gate round his neck, heading towards Chester) to the fact that the vet had done ‘only half a job’ on him. During World War Two Canon Lowe served with distinction as a Chaplain with the Royal Gloucester Hussars - a part of his life he never discussed except to remark that it gave him the opportunity to ‘do a spot of bird watching’. He joined the Avicultural Society in 1927 and remained a member until his death in 1971. Frank Woolham, a former Hon. Editor of the Avicultural Magazine, 1994- 1995 , and his wife Meg, continue to live in Chester - opposite the zoo . 124 SOME BIRDS SEEN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC by Mike Curzon November 12th to November 26th 1997 my wife Norma and myself spent a holiday at Puerta Plata in the Dominican Republic. We saw a varied selection of birds and, hopefully, these notes will prove of interest to fellow members. In the hotel grounds, which were well managed and alongside which is a golf course with a number of lovely ornamental lakes, were numerous Grey Kingbirds Tyrannus dominicenis. I have never seen them in captivity. They are tyrant flycatchers and are the largest of the kingbirds seen in the West Indies. They positioned themselves on the tops of palm trees and on branches standing proud on the tops of trees and dived down to take butterflies, flies and other insects. It was interesting watching them, especially on the golf course where they would go after even larger butterflies, some of which they could not take on the wing. They therefore knocked them to the ground, then turned around and landed on the ground beside them and finished them off. They are very agile and fly fast and one pair in particular came down and picked up small yellow butterflies off a yellow iris which was flowering alongside our room. Another species very active in and around the hotel grounds was the Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus , which is basically grey, with a white throat with black markings and, as its name suggests, bright red legs. These thrushes always seemed to be on the move looking for food and when two met they could be quite quarrelsome, with one seeing the other off its territory. Tropical Mockingbirds Mimus gilvus were also very common and enjoyed singing from high perches. Greater Antillean Grackles Quiscalus niger would join us at the dinner table in the open sided hotel dining room. They would pop in hoping that a tit-bit would be dropped on the floor, whereupon they would grab it and leave. By the side of our balcony was a sprinkler and each evening the grackles would come and enjoy a bath in the puddle of clear, clean water. They generally came in pairs but occasionally there would be three, about an hour before the sun went down. One evening I was down by a small, slow-flowing river approximately 20ft (about 6m) wide in the hotel grounds where the previous day I had seen the Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo Saurothera vetula. I stationed myself beneath some branches, and the first birds I saw were a pair of Black-crowned Palm Tanagers Phaenicophdus palmarum. They were moving along the river bank, going from shrub to shrub, and after they had moved off I heard a lot of noise on the other bank where there was long grass and sugar cane out of CURZON - BIRDS OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 125 which appeared perhaps 200-300 Village Weavers Ploceus cucullatus. Village Weavers were released onto Hispaniola and are now fairly common and their nests can be seen in the trees. This large flock, the males in full colour, zig-zagged its way across the river. The noise reminded me of the flocks of Starlings Sturnus vulgaris which on occasions we get at Rode. The weavers settled in the tree directly above me, bickering and falling out with each other as weavers do. After half a minute they saw me and took off to roost further down the river. After approximately 200yd (roughly 180m) the river disappears into the beach. I saw Tricoloured or Louisiana Egretta tricolor and Great Blue Herons Ardea herodias and Caribbean Coots Fulica caribaea on this river, which had plenty of fish in it and lots of butterflies and dragonflies flying above it. Another interesting escapee or introduced species is the Spice Bird Lonchura punctulata. One day whilst I was wandering around the golf course I saw this small, brown bird and as 1 got closer realised that this species must now be established on the island, which was confirmed on the final day when I saw a group of six or seven feeding on grasses by the 17th fairway. I had gone looking for the Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis, which I saw, then my attention was taken by a group of 30 Glossy Cowbirds Monothrus bonariensis of which perhaps 20 were juveniles. They were feeding in the grass. A surprising aspect of our holiday was the absence of seabirds, apart from two White-tailed Tropicbirds Phaethon lepturus which we saw in a mangrove swamp during one of the numerous trips we went on, and four Magnificent Frigatebirds Fregata magnificens at the end of the holiday. 1 was surprised, for example, that we did not see any gulls or terns. It would be no exaggeration to say that we saw masses of Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis - they seemed to be everywhere. It surprised me how many cattle and horses are kept on the island. Away from the hotel towards the bay there are some large trees by the river and at sunset hundreds of Cattle Egrets flew overhead towards this communal roost site. Ground has been cleared inland for growing tobacco which is one of the main cash crops. On a trip inland we stopped for lunch by a waterfall and it was there that I saw my only birds in captivity on the island. These were Hispaniolan Amazons Amazona ventralis and West Indian Barn Owls Tyto alba. They appeared to be pairs and in good condition despite the fact that their accommodation was, to me, terrible. The Amazons were in an aviary 3ft wide x 6ft x 6ft (approx. 91.5cm wide x 1.83m x 1.83m), which looked the worse for wear and I was unable to see what food they were being fed. Neither could I see any food in the owls’ aviary. It was of a similar size, it had no perches and they were hiding in a cardboard box. I was told that higher on the island local people will, if you are interested, sell you young 126 CURZON - BIRDS OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC parrots for about £50-£60 (approx. US$80-US$96), for two babies which are still being hand-reared or are almost reared. I would have liked to have seen this species in the wild, but it was not to be. On another trip on what is called ‘the safari’, we saw where Jurassic Park was filmed. It is rolling green downland covered with palm trees and at lunchtime I went for a walk and saw a male Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima. I was walking alongside a hedge and looked up and at first thought it was a butterfly before realising that it was a hummingbird. Later in the day I saw a female. I was captivated by my first sight of this hummingbird, which is so small and fragile looking. On our last day we went horse riding which took us through sugar cane, wooded areas and some steep river gorges and at lunchtime we stopped and I again went for a walk. I walked along a riverbed which, although there were some small pools was otherwise all but dried out, and I saw three Hispaniolan Emerald Hummingbirds Chlorostilbon swainsonii. While standing beneath the bank watching them I saw a Broad-billed Tody Todus subulatus , which after flying around settled 6ft (approx. 1 ,8m) above my head. I stood still watching it and it in turn watched me for a little while before moving off into some bushes, after having first flown up the valley. The red throat spot of this white-breasted green-backed bird is very noticeable. We saw only three species of birds of prey, for they were noticeably scarce and were seen on only six occasions in the fortnight, although we did see lots of vultures. We went to a beach area which had some lovely woodland behind it and I again went walking for about one and a half hours. Among the birds I saw were Bananaquits Coereba flaveola. Yellow-faced Grassquits Haris olivacea, a lot of Hispaniolan Woodpeckers Melanerpes striatus and the Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo. What really amazed me was the enormous number of butterflies and the variety of species with their beautiful colours and markings. One appeared to By in reverse in order to land on the bark of a tree, on which it looked like lichen and so was well camouflaged against predators. Purple Gallinules Gallinula martinica are resident on the lakes on the golf course. They are so much more elegant than the heavier-looking Asian species Porphyrio porphyrio and in many respects look more like jaganas and spend much of their time on the lily-pads. Whenever we went to the water’s edge they would come running towards us. Most of them appeared to have chicks and were busy finding food for them, including water snails, which they obtained from under the leaves and then called the chicks over to be fed. I have not seen this species in captivity and would be very interested in keeping it. I believe it would be less troublesome than the Asian species. I also saw the Common Gallinule which is the West Indian race of the Moorhen G. chloropus. CURZON - BIRDS OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 127 Whilst there we had some wet days but never one when it rained all day, and we also had some dry days, whereas when we were there in November 1996, it rained every day. The birds were about to start breeding. Bananaquits were busy building and I found two nests, the first in a date palm and the second in a low hedge. The nests were the usual rather untidy football¬ shaped structures and, considering the size of the birds, they had used some unusually large twigs in the construction. The Bananaquits on this island are a small very brightly coloured race and look very handsome. The other birds seen building were the Yellow-faced Grassquits, which were building everywhere. After the rainy season the grasses were growing well and would be a valuable source of food when the young hatched. The various warblers were seen for only a few brief moments. Both the White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica and the Mourning Dove Z. macroura were quite common, as was the Palm Chat Dulus dominicus. The latter was seen in small groups of six to eight birds which were quite active making a communal nest. List of birds seen:- Osprey Pandion haliaetus Common Gallinule (Moorhen) Gallinula chloropus Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Hispaniolan Woodpecker Melanerpes striatus Antillean Palm Swift Tachornis phoenicobia Grey Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis Tropical Mockingbird Mimus gilvus Bananaquit Coereba flaveola Greater Antillean Grackle Quiscalus niger Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Purple Gallinule Gallinula martinica Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus Common (Great White) Egret Egretta alba Sparrow (House) Passer domesticus (introduced) Palm Chat Dulus dominicus Greater Antillean Elaenia Elaenia fallax Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Least Grebe Podiceps dominicus Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani Antillean Mango Anthracothorax dominicus Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivacea Tricoloured (Louisiana) Heron Egretta tricolor 128 CURZON - BIRDS OF DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Green Heron Butorides striatus White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Ridgway’s Hawk Buteo ridgwayi American Kestrel Falco sparverius Hispaniolan (Jamaican) Lizard Cuckoo Saurothera vetula Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Sora Porzana Carolina Common (Scaly-breasted) Ground Dove Columbina passerina Black-crowned Palm Tanager Phaenicophilus palmarum Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus (introduced) Merlin Falco columbarius Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Bay- (Rufous-) breasted Cuckoo Piaya rufigularis Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima Hispaniolan Emerald Hummingbird Chlorostilbon swainsonii White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Greater Antillean Pewee Contopus caribaeus Black-cowled Oriole Icterus dominicensis Spice Bird (Nutmeg Finch) Lonchura punctulata (introduced) Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva Broad-billed Tody Todus subulatus Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Barn Owl Tyto alba Glossy (Common) Cowbird Monothrus bonariensis Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor Mike Curzon is a director of the Tropical Bird Gardens , Rode, near Bath, Somerset BA3 6QN, England. He is on the Avicultural Society Council. 129 EGG-EATING BY ROTHSCHILD’S MYNAHS by Maarten de Ruiter As we all know Rothschild’s Mynah Leucopsar rothschildi is a threatened species which has only a limited distribution on the Indonesian island of Bali. Although several reintroductions have already taken place, its status in the wild remains very bleak (/ believe that the wild population is now down to just 12 birds - Ed.). In captivity things look much brighter for this species. A large number of private and public collections successfully breed Rothschild’s Mynahs and the captive population is quite stable. Even so there are pairs which cause problems and one of these pairs is owned by a friend of mine in Germany. He obtained a ‘proven breeding pair’ complete with all the necessary documentation, and placed the birds first in a small indoor aviary which was kept at a temperature of 15°C (59°F). Because it was winter, the birds were kept inside until the end of April the following year and then they were released in an outside flight measuring 2m x 4m x 2m high (approx. 6ft 6in x 1 3ft x 6ft 6in high). Because his main goal was to breed this rare species, no other birds were housed in the same flight. By the end of May one of the birds was already flying around with nesting material, which was taken to one of the two nest-boxes in the enclosure. This box measured 25cm x 25cm x 40cm high (approx. 9 Ydn x 9 Vnn x 15 'Ain high) and had a 6cm (2 Vzin) entrance hole. On June 1st, the first egg was laid, followed a day later by the second egg, the final one of the clutch. Hopes were high, but after seven days one of the birds was observed at the end of the aviary eating something strange. A closer inspection brought a big disappointment for one of the eggs had become mynah food. An inspection of the nest-box revealed that the second egg had also gone. The next clutch again consisting of two eggs was laid three weeks later, but these too were also eaten after about seven days of incubation. The third clutch, again consisting of two eggs, was removed as soon as it was complete and placed in the nest of a pair of Blackbirds Turdus merula which were nesting in the garden of a friend of mine. After 14 days, which is the normal incubation period for Rothschild’s Mynah, both eggs were found to be infertile. Was this, I wondered, why the birds had eaten their eggs? The two eggs of the next clutch were, on inspection after five days, found to be fertile, so the pair were given another chance to incubate them themselves, but three days later all that remained of the eggs were some shells at the end of the aviary. At the end of October, the birds were again placed in the indoor enclosure and following the winter were, at the end of April, put back in the outdoor aviary. After the first two eggs had again 130 DE RUITER - ROTHSCHILD’S MYNAH been eaten by the parents, all the following eggs (four that year) were removed and placed in Blackbirds’ nests. Three of these eggs hatched but one chick was lost when a cat visited the nest. At the age of 1 8 days, the remaining two were taken out of the Blackbird’s nest and raised by hand, which luckily caused no problems. During 1997 a further four chicks were raised successfully in this way. I have heard of other pairs of Rothschild’s Mynahs which eat their eggs, but the reason why they do this remains unclear! My friend feeds his Rothschild’s Mynahs the same diet as his breeding pairs of Superb Starlings Spreo superbus and Song Thrushes T. philomeos , both of which raise their young without any problems. Maarten de Ruiter lives in the Netherlands. Daniel Shearing, who typesets the magazine, remembers his father, Arthur Shearing who was Curator of Birds at Foxwarren Park from 1931 to 1956 and who was involved with the first breeding of these birds, telling him that one of the secrets of breeding Rothschild s Mynahs is to supply far more livefood than ever they could consume - and even then it is not assured that they will not eat their eggs or become murderous. As far as he is aware the procedure of removing the cock bird after copulation was never tried. Tom Higton has told him that he (Tom) regularly used to place the eggs of Leucopsar rothschildi under wild Starlings Sturnus vulgaris, with a degree of success, using a similar procedure to that described here. - Ed, 131 THE YEAR AT BIRD WORLD by Kerry Banks This year has produced a mixed bag of results generally here at Birdworld. The breeding season has not been as prolific as most years but some of our individual successes have made up for this. The unseasonably warm weather during the winter, followed by the dramatic return of cold weather and frosts in late spring and the subsequent wet summer put paid to the breeding season of many of our regular and successful breeding pairs which always form the backbone of our breeding year. The most obvious example of this is the macaws, for this year we managed to breed only a solitary Scarlet Macaw Am macao. However, other parrots such as the Umbrella Cacatua alba, Goffin’s C. goffini and Citron-crested Cockatoos C. sulphurea citrinocristata and the Blue-fronted Amazons Amazona aestiva did well. They have obviously adjusted better to the kind of weather that appears to be the norm these days. Kerry Banks White-crested Touraco on nest It has not been all doom and gloom. A high percentage of the touracos and curassows which came to us at the end of 1 997 have bred in their first year here. The most notable of these being the Southern Helmeted Curassows Pauxi unicornis unicornis and White-crested Touracos Tauraco leucolophus. 132 BANKS - THE YEAR AT BIRDWORLD The White-crested Touracos laid eggs from May right through to September, however, they failed at three attempts to rear their chicks past three weeks old, as a result of which five were hand-reared, all of which have turned out to be females. Other chicks hand-reared, included Black Crax alector , Yellow-knobbed C. daubentoni and Bare-faced Curassows C. fastiolata, and Hartlaub’s T. hartlaubi, Fischer’s T.fischeri, Livingstone’s T. livingstonii and White-cheeked Touracos T. leucotis. The White-cheeked and Livingstone’s Touracos also reared their own young. There have been a couple of species bred this year that, though not notable in avicultural terms, are firsts for us at Birdworld, which makes them notable for us. One was the breeding of the Beautiful or Crimson-capped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus pulchellus. We got one pair late in 1 997, and this year after a few false starts the pair reared a chick in September. Unusually, they were helped by a solitary male Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus, which helped them build the nest and brood the chick and, after the chick had fledged, was even seen feeding it with pieces of fruit! Another first for Birdworld was the rearing of a Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum gibbericeps, which was hand-reared successfully without any leg problems. Smew Mergus albellus were also hand-reared here for the first time. We also had a couple of not quite but almosts. Our pair of White-eared Catbirds Ailuroedus buccoides constructed a very makeshift nest by simply lining a nest basket with wood chippings from the floor of the aviary. Three yellowish, elongated eggs were laid on alternative days, but each was broken almost immediately, however the female continued to sit on them. This would have been a UK first, but was not to be, at least not this year. Maybe we will be successful next year! Our Blue-faced Honeyeaters Entomyzon cyanotis also made a nest and laid eggs for the first time, but they were infertile. There have also been many exciting new additions to the Birdworld collection. Several single birds have been brought in to make up pairs with existing birds, for example a male Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae, a female Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros , a male Toco Toucan Ramphastos toco and female White-bellied Go-away Bird Corythaixoides leucogaster , all of which are doing very well with their new mates. Other new species for Birdworld include Crested Screamers Chauna torquata , Galahs Eolophus roseicapillus, Spangled Kookaburras Dacelo tyro , Blyth’s Hornbills Aceros plicatus , Keel-billed Toucans R. sulfuratus , Yellow-rumped Caciques Cacicus cela. Red-billed Oxpeckers Buphagus erythrorhynhus and Australian Magpies Gymnorhina tibicen hypoleuca. Kerry Banks is Head Keeper at Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LD England . Tel:01420 22140/Fax:01420 23715. THE SOCIETY’S VISIT TO THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 133 by Stewart Pyper The Ornithology Department of the Natural History Museum, which is housed in buildings adjacent to the Walter Rothschild Museum at Tring, Hertfordshire was the venue for the Society’s first outing of 1998. The number was restricted to 20, and we were split into two groups. Firstly, we were shown around the library by Mrs Warr, the Librarian. An impressive selection of books was on display, including Edward Lear’s famous book on parrots and John Gould’s Birds of New Guinea , Volume 1 . The bookcases contain a host of Gould’s other works. This is where the most valuable books are kept, including the great monographs from the last century. We were then shown how the collectors meticulously logged their daily records when in the field. Mike Walters, who is. in charge of the egg collection, took over and showed us around a room of specially designed cabinets. Ken Lawrence, our Chairman, asked to see the eggs of Hildebrandt’s Starling. He is trying to breed this species and had read that the eggs are white, instead of blue like those of most other starlings. Sure enough, there in a tray of eggs, including those of the closely related Shelley’s Starling which are blue, were the white eggs of Hildebrandt’s Starling standing out from the others. The room which must be over 30m (almost 100ft) long, has cabinets along its length containing cassowaries collected by Walter Rothschild, who thought that because of their colour variations they were different races. Josephine Cooper took us into a small room where the insides of birds are removed leaving just the bones. The larvae of the Hide Beetle are used for this task and we were shown examples of their work. A Sword-billed Hummingbird, a Black Cockatoo and a Palm Cockatoo were among those we examined. The Palm Cockatoo had come from George Smith, the well known vet and a member of our Society. We were then shown skins of the extinct Great Auk. Dr Prys-Jones took us to see the cabinets containing jars in which the internal organs of birds are kept in industrial methylated spirit. This particular section is where birds sent in by aviculturists are used. It is important to know the exact location in the wild where each bird was caught. As this is usually unknown to avicultutists the specimens are used for research purposes such as DNA analysis. We were shown more bookcases full of books from more recent times. It was explained that money spent on new books has to be justified. They must contain new information and books with expensive colour plates are 134 PYPER - NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM rejected sometimes. We were shown the skin collection and chose a drawer containing trogons and a cabinet with about ten Kakapos and also Blue- throated Macaws. In response to a request from Raymond Sawyer, we were shown examples of the Pink-headed Duck, one of which came from Foxwarren Park, where Alfred Ezra, the Avicultural Society President at the time and the father of our current President, Miss Ruth Ezra, had his collection. It was sent to him from India by his brother Sir David Ezra. Behind us on shelves holding numerous publications was what appeared to be a complete set of the Avicultural Magazine from 1 894 to the present time, all of them bound in green cloth. Our tour concluded, we then enjoyed the buffet lunch which had been prepared for us. While we were altogether Ken Lawrence thanked the staff for all their efforts on our behalf and Dr Prys-Jones took the opportunity to say that they are still very keen to receive birds at Tring as they have only single specimens of some species, whereas they have hundreds of specimens of others. Dead birds should be sent by first class post to:- Ornithology Department, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP. After lunch we viewed the exhibits in the Walter Rothschild Museum, which is open to the general public. We saw many birds no longer available which brought back memories for some of the older members present, who had kept and bred them in years past. A glass cabinet displays a large selection of hummingbirds, most of which are staged to show to best advantage their wonderful iridescent plumage. If individual members wish to visit the museum for a particular purpose, such as to examine bird skins, this can be arranged by telephoning 01442 824181. * * * 1999 SOCIAL MEETINGS The spring 1999 Social Meeting will be held on April 17th at Linton Zoo, Cambridgeshire. The President’s Garden Party will take place on July 11th 1999. AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE BACK ISSUES A large stock is available including some early issues. Sales are by post only. Further details are available from:- Hon. Secretary, Avicultural Society, c/o Bristol Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, England. 135 BOOK REVIEWS A GUIDE TO ... PHEASANTS & WATERFOWL I enjoyed reviewing this latest addition to Australian Birdkeeping Publications’ expanding range of avicultural works. It is an eminently practical volume much of the content obviously based on author, Dr Danny Brown’s own experiences with these two groups of birds so that his views and recommendations will be of value and interest to experienced owners and beginners alike. He has also sought information from many other expert sources in Australia and the USA and the outcome is a very comprehensive book of some 250 pages which is well illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings. The text is informative and accurate with practical aspects of the birds’ husbandry well to the fore throughout. The limited availability of non-indigenous species in Australia has inevitably led to the exclusion of many which are widely kept in other parts of the world, but this does not detract from the book’s value.. .instead subjects are dealt with more comprehensively! There are 30 waterfowl and 13 gallinaceous species, the latter -including Red Junglefowl, Blue and Green Peafowl, guineafowl and Chukar Partridge. Among the first group are Magpie and Cape Barren Geese, various shelduck. Grey and Chestnut Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Freckled Duck, Green and Cotton Pygmy Geese. Pheasants are mainly those well known in aviculture such as Golden, Silver, Lady Amherst, Swinhoe, Nepal Kalij and Siamese Fireback. Information about individual species is generally detailed and informative. Starting with common and scientific names, synonyms and descriptions (including size and weight), the rest is marshalled under separate sub-headings and covers distribution and habitat, descriptions of hatchlings, races, sexing, housing, feeding, breeding,, mutations, hybrids, longevity and status. The book is divided into four main chapters under the headings General Management, Common Diseases and Disorders, Waterfowl, and Pheasants with up to five pages of text and photographs devoted to each species. I particularly like the first two chapters where much sound advice and quite a few innovative ideas are on offer - and although presumably written mainly for enthusiasts down under, many are worthy of consideration and adaptation by people who keep these birds in many other parts of the world. The chapter dealing with diseases, injuries and associated problems reflects the author’s ability to combine knowledge of the subject with the skill of a good communicator. Thus a variety of health problems ranging from parasitic and viral diseases, bacterial and fungal infections to egg-eating and cannibalism are discussed, and treatments or preventative measures recommended. A useful feature is 136 BOOK REVIEWS the identification and recommended dosages of various treatments (mainly against proprietary brand names), although the author emphasises many may be available only against veterinary prescription. This is an excellent book which will be of value and interest not only to Australian birdkeepers but to both professionals and hobbyists who live or work many a mile from Queensland where Dr Danny Brown is at present Acting Veterinary Consultant for Australia Zoo (Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park), Beerwah, the Southbank Butterfly House and Wildlife Sanctuary, South Brisbane, and Underwater World, Mooloolaba. A Guide to... Pheasants & Waterfowl is published by Australian Birdkeeping Publications, PO Box 6288 Tweed Heads South, NSW 2486 Australia from whom it is available for A$44.95 (plus postage and packing). In the UK it is stocked by Owl’s Nest Bookshop, Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey GUIO 4LD. Frank Woolham PITTAS OF THE WORLD Pittas of the World, A Monograph of the Pitta Family by Johannes Erritzoe and Helga Boullet Erritzoe is a must for everyone interested in these birds. It is so jam-packed with information about pittas that it is difficult to believe that there are any remaining known facts about these birds which have not been included in this new monograph. Thirty species are recognised. As well as the English and scientific names, the French, German and Italian names of each species are listed, also other English names and synonyms used in recognised papers since 1893-1895, following the publication of the second edition of Elliot’s monograph of this family. The male and female, or simply the adult (many species show marked sexual dimorphism, others show only minor differences between the sexes, while the remaining 14 species are sexually monomorphic), nestling, juvenile and immature of each species are, if known, described in considerable detail (the nestlings, juveniles and immatures of some species remain undescribed/ unknown). There follows, in several instances, a list of publications in which can be found photographs of living examples of the species. Races (sub-species) are dealt with under the heading Museum Diagnosis. Other headings under which each species is dealt with include Distribution, Recent records (from 1975 onwards), Movements (several species undertake local movements or longer migratory flights always, so far as is known, at night), Habitat, Behaviour, Vocalisation, Food and Feeding Behaviour, Breeding Biology, Moulting and Abnormalities, Captivity, General Notes, Parasites and Diseases, Hybridization, Status and Conservation. In the course of their research in the museums holding the largest collections BOOK REVIEWS 137 of pittas, the authors were struck by the fact that the majority of specimens were collected before the Second World War. They do not discuss whether this is because there were more collectors operating then, or whether it is because since then there has been such a catastrophic acceleration in the destruction of lowland rainforest, which is the predominant habitat of these birds. The rarest species are Schneider’s Pitta and Gurney’s Pitta both of which are probably close to extinction. Much is made of the dusky streaking which apparently is often present, particularly on the upperparts of many museum specimens of pittas (out of a total of 2,130, 38.6% of males and 33.2% of females had dusky streaking). There are two photographs clearly showing ‘typical’ examples of heavy dusky streaking on the wing-coverts, mantle and back of specimens of the Indian Pitta. I must say that I cannot recall ever having seen this dusky streaking on captive specimens of any pittas, which may perhaps lend support to the suggestion that this could be a feature of these species’ nuptial plumage. Aviculturists are likely to be especially interested in the references to the keeping of pittas in captivity. Here, however, the authors had difficulty finding published information about the keeping of many of the species and, therefore, the coverage is fairly patchy. As the Avicultural Magazine was among their main reference sources and in view of their obvious thoroughness it is surprising that there is no mention of the breeding of the Indian (Bengal) Pitta in 1961 in Edward Marshall Boehm’s aviaries in the USA, or of the Blue-winged Pitta in 1972 at the Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, here in the UK, both of which were reported in this magazine. One suspects that some at least of their comments on the subject of keeping pittas are coloured by their observation in the introduction that: ‘Many papers indicate that pittas are difficult birds to keep alive in captivity...’ ! Each of the 30 species is illustrated by a full-page (297mm x 210mm) colour plate painted by Helga Boullet Erritzoe, which in many instances show the male and female and juvenile or immature. There are two other colour plates by Helga Boullet Erritzoe, one of which shows the eggs of various pittas. I would particularly like to have seen the photo of the Sula Pitta (a race of the Red-bellied species) and of the Superb Pitta in colour, but disappointingly, none of the photos are reproduced in colour. There are also numerous maps, tables and a few line drawings. Pittas of the World ISBN 07188 296 1 1 , 240 pages, price £30, is sponsored by the Carlsberg Foundation, Copenhagen and published by The Lutterworth Press, PO. Box 60, Cambridge CB1 2NT, England. Tel: +44 (0)1223 350865/ Fax:+44 (0)1223 368822/E-mail: lutterworth.pr@ dial.pipex.com/ Website:http://dialspace. dial.pipex.com/lutterworth.pr/ Malcolm Ellis 138 NEWS & VIEWS BIRDLAND APPOINTMENT One of Britain’s best known bird gardens, Birdland Park at Bourton-on- the- Water, Gloucestershire, has a new man in charge. He is Simon Blackwell who has been appointed Park Director. Prior to this he was on the staff of the Cotswold Wildlife Park for 20 years, latterly as Assistant Curator. Simon told Frank Woolham that he regards his appointment as ‘...a great challenge’ and is looking forward to helping restore Birdland to its former position as one of Britain’s premier bird collections. Seven acres (almost three hectares) of woodland, gardens, rivers and ponds already provide a delightful, tranquil setting, and with a further 40 acres (just over 16 hectares) of land available there is obvious scope for further development. One of his first priorities will be to address the presentation of both gardens and exhibits. He plans to review existing stock at the end of 1998 with a view to widening representative presentation, and intends to work closely with appropriate TAGs and EEPs on breeding programmes. Initial plans for 1999 include a new graphic label system, educational programmes, an adoption scheme and a guide book. 'Reactions from visitors to Birdland are generally very good - and the overall view is that people enjoy the experience’, said Simon. ‘Now we need to increase the length of time people spend here and we anticipate achieving this by means of some of the foregoing ideas as well as new interactive projects’. He also intends to bring Birdland back into the active zoo community and sees the park’s large, but at present unused, quarantine centre as perhaps having a cooperative role to play in this direction. * * * ROBINS AND HORNBILLS In Cage & Aviary Birds (October 10th issue), UK softbill enthusiast Bob Beeson described breeding the Orange-flanked Bush Robin Erithacus cyanurus , Japanese Robin E. akahige and Rufous-tailed Robin E. sibilans. The first species reared three young, the second four young and the third three young. The author thinks one of the secrets of his success is that he removed the males on the day the chicks hatched, leaving the females to rear the young on their own without any interference from their partners. The same issue included an item about the pair of Tarictic Hornbills Penelopides panini at Linton Zoo, Cambridgeshire, which since 1 993, have reared over 16 young. * * * NEWS & VIEWS 139 PARROTS AND PENGUINS By mid-June chicks from 120 species had been reared to independence or to the fledging stage at Loro Parque, Tenerife. Three pairs of Hoffmann’s Conures Pyrrhura hoffmanni had chicks and the Rose-crowned Conures P. rhodocephala had laid for the first time. The eggs were transferred to a pair of Green-cheeked Conures P. molinae, which are reliable parents, and which duly hatched all three eggs. Blue-headed Macaws Ara couloni had laid for the first time, but the incubation of the eggs was still at the early stage. Pesquet’s Parrots Psittrichas fulgidus had produced two successful clutches, and other species which had been successful included Gang-gang Cockatoos Callocephalon fimbriatum , Horned Parrakeets Eunymphicus cornutus , Green-winged King Parrots Alisterus chloropterus moszkowskii , three races of Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus polychloros, E. r. vosmaeri and E. r. solomonensis , Philippine Hanging Parrots Loriculus galgulus. Blue- throated Macaws A. glaucogularis, Red-fronted Macaws A. rubrogenys. Red- spectacled Amazons Amazona pretrei , Bodin’s Amazons A. festiva bodini and Purple-bellied Parrots Triclaria malachitacea. At the end of March, 1 17 King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus eggs and a chick hatched on the journey from South Georgia arrived at Loro Parque. The eggs had been collected from colonies at Royal Bay and St. Andrew’s Bay and had been laid too late in the season for the chicks to survive the rapidly approaching southern winter. On arrival at Loro Parque, the eggs were immediately transferred from the travelling incubator to two specially modified incubators. The average measurement of the eggs was 1 10mm x 74mm and the average weight was 328g. Seventy of them hatched and the 71 chicks (including the chick hatched during the journey) were being fed on squid, herring, krill and a specially formulated supplement which included multi-vitamins and calcium. Nine died from various causes during the initial rearing period. A house is currently being built for them, which should be open to visitors by next spring. * * * WHITE ROBIN Robert Callaghan has sent a newspaper cutting about a white Robin Erithacus rubecula which was first seen by Dolbadarn Castle near the village of Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon, and is now living in the undergrowth around the car park at the Lake Padarn Country Park, North Wales. The Robin has all-white plumage and a light coloured bill, legs and feet, but judging from the colour photograph, appears to have dark eyes. 140 NEWS & VIEWS RETURNING TO KOREA In 1981, Vogelpark Walsrode in Germany received 1 1 young Oriental White Storks Ciconia boyciana as part of a cooperative breeding programme. The first breeding in captivity occurred in 1987, since when more than 30 have been bred there. Others have been bred in zoos in China and Japan. Recently seven young storks hatched and reared at Walsrode were sent to the captive breeding centre at the National University of Education in South Korea. Their offspring will be released in suitable habitat in South Korea, where this species last bred in 197 1 . It is thought a few pairs may continue to breed in North Korea. The biologist from Korea, who will be responsible for the captive management programme, will be trained at Walsrode. He will be trained not just in keeping and breeding storks, but also herons, egrets and spoonbills; for the rare Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor and Chinese or Swinhoe’s Egret Egretta eulophotes are also part of this conservation project in South Korea, supported by the Brehm Fund in Germany. This and the projects which are the subjects of the following two items are described in Flying Free , Newsletter of the Brehm Fund for International Bird Conservation, Vol. 16, No. 1/2, Summer/ Autumn 1998. * * * COOPERATION AGREEMENT A cooperation agreement has been reached between the Brehm Fund and the National Parks Authority on the island of New Caledonia, giving the go-ahead for studies of the Kagu Rhyhochetos jubatus and other rare and threatened birds of this French overseas territory. A captive breeding programme for the Kagu started in 1 977 at the Parc Zoologique et Forestier in Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, had up until 1994, reared 61 Kagus. Now, a new reserve is going to be established, into which captive reared Kagus will be released and where the number of dogs, the Kagu’s main predator, and cats will be kept as low as possible. The Horned Parrakeet Eunymphicus cornutus cornutus and New Caledonian Red-fronted Parrakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae saisseti , along with the Crow or Red-faced Honeyeater Gymnomyza aubryana, will also be the subjects of detailed field studies intended to form the basis for conservation programmes. Field workers will also keep a sharp look-out for the New Caledonian Forikeet Charmosyna diadema , known only from two female specimens (one since lost) collected before 1860. Ouvea, one of the Royalty group of islands east of New Caledonia, is the home of the endangered Ouvea Horned Parrakeet E. c. uvaeensis. A three- year study by Olivier Robinet estimated a maximum population of 350 NEWS & VIEWS 141 parrakeets. At an international workshop held there in 1996, plans were made to protect its habitat, control the number of goats and prevent the accidental introduction of rats on to the island and, through a public awareness campaign, reduce the number of young parrakeets taken from nests or stop this entirely. It was also planned to survey several islands off the coast of New Caledonia to assess their suitability for the introduction of a back-up population. Unfortunately, these measures have not been fully implemented due to the lack of personnel and funds, and a further decline seems inevitable. h« * * DOUBLING-UP Shoebills Balaeniceps rex rarely succeed in rearing both their chicks. Therefore, the Brehm Fund is supporting a programme aimed at increasing their numbers in Uganda by collecting and artificially rearing the second chicks. This will be done at the Wildlife Education Centre, which has been established in the grounds of the former Entebbe Zoological Gardens. The most difficult and costly part of the programme will be tracking down the birds’ widely scattered nest sites in large tracts of papyrus and miscanthidium swamp. This will be done using micro-light aircraft to locate and monitor the nests, so that the chicks can be collected from the nests three to ten days after they have hatched. To guard against the birds becoming imprinted, they will be fed using Shoebil 1-head puppets and will be walked by keepers dressed to look like Shoebills. They will be trained to catch lungfish, the Shoebil ks favourite food. Prior to being released in suitable habitat, the young Shoebills will be fitted with radio transmitters so that their progress can be monitored. If the programme is a success in Uganda, the same techniques may be used in other African countries such as Sudan and Zambia. * * * SECOND CHANCE FOR HAWK EAGLES An innovative joint project between Pretoria Zoo and the Transvaal Museum is now underway in South Africa, with the object of giving a new lease of life to young African Hawk Eagles Hieraaetus spilogaster which would almost certainly die before fledging in the wild. As is the case with other raptor species, there is usually a difference of several days in the ages of the chicks and this invariably results in the death of the younger bird which is unable to compete for food with its stronger sibling. In the case of the African Hawk Eagle the older chick kills the younger one. Project head, Dr Alan Kemp said that after the first chick hatches, the remaining egg is removed from nests in the Kruger National Park and brought 142 NEWS & VIEWS to Pretoria Zoo where incubation is completed. Three chicks are at present being hand-reared at the zoo and when they are old enough they will be released into suitable wild locations in the Northern Province. Dr Kemp explained that in addition to supplementing the species’ population, the project, which is funded by the Foundation for Research Development, also results in other benefits including generation of much-needed funds in the local community whose members assist in monitoring nests and retrieving eggs. Students from historically disadvantaged universities are being trained in hand-rearing techniques for the birds, while two students from the University of Venda are receiving training from one of the zoo’s conservationists. * * * CLOSED AFTER TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS Penscynor Wildlife Park at Neath, West Glamorgan, South Wales has closed after 27 years, reportedly because of falling visitor numbers. Houses are to be built on the site. * * * LATEST BOOKS A Guide to. ..Pheasants & Waterfowl by Dr Danny Brown (reviewed on p. 135) and A Guide to. ..Pet & Companion Birds by Ray Dorge and Gail Sibley are the latest titles to be published by Australian Birdkeeper Publications, P.O.Box 6288, Tweed Heads South, NSW. 2486, Australia. Tel:07 5590 7777/Fax:07 5590 7 1 30/E-mail :bh'dkeeper@ birdkeeper.com.au/ Web page://www.birdkeeper.com.au. Other books published recently likely to be of interest to members include The Birds of the Thai-Malayan Peninsula , Volume 1 : The Non-Passerine Birds of Southern Thailand, Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore by David R. Wells, details of which are available from Wheldon & Wesley Ltd., Lytton Lodge, Codicote, Hitchin, Herts. SG4 8TE. Tel: 01438 820370/Lax:01438 821478/E-mail: wheldwes@ dircon. co. uk/Internet:http://www.users. dircon.co.uk/-wheldwes, and The Birds of Paradise by Clifford B. Frith and Bruce M. Beehler, illustrated by William T. Cooper, published by Oxford University Press. Tel:+44 (0) 1 865 5 5 6767/Fax: +44 (0) 1865 267782/Website:www.oup. co.uk. * * * GREY PARROT NEWSLETTER The Grey Play Round Table is a newsletter for African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus enthusiasts, edited by Margaret T. Wright. The contact address is:- GPR Newsletter, FDR Station, PO Box 1744, New York, New York 10150-1744, USA. Tel: (212) 888-1784. 143 DULCIE COOKE I was shocked and saddened at the recent meeting of the Society at Leeds Castle, to learn of the death of Dulcie Cooke only a few weeks previously. I first met her more than twenty years ago when she invited me to see her birds and aviaries. She and her husband, Freddie, lived in a small suburban house close to the Epsom Downs. Their garden was a delight with attractive aviaries surrounding a perfect lawn with beautiful flower beds. At that time the aviaries housed Cockatiels only. It was obvious that Dulcie’s life was devoted to her birds. She was inclined to anthropomorphise about them frequently which I found slightly irritating until I began to realise that it was just a reflection of how much she loved them. Her husband, Freddie, was wonderfully co-operative devoting most of his time in retirement to constructing and maintaining appropriately designed aviaries and keeping the garden in perfect order while she gave almost her entire attention to the birds. She and Freddie developed an authoritative knowledge which they were always prepared to share with other aviculturists and which was evident in their first book Keeping Cockatiels. Dulcie had lived for a while in Australia where, not surprisingly, she was fascinated by the wonderful birds particularly the Eastern and Crimson Rosellas and Red-rumped Parrakeets which visited her garden. Perhaps it was these memories which stimulated her to give up Cockatiels of which she had developed a strain of magnificent specimens, for other more colourful Australian Parrakeets. She was very successful with Splendid and Turquoisine Parrakeets when the grass parrakeets (. Neophema ) were rare and expensive but she was one of the few parrakeet breeders at that time whose interest appeared not to be in making money. King Parrakeets also bred well in her aviaries but to her immense disappointment, the closely related Moskowski’s Green-winged Kings, about which she wrote in the Avicultural Magazine, subsequently fared disastrously. Eclectus Parrots, on the other hand, did quite well but were inclined to desert their eggs or abandon their chicks. This stimulated interest in artificial incubation and hand-rearing into which Dulcie and Freddie threw themselves with reckless abandon! I used to visit Dulcie two or three times a year and never ceased to be amazed by the amount of time, care and effort she gave to maintaining what had grown into a fairly large parrakeet collection. The aviaries were spotlessly clean and tidy and the birds always appeared to be in perfect condition. I have no idea how she and her husband found time to write another book entitled Popular Parrakeets based on their considerable practical experience. A big change in Dulcie’s avicultural activities occurred about ten years ago when she acquired a pair of Green-naped Lorikeets. She was so enamoured with them that, for reasons incomprehensible to me, 144 OBITUARY - DULCIE COOKE she sold all her Australian parrakeets to concentrate on lories and lorikeets. This involved some modifications to the outdoor aviaries and the adaptation of a spare bedroom to include small aviaries for delicate species. She was remarkably successful with the Obi Lory, a rare race of Eos squamata, which has now become quite common in aviculture probably as a result of her initial efforts. However, she appeared to derive most pleasure from species of the genus Charmosyna of which she bred many Pleasing and Red-spotted Lorikeets in her heated indoor enclosures. There were also several pairs of the magnificent Stella’s Lorikeet in the outdoor aviaries. Lories and lorikeets are notoriously difficult to keep clean and maintaining a big collection is very time consuming because of the gummy nature of their copious droppings. However Dulcie’s devotion to her birds, which had become almost an obsession, continued to give her enough energy to maintain the collection meticulously. A few years ago Freddie died. Dulcie carried on alone but inevitably missed his stalwart support and had to part with all of her birds except her aged Shama which, with its song and beauty, had given her years of pleasure and enchantment. For a while she found a new, active and happy life in a marriage to another husband who died only a few weeks before she did. I remember well and with great gratitude how helpful and co-operative she was when I was Editor of the Avicultural Magazine. I used to spend much of my time on the telephone or writing letters in attempts to persuade members to write for the magazine. My efforts were usually accompanied by a conspicuous lack of success. But Dulcie Cooke always considered my requests carefully and, if she agreed, promised to deliver copy by a specific date, which she did. Members of the Society will remember other ways in which she was helpful and co-operative with a charming and gracious manner. She was a sweet and kindly lady who will be sadly missed. J. R. Hodges HANCOCK HOUSE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE LORIES Signed copies available from Rosemary Low:- £46.50 post free in the UK £51.00 post-paid (airmail) Europe P.O. Box 100, Mansfield, Notts. NG20 9NZ Tel/Fax 01623 846430 WPA PUBLICATIONS THE NEW mctmpm-im BOOK m* » • • ■ Introduction to Ornamental Pheasants £1 4.95 □ Quail - their breeding and management £ 1 4 . 95 □ The New Incubation Book £1 4.95 □ Peafowl - their conservation, breeding and management £29.95 □ Pheasants of the world - their breeding and management £45.00 □ Partridges and Franco! ins - their conservation, £24.95 □ breeding and management Postage and packing 10% of total order. WORLD PHEASANT ASSOCIATION, PO Box 5, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berkshire RG8 9PF, UK Please quote ref: wpa/am ORDER LINE 0118 984 5140 CONTENTS An Unusual Nest Site of an African Sunbird by Neville Brickell . 97 Flamingos at Whipsnade by Nick Lindsay . 100 First Steps Forward in the Breeding of the Plum-crowned Pionus Pionus tumultuosus at Loro Parque by Roger G. Sweeney . 102 The Royal Parrot Finch Erythrura cyaneovirens regia by Walter Goodfellow . 106 Breeding of the Royal Parrot Finch by C. H. Macklin . 113 A Feral Alexandrine and other Escapees by Philip Schofield . 116 Another Bird Keeping Cleric by Frank Woolham . 118 Some Birds Seen in the Dominican Republic by Mike Curzon . 124 Egg-eating by Rothschild’s Mynahs by Maarten de Ruiter . . . 129 The Year at Birdworld by Kerry Banks . 131 The Society’s Visit to The Natural History Museum by Stewart Pyper . 133 Book Reviews A Guide to ... Pheasants & Waterfowl . 135 Pittas of the World . 136 News & Views . 138 Obituary - Dulcie Cooke . 143 Published by the Avicultural Society, England. Produced by Data Publishing Service, Cheddar. AVICULTURAL 1998 THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY The Avicultural Society was founded in 1894 for the study of British and foreign birds in freedom and captivity. The Society is international in character, having members throughout the world. Membership subscription rates per annum for 1998 as for 1997: British Isles £18.00: Overseas £21.00 (plus £6.00 for airmail). (U.K. funds please). The subscription is due on 1st January of each year and those joining the Society later in the year will receive back numbers of the current volume of the AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE. Subscription, changes of address, orders for back numbers etc. should be sent to: THE HON. SECRETARY AND TREASURER, THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY, c/o BRISTOL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 3 HA, ENGLAND. Enquiries regarding membership should be sent to: THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, Stewart Pyper, 21, Primrose Hill, Nunney, Frome, Somerset BA11 4NP. THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE welcomes original articles that have not been published elsewhere and that essentially concern the aviculture of a particular bird or group of birds, or that describe their natural history. Articles should be preferably typewritten, with double spacing, and the scientific names as well as the vernacular names of birds should be given. References cited in the text should be listed at the end of the article. Line drawings, black and white or colour photographs which illustrate a particular point in the article will be used where possible and should be clearly captioned. If authors wish their eventual return, they must say so when submitting the article and write their name on the back of each photograph. Tables and graphs will also be used wherever possible but authors should be aware of the constraints of reproduction, particularly regarding the width of the page which is 105mm. ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR Malcolm Ellis, Hon. Editor, The Avicultural Magazine, The Chalet, Hay Farm, St. Breock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7LH, England. Avicultural Magazine THE JOURNAL OF THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY Vol. 104 - No. 4 All rights reserved ISSN 0005 2256 1 998 CAPTIVE BREEDING TO SAVE AN ENDANGERED SNIPE by Glen Holland One of the most significant ornithological discoveries in New Zealand this century occurred on November 9th 1997, when a team searching for Campbell Island Teal Anas acklandica nesiotis on Jacquermart Island, caught a snipe and saw seven others. Jacquemart Island is a 19 hectare (approx. 49 acre) island off Campbell Island, a subantarctic island south of New Zealand. Up until this time, there was no evidence that snipe occurred in the Campbell Island group. By 1840, rats on Campbell Island had eliminated the now Snares Island Snipe 146 HOLLAND - AN ENDANGERED SNIPE endangered teal, snipe and the more common pipit, all of which are now confined to rat-free islets scattered around the main island. It is likely that the Campbell Island Snipe will prove to be an endemic race of the New Zealand Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica, which has surviving populations on the Snares, Auckland and Antipodes Islands. During the search the dogs’ behaviour indicated the presence of at least ten snipe on the island. Given the amount of suitable habitat, there could be up to 60 individuals living on the island but the total population is likely to be far fewer than this. Captive breeding at the New Zealand Department of Conservation’s Mt. Bruce National Wildlife Centre has played an important role in saving a number of endangered New Zealand bird species. Therefore, one of the options being considered to assist in the future recovery of the newly discovered Campbell Island Snipe is captive breeding, with the aim of providing sufficient birds for reintroduction to Campbell Island following the proposed eradication of the island’s rats. The plan would be to run surrogate breeding programmes using more numerous snipe species in order to gain expertise in the husbandry of Coenocorypha snipe. These would be the Chatham Island Snipe Coenocorypha pusilla, followed by the Auckland Island Snipe. The proven avicultural techniques would then be applied to the Campbell Island Snipe. The initial plan is to bring into captivity three known pairs and 12 wild-laid eggs of the Chatham Island Snipe. The eggs will allow us to gain experience of artificial incubation of snipe eggs and hand-rearing snipe chicks to independence. Once adult birds begin to lay, the first clutches will be lifted for artificial incubation and the second clutch left with the adults. One previous attempt was made to hold Chatham Island Snipe in captivity, this was in 1988, but all eight adult birds were lost due to stress and aspergillosus. However, a number of factors have changed in the last ten years that should increase the likelihood of successfully maintaining and breeding snipe in captivity :- improved methods of transport for birds and eggs Better disease management Commercial supplies of insects now available Detailed research reports on snipe feeding and breeding ecology Experienced avicultural staff at Mt. Bruce Some of the avicultural questions which need to be answered are: - Methods of settling the birds into captivity and on to captive diets Captive diets and methods of presentation Aviary size and landscape Breeding, behaviour nutritional requirements etc. HOLLAND - AN ENDANGERED SNIPE 147 Artificial incubation and hand-rearing Disease management I would like to request international assistance from anybody with experience of the captive husbandry of snipe (i.e. Gallinago species) or even species such as godwits and whimbrel, as they could also provide avicultural information applicable to snipe. Alternatively, should anybody have knowledge of an aviculturist or institution with such knowledge, or of any possible reference material on the subject, their contact details would be invaluable. Any information, advice or contact details would be greatly appreciated and should be sent me at the address given below. I will undertake to keep aviculturists informed of the progress of this project. Glen Holland, Species Manager, Mt. Bruce National Wildlife Centre, RD 1, Masterton, New Zealand. Tel:06-37 58004/Fax: 06-3758003/E- mail:wildlife @ winz . co. nz . 148 BREEDING RECORDS OF PICXFORMES (BARBETS AND TOUCANS) IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA by Dr Herbert Schifter The first breeding records for Coraciiformes and Piciformes bred in the UK were listed recently by Coles (1996). Some of these species had previously been bred in Germany and additional species of barbets (Capitonidae) and toucans (Ramphastidae) have also been bred successfully in Germany and Austria. As these records are not generally known I have compiled the following account. Barbets Black-spotted Barbets Capito niger kept at Frankfurt Zoo bred there first in 1965. A youngster hatched June 23rd and* fledged July 28th 1965 (Faust, 1969). Orange-fronted Barbets C. squamatus bred there for the first time in 1987, when four young left the nesting hole; in 1987 and 1988 altogether nine young were reared (Stadler, 1992). Red-headed Barbets Eubucco bourcierii nested at Frankfurt for the first time in February 1967, but it was not until later the same year that they were successful, when two young were hatched, one of which was reared successfully and left the nest after 31 days (Faust, 1969). Three more Red¬ headed Barbets were reared there in 1973. Toucan Barbets Semnornis ramphastinus bred at Frankfurt Zoo for the first time in 1972. The same year that this species bred successfully at Winged World in England (Coles, 1996). Pied Barbets Tricholaema leucomelan were bred at Heidelberg Zoo, Germany as early as January 1973, when two young hatched and were reared successfully. They left the nest when they were 32 days old (Poley, 1973). The Pied Barbet was bred in the UK for the first time in 1983 by B. Peck. The Double-toothed Barbets Lybius bidentatus received by Frankfurt Zoo in March 1 966 bred there for the first time during May 1966. Between then and 1969 these barbets bred there nine times and hatched 18 young, 15 of which were reared successfully (Faust, 1969). During their fifth nesting, in April 1967, the pair were closely observed and it was noted that the male stayed in the nest for periods of only five to ten minutes, whereas the female remained inside for periods of an hour or so. On the 14th day both adults were seen to take food to the nest. Two or three days later young ones from the previous brood were also observed taking food to the nestlings. The latter were seen at the nest hole for the first time on the 29th day. The older one left the nest on the 37th day, and the second on the following day. The young barbets were fed mostly with insects but also with fruit and green SCHIFTER - BREEDING RECORDS OF PICIFORMES 149 salad. In seven of the nests two young were reared each time and once three young left the nest (in October 1968). The Bearded Barbet L. dubius was bred at Heidelberg Zoo in Germany for the first time in 1988 and was bred there again in 1989; one youngster was reared successfully on both occasions. No further details are available on the breeding of this species at Heidelberg. Also in 1989, a male and three females were bred at San Diego Wild Animal Park (. International Zoo Yearbook , 30,1991:407). Bearded Barbets have been kept only irregularly here in Austria. A pair that had been living in the aviaries of an avicultutist for about three years was later acquired by Karl Lindmayer of Vocklabruck (Upper Austria) in 1996, who bred them successfully. Two white eggs were laid late in April 1997; on May 14th one chick was noted for the first time and the next day another one had hatched. Both left the nest on July 25th 1997 by which time they already looked similar to the adults (Fuchs, 1 998). Unfortunately the breeding pair and the young died recently (Fuchs per. comm.). A pair of Brown-breasted Barbets L. melanoptems acquired by Berlin Zoo in 1992, bred there late in December of the same year; three young hatched and were reared successfully. The pair bred again in 1994, nesting three times; and of the eight young only one failed to survive (Reinhardt, 1994; see also Annual Report of the Berlin Zoo, Bongo 25, 1995: 78). The barbets bred in 1992 were sent to Schonbmnn Zoo, Vienna on September 20th 1993 where they have been housed in a smaller aviary in the Bird House. Here the birds bred in December 1993, when two young hatched and were reared successfully. In 1994 the pair bred again in March, June and August, and four young were reared. Early in 1995 the birds bred again and reared two more young. It was noted that the two barbets bred in 1993 (together with their parents) took turns feeding the young of the next brood (Dr Dagmar Schratter, Curator of Birds, Schonbmnn Zoo per. comm.). The Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus was bred in 1996 at Vogelpark Metelen, Germany. A pair received by this well-known bird park In January 1995 bred there successfully in the early summer of 1996. On this occasion three young were reared which left the nest August 18th 1996. Only three days later they were observed taking food by themselves but were also continuing to be fed by their parents. At the beginning of September the young birds had to be removed from the aviary when the pair bred again. On this occasion only one youngster was reared which was seen outside the nesting hole for the first time on November 25th 1996. Early in 1997 the Naked-faced Barbets started to breed again (Stahl, 1998). Tinkerbirds are bred in captivity only rarely. The Speckled TInkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus was bred at Frankfurt Zoo for the first time in 1985. In the following years, 23 young were reared there (Stadler, 1992). In the 150 SCHIFTER - BREEDING RECORDS OF PICIFORMES UK Yellow-fronted Tinkerbirds P. chrysoconus were bred for the first time in 1995. The Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica was bred for the first time in 1979, at the Max-Planck-Institut fur Verhaltensphysiologie in Seewiesen, Germany (Sonnenschein, 1980). Only one young hatched, this was on or about August 2nd 1979 and it was reared by the male after the female died suddenly during the third week after it hatched. It was seen outside the nest hole for the first time on September 3rd 1979 and looked like the adult, only slightly paler. Only 1 1 days later it was seen feeding itself. Unfortunately, it died three weeks after leaving the nest and was probably killed by the adult. No UK breeding records for species of the Asian genus Megalaima are listed by Coles (1996). In the USA the Gaudy Barbet M. mystacophanos was bred in 1994 at Fort Worth and Toledo (International Zoo Yearbook , 35:410). Toucans The first breeding of toucans occurred at the famous bird park at Walsrode, Germany, where the Red-breasted Toucan Ramphastos dicolorus was bred in 1 967, when four young were hatched and reared (Brehm, 1 968). In 1 983 Sulphur-breasted Toucans R. sulfuratus of the nominate race were bred at Wuppertal Zoo, Germany. Two young left the nesting hole on the 42nd day after hatching and the 45th day respectively (Schtirer, 1985). The Sulphur¬ breasted Toucan had been bred before only at Houston Zoo, USA. In 1 986 the Toco Toucan R. toco was bred at Wuppertal Zoo. Only one youngster hatched, on June 17th, which left the nest 44 days afterwards (Schtirer, 1 987). In Great Britain the Toco Toucan was bred for the first time in 1987 at Ocean World/Linton Zoo (Coles, 1996). Generally toucans are bred more regularly in zoos in the USA, than they are in Europe. The International Zoo Yearbook , Volume 34, listed eight species which were bred there successfully in 1993, whereas only two species were bred in Europe. References Brehm, W. W. (1968). Welt-Erstzucht des Bunttukans im Vogelpark Walsrode. Gefiederte Welt, 92: 41-42, Coles, D. (1996). First breeding records for Coraciiformes and Piciformes reared in the UK. Avicultural Magazine, 102, (2): 82-84. Faust, I. (1969). Brut von Rotbrust-Bartvogeln im Zoologischen Garten Frankfurt/M. Gefiederte Welt, 93 (1969): 203-204. Fuchs, W. ( 1 998). Osterreichische Erstzucht des Senegal-Furchenschnabel-Baitvogels. Aktuelles aus der Vogelwelt, 12 (2)- 57-59. Poley, D. (1973). Welterstzucht von Rotstirnbartvogeln Tricholaema leucomelan (Bodd.). Gefiederte Welt, 97 (5): 121-122. Reinhardt, R. (1994). Zwei Braunbrust-Bartvogel im Zoo Berlin geschliipft. Gefiederte Welt, 118: 177. Schtirer, U. ( 1 985). Die Zucht des Fischertukans Ramphastos sulfuratus im Zoologischen Garten SCHIFTER - BREEDING RECORDS OF PICIFORMES 151 Wuppertal. Zeitschrift- des Kolner Zoo, 28 (2) 87-93. Schiirer, U. (1987). Die Zucht des Riesentakans Ramphastos toco im Zoologischen Garten Wuppertal. Zeitschrift des Kolner Zoo , 30(3): 97-99. Sonnenschein, E.(1980).Erste Zucht eines Blauwangenbartvogels. Gefiederte Welt, 104:101- 104. Stadler, S.G. (1992). Vogel. In Jahresbericht des Zoologischen Gartens der Stadt Frankfurt a.M. 1 16-130 fUr 1974 1991: 10-16. Stahl, J. (1998).Glatzenbartvogel-ihre Haltung und Zucht. Gefiederte Welt, 122 (1): 20-22. Until his retirement Dr Schifter was Curator of Birds at the Museum of Natural History, Vienna, Austria. In the 1960s he had articles published in the magazine about the breeding of the Red-faced, Blue-naped and Speckled Mousebirds Colius indicus, Urocolius macrourus and C. striatus, of which he bred more than 100 young. 152 BREEDING THE SOUTHERN HELMETED CURASSOW AT BIRDWORLD by Kerry Banks Here at Birdworld, up until 1 997, we had very little experience of keeping curassows, we had only ever had a pair of Bare-faced Curassows Crax fasciolata and they had never laid. Then in November 1997 we were thrown in at the deep end with the arrival of several pairs of curassows, including a pair of Southern Helmeted Curassows Pauxi unicornis unicornis and a pair of Northern Helmeted Curassows P. pauxi pauxi. Curassows belong to the family Cracidae, one of the more primitive families of the Order Galliformes which includes Megapodes, Turkeys, Grouse, Quail, Pheasants, Partridge and Guineafowl. Within the Order Galliformes, the Cracids are lumped with the Megapodes in the suborder Craci, while all the other families are grouped together in the suborder Phasiani. Both Megapodes and Cracids are highly distinctive and of ancient origin, and have many anatomical similarities. They are quite distant from the Phasiani in that, for example, they do not hybridize with birds of other families, they are largely arboreal and they lay relatively small clutches of usually two, but at most four eggs. The family Cracidae is further split into two subfamilies, Penelopinae (Guans and Chachalacas) and Cracinae (Curassows). All this is fairly complicated, but in the case of the helmeted curassows gets even more so in that their taxonomy is a matter of dispute and they are classified differently by different authorities. Some continue to place them in the genus Crax , though most authorities, including those responsible for the Handbook of the Birds of the World , are of the opinion that they should be in their own genus, Pauxi. On top of which there are those who continue to claim that both helmeted curassows are races of the same species, whereas most believe they should be split into two separate species. When the Southern Helmeted Curassow was first described in the 1 930s, it was classified as a separate species from the Northern Helmeted Curassow. Though they look similar, their casques differ in shape, the latter having a swollen, rounded casque, whereas the Southern has an elongated, cylindrical casque. However, new races of both species described later have different shaped casques to those of their nominate forms. It was thought therefore that the different shaped casques were simply regional differences, and that both curassows should be lumped together as a single species. Since then other morphological differences have come to light and the Southern Helmeted Curassow’s tightly-curled, glossy crest has helped reinforce the idea that they should be treated as two separate species. BANKS - SOUTHERN HELMETED CURASSOW 153 The Southern Helmeted Curassow is split into two races, P. u. unicornis and P. u. koepekeae . They differ from each other in that P u. koepekeae has a shorter helmet or casque which slopes further backwards, and it also has less white on the tip of its tail P u. unicornis , the race we have, inhabits dense lower montane forest on the eastern slopes of the Andes in central and north-eastern Bolivia, It feeds mainly on fallen fruits though apparently the fallen nuts of the almond tree also form a large part of its diet, along with some foliage. It feeds mostly at first and last light, but will also feed during the night when there is light from the moon. Nests are rarely found, but seem to be constructed like those of other curassow species, Le. they consist of substantial structures of sticks placed about 5m (approx. 16ft) up in trees, usually in a fork. Two, or often only one creamy white egg with a slightly chalky texture make up the clutch. The Southern Helmeted Curassow is thought to be vulnerable/rare, though the true situation is probably worse than this as very little is known about Its status in the wild. It is threatened mainly by professional hunters, and is also hunted by local people for its meat and its helmet, which is used to make necklaces for important native dances. Also, and more crucially, illegal timber extraction and burning of its native forest still goes on to a large extent. Our pair of birds are kept in an aviary approx. 12ft square x 10ft high at the front and 8ft at the back (about 3.6m square x 3m high at the front and 2.4m at the back). The birds also have a 4ft (approx, 1.2m) square night shelter, which is 7ft (approx. 2.1m) high at the front and 6ft (approx. 1.8m) high at the back, with a light and a ceramic heat bulb attached to a thermostat set at about 7°C (44 6° F). The roof of the night shelter is covered over, as it was the curassows’ favourite place to perch. Their diet consists of pheasant pellets mixed with wheat, a few mealworms and a large quantity of grapes, apple, pear, banana, tomato, soaked raisins, kiwi fruit, marrowfat peas, unsoaked currants and cooked rice. They do not get any mince or other meat as, like other fragivorous birds such as touracos and toucans, they are prone to getting iron storage disease. They do though get a small amount of Witte Molen Fruit Softbill Food and a special supplement mix intended specificially for fruit-eaters is sprinkled on the fruit. A large, straw-filled rectangular wooden nest-box with deep sides is provided inside the night shelter. This is largely ignored, however; only one pair of our curassows has laid in the nest-box. Most pairs, including the Southern Helmeted Curassows, have chosen to lay their eggs on the roof of the night shelter. Most seem to do so without any attempt to make a nest, but usually lay their egg at the spot where they perch, almost as if the egg has been laid as an afterthought. This created a problem as, because the shelter roofs are sloping, the eggs were generally laid at the high point and rolled down to the bottom where they smashed against the side of the aviary. This was solved by 154 BANKS - SOUTHERN HELMETED CURASSOW putting a thick layer of straw along the edge of the roof. The Southern Helmeted Curassow laid her first egg on June 20th 1998. Like the other curassows she laid it on the roof of the night shelter without any discernible nest having been made in the straw. This egg was removed for artificial incubation. Almost all of the different curassow eggs, because of the dramatic amount of weight they lost, needed the highest humidity achievable in the incubator and most also needed varnishing. All were incubated at 99°F (37.5°C). Having put the Southern Helmeted Curassow egg in the incubator running at its maximum, on the 5th day however, it had to be moved to 80°F (26.7°C) (wet bulb) , as it was not losing enough weight. By the 5th day the egg was seen to be fertile and had achieved vein growth to the end of the egg by the 11th day. Unfortunately, just after this the egg died. The clutch had contained just the single egg. The next egg was laid on July 27th; again, no second egg was laid. In fact, with all four eventual clutches, only one egg was laid each time. This was also found to be true with the Northern Helmeted Curassows, whereas all the other curassow species laid two eggs per clutch. The Southern Helmeted Curassow egg was again removed for incubation, this time at 80°F (26.7°C)(wet bulb). Conversely, this time the egg had to be moved to maximum humidity on the 5th day as it was losing too much weight. When an egg dies at about this time, it can be for one of several reasons, e.g. an infectious disease, incorrect turning, too high or too low a temperature during incubation, or a fault with the parent stock. We ruled out temperature irregularities, as the incubator had run at the correct temperature all through incubation. We also ruled out an infectious disease, as both eggs were incubated with other eggs, with which there had been no problems. So, crossing our fingers and hoping that we did not have a problem with the adult birds, we decided that the turning of the egg could be at fault. Both previous eggs had been on rollers which turned very slowly and constantly at about 24 revolutions per day. They were also turned end to end by hand seven times a day. When the next egg was laid on August 6th, it was originally put on rollers at maximum humidity, but on the 5th day was moved to 80°F (26.7°C), as again it was not losing enough weight. This time it was put in an incubator with tilting trays which turned the egg 45 degrees every hour in one quick movement. It was also turned by hand seven times a day. This time the egg got past the growth to end stage and continued growing healthily, reaching full vein growth on the 16th day. It continued doing well until it reached the stage when it should pip internally, at which point it died. One more egg was laid, this was on August 30th. This egg was put straight onto tilting trays at 80°F (26.7°C)(wet bulb) and grew healthily this time right up to hatching. The egg pipped internally on the 29th day, and hatched on the 32nd day. As is usual with curassow eggs, the chick did not pip BANKS - SOUTHERN HELMETED CURASSOW 155 through the egg shell until quite late, and then smashed its way out very quickly by kicking, instead of pipping all the way round the top of the egg and then pushing out, even though when it hatched it had an egg tooth. The chick was covered in downy fluff with pin feathers on the wings like those of a pheasant chick. It was rufous brown on the back, with darker brown markings, and buff underneath. There was no sign of the helmet and the Kerry Banks Southern Helmeted Curassow chick at one day old beak was shorter and more downward curved compared to that of other curassow chicks we have hatched, and was black and pink in colour. Its wing feathers grew rapidly from this point on and were black like those of the adults, while elsewhere it retained its downy fluff and the same coloration. By the time the chick was one month old, a bluish lump was starting to become discernible on the top of the beak. Curassow chicks are very easy to hand-rear. They are fed on the same diet as the parents except that the fruit is cut-up smaller, the pheasant pellets and wheat are replaced with chick crumbs for the first week, and mealworms are fed in small quantities morning and evening. Mealworms are taken with relish and care has to be taken that they are not fed too many. For the first 156 BANKS - SOUTHERN HELMETED CURASSOW couple of days the chicks are encouraged to take their food from tweezers but after the third day feed themselves. They are provided with heat for only about the first ten days, and then moved to bigger cages with more perching, as right from the start they are very agile. As described by Kerry Banks, the Southern Helmeted Curassow Pauxi unicornis unicornis , has been bred at Birdworld. This is probably the first successful breeding of this species in Great Britain and Ireland. Anyone who knows of a previous breeding is asked to inform the Hon. Secretary. Kerry Banks is Head Keeper at Birdworld, Holt Pound, Farnham, Surrey GU104LD, England. Tel:01420 22 140/Fax: 01 420 23715. In the previous issue she wrote about The Year at Birdworld and some of the other species bred there during 1998. 157 BIRDS ON MAURITIUS by Joan Mon ad and Bernard B avers lock We holidayed on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius in October 1998. A greatly looked forward to holiday, it was the result of much planning and the realisation of a long-term ambition inspired by the reintroduction programmes of three of the world's rarest birds - the Pink Pigeon Nesoenas mayeri , Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus and Echo Parrakeet Psittacula echo. The most advantageous holiday offer was selected and we chose a Mauritian-run small hotel on the north-west coast. It could not have been better, it was quiet, well run, the food was good and outside our apartment was the Indian Ocean, complete with a small coral reef, and we were ideally situated to view a different glorious sunset each evening. We arrived at dusk, just as a 1,000 or so Common Mynahs Acridotheres tristis flew noisily in to roost in the huge tree- by the entrance. It caused me to wonder if sleep might prove elusive; but after about an hour the birds fell silent, not slowly but suddenly as if a switch had been turned, off. In the morning we awoke to find Red-whiskered Bulbuls Pycnonotus jocusus investigating our balcony and starting to build a nest in an adjoining shrub. Apparently all these bulbuls, which are very common on the island, originate from a single pair which escaped from an aviary during the 1 892 cyclone. Next we were visited by a brilliant scarlet male Madagascar Fody Foudia madagascariensis which came and sat In the palm tree outside our apartment. We had breakfast in the open-sided restaurant overlooking the bay and fed scraps of food to the mynahs and sparrows waiting on the beach. Both species cleared the crumbs from the unoccupied tables as soon as the guests departed. The first morning we walked along the edge of the ocean, which is bordered mostly by pine woodland in which Spotted Ground Doves Streptopelia chinensis and Madagascar Turtle Doves S. picturata were pottering among the fallen weavers' nests. Others, also made by Village Weavers Ploceus cucullatus , were strung in great profusion in the trees. Small flocks of Common Waxbllls Estrilda astrild and, occasionally, Spice or Nutmeg Finches Lonchura punctulata were seen feeding on the ground beneath the trees and the bulbuls and fodys provided added interest. We telephoned Carl Jones’ secretary, Chaya, to enquire about the possibility of visiting the aviaries and were invited there the next day. As it was the breeding season, we had been warned that this might not be possible, but fortunately this proved otherwise. We were shown the breeding aviaries housing Pink Pigeons, Mauritius Kestrels and Echo Parrakeets, as well as 158 MORRAD & BAVERSTOCK - BIRDS ON MAURITIUS local fruit bats and the rare Rodriguez Fruit Bat, one of which took a piece of apple when this was offered to it. We went on to Carl Jones’ house and were made most welcome by him, helped perhaps by us telling him of our sighting of a European Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus, a rarely seen species on Mauritius, in the Pamplemousse Botanical Gardens. It was marvellous to learn first-hand about the work of the Wildlife Trust. Afterwards a walk in the Black River Gorge as the early dusk drew in produced the sighting of a Java Deer and huge fruit bats flying buzzard-like above the canopy. The next day we were invited to visit the Isle Aux Aigrettes. Nobody had warned us about the rush hour traffic in Port Louis and the fact that one lane of the motorway is given over to oncoming traffic, with just a few bollards here and there to separate the lanes. It was a hair-raising experience and meant that we were a little late for our appointment. When we eventually arrived the boat took us skimming over the coral reefs to the island where we were welcomed by Colette, the student in charge of the reintroduction programmes on the island. We were shown the work being done to try to stem the spread of non¬ endemic plants and encourage the native flora. We also saw Pink Pigeons on their nests, which are being monitored closely by Colette, who can recognise each individual bird. Mauritius Kestrels have also been released there and one seemed to take great pleasure in every now an again zooming down and scattering the pigeons. A recent addition is a rather good visitor centre. There was originally a kestrel nest-box near the entrance to show visitors how this species constructs its nest, etc. However a pair of the kestrels decided to nest in the box and then began to assault visitors who ventured too close. Because of this the box was removed. From the island, we headed north-west to the top end of the Black River Gorge, where by walking 6.5km (about 4 miles) from the Macchabe Forest Road along the spectacular gorge and through the forest, we eventually came to the Field Station. Access to this area is normally restricted due to the various ongoing research programmes being carried out by the small team of specialists. We were met by our guide David Hall, whose work includes monitoring the Echo Parrakeets and he kindly spared us some time from his busy schedule to explain about their fight against introduced species of plants and animals. Especially the war against the rampaging Guava, the main problem plant of the forest. We were shown fenced areas of woodland where all non-endemic plants have been removed and native trees including Black Ebony and huge tree ferns are now nourishing. Pink Pigeons were calling all around us and in one clearing there were several Echo Parrakeets. David said that one of these responded to being called down to his whistle. He did this for us, and the parrakeet came on to my arm and tried to demolish my watch. By now MORRAD & BAVERSTOCK - BIRDS ON MAURITIUS 159 I (J.M.) was speechless with excitement, but that was not all, for a second parrakeet landed on my outstretched arm and joined the first bird. Although we then had a long walk back through the gorge, it had really been worth it. I still marvel that I had two of the world’s rarest birds perched on my arm! Our picnic back in the car park was shared with 1 2 bulbuls, two fodys and a friendly dog. We managed to see eight of the nine endemic birds species of Mauritius, missing only the Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone bourbonnensis. White-tailed Tropic Birds Phaethon lepturus were quite common and swooped down along the steep sides of many of the gorges. At the mouth of one of the rivers we succeeded in adding half-a-dozen (6) waders to our list of birds. We had heard that the Moorhen Gall inula chloropus has been recorded on Mauritius and, as hard as it may be to believe, we tried to find one to add to our list and finally succeeded in doing so on the edge of a volcanic crater lake in the heart of the mountains. We enjoyed a wonderful holiday on this fascinating island. The birdwatching was superb, even though we did not, for instance, see anything like the number of species we saw when we visited Gambia. List of birds seen:- Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus (e) Pink Pigeon Nesoenas mayeri (e) Echo Parrakeet Psittacula echo (e) Mauritius Bulbul Hypsipetes olivaceus (e) Mauritius Olive White-eye Zosterops chloronothus (e) Mauritius Grey White-eye Zosterops mauritianus (e) Mauritius Cuckoo Shrike Coracina typica (e) Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra (e) Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus Red-tailed Tropic Bird Phaethon rubricauda White-tailed Tropic Bird Phaethon lepturus Striated (Green-backed/Green) Heron Buterides striatus (Ruddy) Turnstone Arenaria interpres Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Greenshank Tringa nebularia Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Mascarene Swiftlet Callocalia francica Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica European Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 160 MORRAD & BAVERSTOCK - BIRDS ON MAURITIUS Two ducks (probably Meller’s Duck Anas melleri (i)) Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (i) Spotted Ground (Necklace) Dove Streptopelia chinensis (i) Madagascar Turtle Dove Streptopelia picturata (i) Feral Pigeon Columba livia (i) Zebra Dove Geopelia stricta (i) Ring-necked Parrakeet Psittacula krameri (i) Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocusus (i) Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis (i) House Crow Corvus splendens (i) Madagascar Fody Foudia madagascariensis (i) House Sparrow Passer domesticus (i) Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus (i) Yellow-fronted Canary (Green Singing Finch) Serinus mozambicus (i) Spice (Nutmeg) Finch Lonchura punctulata (i) Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild (i) (e) endemic (i) introduced Joan Morrad is Hon. Programme Secretary and Bernard Baverstock is Chairman of the Camberley Natural History Society, Camberley, Surrey, England. 161 NEWS FROM VOGELPARK WALSRODE by Dieter Rinke Despite long periods of unfavourable weather durinq 1998, a number of interesting bird species were reared successfully at Vogelpark Walsrode and its breeding centre on Mallorca, where the weather effects the birds far less. This article reports the highlights of the past breeding season as well as notable acquisitions and departures. Blue-crowned Lorikeets Vini australis are inhabitants of small islands in the tropical South Pacific, namely the southern Lau group of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, as well as some remote islands between these archipelagoes. Although this species has disappeared from all islands which have been invaded by Black Rats Rattus rattus, it is still numerous on a few small remote islands (Rinke 1992). In 1998, we reared four chicks, the first ever of this species at Walsrode and two pairs are incubating eggs at the time of writing (17.11 .98), while another two chicks are half-way towards fledging. Blue-crowned Lorikeets at flowers of Parrot Heliconia A few other delicate, small parrots, which are not often bred successfully had an exceptionally good year, in particular the tiny Whiskered Lorikeets Oreopsittacus arfakianus, four young of which fledged after these lorikeets had not reared any chicks since 1994. Again, at the time of writing, three 162 RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE pairs are sitting on eggs. Philippine Loriculus philippensis and Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots L. galgulus produced six and eight young respectively. Timor Red-winged Parrots Aprosmictus jonquillaceus are another rarely kept species of which we succeeded in establishing a pair in 1997. In 1998, this pair reared, at its first attempt, four chicks. The outstanding parrot event at Ornis Mallorca was our first captive breeding of a Pesquet’s Parrot Psitttichcis fulgiclus. The parents looked after the chick well for about four weeks, but then it had to be removed from the nest log. It grew up perfectly under artificial conditions, while the parents produced another clutch, and one more chick hatched, which has yet to fledge. Young Brown Wood Owl RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE 163 Although the number of cranes reared in 1 998 was average for Walsrode, a few of our new and promising pairs produced eggs for the first time which, however, proved to be infertile or died during incubation. Two pairs of Black-necked Cranes Grus nigricollis , one pair of Siberian Cranes G. leucogeranus, a young Brolga G. rubicunda and a pair of Red-crowned Cranes G.japonensis laid eggs for the first time. Three of the Black-necked Cranes were hatched at Vogelpark Walsrode in 1990, 1991 and 1994, while Young Hooded Crane 164 RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE one female came from the International Crane Foundation (ICF), where it was hatched in 1993. Hatched in 1991, both Siberian Cranes are the first offspring of this species bred at Walsrode. We replaced their eggs with a Demoiselle Crane egg and the two inexperienced Siberians proved to be good parents, until the chick died after consuming indigestible materials. The young female Brolga hatched at the ICF in 1993, after its arrival was housed in an enclosure next to an old male. The birds seemed to be well- paired but when their enclosures were joined, they did not get on very well. After the female had laid her first egg, we tried to obtain semen from the male, but the bird was very uncooperative, and we were unable to use artificial insemination. Despite these apparent failures, which actually provide excellent prospects for the forthcoming seasons, we reared among others, three Black-necks, one of these reared by its parents for the first time, four Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus and two young Hooded G. monacha, perhaps the most delicate crane species. At the end of August, our Bateleur Eagles Terathopius ecaudatus laid an egg, which was transferred to an incubator. In the previous two years, we had one chick which died during hatching in an incubator, and an egg which died during incubation by the parents. For the first time, the parents produced another egg, approximately 40 days after their first egg. The chick hatched after 48 to 53 days incubation - the exact laying date could not be determined, because we checked the nest at intervals of five days only in order not to disturb the pair too much. This is the first hatching of a Bateleur Eagle at Vogelpark Walsrode. The Secretary Birds Sagittarius serpentarius had an exceptionally good year in 1998. Earlier problems with leg growth and deformities were overcome by using different food and additives, and three juveniles were reared successfully. Apparently, there are only a few institutions worldwide, which have bred this unusual bird of prey during the 1990s. Our breeding group of Red-crested Touracos Tauraco erythrolophus had another successful year, with five chicks reared by two pairs, one of which was established in spring 1998. Another first for Walsrode was the successful hatching and fledging of two Fischer’s Touracos Tauraco fischeri, after we had exchanged mates several times. Our second pair is still not very compatible, and it will certainly take some more time and patience before we will have a really successful breeding group. Nevertheless, a start has been made with this species, which is threatened by habitat destruction in its tiny East African range. As a consequence, Fischer’s Touraco was selected as a European studbook species during the last EAZA/EEP meeting in Berlin. The Horned Guans Oreophasis derbianus laid a few eggs again, but never in anything close to a nest, and those eggs which were not broken, proved to be infertile. Artificial insemination may be an option as the pair is RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE Horned Guan 166 RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE not as compatible as it should be, but the large cracids’ susceptibility to stress has kept us from using this technique. A pair of Coral-billed Ground Cuckoos Carpococcyx renauldi produced five clutches within only six months, of which three were removed for artificial incubation. We hand-reared a total of five birds, and the pair itself reared one chick which, however, was lost shortly after hatching. This very attractive and increasingly threatened species is present in only a few collections. Approximately ten day old Bateleur Eagle After many attempts over previous years, a pair of Spotted Imperial Pigeons Ducula carola reared a squab. Our birds may be the only representatives of this species (the numbers of which are decreasing in its Philippine Islands home) being kept in Europe. A very unusual fruit pigeon is the Papuan Mountain Pigeon Gymnophaps albertisii , which has been observed crossing glaciers in the high mountains of New Guinea. In 1998, a second pair of the species bred and reared two squabs. Our population has increased to 12 birds, originating from three founders only. In Mallorca, a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbills Buceros rhinoceros bred RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE 167 again, after the successful rearing of one chick in 1997, and this time, two young, left the nest-box. Most important acquisition during 1998 was a pair of Steller’s Sea Eagles Haliaaetus pelagicus the female of which came from Moscow Zoo, and the male from Almaty. Both birds are very young having been hatched in 1996 and 1998 respectively, so it will be a long time until they come into breeding condition. Walsrode Kagu After having received two male Kagu Rhynochetos jubatus in 1997, a female arrived at the end of 1998 from the Parc Zoologique et Forestier (PZF) in Noumea, New Caledonia. The transfer is a result of a cooperation agreement between the PZF, VPW and the Brehm Fund for International Bird Conservation, with the aim of preserving the threatened wildlife of this island, which has been severely depleted of its native animal and plant species since the arrival of humans approximately 3,500 years ago. In November three Brolga Cranes arrived from the ICF, where the male was hatched in 1996 and the two females in 1997. This species has apparently never been bred in Europe. 168 RINKE - VOGELPARK WALSRODE Two pairs of the gaudily feathered Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus joined our flock of northern sea ducks in spring. At that time, the drakes had attained their first breeding plumage, which is still rather dull at about nine months of age. Now they have moulted again, and their brightly patterned plumage stands out among all the eiders and oldsquaws, which share the enclosure with the Harlequins. We exchanged Asian Openbill Storks Anastomus oscitans with San Diego Zoo, so that the sex ratios in both institutions are almost equal now. This species is kept nowhere else outside its natural range in south-east Asia, and it has never reproduced in captivity. With San Diego’s and our experience of breeding the African Openbill A. lamelligerus the reproduction of its Asian cousin should be achieved within the next few years. The most notable arrival on the parrot section was a group of the colourful Orange-breasted Fig Parrot Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii. The other four species of the fig parrot group breed regularly at Walsrode(Miiller & Neumann 1998), and are now established in captivity, a goal which we also hope to achieve with the Orange-breasted species. The notoriously difficult genera of Geoffroyus and Prioniturus are represented at Walsrode by two male Red-cheeked Parrots (7 geoffroyi and a pair of Bum Racquet-tailed R mada . Three of these birds have been held at Walsrode’s Lori Atrium since October 1995, longevity records perhaps for captive birds of both genera. References MULLER, M. and NEUMANN, N. (1998). Keeping and breeding fig parrots of the genus Psittaculirostris at Vogelpark Walsrode. Avicultural Magazine, 103, 55-60. RINKE, D. (1992). Status and conservation of parrots on tropical Pacific Islands. In: Issues in the conservation of parrots in Australasia and Oceania : challenges to conservation biology (ed. L. Joseph), pp. 14 - 18. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, Report No. 83. Dr Dieter Rinke is Curator at Vogelpark Walsrode , Zoologischer Garten, D -29664 Walsrode , Am Rieselbach, Germany. Tel:(0 51 61) 20 15-20 17/ Fax: (051 61)82 1 0/E-mail: ojfice@vogelpark-walsrode.de/Internet:http:// www. vogelpark-walsrode.de. NOTES ON AN EXPEDITION TO COLLECT KING PENGUIN EGGS 169 by Roger G. Sweeney Regional collection planning by European zoos places the emphasis on collections planning for the long-term future of the species they keep by ensuring that the captive populations have the potential to be self-sustaining over several generations. Any species which is considered to be of particular importance, becomes the subject of a management plan which begins with the preparation of a regional studbook to plot the demographic and genetic status of the captive population. Should this be in need of additional stock, zoological collections are encouraged to obtain fresh stock from the wild, rather than from dealers or collections outside the region, that have stock whose history may be unknown. Copyright Roger G. Sweeney King Penguin colony at Royal Bay, with several well developed chicks on the edge of the breeding area Loro Parque is currently constructing a new penguin exhibit which will be the most technically advanced in Europe, and will allow Antarctic species to be maintained at an air temperature below freezing point. The King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus will be the first species to be established in this new facility. The current European population does not produce 170 SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN sufficient offspring to be considered viable and the recuitment of additional founder stock was required to improve the future prospects of the European population. Against this background, plans were made for a joint collecting expedition to bring back a large number of King Penguin eggs for hatching and rearing in captivity. Copyright Roger G. Sweeney Incubating King Penguin at St. Andrew’s Bay Funded jointly by Loro Parque, Tenerife and Moody Gardens, Texas, the expedition planned to collect just over 200 eggs: 1 00 for Moody Gardens and 1 17 for Loro Parque. I represented Loro Parque on the expedition and Moody Gardens was represented by Patrick Sharkey, Curator of the gardens SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN 171 and Douglas Kempler, Director of the new aquarium being built there. The expedition was organised by the North American consultant group, WCI. The team consisted of Scott Drieschmann, Mrs Corey Drieschmann, Frank Todd, Frank Towhey, Ricardo Matus and Mrs Betsey Pincheira Lazo. It met in Ushuaia, the most southerly town in Argentina, from where the team sailed to South Georgia to collect the eggs from two locations. The permit allowing the eggs to be collected was granted on the strict condition that the eggs were to be collected only during the last two weeks of March. The reason being that these eggs would not hatch before the beginning of the winter and the offspring would certainly die, for they would be too young to survive the Antarctic winter. It also clearly states on the permit that the offspring reared from the eggs cannot be sold commercially or transferred South Georgia Teal or Pintail, Prion Island to other collections without the prior agreement of the Falkland Islands Government. We have also undertaken to provide the authorities there with details of our methods, results, and all scientific data resulting from the rearing of the birds and their keeping and breeding thereafter. Early on the afternoon of March 16th, I boarded an internal flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, not only the most southerly town in Argentina, but also the most southerly town in the world. As we descended there were breathtaking views of the Patagonian landscape, with a rolling series of mountain peaks topped with snow and beech forest on the sides of the lower 172 SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN slopes, scenery unlike any I had seen previously. Upon landing the team met up and we took a bus transfer to the hotel where we spent the night before sailing the next day. Ushuaia is a small town (population 40,000) situated on the edge of the Beagle Channel. The short drive from the airport to the hotel passes along the coast and there we saw Magellanic Flightless Steamer Ducks Tachyeres pteneres and Kelp Geese Chloephaga hybrida. On the morning of March 1 7th, we had some spare time before we sailed, and used it to do some last minute shopping and see some of the local scenery. The highlight for me was a trip inlapd to the foot of the nearest mountains to see where the glaciers reach down to the beech forest. When we were half¬ way up the mountainside in a cable car, we were surprised and delighted by the sight of an Andean Condor Vultur gryphus soaring high above us, which was almost certainly the most unexpected bird sighted on the trip. Later we gathered on board our ship, a former Russian research vessel used nowadays for ecotourism trips to the Antarctic region. The ship; the Professor Multcinovskiy , had finished its tour commitments for the season and we were able to negotiate the extra journey before it returned to its home port of St Petersburg for the duration of the Antarctic winter. The late afternoon journey through the Beagle Channel out onto the open sea provided some interesting birds, including Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus, the first of Copyright Roger G. Sweeney Nesting Wandering Albatross, Prion Island SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN 173 many penguins we saw on the trip. Other species seen were the Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus, Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus , King Cormorant Phalacrocorax albiventer. Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus and South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea. The only marine mammal sighted during the day was a Southern Sea Lion Otariaflavescens. The next morning we were out on the open sea. Black-browed Albatross, Giant Petrel, Sooty Shearwater and King Cormorant, species we had seen the day before, were still visible. New species were Wandering Albatross D. exulans, White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis , Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanics. Common Diving Petrel Pelcanoides urinatrix berard and Antarctic Skua Catharacta antarctica. The most surprising sight was that of a Dark-faced Ground Tyrant Muscisaxicola frontalis, which had obviously joined us on the ship before we sailed and had remained hidden until it was seen on deck the following morning. The next day, March 1 9th, Copyright Roger G. Sweeney Gentoo Penguins, Prion Island we were further out at sea and there was a reduction in the overall number of birds. We were pleased to see four species of albatross. In addition to the Black-browed and the Wandering Albatross which we had seen before, we 174 SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN were also followed for sometime by Royal D. epomophora and Light-mantled Sooty Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata , which circled the ship as we progressed through the fairly calm sea. Other birds seen during the day included Giant Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Sooty Shearwater and Wilson’s Storm Petrel, all of which we had seen previously, plus three new species White-headed Petrel Pterodromci lessonii , Soft-plumaged Petrel P. mollis and Greater Shearwater P gravis. On March 20th we crossed the Antarctic seas convergence zone and there followed a rapid 5° drop in the sea temperature in less than an hour, on which was our third complete day at sea. With one further day ahead, the passage into cooler water seemed to be marked by an increase in sightings of both marine mammals and birds. Mammals seen during March 20th included Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus , Hour-glass Dolphin Lagenorhynchus cruciger, Antarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus gazella and Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina. Birds seen included the same four species of albatross seen the day before, as well as Giant Petrel, White- chinned Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, White-headed Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Greater Shearwater, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, King Shag and Common Diving Petrel. Two new species recorded on this day were Black- bellied Storm Petrel Fregetta tropica and White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps. We reached the coast of South Georgia just after midday on March 21st, and followed the coast around to the town of Grytviken. It was there we were to meet the marine officer who would approve our documentation for the collecting expedition and accompany us to ensure good practise was followed throughout. The most exciting feature of the day’s birdwatching was the presence of large numbers of penguins, with flocks heading out to sea in search of food, or returning to the shore after having fed. Three species were repeatedly seen in the sea throughout the day, the King Penguin, Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua and Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus. Our first sight of King Penguins in the wild was most welcoming, as they were the main reason for us being there. We reached Grytviken in the early evening and were joined there by Pat Lurcock, the marine officer for South Georgia. As well as the birds we had seen during the previous few days, now we had reached the coast we also saw several new species, including Blue Petrel Halobaena taerulea , Blue-eyed Shag P. atriceps, Georgian Diving Petrel P georgicus and Snowy Sheathbill Chionis alba. A number of prions Pachyptila spp. were also seen but species identification could not be confirmed. In the morning a pod of Hour-glass Dolphins had again joined us and we had a brief sighting of a Minke Whale B. acutorostrata about 600m (approx. 650yd) off the starboard side of the ship. SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN 175 We sailed from Grytviken in the early hours of March 22nd and by 9.00am had reached our first destination, St Andrew’s Bay, where we planned to begin egg collecting. From the ship we could see the coastline covered by thousands of white spots, each one a King Penguin. Even from out in the bay the smell of their excrement with its very high uric acid content was highly distinctive. Colonies of King Penguins can number up to 35,000 birds and can be smelt from a considerable distance away. We transferred from the ship to the beach using Zodiac inflatable boats, taking with us two portable incubators, each with the capacity to hold just over 100 eggs. As we neared the shore the sound of the surf began to be drowned out by the noise made by the mass of wildlife on the beach. The King Penguins were by far the most numerous species, with thousands of birds making up the colony. The unique breeding cycle of the King Penguin, the slowest of any bird, taking as it does up to 16 months to complete, meant that within the one colony were birds at all stages of development. There were adults in the process of breeding, including birds still incubating eggs or brooding newly hatched chicks; other chicks at various stages of development; fully developed juveniles still in thick natal down; sub-adults; and adults that had already bred and were moulting now. In among the thousands of King Penguins were a small number of Gentoo Penguins and our first sight of the Chinstrap Penguin P. antarctica came when we saw five on the rocks close to the shore. Two other bird species were prominent on the beach, the Snowy Sheathbills which ran between the King Penguins always on the look-out for an opportunist meal and the skuas which flew low over the colony also looking for an opportunist meal in the form of an unattended egg or chick they could seize. Of the three species of mammals by the beach, the most numerous by far were the Fur Seals which occupied most of the moss grassland which ran inland from the gravel beach. As it was late autumn most of the adult males had left the breeding grounds leaving behind mainly adult females and the year’s young, which were nearly independent. Small groups of female Elephant Seals were present on the beach. The most unexpected mammals we saw on South Georgia were the herds of Reindeer Rangifer tarandus introduced as a source of food when the whaling and Fur Seal industries were at their height. Working in small teams around the edge of the colony, we slowly begun collecting the eggs. The incubating bird was seized gently from behind and the egg was removed from beneath the fold of skin which helps keep the egg balanced on top of the bird’s feet. The eggs were then taken to portable incubators. This was a slow and careful process. Each time a member of the team entered or left the colony to take an egg to the incubator, as they walked past the incubating and brooding penguins, great care was taken not 176 SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN to disturb them any more than was absolutely necessary. We wanted to ensure that they did not leave their eggs or young at the mercy of the skuas which sailed low over the colony. Although we knew that very few if any of these late eggs and chicks would survive the Antarctic winter, we nevertheless wanted to minimise our interference with the natural process. After collecting eggs for almost three hours we had reached our initial target and returned to the ship to begin assessing the eggs we had collected. King Penguin eggs are large and heavy, they measure up to 1 17mm x 82mm and weigh up to 350g. Although I have for many years worked on procedures for artificially incubating the eggs of many species of captive birds, the King Penguin eggs were particularly difficult to assess due to their thick shells. This was made even more difficult by the fact that they had to be transferred immediately to the incubator to prevent them becoming chilled in the harsh climatic conditions under which they were being collected. Once back on board the ship where we were able to maintain a warmer air temperature, we began examining the eggs using a light. This gave us a good idea as to what stage of development the embryos had reached. We wanted to collect eggs which were at least 28 days old, so that they would have the best chance of surviving the journey back to Moody Gardens or Loro Parque. At the end of our first day at St Andrew’s Bay only 49 eggs were considered to have sufficiently well developed embryos to fulfil the above criteria. The marine officer told us that the local weather conditions had been severe up until three weeks before, which was probably why so many eggs had been laid during the past three weeks, when the weather had become more favourable. The climatic conditions on South Georgia can vary greatly from one part of the island to another and so we decided that the best course of action was to move to a different location for the second day. The eggs which when we assessed them we found were under 28 days old and did not have sufficiently well developed embryos would be taken ashore there and, hopefully, exchanged for eggs which were at least 28 days old and had more advanced embryos. During the night we sailed to our new location. On the morning of March 23rd we were anchored off Royal Bay, which was to be our second collecting point. Here we hoped to find many more birds which had begun laying a few weeks earlier than most of those at St Andrew’s Bay. Once again we took with us two incubators, these contained the under 28 day old eggs collected earlier which we hoped to replace with eggs at least 28 days old. Once again the shoreline was dominated by King Penguins, with an estimated 30,000 birds on the beach. Also present were a few Gentoo Penguins and Chin-strap Penguins, as well as, skuas and Snowy Sheathbills, which always seem to be found where there are large colonies of King Penguins. Also on the beach there were a few juvenile Fur Seals and just a single large female Elephant Seal. By now it had become apparent SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN 177 that in order to collect eggs that had been incubated for at least 28 days, we had to collect them from close to the centre of the colony. The first birds to arrive and therefore the first to lay, are found in the centre of the colony, while later arrivals are found around the edge of the colony. Then as the eggs of the earlier birds hatch and the chicks grow bigger and require more food, these birds and their chicks move out towards the edge of the colony which allows later arrivals to move towards the centre during the later stages of incubation, where their chicks when they hatch will be safest. The second day of egg collecting went well. Each time a new egg was collected, we took the opportunity to place beneath the bird one of the eggs from St Andrew’s Bay which were considered not sufficiently advanced to withstand the long journey back. In nearly all cases this seemed to work well. By the end of the second day we had 217 eggs which we considered suitable for our purposes (100 for Moody Gardens and 1 17 for Loro Barque). The eggs were contained in two incubators over which we maintained a twenty-four hour watch. Having achieved the primary objective of the expedition we set sail for Grytviken to return the marine officer, Pat Lurcock, to his post. On the morning of March 24th we were ahead of schedule and had time to make two stops as we sailed up the coast. The first was at an old whaling station at Stromness, which proved an interesting experience. The buildings now in a state of disrepair, with some of them falling down, have in many cases been taken over as shelters by Elephant Seals and Fur Seals. Much of the equipment used by the whalers is still there, although now old and rusting, and the beach area is littered with old bones and rusting pieces of boats, which form a silent monument to the events which took place there decades ago. The stony beach which extends back into grassland was occupied by several small groups of Gentoo Penguins many of them making their way along pathways from their Inland colony to the sea. In the afternoon we stopped at Prion Island, and after landing and climbing up through tussock grass, had some of the most memorable sights on the trip. On top of the island we were treated to the sight of a number of nesting pairs of Wandering Albatross, two of which had chicks in the nest. A number of newly fledged Wandering Albatross were also wandering about on the island, and we saw several Giant Petrel chicks. From a cliff ledge I was able to watch and photograph a pair of nesting Light-mantled Albatross. I was also able to watch and photograph perhaps the rarest species was saw on the trip, a small flock of 1 1 South Georgia Teal or Pintail Anas georgica georgica on a pool hidden in tussock grass. The species with which I spent most time on the island was a colony of Gentoo Penguins. I had previously seen small groups in other locations, but this was the first opportunity to watch them from within the colony. The first thing that surprised me was 178 SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN how far up the island they had established their colony, several hundred metres (yards) away and steeply uphill of the beach area. I spent almost an hour in the middle of the colony, which even though it had clearly completed its breeding cycle, remained energetically engaged in nest building activity. As is typical in such densely populated colonies, most of the nesting material was stolen from adjacent nests. As a result of this there was a lot of activity in the colony as the birds continually squabbled over the ownership of the nesting material and searched for new material, while trying not to venture too far from their own unprotected nests. On the morning of March 24th we were back on the open sea. The return journey was slightly shorter, as we were heading for Port Stanley, the principle port and capital of the Falkland Islands. Perhaps the most impressive sights during the voyage were the pods of up to 40 Hour-glass Dolphins which swum off the bow of the ship on two occasions during the mornings of March 25th and 26th. No further new species were recorded until we reached the Falkland Islands late on the afternoon of March 27th. The approach into Port Stanley brought with it sightings of Fin Whales and Minke Whales, species we had previously seen close to South Georgia. We also had our first sighting of Peele’s Dolphins Lagenorhynchus australis which accompanied the ship for just under an hour. New bird species seen were Falkland Island Flightless Steamer Duck T. brachypterus, Falkland Island Kelp Goose C. h. malvinarum and Greater Magellan Goose C. picta leucoptera. We also saw Magellanic Penguin, which breed on the Falkland Islands, our first sighting of this species since the day we sailed from Ushuaia. We slept overnight on board the ship and then went ashore and travelled by road to Mount Pleasant Airport. From there we flew to Punta Arenas in southern Chile, then took an internal flight to Santiago de Chile. The team from Moody Gardens, together with Frank Towhey, flew to Florida and then on to Texas and I travelled with Scott Drieschman and Frank Todd to Madrid, then on to Tenerife. The flight from Santiago de Chile to Madrid was the longest leg of the journey. The incubator was powered by battery, but with 1 17 large, well developed eggs in the insulated container, the heater was barely necessary, as for long periods of time, the eggs themselves generated sufficient heat. Throughout the flight the temperature in the incubator was monitored continually by Scott Drieshman and myself. Of particular concern were the take-offs and landings, when changes in the air pressure in the cabin had a direct effect on the air temperature in the incubator. On our eventual arrival at Tenerife’s north airport, we were driven quickly to Loro Parque where the quarantine nursery was prepared and waiting. Loro Parque’s Assistant Curator, Mike Downman, was waiting and the eggs were transferred to two specially built incubators. As we landed, the first egg was already in the SWEENEY - KING PENGUIN 179 process of hatching and the chick emerged shortly after we reached the nursery. Named ‘Santiago’, it was the first of over 70 chicks hatched and reared from the eggs we collected and brought back to Loro Parque. This group of King Penguins will be the first inhabitants of the new penguin exhibit. It will include an indoor refrigerated area of more than 2,000sq m (approx. 2,400sq yd), with a floor covering of snow and ice. The penguins will be able to be viewed both above and below the water. Roger G. Sweeney now works as an avicultural consultant, mainly in the Middle East and south-east Asia. His contact address is:- Dymocks Mill Cottage, Oldcastle, near Malpas, Cheshire SY14 7NE, England. REQUEST FOR A FAX MACHINE Does any member have a fax machine which they no longer require and which they are prepared to donate to the Society? If you do, please contact:- Hon. Editor, The Chalet, Hay Farm, St Breock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7LH. Tel:01208 812260. 180 COUNCIL MEETING A Council Meeting was held on Saturday, 19th September 1998 at Leeds Castle, Kent. The following members were present: Miss R.Ezra (President), Prof. J.R. Hodges, R.C.J. Sawyer (Vice Presidents), K.J. Lawrence (Chairman), R. Grantham, R.E. Oxley, S.Pyper, P.J. Schofield, Ms. Rosemary Wiseman. The following were confirmed as first breedings in Britain and Ireland: - M. & N. Curzon Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill R.C.J. Sawyer Wattled Jacana Black-necked Stilt Black-winged Stilt Masked Plover Violaceous Touraco Black-cheeked Woodpecker Plumbeous Redstart Blue Whistling Thrush Island Thrush Red-tailed Siva Southern Tit Warbler Blue-faced Honeyeater Paradoxornis fulvifrons Jacana jacana Himantopus mexicanus Himantopus himantopus Vanellus miles Musophaga violacea Melanerpes pucherani Phoenicurus fuliginosus Myiophoneus caeruleus Turdus poliocephalus Minla ignotincta Pari soma subcaeruleum Entomyzon cyanotis Black-masked Crimson Tanager Ramphocelus nigrogularis Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster Emerald Starling Lamprotornis iris M. and N. Curzon will receive the Society’s medal. R.C .J.Sawyer will receive a painting incorporating all the above birds. This will be in lieu of a medal for each breeding. It was decided that the D.H.Risdon Award, made for the best article in the magazine during 1997, will go to Theo Pagel for his Experiences Keeping and Breeding the White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides in the Zoological Garden Cologne {Avicultural Magazine, 103, 1:20-27). It was agreed that the Society’s rules may need updating as we approach the new Millennium. A sub-commitee consisting of Ms. Rosemary Wiseman, R.C.J. Sawyer, R.E. Oxley and R. Grantham was appointed to deal with this and will report back to the Council at the next meeting. Laura Gardner, Curator at Leeds Castle, accepted the invitation to join the Avicultural Society Council. 181 BOOK REVIEWS THE ROAD TO RODE In The Road to Rode , Avicultural Society Vice President, Betty Risdon, describes how she first met the late Donald Risdon, then General Manager of Dudley Zoo, at a celebratory birthday drink in a pub in Birmingham. He had previously been the Manager of Keston Foreign Bird Farm, where they were first in the UK to breed the Blue-fronted Amazon in 1939. After serving in the RAF during World War Two, he returned to Keston as a director and in 1949 became General Manager of Dudley Zoo. Betty has lots of amusing stories about their time together at the zoo, where they spent the early years of their married life and where they remained until they left to found Rode Tropical Bird Gardens, which they opened to the public in 1962. Betty describes the search for a suitable site for Don’s dream of a zoo specialising in exotic birds and how they finally found Rode. Initially, he had grave doubts about the 17 acre (approx.7 hectare) site, feeling it would be too big, but as they drove up to the car park, a Cuckoo called and that clinched it for him. The owners at that time, an elderly couple, were running a market garden in one of the walled gardens near the lake. Rode Manor itself had fallen down or been pulled down and most of the grounds were badly overgrown and resembled a jungle. After some 4,000 tons of accumulated mud was scooped out of the lake, the first birds to be introduced on to it were a pair of Black-necked Swans followed by Shelducks and Don’s favourite Mandarins and Carolina';. The first aviaries and enclosures built housed pheasants and parrots, including a three or four year old Blue and Yellow Macaw which still resides there to this day. Cranes and penguins were added to the collection also hombills, toucans and touracos, and another of Don’s special favourites, the Royal or Golden-breasted Starling, a species Don was one of the first to breed. In 1988 Don began to have trouble with his eyes and the following year Macular Degeneration was diagnosed. He also developed deafness. Donald Risdon died April 24th 1994. He had been a Vice President of the Avicultural Society since 1973, had served on the Council and had long been an active supporter of the Society. ... AND THE ROADS FROM RODE Don did not share Betty’s love of travelling. Tm glad it’s you going with him and not me’ said Betty’s mother, glancing at his glum face, while seeing them off from Gatwick Airport. Yet when Don did travel abroad to countries such as East Africa, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, he obviously got 182 BOOK REVIEWS great pleasure from seeing the wonderful birds. In Australia he struck up a rapport with Sir Edward Hall strom, when the latter found that Don shared his view that the Paradise Parrakeet was not a distinct species but a hybrid! The Roads from Rode is Betty Risdon’s account of her travels, firstly with her husband Don (which she also wrote about in The Road to Rode) but mainly since his death. Tahiti, the Marquesa and Pitcairn Islands, Easter Island, the Seychelles, Aldabra, Madagascar and Zanzibar are just some of the far away places she has visited and writes about. Of particular interest to me were the chapters on East Africa and Antarctica. The first because it brought back so many memories of Kenya and people I knew there, such as the late Gerry Kirkham, John Pearson, a pilot with East African Airways, who later made wildlife films for TV, also sadly no longer with us, Jenny Pearson, Lucy and Ivan Bampton. The Antarctica chapter I enjoyed because of just having edited Roger Sweeney’s account of collecting King Penguin eggs on South Georgia (pp 169- 1 79). Betty also writes about the penguins and other birds, the dolphins and whales, and of visiting Ushuaia, Grytviken, Stromness and Prion Island. Betty’s book includes a photo of Grytviken and of the marine artist, Keith Shackleton (who wrote the Preface to this book), standing beside the grave of his relative the great Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who died at Grytviken and was buried there in 1922. The Road to Rode and The Roads from Rode are published by Rode Tropical Bird Gardens, Rode, Nr. Bath, Somerset BAS 6QW, England. They are available from there by post price £6.75 each or £13.50 for the two, including p &p in the UK (overseas postage is extra). Or they can be bought at the bird gardens price £5.95 each. Malcolm Ellis WILDLIFE GUIDE TO COSTA RICA Without doubt those travelling to Costa Rica who are interested in wildlife, other than just that which flies, will find The Ecotraveller s Wildlife Guide to Costa Rica by Les Beletsky is a must. This guide, for the first time, includes colour plates covering not just birds but the identification of many of the common salamanders, frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, turtles and about 50 species of mammals. Those interested in twitching every bird in sight though will still need the Field Guide to Costa Rican Birds, as only 200 species, about a quarter of the resident species are covered. I have reservations about parts of the text - not the quality of it which is very good but the necessity of some passages which I feel are irrelevant and could have been omitted. Does the visitor really need a brief chapter on each family? That on birds starts: ‘Birds are vertebrates that can fly’ and then goes on to explain how birds evolved. However, having said this, it does contain BOOK REVIEWS 183 much useful information and will provide good reading on those occasions when it pours of rain all day. As an introduction to the wildlife of Costa Rica it is an excellent guide for those on package holidays with set destinations and is likely to be the only guide that is needed. However, those travelling independently are also likely to need one of the backpackers’ guides to help them find their way around. Chapters cover Ecotourism, Geography, Habitats and Conservation. All illustrations are accompanied by a brief paragraph on identification and habitat preferences, plus a key to the latter and a useful list of parks in which they can be found. I have no grumbles with the actual plates which are good but I do hate the wasted space, as with a little more thought at least one extra species could have been included on each plate. Without doubt it is the best wildlife guide covering this Central American country. I do feel though that there is a market for a series of more in depth guides to the world’s wildlife areas - perhaps this will be the next step once this present format has been exhausted. The Ecoi rcu/eiler 's Wildlife Guide to Costa Rica by Les Beletsky (ISBN ■OH 2-0848 10-4) is published by Academic Press. It is priced £19.95 in the UK and US$27.95 in the USA. Dave Coles POPULATION LIMITATION I fear that Population Limitation in Birds by Ian Newton, a weighty academic volume of nearly 600 pages will interest only a few aviculturists. Even those who have an interest in the life histories of their subjects might well be disappointed because it is in the nature of such tomes to be reviews of the literature, in which examples to support themes are culled from the complete range of ornithological literature. This means that it is the theme which is important and not the examples. Recourse to the Index may or may not lead to a reference to a particular species. If it does it will be of limited value, but if it does not, it does not mean that the information does not apply! However, these books always have meticulous bibliographies and as a pointer towards more detailed information are invaluable. There are three parts (BEHAVIOUR AND DENSITY REGULATION, NATURAL LIMITING FACTORS and HUMAN IMPACTS) and 16 chapters altogether. Part 1 deals with the role of behaviour in density regulation, for example, Social Systems and Status, Habitat and Density Regulation, Territorial Behaviour and Density Limitation. Part 2, with such heads as Food-supply, Nest-sites, Predation, Parasites and Pathogens, might be of more interest. Part 3 comprises three chapters: Hunting and PestControl, Pesticides and Pollution, and Extinction. Published by Academic Press, this book is of a supremely high standard, 184 BOOK REVIEWS as one would expect from this author. Ian Newton is well-known for his work on the Sparrowhawk, and before that on finches, especially the Bullfinch. He is aiming at wildlife biologists such as the research worker, student and those involved in the practical management of bird populations. Within the avicultural world I can see it occupying an occasionally useful place on the shelves of bird curators and zoological directors, and being borrowed by students and trainee keepers who are working on projects or towards examinations. It costs US$79.95 in hardback and US$49.95 in paperback. Enquiries should be directed to:-Sales Department, Academic Press, 525 B Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, California 92101-449, USA. Tel:+1 619-231-0926/Fax: 619- 699-63 80/E-mail : name @ acad.com. Dr Richard Meyer POPULAR BRITISH BIRDS With the number of books published on aviculture and articles appearing in publications such as Cage & Aviary Birds on a wide variety of species, the quantity has increased to such a degree, covering many sections of this most fascinating and rewarding of hobbies, beginners have a bewildering array from which to make a choice. In Bullfinches, Chaffinches and Bramblings, Popular British Birds in Aviculture, Vol.4, by Peter Lander and Bob Partridge, the birds covered are clearly defined and any beginner will find this book most helpful. It covers each finch’s description, colour variants, suggestions as to the most suitable aviary, feeding, in fact the general husbandry involved, breeding and even guidance to exhibiting. Peter Lander (sadly now deceased) spent a lifetime studying birds and keeping and breeding them and was exceedingly knowledgeable; whilst his co-author, Bob Partridge, needs little introduction to British bird keepers familiar with his fascination for colour variants and genetics. Although there is no substitute for practical experience and knowing your birds, advice such as that given in this book by two such experienced keepers can prove invaluable and make this publication a work I can recommend for any beginner. In addition the photography is of the usual high standard one has come to expect of Dennis Avon. In short it is a book well worth acquiring. It is published by TFH/Kingdom Books, 1 0 The Spinney, Parklands, Forest Road, Waterlooville, Hants. P07 6AR, England. Tel:0 1 705 268 1 22/ Fax:0 1 705 268801. It is one of four volumes. The other titles are: Vol. 1 Greenfinches, Vol.2 Siskins and Goldfinches, Vol. 3 Redpolls, Twites and Linnets. They are priced £9.95 each and are also available as a four-volume set in a slip case price £35.00. Frank Meaden 185 NEWS & VIEWS ZOO’S OLDEST BIRD DIES London Zoo’s oldest bird, a Great Indian Hornbill Buceros hicornis known as ‘Josephine’, has died. She was thought to be 52 years old. Senior Curator, Simon Tonge, was quoted as saying: ‘When she was finally unable to feed herself properly we felt that her quality of life had been affected so I had to make the terribly hard decision to have her put down.5 * * * TWO THOUSAND OR MORE RING-NECKS Josephine Pithon at the University of York, who has been undertaking a three- year study of feral Ring- necked Parrakeets Psittacula krameri in the UK, has estimated that there are now 2,000 or more of them living wild, mainly in south-east England. The largest single population is in west London, where they range from Windsor in the west to Richmond in the east and to Reigate in the south. There are smaller populations between Hither Green and Footscray in south-east London and around Margate and Ramsgate, Kent. They also occur as far afield as East Anglia and South Wales. The study was sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which wants to assess whether the parrakeets pose a threat to farm -crops, especially in fruit-growing areas such as Kent. * * * FORMER VICE PRESIDENT Earlier in the year, The Times , Business Section , devoted a half-page article to the unique perks enjoyed by the staff of the John Lewis retail group. Not only do they share in the profits of the company but get to use the sports and leisure facilities on the 4,000 acre (approx. 1,600 hectare) Leckford Estate and can stay in the house which used to be the home of John Spedan Lewis, a Vice President of the Avicultural Society from 1938- 1962. He was described as a visionary but difficult man, who inherited his father’s company and then gave it to the workers, who became known as partners and who still own it, ‘practising an enviable form of workplace socialism on the British high street.5 He died in 1963 and in 1985, 100 years after his birth, a book, John Spedan Lewis , edited by Hugh Macpherson was published by the partnership. Miss Ethel F. Chawner, Hon. Editor of the Avicultural Magazine for part of 1935, and who edited the magazine 1936-1938, in 1927 took charge of Spedan Lewis’s magnificent collections of birds at Cookham on- 1 harries 186 NEWS & VIEWS and Wargrave-on-Thames. The birds in these collections ranged from macaws to birds of paradise and over 100 owls. When he moved to Leckford, Miss Chawner was mainly responsible for assembling another large collection, which included pheasants, waterfowl, cranes and owls, and superintended his collection at Leckford until her retirement in 1939. She died there in 1953. Miss Chawner was the first person in the UK to breed Jardine’s Pygny Owl Glaucidium jardinii (in 1915) and the White-faced Scops Owl Otus leucotis (in 1923). * * * ENDANGERED CONURES BRED A young male Golden Conur eAratinga guarouba bred in Belgium paired to a female which has been at Paradise Park since 1986, produced two eggs in July, which were removed for artificial incubation and the chicks, a male and a female, were hand-reared. Other parrots bred at Paradise Park, Hayle during 1998, include Blue-crowned Conure A. acuticaudata. Hyacinth Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Buffon’s Am ambigua and Hahn’s Macaws Ara nobilis nobilis, Triton Cacatua galerita triton , Umbrella C. alba , Leadbeater’s C. leadbeateri and Roseate Cockatoos Eolophus roseicapillus. Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus timneh , Blue-fronted Amazon Amazona aestiva, Moustached Parrakeet Psittacula alexandri. Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus and Goldie’s Lorikeet T. goldiei. Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus. Crowned Crane Balearica pavonina, Livingstone’s Touraco Tauraco livingstonii , White-faced Scops Owl Otus leucotis. Hoopoe Upupa epops and Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa also bred successfully. In addition, two Choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax were reared and have joined the one reared in 1997. Work has started on building an aviary from which it is hoped to release Choughs back into the wild in Cornwall. * * * FIG PARROT WORKSHOP IN AUSTRALIA Curru mbin Sanctuary is to host a workshop on the captive husbandry of fig parrots. It will take place June 22nd-23rd and will follow the Birds ’99 convention being held in Brisbane June 1 8th-2 1 st 1999. The aim of the two-day workshop is to bring together as many as possible breeders and others with an interest in these fascinating birds. It is envisaged that there will be a number of working groups which will compile a comprehensive Husbandry Manual covering such aspects as housing, feeding, health and breeding. Those unable to attend but who may possess useful information on these birds are asked to submit their information in NEWS & VIEWS 187 writing. In return they will receive a copy of the workshop results. Currumbin Sanctuary is one hour’s drive south of Brisbane, on Queensland’s Gold Coast. The cost of the two-day workshop is A$50.00 per person, which includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on both days, and a copy of the Husbandry Manual. Accommodation is readily available in the area and Coolangatta Airport is only five minutes away. Following the workshop there will be a field trip to Northern Queensland with world renown parrot expert Joe Forshaw. It will include two days in Cairns/Kuranda, followed by five days in the Iron Range on Cape York. Participants are promised a wonderful time looking at wild fig parrots (Macleay’s and Marshall’s), Palm Cockatoos, Red-cheeked Parrots and Eclectus, plus many other species, including cassowaries. The party will be limited to 15 participants and is likely to cost about A$2,900 per person. Further information about the workshop and the field trip are available from:- Liz Romer; Currumbin Sanctuary, 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin,^ Queensland, Australia 4223. Tel:+61 7 5525 0197/Fax:+61 7 5534 7427/ E-mail :lromer@ currumbin-sanctuary.org.au. For information about Birds ’99 contact:- The Registrar, Birds’ 99, PO. Box 600, Nundah, Queensland 4012, Australia. Fax:+61 7 5498 9914. * * * MAKING A SPLASH The appearance of an Osprey Pandion haliaetus, usually on its autumn migration southwards, continues to be newsworthy in the UK. Robert Callaghan has sent a cutting from the Staffordshire Sentinel describing how in October birdwatchers flocked to Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek, to see the first Osprey seen there for many years. One was present on the Camel Estuary in Cornwall for a week in October, and was seen hovering above the river, which runs alongside the local supermarket car park. Among other birds present on the estuary were 58 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta and over 100 Canada Geese Branta canadensis , which have only recently began to occur on the estuary in such large numbers. * * * PAN-AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS The tenth Pan-African Ornithological Congress will take place in September 2000 in Kampala, Uganda. Further details are available from East Africa Natural History Society, Uganda Branch, PO. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda. Tel:+256 41 540719/Fax:+256 41 533528/530134/ E-mail:eanhs@ imul.com. 188 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOLUME 104 - 1998 BANKS, Kerry Breeding the Southern Helmeted Curassow at Birdworld . 152 The Year at Birdworld . . . . . . . 131 BRICKELL, Neville An Unusual Nest Site of an African Sunbird . . . 97 BRICKELL, Neville & KONIGKRAMER, Trevor Instances of Aberrant Plumage among African Serinus Species . 53 CURZON, Mike Some Birds seen in the Dominican Republic . . . . . . 124 CURZON, M. & N. Breeding the Fulvous-fronted Parrotbill . 1 de RUITER, Maarten Egg-eating by Rothschild’s Mynahs . . . 129 ERRITZOE, Johannes Body Masses (Weights) of Parrots . 27 FAIR, John, MOXOM, Don & ELLIS, Malcolm Abbotsbury Swannery . . . . . . . . 18 GARDNER, Laura The First UK Breeding of the Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus at Leeds Castle . . . . . .61 GOODFELLOW, Walter The Royal Parrot Finch Erythrura cyaneovireus regia................... 106 HODGES, J.R. Saving the Endangered Orange-bellied Parrakeet . . . . .49 HOLLAND, Glen Captive Breeding to Save an Endangered Snipe . . . . . 145 LINDSAY, Nick Flamingos at Whipsnade . . . . . . . . . 100 LOW, Rosemary Extracts from the Hancock House Encyclopedia of the Lories 71 MACKLIN, C.H. Breeding the Royal Parrot Finch . . . . . . . . . 113 189 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOLUME 104 - 1998 (Cont’d) MOBBS, Anthony J. The Star Finch Neochima ruficauda . . . . . . 10 MORRAD, Joan & BAVERSTOCK, Bernard Birds on Mauritius . . . . . . . . . 157 MULLER, Martina & NEUMANN, Norbert Keeping and Breeding Fig Parrots of the Genus Psittaculirostris at Vogelpark Walsrode . . . . . . . . 55 PYPER, Stewart The Society’s Visit to the Natural History Museum . . 133 RINKE, Dieter News from Vogelpark Walsrode . . . . . . . 161 SCHIFTER, Herbert Breeding Records of Piciformes (Barbets and Toucans) in Germany and Austria . . . . . . . . 148 SCHOFIELD, Philip A Feral Alexandrine and other Escapees . . . . . 1 1 6 SWEENEY, Roger G. First Steps Forward in the Breeding of the Plum-crowned Pionus Pi onus tumultuosus at Loro Parque . . . . . . 120 Notes on an Expedition to collect King Penguin Eggs . . . . 169 The Successful Parent Rearing of a Pesquet’s Parrot Psittrichas fulgidus at Loro Parque . . . . ...14 WHARTON-TIGAR, Mrs. An Amateur’s Experience in Importing Hummingbirds . . 65 WHITE, Victoria Welfare of Captive Parrots . . . . ....23 WILKINSON, Roger Chester Zoo Bird Review 1997 . . . . . . . . 4 WOOLHAM, Frank Another Bird-Keeping Cleric.. . . . . . . . 118 190 INDEX TO VOLUME 104 - 1998 Aptenodytes patagonicus. Expedition to Collect Eggs . . 169 Barbets, Breeding Records in Germany and Austria . . . 148 Birds on Mauritius . . . . . . . ..157 Birds seen in the Dominican Republic . . . . . 124 Birdworld, The Year at . . . 131 Book Reviews A Guide to... Neophema & Psephotus Grass Parrots . 34 A Guide to... Pheasants & Waterfowl . . . . . 135 Birds in Field and Aviary: A guide to a mixed collection . 35 Bullfinches, Chaffinches and Bramblings . . . . 184 Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 4. . . . . 84 Messages from an Owl . . . . . . 85 Pittas of the World . . . 36 Population Limitation in Birds . . . . . . . 183 Poultry for Anyone . . . . . 88 Red-tails in Love . . . . . 89 The Bird Collectors . . . 87 The Birds of the Western Palearctic . . . . . .....36 The Ecotraveller’s Wildlife Guide to Costa Rica . . . . . 182 The Roads from Rode . . . . . . . 181 The Road to Rode . . . . . . . 181 Chester Zoo Bird Review 1997 . . . 4 Curassow, Southern Helmeted, Breeding . . . . . 152 Erythrura cyaneovireus regia . . . . . . . 106 Erythrura cyaneovireus regia , Breeding . . . 1 13 Finch, Parrot, Royal . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Finch, Parrot, Royal, Breeding . . . . . 113 Finch, Star...... . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Flamingos, at Whipsnade . . . .....100 Hornbill, Crowned, First UK Breeding . . 61 Hummingbirds, An Amateur’s Experience Importing them, . .....65 Leucopsar rothschildi. Egg-eating . . . . . 129 191 INDEX TO VOLUME 104 - 1998 (Cont’d) Mynah, Rothschild’s, Egg-eating . . . . . . . . 129 Obituaries Dulcie Cooke . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Roy Harvey . . . . . 48 Paradoxornis fulvifrons, Breeding . . . . . . 1 Parrakeet, Alexandrine, Feral . . . . . . . ....116 Parrakeet, Orange-bellied, Saving . . . 49 Parrotbill, Fulvous-fronted, Breeding... . . . . . . . 1 Parrot, Pesquet’s, Successful Parent Rearing . . . 14 Parrots, Body Masses (Weights) . . . . . . . . . 27 Parrots, Captive Welfare . . . . . . . 23 Parrots, Fig, Keeping and Breeding the Genus Psittaculirostris . 55 Pauxi unicornis unicornis , Breeding . . . . . . . 152 Pionus, Plum-crowned, First Steps Forward in Breeding . 102 Pionus tumultuosus , First Steps Forward in Breeding . . . . 102 Penguin, King, Expedition to Collect Eggs . . . 169 Phoenicopterus spp., at Whipshade . 100 Psittacula eupatria, Feral Alexandrine . . . . . 116 Psittrichas fulgidus, Successful Parent Rearing . . . . . 14 Serinus Species, African, Instances of Aberrant Plumage . 53 Snipe, Campbell Island, Saving by Captive Breeding ........................ 145 Sunbird, African, Unusual Nest Site . . . 97 Swannery, Abbotsbury . . . . . . . . . 1 8 Tockus alhoterminatus , Breeding . . . . . . 61 Toucans, Breeding Records in Germany and Austria . . . . . 148 Video Review Philippine Cockatoo: The Last Chance? . . . . . 90 Walsrode, Vogelpark, News from . . . . . .161 192 AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE BACK ISSUES A large stock is available including some early issues. Sales are by post only. Further details are available from: - Hon. Secretary, Avicultural Society, c/o Bristol Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, England. COLOUR PLATE FUND Colour illustrations have become a regular feature in recent issues of the magazine and have, we hope you agree, added to the quality and enjoyment of the magazine. So that this can continue and the number of colour illustrations can perhaps be increased, we have relaunched the COLOUR PLATE FUND. Members who wish to make a donation to the fund are asked to send their donation to:- Hon, Treasurer, Avicultural Society, c/o Bristol Zoological Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, England. Cheques and money orders should be made payable to:- Avicultural Society (Colour Plate Fund). WPA PUBLICATIONS Introduction to Ornamental Pheasants £1 4.95 □ Quail - their breeding and management £1 4.95 □ The New Incubation Book £1 4.95 □ Peafowl - their conservation, breeding and management £29.95 □ Pheasants of the world - their breeding and management £45.00 □ Partridges and Franco! ins - their conservation, £24.95 □ breeding and management Postage and packing 10% of total order. WORLD PHEASANT ASSOCIATION, PO Box 5, Lower Basildon, Reading , Berkshire RG8 9PF, UK Please quote ref: wpa/am ORDER LINE 0118 984 5140 CONTENTS Captive Breeding to Save an Endangered Snipe by Glen Holland . Breeding Records of Piciformes (Barbets and Toucans) in Germany and Austria by Dr Herbert Schifter . Breeding the Southern Helmeted Curassow at Birdworld by Kerry Banks . Birds on Mauritius by Joan Morrad and Bernard Baverstock . News from Vogelpark Walsrode by Dieter Rinke . Notes on an Expedition to Collect King Penguin Eggs by Roger G. Sweeney . Council Meeting . Book Reviews The Road to Rode . The Roads from Rode . Wildlife Guide to Costa Rica . Population Limitation in Birds . Bullfinches, Chaffinches and Bramblings . News & Views . . Contributors to Volume 104 - 1998 . Index to Volume 104 - 1998 . . 145 148 152 157 169 180 181 181 182 183 184 Published by the Avicultural Society, England. Produced by Data Publishing Service, Cheddar. Heckman BINDERY, INC. Bound-To-Please* OCT 02 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962