plumage carefully, especially under the wings and around the vent. If the are otherwise healthy hut just look a little raggedy, you may he ahle to negotiate a discount into the hargain and, once in your aviaries, they will Buying, quickly molt into heautiful specimens. Having said that newly imported specimens may he scruffy, insectivores Acclimating and tend to emerge from their period of federal quarantine in fairly good con­ dition. That is hecause they are hest Keeping quarantined singly or in pairs and, if the diet is reasonahle, the lack ofcage­ mate competition'or aggression pro­ duces good specimens hefore the Insectivores quarantine process is complete. I by Martin Vince would be suspicious ofspecimens that Assistant. Curator of Birds look poorly, or even birds such as Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, SC Scarlet Minivets or Carmine -eaters that have lost the vihrancy of their red plumage. Although in itself this does ecause of their sleek beauty, niques. In theory, newly imported not imply poor health, it does mean insectivores such as bee-eaters, birds should also be acclimated and in that the diet has lacked the necessary Bflycatchers, robins, minivets, good condition hy the time the federal red coloring agent (such as canthaxan­ redstarts and the tiny babblers have quarantine is complete. But in practice thin); and if this detail has heen over­ always held a special place in avicul­ this is not always the ease, and such looked, other aspects of the diet may ture. But in spite of their success in birds may he in rather poor shape­ also have heen deficient. As with most captivity, insectivores still appeal only you really need to see them yourself newly imported hirds, the plumage of to the specialist aviculturist since they hefore making a purchase or ask a insectivores often henefits from heing are generally perceived as being diffi­ friend to select them on your hehalf. misted with a plant sprayer. This pro­ cult. It is certainly true that they are duces a cosmetic improvement as the more demanding than omnivores like Buy hirds that are lively, wide-eyed birds hegin to clean their feathers hy magpies, iays, and laughing thrushes, and can preferahly he seen feeding. preening. But more importantly, heing but once acclimated, insectivores are Feel the hreast muscle to assess their cleaner, the hirds are ahle to fly hetter quite hardy and easy to keep. overall hody conditions and avoid and generally experience an increase specimens with respiratoly prohlems in morale, leading to an increase in Purchasing or pasted feces around the vent. Do physical activity and food consump­ Proper acclimation is the key to any not worry greatly ahout feather condi­ tion. This is especially important with kind of success. If you are acquiring tion since newly imported hirds may hee-eaters, which often lack the confi­ birds that have already been success­ be a little scruffy, and imperfect dence to feed if their flying ahility is fully established by their previous plumage alone is not an indication of impaired. keeper, simply continue with the same poor health. It could, however, point kind of food and husbandly tech- to external parasites so examine the Acclimating Newly imported hirds often have some kind of internal parasite; and it is worth asking your veterinarian to examine a sample of the hirds' feces under the microscope. Coccidia and Corporate Members worms are the commonest problems which if treated are seldom life-threat­ ening. But even these diseases can he harmful to a hird that has heen kept in Sun Seed Company, BOWling Green, OH a stressful environment and/or on a suhstandard diet. Although an insecti­ Sunshine Supplies, Miami, FL vore can be kept alive for months on purely mealworms, waxworms, and crickets, it will slowly deteriorate, grad­ ually lose condition and quickly lose

8 November/December 1997 the ability to breed or resist infection. able in the United States and Europe. Tonic I, can beneficially be sprinkled Eventually it will die of malnutrition. These African species are somewhat over the food. For newly imported This is because the commercially avail­ less demanding than the Asian bee bee-eaters, live (and moving) able livefoods do not provide the wide eaters I have kept (Red-hearded may he needed initially to stimulate range of nutrients that are found in the Nyctyornis amicta and Blue-bearded feeding activity. But once the hirds are numerous species eaten in the N. athertoni). However, all hee-eaters used to them, dead or live insects will wild. And in captivity, balanced nutri­ have the potential to he very difficult he eaten with equal relish. Indeed, tion can only easily be supplied by to establish and may be reluctant to dead ones are hest. Since the insects attificial foods or supplements. accept the captive diet. Various "meat­ do not have to he bashed against a ing off" techniques may be necessary perch hefore they are eaten, the birds Feeding Easier Insectivores to encourage the birds to eat the cap­ tend to consume much more of the Such as Flycatchers tive diet. nutritious powders sticking to them In Europe, proprietary foods such As with any hird that is being estab­ For short periods of time (ahout a as Prosecto and Claus Fat Foodtype IV lished, the first step is to identify the month) bee-eaters can he kept quite can be used for small insectivores. A preferred food items. Mealworms and healthily in small cages, provided they number of aviculturists make their waxworms are usually the favorites of are feeding properly. However. own diets based on various ingredients insectivores. These foods are not espe­ aviaries are required for long term like "digestive biscuits." Such foods are cially nutritious and are fattening, hut I health and are a requisite for hreeding. not available in the United States but use them as the vehicle that delivers It is especially important that food there are a number of proprietary soft­ the nutritionally critical parts ofthe diet pans are positioned where they can be bill pellets from which even better such as the powdered softbill pellets. easily seen and accessed hy the hirds. insectivorous diets can be made. The easier insectivores tend to eat the Nervous specimens will feed hy hov­ To make your own insectivore food powdered (artificial) parts of the diet ering or snatch a carefully selected use 50% proprietary softbill pellets, with little encouragement. But in the food item during a vety fast fly-hy. So 15% finely chopped hard boiled egg, case of bee-eaters, I prefer a more it is necessary to place the food on a 10% livefood, 10% powdered trout direct approach, one that results in a pedestal at least three feet ahove the chow, 9% pureed apple, 6% tofu. wide range of foods heing eaten. ground in an open space that has no As with all diets, presentation is at Fill the food dish with a moistened overhead ohstacles that would hamper least as important as the ingredients mixture of ground softhill pellets, as aerial maneuvering. Be sure not to put themselves. The pellets should be descrihed ahove. Sprinkle on top of the fuod on the floor of the aviary or ground into very small pieces or a the pellet mixture giant mealworms, cage, unless the cage itself is raised or powder for the tiniest species. This will crickets and waxworms that have all suspended. Bee-eaters are' extremely form the nutritional foundation of the been dipped in a thick solution ofnec­ reluctant to fly to ground level to feed, diet, with all of the other ingredients tar or honey. Partially roll the insects in and may well starve to death even if making it more enticing and palatable the powdered pellets. Add some very suitahle food is present. The ingredients must he mixed and finely chopped hard hoiled egg and For most insectivores, a powdery, squeezed together to make a diet that thinly sliced C1 mm) pinkie mice. Do loose and moist diet is required-this is crumbly but moist-tap water can not mix the ingredients together; it is is so important that I crumhle the food be added if additional moisture is important that they are kept separate through my fingers hefore putting it in needed. The livefood should very so that the hirds can pinpoint individ­ the cage. I believe such attention to preferably include mealworms, wax­ ual items and pick them up while hov­ detail is essential, and is the key to suc­ worms and appropriately sized crick­ ering. Once or twice a week an insec­ cessfully hreeding all hirds, especially ets. Such a diet can be used to main­ tivore supplement, such as Nekton small insectivores. • tain, and bring into breeding condition most small and medium sized insecti­ vores such as minivets and flycatchers. AVICULTURAL CONSULTATION SERVICES These are relatively easy species to 3807 Main Street, Oakley,California 94561 maintain, and even newly imported (510) 625-1878 • Fax (510) 625-8511 ones take to the diet quite quickly. But Brian L. Speer, DVM M. Scott Echols, DVM for the more difficult insectivores, such Dip, ABVP, Avian Practice as bee-eaters and certain trogons, the Comprehensive Flock Management Programs acclimation process may he more intri­ • Programs individually tailored to fit your needs; including production, marketing, finan- cate and time-consuming cial and personal goals. . .. • Helping you to establish effictive and practical record systems deSigned to optimize your desired avicultural results. .. Feeding Difficult Insectivores • Concepts of comprehensive flock health managem~nt that can. be effectlvelr applied to Such as Bee-eaters caged bird and aviary species, ratites, gallinaceous birds, passennes, columblformes and Occasionally, Carmine Bee-eaters others, including endangered species propagation efforts. • Local, National, and Intemational clients are welcome. nubicus and White-throated Initial call and estimate for consultation services provided free of charge. Bee-eaters Merops albicollis are avail- ~ -AVICULTURE IS SPOKEN HEREt------.... afa WATCHBIRD 9