Zoo PROFILES call of his pet "Bogey" to a "slow-mov­ ing goods tram." Others may be reminded of "a sheet the of tin being flexed quickly" (Howell & Webb, 1995). For aviculturists accus-. tomed to that "hoot" or "screech," Spectacled the low, reverberating, somewhat mechanical "put-put-put-put-put-put­ perspicillata put-put-put," which ends abruptly, is a pleasant surprise. I have cheerful Josef Lindholm, 11/ memories of walking home from the Aviary Keeper Disney's Kingdom Fort Worth Zoo on fall evenings while hearing this rather whimsical sound A Little History beliefs and rites, dictated ... in Nahuatl coming from the otherwise silent midst the often ugly history by Aztec noblemen and priests," "a truly "Raptor Canyon," the , eagles, of the Spanish conquest of boundless treasury of mythological lore, vultures, and condors having gone to in the Sixteenth descriptions of the rites, tl1eological bed with the sunset. Century, one of the happier details is concepts, and religious poetry" the work of Fray Bernardino de (Soustille, 1983). The Sahagun, compiler of Historia general Sahagun's magnificent labor of love Throughout its vast range, from the de las cosas de Nueva Espana is not, however, restricted to anthro­ Mexican states of Veracruz and ("General History of the Matters of pology. His curiosity extended to the Oaxaca, through the greater portion of New Spain"). flora and fauna of his adopted home, the South American Continent, to A Franciscan priest who arrived in and many of the first published obser­ Northern , the Spectacled Mexico in 1529, eight years after vations of New World life forms are Owl is known as a source of distinctive Cortes's destruction of the Aztec Capitol included among " las cosas." night-time sounds. In general, it is Tenochtitlan, he is popularly believed Sahagun noted a striking owl, known in Spanish speaking countries to have lived to a hundred, dying in whose voice reminded him of "tiles or as Bubo de Anteojos or Lechuzon de 1590. "Sahagun was ordered to write in plates being struck together" Anteojos, both translatable as "Owl of Nahuatl the infonnation needed by his (Grossman & Hamlet, 1964). More the Spectacles." However, regional colleagues for the conversion of the than 400 years later, the Marquess of names abound. In it is also Indians" (Collison, 1983). The greater Tavistock (the future 12th Duke of called the" Oropopo" (Stiles & Skutch, part of the resulting Historia is "an Bedford) in an article in the 1989), an obvious reference to a call incredibly detailed account of the Avicultural Magazine, compared the usually phoneticized in hooks as "PUP-pup-pup-pup-po" or "PUM-PUM­ pum-pum" (Holt, et aI, 1999). A Brazilian name is "Knocking Owl" (Grossman & Hamlet, 1964), and in some quarters it's the "Coffin Maker." Of course the Spectacled Owl's remarkable appearance has, in its own right, earned it more than the usual attention given to owls. It is the most likely species of tropical owl to show up in bird books, and its comhination of bright colors and startling pattern make it memorable. Furthermore, its wonderful juvenile plumage, present­ ing the illusion of being a negative image of the adult's, lends a cartoon­ like aspect, reminiscent of a stuffed toy. In various parts of the species' range, the juvenile Spectacled Owl has been given such names as "White Owl," "Downy Owl," or "Masked Owl" (Grossman & Hamlet, 1964). Tiffany Karabaich, a trainer for Flights of Wonder (a bird show created by Steve Martin, espe­ cially for Disney's Animal Kingdom) with a seven year-old bird hatched at the Baltimore Zoo It is therefore scarcely surprising where the North A rnerican Studbook for this species is maintained. that in the days of mass exports of

46 May/June 2000 Keeper for the Spectacled Owl, told Owls until 1984, when the me he was sent only one submission launched its long-term program when predating the 1950s. That was the two supposed females produced a specimen the San Diego Zoo received chick (Wilkinson, 1987 ). 4 December, 1938, in one of the sev­ Truly sustained propagation of eral Allan Hancock expeditions which Spectacled Owls first occurred in conti­ prOVided the zoo with an extensive nental Europe in the mid 1970s, when series of South American dur­ Hanover, Heidelberg, and, above ail, ing the 1930s. Antwerp, began to produce chicks over This bird established a longstanding spans of years. I am under the impres­ age record, living until 3 january, 1962. sion that most, if not all, of the This has since been exceeded by two European were imported by birds at the London Zoo. A specimen Dutch or German dealers from of the Trinidad subspecies P. perspicil­ Surinam, as opposed to the Amazonian lata trinitatis was received 6 july, birds shipped to American dealers. 1949, dying 19 March, 1974. The other Both of these populations are classified came to London 29 August 1951, and as the nominate subspecies P. p. per­ died there 30 April, 1976 (Marvin spicillata (Holt et aI, 1999). jones, pers. com.). The only account of reproduction at There were much earlier U.S. zoo Antwerp is in French (van Bocxstaele, records in fact. The exhaustive list of 1977) and I am not aware of any more all the birds acquired by the National than passing discussions published in Zoological Park in its first 40 years, English regarding any German breed­ from 1889 through 1928, cOlnpiled by ings. According to the International Lucille Mann (1930), wife of Dr. Zoo Yearbook (Zoological Society of William Mann, the famous long-time London, 1959- 1998), the first at least director of the zoo, includes two partial second generation captive Spectacled Owls. While their arrival breeding of Spectacled Owls occurred A family of Spectacled Owls in an oJf­ dates are not given, it is noted that one at Heidelberg in 1981, and the second exhibit breeding facility at the Oklahoma of them lived at least three years and at Krefeld in 1983. City Zoo. This chick hatched in 1998. one month. The International Species Information As is usually the case, Marvin jones, System (ISIS, 1999) lists, for 30 june, Amazonian animals, from the 1950s, to Registrar Emeritus of the San Diego 1999, 16 collections in Britain and the early 1970s, that fledgling Zoological Society, found, among his Continental Europe, holding among Spectacled Owls were a popular item nearly 60 year's accumulation of notes, them a total of 42 Spectacled Owls among the vast numbers of animals two records of tum-of the century (Many European zoos do not partici­ flown daily from and to American zoo acquisitions of pate in ISIS). Five of these places bred Miami dealers' compounds. Spectacled Owls. The first of the two them in the previous 12 months: In the 1960s the Red Uakari, now above-noted National Zoo specimens Antwerp, Zoolgischer Garten Berlin, almost gone from U.S. zoos, was often was received 13 August, 1902. The London Zoo, and The called "the Poor Man's OrangUtan.' Philadelphia Zoo acquired one in 1906. Conservancy at Weyhill, United Freshly imported baby tapirs were a fre­ Though he suspects there were prior Kingdom each hatched one chick, quent sight in children's zoos. Pet shops ones, the earliest European or British while the Chester Zoo produced three were full of tiny caimans and side-neck record which Marvin was able to pro­ (ISIS, 1999). turtles. Pet kinkajous, woolly monkeys, vide me was a bird that lived at the Zoo propagation of Spectacled ocelots, and coatis were a fad among London Zoo from 1923 to 1932, collect­ Owls in North America had a compar­ the trendy. And squirrel monkeys (com­ ed by none other than the legendary atively late start. By 1978, when the plete with leashes and "special monkey Walter Goodfellow (after whom the first U.S. breeding occurred at the food") could be ordered out of the Tree Kangaroo is named), discoverer Oklahoma City Zoo, seven British and backs of cOlnic books for eighteen dol­ of, among other things, the Mikado Continental European zoos had already lars. While young Spectacled Owls Pheasant and the Mt. Apo Lorikeet. succeeded. As had happened in Britain, were never really common place in It was at London Zoo that the first it was years before further U.S. institu­ dealer's compounds, the species went captive breeding took place in 1969, tions followed suit. Of the 10 U.S. zoos from being a great rarity in zoo collec­ comparatively late as far as owls go. indicated by the International Zoo tions to something one expected to see London's initial success was rather iso­ Yearbook to have hatched Spectacled in the more complete ones. lated, as after 1971 no further hatch­ Owls by 1996, seven did not commence Steve Sarro, Curator of Birds at the ings occurred there for 18 years, and until the 1990s. The first at least partial Baltimore Zoo, and Regional Studhook no other British zoo bred Spectacled second generation U.S. zoo breeding

the afa WATCHBIRD 47 TABLE I. TABLE n.

Spectacled Owls (Pulsatrix perspicillatus) hatched in European zoos and bird parks from 1959 Spectacled Owls hatched at zoos in the Americas from 1959 through 1996. through 1996. (Compiled from Records of Birds bred in Captivity in the International Zoo Yearbook, Vol. 's 1-36 (Compiled from Records of Birds bred in Captivity in the International Zoo Yearbook, Vol. 's 1-36 (Zoological Society of London, 1960-1998) ). (Zoological Society of London, 1960-1998». Hatched (Juvenile mortalities) Hatched (Juvenile mortalities) United States of America

United Kingdom Oklahoma City Zoological Park 1978, 1980-82, 18(7) 1985-87, 1989, London Zoo 1969-71 , 1989, 13(3) 1991 , 1996 1992, 1994-96 San Diego Zoological Garden 1987-91 16(3) Chester Zoo 1984-86, 1988-91 , 14(6) 1995-96 Riverbanks Zoological Park (Columbia, SC) 1988-90, 1992-93 10(1)

The Hawk Conservancy 1992, 1994-96 Los Angeles Zoo 1990, 1992 (Weyhill) St. Louis Zoological Park 199 1-96 9(1) Germany Woodland Park Zoological Gardens (Seattle) 1992-96 11(3) Zoo Hannover 1974, 1977-78, 8(3) 1980, 1982, 1986 Sedgwick County Zoo (Wichita) 1993, 1995

Tiergarten Heidelberg 1975, 1978-83 8(2) National Zoological Park 1994

Zoo Duisburg 1976 1(1) Birmingham Zoo 1996 1(1)

Tierpark Berlin 1977 Phoenix Zoo 1996

Kreffelder Zoo 1977-78, 1982-84 6(1) Costa Rica

Zoologischer Garten Berlin 1984, 1992-94 6(3) Zoo A ve Wildlife Conservation Park 1994-95 3(1) (Alajuela) Zoologischer Garten Koeln 1989-90, 1994-95 7(1) Belgium and the Netherlands Parque Zoologico Municipal "Quinzinho de Barros" 1994 2(2) Antwerp Zoo 1975-93, 1995 28(8) (Sorocaba)

Stichting Koninklijke Rotterdamse Dirgaarde 1990, 1993

Switzerland

Zoologischer Garten Basel 1978,1986, 8(1) 1989-90, 1992, 1994-95

took place at the San Diego Zoo, in 1987, followed by the Riverbanks zoo in 1988, St. Louis in 1992, Wichita in 1995, and Birmingham and Phoenix, in 1996 (Zoological Society of London, 1959-98). I know of only one detailed pub­ lished account of Spectacled Owls in a U.S. Zoo. This A .FA. Watchbird article is also the only lengthy one in English that I am aware of. Bruce Bohmke and Michael Macek (1994) present a com­ prehensive discussion of St. Louis Zoo's program through 1993. St. Louis bred from two pairs. Both females were hatched at the Oklahoma City Zoo. One of the males, hatched at the San Diego Zoo, was one of a number of Spectacled Owls hatched in an incu­ bator and hand-raised there. (Kuelher & Good, 1990). The other was a wild­ caught bird from the Cheyenne

Tbis bird, hatched at the Phoenix Zoo in 1997, lives at Consen1ation Station at Disney's Animal Kingdom, an interactive facility filiI of computer consoles and video monitors, where guests may l/iew veteri­ nary procedures, speak to animal care specialists, and experience a wide variety of animals at close range.

48 May/June 2000 Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. "fawn" phase, with a lighter shade of Acknowledgements As of 30 June 1999, ISIS (999) lists brown, very pale underparts, and light­ I wish to express my gratitude to Marvin]ones a total of 58 Spectacled Owls distrib­ colored toe-nails was introduced to the for providing me with obscure details from his uted among 26 U.S. zoos and related U.S. gene pool. It is now seen in pri­ incomparable collection of zoo historical materi­ institutions. It is not indicated what vate aviculture as well. My Disney's als. I am also very grateful to Steve Sarro, Steve proportion of these are captive-bred, Martin, ]aye Apperson of Steve Martin Naturdl Animal Kingdom Aviary colleague and Encounters, and Greg Bockheim, for taking the but ISIS (999) indicates that of the 109 fellow Watchbird contributor, Greg time to provide me with information. I also wish held by 46 collections worldwide, 80% Bockheim, told me of a breeder in to thank Deidre Wright, Librarian Intern at are captive hatched and only 4% cer­ Georgia with several examples of this Disney's Animal Kingdom, for aSSisting me with tainly wildcaught. (The international references. I am of course both grateful for and mutation. proud of Natalie Mashburn Lindholm's pictures total of institutions otherwise includes Although serious deforestation con­ and we both wish to express our appreciation to eight in the United Kingdom, eight in tinues through a major part of the Cathy O'Reilly, Keeper at Conservation Station, Continental Europe, and one each in Spectacled Owl's vast range, resulting in and Tiffany Karabaich, Trainer at Flights of Canada, , Costa Rica, and localized populations (Holt et ai, 1999), Wonder, at the Cardvan Stage, at Disney's Animal Kingdom, for making them pOSSible. ~ .) The International Zoo this species is not yet considered "glob­ Yearbook (Zoological Society of ally threatened." However, this beauti­ References London, 1959-98) lists 73 chicks ful bird makes an excellent "Flagship van BOCXSTAELE, R. (1977) Resultats d'elevage hatched among 10 U.S. zoos from 1978 Species" to draw attention to the plight chez les chouettes a lunnettes (Pulsatrix perspicillata) (Latham». through 1996. of Neotropical rainforests. Both the Zoo Anvers 42(3):98-102. Only three U.S. zoos are indicated specimens guests may see at Disney's BOHMKE, B.W. & M. MACEK (994) Breeding by ISIS (999) as having propagated Animal Kingdom fulfill this role. the Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix per­ spicillata). A.F.A. Watchbird 22(,5):4- Spectacled Owls from 1 July, 1998 One, hatched and parent-reared at 7. through 30 June, 1999: The Phoenix the Phoenix Zoo 11 April, 1997, COLLISON. R.L. (1983) Encyclopaedia. and Toledo Zoos each hatched one, Encyclopaedia Britannica ISth Edition arrived 11 December 1997 as part of Macropaedia, Vol 6: 779-799. while Oklahoma City hatched two. the collection at Conservation' Station, GROSSMAN, M.L. &). HAMLET (1964) Birds of This species is now managed under a where along with Tawny Owls, a prey of the world. Bonanza Books. HOLT, D.W., R. BERKELEY, C. DEPPE, P.L. Population Management Plan (PMP) as Tawny Frogmouth, a Red-crested ENRIQUEZ ROCHA, ).L. PETERSON, directed by the Bird of Prey Taxon Touraco, a Patagonian Red-backed J.L. RANGEL SALAZAR, K.P. SEGARS, Advisory Group of the American Zoo Hawk, and other birds, it is brought & K.L. WOOD (1999) Species accounts of Strigidae. Pp.153-242 in: and Aquarium Association. A PMP out jessed on a glove at regular inter­ del HOYO, )., A. ELLIOTT &). SAR­ requires the maintenance of a North vals, to be seen and heard ahout by GATAL, Eds. (1999). Handbook of the American Studbook. The one for birds of the world. Vol.5. Barn-owls crowds of admiring visitors. to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions. Spectacled Owls has been ahly kept The other, one of the three speci­ HOWELL, S.N.G. & S. WEBB (1995). A guide to by Steve Sarro, Curator of Birds at the mens belonging to Steve Martin the birds of Mexico and Northern . Oxford University Baltimore Zoo, who has put out three Natural Encounters, Inc., appears at Press. editions since 1992, and is working on the end of Steve's "Flights of Wonder" INTERNATIONAL SPECIES INFORMATION SYS­ a fourth. show at the Caravan Stage. It hatched TEM (999) ISIS bird abstract as of 30 June, 1999. Six years ago, Bohmke and Macek at the Baltimore Zoo, 15 August, 1992 KUEHLER, C. &]. GOOD (990) Artificial incu­ (994) warned: "The number of wild and was acquired by Steve in 1993. (It bation of bird eggs at the Zoological Society of San Diego. International caught hirds in the population is small does not show up in the International Zoo Yearbook 29:118-136. which makes the risk of inbreeding Zoo Yearbook, as it happens that MANN, L.Q. (930) List of animals exhibited in substantial. Close attention must be Baltimore breeding records were not the National Zoological Park during its first 40 years. Pp.296-358 in: given to the management of the cap­ received by the Zoological Society of MANN, W.M. (930) Wild Animals in tive population to avoid genetic prob­ London in 1992 and 1993.) While the and out of the zoo. Smithsonian lems in the future." Conservation Station bird is somewhat Institution MARKS, ).S., R.). CANNINGS, & H. MIKKOLA Since the enactment of the Wild flighty, the "Flights of Wonder" owl is (999) Family Strigidae (Typical Bird Conservation Act in 1993, com­ very steady, sitting on a trainer's glove Owls). Pp. 76151 in: del HOYO,)., A. ELLIOTT &J. SARGATAL, Eds. (999). mercial importation of this species has while being endlessly admired and Handbook of the birds of the world. heen prohihited, as it was previously photographed after the show. Vol. 5. Barn-owls to Hummingbirds. listed as CITES Appendix II. Five U.S. It is the hope of those of us at Lynx Edicions. SOUSTILLE, J. (983) Aztec Religion. Zoos have produced the great majori­ Disney's Animal Kingdom that the mes­ Encyclopaedia Britannica 15th Edition ty of chicks, with Oklahoma City and sages of biodiverSity and the threat of Macropaedia, Vol 2: 548-552. San Diego particularly well represent­ extinction imparted by the "Kilimanjaro STILES, F.G. & A.F. SKUTCH (989) A gUide to the birds of Costa Rica. Cornell ed. Steve Sarro, informed me that in Safari," The "Maharajah Jungle Trail," University Press. 1983, San Diego and Baltimore each the "Kali River Rapids," and "Count WILKINSON, R. (1987) Chester Zoo - 1986. Avicultural Magazine 93:90-97. imported a male hatched at Antwerp Down to Extinction" will be augmented ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON 0959-98) Zoo in 1981. Steve told me that it was by these and other individual represen­ Records of birds bred in captivity 1959- through the San Diego bird that the tatives of their various species. %. International Zoo Yearbook 1-36.

the afa WATCHBIRD 49