Both teams are ultimately under the supervision of Kenny Sims, our long­ suffering Director of Environmental in the Planning. Kenny had already put a great deal of effort and expense into creating a tropical forest in the build­ Monkey House ing when he discovered that the People were going to turn things (Avicultural experiences in the World of Primates) loose in the middle of it all, and ini­ tially regarded our activities with a degree ofguarded suspicion. byJosefLindholm, 11/ Keeper II, Birds To mollify the concerns of our plant Fort Worth Zoological Park staff, the initial concession was made, Fort Worth, Texas to the effect that nothing much larger than a Golden-breasted Starling would be liberated in the "W.o.P." It happens without fail at least three between them more than 5,500 gal­ (When our then-Director, Elvie times a week, and sometimes several lons of water every hour, day and Turner, authorized the inclusion of times a day; I will be straddling the night. This incessant roar is a perpet­ birds, he stipulated that his favorite guard-rail, setting out little pans of ual reminder that the World of Pri­ species, the Golden-breast, be among soaked dog food, chopped fruit and mates was not designed for birds. The the elect.) The largest birds in this finch seed several feet from the 28 plans for this building were drafted, building are a pair of Hottentot Teal foot deep moat that separates aloof and construction proceeded, untrou­ (Anas hottentota) and a Crowned Lap­ gorillas from their human admirers. bled by a Bird Department patiently wing (Vanellus coronatus), which, One of the latter will ask me, "You waiting for a new Bird House to though all full-winged, usually con­ mean they come all the way up here replace the internationally famous fine themselves to the shore of the to get that food?" (Hahn, 1976; Jones, 1968) if small one creek that covers the bottom of the that burnt in December of 1983. moat. Otherwise, the "big" birds are a "Excuse me?" I reply. In 1991, however, less than a year Golden-breasted or Royal Starling "Them monkeys - they come up before the opening of the World of (Cosmopsarus regius), the most popu­ here to eat that?" Primates, Christopher Brown became lar bird with the majority of "W.o.P." "This is birdfood ..." Curator of Birds and decided at once visitors, a ]avan Black-winged Starling "Oh! There's birds in here?" that eight years without an indoor (Sturnus m. melanopterus), the one Yes. There are birds in here. At least exhibit of birds at the Fort Worth Zoo bird in this exhibit which also lived in 75 specimens of 18 species. I cannot were quite enough. Of course, plans the old bird house, hatching there in be more precise, despite the best continue apace for a Bird House we 1983, the year it burnt, a pair of Fairy efforts of myself, our Curator, our expect to be the epitome ofgood hus­ Bluebirds (Irena puella), and an East Assistant Curator, my supervising bandry, beauty and intelligent presen­ Kenyan D'Arnaud's Barbet (Trachy­ Keeper III, and my relief Keeper I, tation, but, for now, the "W.o.P." phonus darnaudii boehmi), hatched variously armed with binoculars, log­ keeps us in practice - and our public at the Denver Zoo, for which we have sheets, pens and pencils, in combina­ has the opportunity to acquaint them­ found no unrelated stock of that par­ tions thereof, or as individuals. All the selves with some marvelous birds. ticular subspecies. (The inclusion of birds are banded, and most with The breath-taking array of tropical Asian birds in a building dominated pretty "day-glow" plastic rings. This is plants that pervade the World of Pri­ by gorillas is justified by the presence often, however, not an apparent fact, mates might seem, on the face of it, to of an Orangutan family, displayed while one is attempting to determine provide perfect conditions for birds. behind glass, along the visitor's path, exactly which seven ofthe 17 Orange­ As it happens, they impose limitations and more Orangs and alternating cheeked Waxbills released in this on what may be kept, and its potential White-handed and White-cheeked building over a year ago are the ones for successful propagation. As will be Gibbons in moated enclosures just now jostling each other over a seen, the lush "living wall" rising outside,) spray of millet. The same dilemma towards the ceiling from the border of It is in the exhibition of smaller birds applies to the African Silverbills of the visitor's path presents special that we have left the more traveled which 22 were liberated, and even the problems. paths of indoor flight-cage manage­ Black-winged Bishops, only seven As is only to be expected, the horti­ ment. Chris Brown's decision to introduced here, but whose shyness cultural staff is fiercely protective of its largely stock the World of Primates mostly precludes a clear look at their plants, a situation complicated by the with Estrildid and Ploceid finches has bands. fact that there are two wholly separate not only made things very interesting The heptagonal glass roof of the crews: members of the Fort Worth for the keepers of that exhibit, but has World of Primates (W.o.P.) towers 38 Zoological Park's Department of also had far-reaching effects else­ feet above the moated plateau where Environmental Planning, and employ­ where in the Bird Department. gorillas roam, an~ encloses 8,400 ees of a contracted firm that otherwise It was discouraging to find just how square feet of tropICal verd~re domi­ manages the plants in industrial parks, thoroughly what seemed to be enor­ nated by three waterfalls, recirculating malls, and other commercial settings. mous numbers of finches could disap- 26 ]anual)' / Februal)' 1994 pear into the greenery of the World of beneficiaries.) Though the Fairy Blue­ "organic" pesticide, which, despite its Primates and not be seen. To a consid­ birds will occasionally alight on the very obvious presence when freshly erable extent, this remains the case at rockwork, they much prefer their applied, appears to be harmless to mid-day, and when it is overcast. insects scattered on their softfood ­ vertebrates). And all trees, shmbs, and Before noon and after 3:00 p.m. are the pans of which are placed in larger bushes were similarly honored. (Quite always the best times to see birds in pans of seed, in tum secured in metal understandable, when one is in­ the "W.o.P." We have, however, con­ stands, designed by our Curator and formed that the monetary value of trived a method of making finches vis­ made in-house, painted dark green, so plants in this building runs to six fig­ ible that also achieves the happy goals they don't stand out amidst the Bou­ ures). Then, in the interest of public of lessening the volume of inevitable gainvilleas and Bromeliads. composure, it needs be that dead seed hulls and giving our public an One species that remains elusive is fronds are regularly stripped from the opportunity to observe a natural the Japanese White-eye (Zosterops Pandanus trees, lest they smite the behavior. The Fort Worth Zoo and japonica). Though it is quite possible heads of unwary gorilla-watchers. (As surrounding Forest Park are blessed we still have all eight, imported from an effort to preserve the useful nesting with great stands of Sea or Georgia China, released in this building in sites provided by the bases of these Cane (Arondo donaex), whose stout August of 1992, we see, momentarily, admittedly rapier-like, pointy-edged, stems, topped with plume-like seed­ two or three, darting to and away from formidable-looking objects, I pre­ heads and festooned with long, broad, the food pans, or through the foliage, sented a Monty-Pythonesque demon­ pointed leaves, may reach a height of furtively. Needless to say, a clear look stration where I sought (in vain) to 20 feet. After some trial and error, I at their bands is a rare privilege. Zos­ inflict damage upon my person with succeeded in attaching large numbers terops are evidently best displayed in one of them, hoping to show that the of millet sprays along these stems ­ more intimate exhibits. lethal potential of a dessicated Screw by the simple expedient of using I had hoped we would duplicate, "Palm" frond is equivalent to that of a paper tape (or fiber masking tape if I and far surpass, the success of the piece of packing tissue - but, of ran out). Brown paper tape is prefer­ Chester Zoo in England, where course, to no avail. It is simply not able, as spaces are left when spent "numerous" Red-eared (Black­ acceptable to hit visitors on the head sprays are removed, and new ones rumped) Waxbills and Red-cheeked with anything at all.) can simply be reinserted, though, Cordon Bleus, as well as a Pin-tailed However, haVing ensured the con­ when the weather isn't freezing, the Whydah raised by the Red-ears, were tinued well-being of their plants, and stalks themselves are changed fairly hatched and reared in its large planted prevented danger-from-on-high, our often to preserve the impression ofliv­ Tropical House immediately after its ing plants. The millet is usually posi­ opening (Coupe, 1965). And here the .------­ tioned so it hangs out over the moat, sister arts and sciences of aviculture eliminating the problem of chaff. It and horticulture found themselves at must be stressed that Golden-breasted cross purposes. We began releasing Buntings (Emberiza f!aviventris) birds in late February, 1992, and by appear unable to feed from these con­ mid-March, several weeks before the traptions, and depend on seed pro­ public opening, we'd liberated the vided in pans, while Twinspots and dozen Orange-cheeked Waxbills, Melbas, though able to eat from seven St. Helenas, five Black-cheeked sprays, appear to prefer pans as well. Waxbills, eight Red-cheeked Cordon With these exceptions, millet taped to Bleus, and other finches we had Arondo stalks works beautifully, and received from importers that January. Greenwings the sight of a clump of sprays bobbing Shortly, interesting things began to Buffon's up and down under the shifting happen. The male Cordons at once weight of a changing array of Wax­ commenced bouncing around in a Hyacinths bills, Weavers, and Whydahs is one typical straw display, and soon pairs that causes even the daily care-givers were tucking material into the bases of Militarys to stop in their tracks. Screw "Palm" (Pandanus) leaves. Getting the Starlings and Barbet Pin-tailed and Fischer's Whydahs paid Blue and Golds down where people will notice them close attention. By training my bino­ Scarlets is a simple matter when the keeper is culars on the glass ceiling, I was able present -I confess to deriving enter­ to observe the progress of a nest built Redfronts tainment from startling the gorilla­ by Black-cheeked Waxbills at the top • All BIRDS ARE CLOSED BANDED engrossed public into noticing my of the "living wall" of Philodendrons, and VETERINARIAN CHECKED birds by "materialiZing" a Royal Star­ Prayer Plants, Caladiums, various • UNRElATED PAIRS AVAilABLE ling, almost under their noses, ferns, and other hothouse plants. through tossing several mealworms, Then came the gardeners. ~oanne Abramson S waxworms, or maggots onto an artifi­ No, they couldn't leave portions of cial boulder. (Then again, there are the wall unwatered. And yes, they had ~~~~~~~~~'t! always certain individuals, usually to regularly spray every square inch P.O. Box 1271. Fort Bragg. CA 95437 small boys, who find the livefood with alternating treatments of fertilizer more fascinating than its intended and smelly, milky chrysantum oil (an 707-964-4380

afa WATCHBIRD 27 Surrounded by moated exhibits and a visitor's boardwalk, the World ofPrimates is a prominentzoo landmark.

The three male Pin-tailed Whydahs (Vidua macroura) have not 'wreaked the havoc they n1ight have in a sn1aller enclosure. (1) C/) ~ c .r= o J >. .i:J o (5 .r= CL

African Silverbills (Lonchura cantans) 'were thefirst Estrildidjtnches to successjitlly reproduce in this building.

(1)' C/) ~ c .r= o J >. A typicalperspective in the World ofPrimates. .i:J o (5 horticultural staffs have cooperated tat available to the birds. And espe- & where possible, to provide alternate cially for the Bird Department, they've nesting sites. When the building created an intricate network of stout opened in April 1992, there were not, wild grapevine stnlng across the path aside from the Screw "Palms," all that over what appear to be sizable dead many trees (as opposed to vines, trees, but are actually only branches, groundcover and such specimen cut high up in the great oaks, from plants as Dieffenbachia). In the which Forest Park receives its name, succeeding months, Kenny Sim's as a routine part of "tree mainte­ team, led by the perpetually unflap­ nance." Not only has the "junglely" One ofa group ofmale Red-billed Fire Finches (Lagonosticta senegala)presented pable Joseph Garivay, has brought in atmosphere been nicely enhanced, to the Fort Worth Zoo by the U.S. Fish and sizable Ficus benjiamana, greatly but we now have numerous places for Wildlife Service. One ofthesepaired-up off increasing the actual amount of habi- wicker baskets (painted brown), exhibit has sired several offspring in 1993.

28 Januaty / Februaty 1994 Q) Q) (/) (/) ~ ~ c .c c a .c -, -,a >. >. .D a P; .D o a .c .co 0... .. 0...

Gettingfinchesseen, Along with the St, Helena and Orange­ cheeked Waxbills is an East African Yellow-ntmped Seedeater The Crimson (Pirenestes sanguineus) has a reputationfor (Serinus atrogularis reichenowi), a close relative ofthe canary, delicacy, but the Fort Worth Zoo's single male maintains robust good Fort Worth Zoo's single wild-caught specimen has done very health in the World ofPrimates, It has sofarproved impossible to obtain well in this exhibit, and the acquisition ofcaptive-bred anyfemales. spect'mens is bet'nR investiRated, ~ and underlying sphagnull1 and chain­ dix III, for Ghana, which, of course, ~ link instead. Perversely, the most ll1eans none have been cOll1lnercially ~ determined pair of waxbills is com­ imported to this country since October E posed of a St. Helena and an Orange­ 22, 1993, under the provision of ~ cheek, firmly bonded. Knowing full the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 0... well the potential for hybridization 1992 (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, among the "red-eared" Estrildas, hav­ 1993). The fact that they are one ofthe ing chosen St. Helenas (E, astrild) as most easily-bred African finches has the 010st forest-favoring species, we not, so far, resulted in their being avoided acquiring Black-rumped (or widely bred in the U.S. due to this Red-eared) (E, troglodytes) and actually quite charming bird's lack of Crimson-rumped (E. rhodopyga) "brilliant" colors. Diana Mosier's Waxbills. We had, however, pre­ (1994) article on this species is the first sumed that the liberation of seven St. to appear in the 21 volulnes of AFA Helenas and 17 Orange-cheeks (in Watchbird, We certainly hope a self­ two installments) would preclude sustaining population will be estab­ The mostpopular birdfor visitors to the cross-pairing, an obvious miscalcula­ lished in the World of Primates, and World ofPrin1ates is this RoyalStarling tion. The Cordons (Red-cheeks only, contribute to nationwide efforts to (Cosmopsants regius), as we know the others hybridize) con­ maintain African Silverbills in Ameri­ which we are putting up in increasing tinue to prefer the Screw "Palms~' can aviculture. numbers, not only in the vines, trees As far as I can tell, the African Silver­ A prolific breeding colony ofAfrican and "dead trees," but also off the bill (Lonchura cantans), which Silverbills may hopefully be of interest girders in the dizzying framework of fledged Decell1ber ]0, 1993, after I to our Pin-tailed Whydahs (Vidua the ceiling where, like the Phantom of had already written most of this arti­ macroura), another CITES Appendix the Opera, our fearless Supervising cle, was hatched in a nest tucked III species, like so many of the 010st Keeper III, Brad Hzelton, sometimes away in a Screw "Palm." So far, the Sil­ familiar African cagebirds. Though the ventures. verbills, all bred and donated in olid­ Pin-tail a ppears to parasitize only Whether the Waxbills, Cordons and 1993 by Dallas finch-specialist Diana Estrildid Waxbills in the wild (one Silverbills will actually use the nest Mosier, have shown a preference for reason we introduced so lnany baskets remains a question. Black­ nesting in the rockwork and the living Orange-cheeks), parasitic Whydahs in cheeked Waxbills slept in them at wall, but above-noted youngster is not captivity may be less discritninating night but never added material (unlike only the first Silverbill fledged here, (Lee, 1987). There are seven Pin-tails their counterparts off exhibit, who but also the first Estrildid finch raised in the World of Primates, three cocks make intricate nests inside their bas­ in the World of Primates. African and four hens, an unnatural arrange­ kets). St. Helenas and Orange-cheeks Silverbills were one of those species ment as there should be at least sev­ continue to prefer the living wall, one could buy for $3.98 a pair in the eral females for each male. Pin-tailed ignoring baskets hung in the middle of pre-Newcastle's days of the early '70s. Whydahs have a long-held reputation it, aDd disappearing into the plants They are also listed on CITES Appen- for extrelnely nasty behavior in aviar-

afa WATCHBIRD 29 ies (Bates and Busenbark, 1963), and every year since (Zoological Society of could catch them. We are investigat­ that reputation may well hold tme for London, 1984-91). From this colony, ing reports of the availability of a most aviaries ofany usual size. My late the National Zoological Park in Wash­ sizable group of females, unrelated to friend K.C. Lint, Curator Emeritus for ington, D.C. established one of their the Woodland Park stock. Birds for the Zoological Society ofSan own. And in 1991, as the nucleus of its We are shortly expecting the arrival Diego, assured me, however, that in collection of African finches, the Fort of 10 or so female Black-winged "really big" aviaries this behavior was Worth Zoo purchased seven immature Bishops (Euplectes hordeaceus) to not a problem. birds from the National Zoo. They supplement the group of, again, four In the wild, it is a natural behavior were the very first birds turned loose males and three females, the story of for male Pin-tails in breeding plumage in the World of Primates, on Febmary whose arrival I have told elsewhere to chase "other small birds" and 23, 1992, shortly after we determined (Lindholm, 1993). Even with our pres­ "dominate" feeding stations (New­ they were four males and three ent uneven ratio, a chick fledged man, 1984). Perhaps this is part of the females. November 6, 1993, choosing to courtship display, possibly a "fitness Not yet in fully adult breeding plum­ appear the day the Bird Interest Group demonstration," in the words of evo­ age, one of the males began building ofTexas held a meeting at Fort Worth, lutionary biologists. At any rate, in the its fascinating nest in March, weeks so that its debut was witnessed by a vast space of the World of Primates, before the building's opening. Into the distinguished assemblage of zoo pro­ they have never been observed to fall, all the males built one nest after fessionals and private aviculturists. make physical contact with any bird. the other, taking three or so days to While the Black-winged Bishop has During the majority of the year when constmct each one from pre-shredded only rarely been bred previously, we our males are in their magnificent full strips of Arando leaves I provided ­ hope, with the arrival of the antici­ breeding plumage, one is likely to and about 45 minutes to entirely de­ pated additional females, to be at least dive-bomb Waxbills and Cordons for­ stroy it, scattering to the floor a rain of as successful with this weaver as the aging on the ground, or gathered on little bits when no females expressed Frankfurt Zoo has been with the well­ millet sprays. Usually, though, the interest. (This, I believe, is an entirely known Red Bishop (E. jranciscanus). Whydah hardly ever gives pursuit. It natural behavior - one can imagine a In an indoor cage of quite ordinary seems as if the point of the display (if disused nest harboring snakes or dimensions (Marvin Jones, pers. it is one) is to scatter the flock. Since other predators - or simply attacking comm.), 209 were fully reared from we always maintain a number of feed­ other birds whose proximity and com­ 1967 through 1989, second generation ing stations, there is always some­ petition for food would not be wel­ breeding being indicated from 1977 where else to go. It would seem that come.) Such was the sinlation through onwards, and 1975 being the only fatal injuries or stress to Estrildids September. In October, I noticed a year when hatchlings did not occur caused by Pin-tails is an artifact ofcap­ couple of nests that were still there (Zoological Society of London, tivity. Despite spectacular aerial "dog­ after more than a week. Late that 1969-91). fights" and breathtaking pursuits, month, two of the females displayed a We intend to breed softbills in the where they whiz through the girders sudden interest in mealworms - and World ofPrimates. After a long search, like the flying handkerchiefs in a flew up to their nests immediately Chris Brown located a female Black­ magic show, their four long black tail­ after eating. Sharp squeaking noises winged Starling (Sturnus melanop­ feathers streaming behind them, the were heard above the din of the terus), generously loaned to us by the males never hurt each other either. waterfalls and crowds. On October 23, well-known Florida aviculturists Mac While the normous expanse of the I fished the sodden corpse of a fledg­ and Cyndi Sharpe. With the male World of Primates appears to have ling weaver from one of the pools, hatched here in 1983, this is the only quelled the dangerous potential of and not long after, a male tore apart a pair in any U.S. public zoo. This is not Pin-tailed Whydahs, space alone has nest that held a well-developed chick, a difficult species to breed. The first not been the solution to another prob­ sending all sailing to the concrete record was at the London Zoo in 1922 lem caused by captive conditions­ faux-mud floor - with fatal con­ (Coles, 1987), and the following year the abnormal behavior of male South­ sequences. Jean Delacour (923) bred it in a ern Masked Weavers (Ploceus vela­ I believe the male's harassment of rather small aviary with a breeding tus), due to an artificially low ratio of chicks (noted also at the National Zoo pair of Crimson-winged Parakeets. Its females. where the male, being in a small current low status in American avicul­ As with the majority of Ploceus exhibit, can be pulled), and the pre­ ture is due to lack of coordinated weavers, the Southern Masked mature destruction of a nest holding interest rather than difficulties in hus­ Weaver is highly polygynous, each offspring are artifacts of captivity bandry. Before introducing the newly male attempting to attract a harem of caused by there being more males acquired female, we will remove, females. The tradition in the bird trade than females. And now we have no despite his popularity with the public, of selling everything in pairs obvi­ females at all. In July 1992, all three the Royal Starling (we have another ously creates an unnatural condition. were noted missing at once. One pair elsewhere, and had early decided The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle theory concerns a conjunction of against breeding this actually semi­ managed somehow to circumvent this amorous pressure, flocking desert species in the "W.o.P." after - perhaps they did obtain extra behavior, and, possibly, one of the hearing reports of the savage behavior females. At any rate, breeding there very rare situations where non- of breeding pairs of this otherwise commenced in 1982 and, with the staff doing something in the building generally compatible species). exception of 1986, has occurred there propped open a door before anyone While never observed to attack 30 January / February 1994 other birds, the Royal Starling is in the cautiously reached out and touched Director of Construction and Main­ habit of closely following any birds of him with one finger. He soon no tenance, and Phillip Groves, Main­ similar size, such as the Crowned doubt dismissed these creatures as tenance Supervisor, Fort Worth Zoolo­ Lapwing (whenever it flew) and the hopelessly dense and stupid and now gical Association, for providing me Fairy Bluebirds, for several days after generally spends his time by the with dimensions and statistics for the introduction. It has never paid atten­ stream where he belongs. World ofPrimates. tion to anything finch-sized - we The pair of Hottentot Teal did pro­ have not observed any aggression at vide one of our female gorillas with References all from the starlings, Fairy Bluebirds some unfortunate entertainment when Coles, D. (987) First breeding records for birds or Barbet towards any of the finches. she finally discovered the nest they reared to independence under controlled The only problem is keeping enough had made in a planter several feet up conditions in the United Kingdom. (Pub­ lished by the author). livefood in stock, especially when the the side of the concrete "mud-bank." Coupe, M.F. (965) Notes on some of the birds Waxbills and Cordons are, we hope, We had been removing eggs for bred at Chester Zoo during 1964. Ibid. eventually successful at nesting. We incubation and replacing them with LXXI, 30-31. Delacour, ].T. (923) Breeding of the Black­ will be breeding fruitflies, are experi­ "dummies" while the gorilla exhibit winged Grackle (Graculipica melanop­ menting with feeders with baffles, and was cleaned. Eventually, however, the tera). AlJicultural Magazine. (Series V)I, may try and see if we can't keep the nest was discovered and provided a 175-1n larger birds entertained with "giant few moments of puzzled amusement. Hahn, E. (967) Animal Gardens. Doubleday. Jones, M.L. (968) North American Zoological mealworms" and waxworms, so that The Hottentots will probably nest Gardens and Parks. in Kirchshofer, R. they might ignore dishes of fly larvae there again, and perhaps the gorilla (968) The world ofzoos, 225-230. and "mini-worms." will have by then forgotten this inter­ Lindholm, ].H. (993) Focus on African Finches: TIle Fire-fronted Bishop (Euplectes diade­ The question will arise to the reader esting experience. matus). AFA WatchbirdXX (No.4), 35-38. as to what interactions occur between The bird staff involved with this Mosier, D. (994) African Silverbills. Ibid. XXI birds and primates in a Primate monumental building actually spend a (No. 1),4-7. House. Indoors, only two species of proportionately small amount of their Newman, K. (984) Newman's birds ofsouthern Africa. Macmillan South Africa. the latter (not counting humans) are day in it. Most of the daily routine of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (993) Facts: Wild not behind glass; the gorillas and the the "W.o.P. string" takes place off Bird Conservation Act of 1992. AFA East African Colobus Monkeys. The exhibit. The establishment, after nine WatchbirdXX (No.5), 56. Colobus, though leaf-eaters, certainly years, of an indoor exhibit of small Zoological Society of London 0969-91) Species of birds bred in zoos and other institutions take an active interest in any birds that birds at Fort Worth Zoo "justified" the 1967-1989. Intemational Zoo Yearbook might venture through the "piano existence of a behind-scenes breeding IX-XXXI.• wire" of their path-side enclosure, no facility for African and Asian finches doubt intrigued by the "toy" potential which has now very much taken on a of any they might catch. In more than life of its own. So far we have been a year and a half, we have had one successful with Dybowski's and certain fatality. Although birds some­ Peter's Twinspots and Red-billed Fire times enter the exhibit when it's Finches, and with the completion this : .JUNGLE SAFARI empty, usually they keep a healthy spring of two outdoor units designed • May 28 - June 4, 1994 distance from the monkeys, likely rec­ and constructed by our endlessly • Escorted by Charles Siegel, ognizing the "predator" potential of enthusiastic SuperVising Keeper III, • Curator of Birds at the these cat-sized arboreal creatures with Brad Hazelton, our facility will be Dallas Zoo Explore Amazonia with biologist and ' spectacular plume-like tails. tripled, and we are certain to make ornithologist, Charles Siegel. Walk On the whole, the gorillas pay no major contributions to the establish­ through the treetops on the only canopy walkway in the Americas! The 115 feet attention to the birds that share their ment in American aviculture of spe­ high walkway provides a spectacular exhibit. One often sees a living carpet cies neglected until the passage of the bird's eye view of the forest. Daybreak and night walks also offer excellent bird! of Cordons and Waxbills, punctuated Wild Bird Conservation Act. wildlife viewing.' Travel on the Amazon with a Whydah, Bishop or Firefinch, At the same time, the challenge of and Napo Rivers, explore virgin rainforest, fish for piranha, visit native villages and see pink dolphins, foraging on the ground, several feet breeding birds in the World of Pri­ monkeys, sloths, orchids, giant lilies and much away from a regally oblivious ape. mates continues to be enjoyed. It will morel Add exotic bird species to your life list, such as; hoatzins, toucans, macaws, parrots, horned One bird did not initially allow itself to be most interesting to watch the evo­ screamers, tanagers, cuckoo, potoo, trogons, be ignored. Our Crowned Lapwing lution of the collection in this building manakins, cotingas, and many more. Have fun and learn about tropical nature while staying in exotic Plover was hand-raised at the Milwau­ over the years. The most recent devel­ jungle lodges, in remote nature reserves, where kee Zoo and marches up to keepers to opment is the impending release of great wildlife viewing just comes naturally! be fed (he now stays entirely on the several Giant Fruit Bats, or Flying Only $1795 from Miami. gorillas' side of the moat, having Foxes (Pteropus giganteus), which (Low cost, add-on airfares available.) shortly learned that screaming happen to be one of my favorite non­ Limited to 23 particpants. hoardes of school children are, as far avians. Where they will go and what Extension to the Andes and as he's concerned, a malevolent life they will do remains a question. But Machu Picchu available! form). Initially he marched right up to that, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, Call Explorations, Inc. for sitting gorillas and loudly vocalized, is another story.... a free detailed brochure. no doubt in hope of mealworms. The hl most response he ever got was when Aclmowledgements '- .. 1-800-446-9660 .., one of our dignified old females very I am most grateful to Richard Archie, afa WATCHBIRD 31