.c :;OJ .0 >­ ~ o u Z >­ .0 Chats oen (5 .c Glen Holland, A ukland, New Zealand a..

he 30 species of chat and 17 species of wheatear belong T to the sub-fan1ily Cercol11ela which are part of the fan-Lily Muscicapidae that includes robins, shan1as and redstarts. These all belong to the order Passeriformes. Most species prefer cliffs and old quarries where there are plenty of large boulders inter persed with clun1ps of bush. They hop and glide from one boulder to another and, immediately after landing, the 111ock­ Buflstreaked Chat./;"om South A/nca ing chat's tail, for exal11ple, is rai ed giving the appearance that the bird They adapt well to captivity, housed in an aviary. It is possible ha over balanced. The familiar chat but newly acquired adults can be a however to mix species which are in turn flit its wings a few tin1es little delicate and stubborn when dis ilnilar in looks and habits. I hav after landing. They tend to sit on the adapting to substitute food . By ini­ not noticed any serious aggr ssion top of the highest b ulders or hrubs tially holding wild birds in small between chats and other occupants frol11 where th y have a clear view cages with soft shade cloth fronts of an aviary, and th pairs tend to of their territory. Stonechats are and also by n1ixing livefood into the keep uluch to themselves. During hirds of open crub and grassland ubstitute foods, they soon learn to courtship the male can be very and a number of other species live take these and adapt to captivity. aggressive towards the female who in dry scru bland in Australia and Hand rai ed bird however are easy can son1etin1e also show limited Africa. The calls of chats vary great­ to feed and will accept n10st softbill aggression towards the Inale. Ideally ly and son1e are excellent n1in1ics fonnulas. As they are territorial, birds should be paired when young with a loud , ong. only one pair of a species can be and out of the breeding season. They are extremely quick to snap up insects and this will son1etin1es result in larger competing species such as tarlings ha ing off the chat at feeding tilnes. Chats prefer a large but lightly planted aviary, which includes rocky outcrop into which they will retreat if threatened. The land ca pe should be planned according with their nat­ ural habitat but for mo t species low shrubs intersper ed with open unny areas, rocks, and tree Stl.1I11pS will provide suitab1 habitat. FrOI11 these vantage points they will 'hawk" insects in the air and also drop to the ground where they pick up crawling insects. The n1ales will spend I11uch of their tin1e displaying and calling fron1 these favorite vantage points. Tractrac Cbat at the nest. Males a1 0 tend to SOlneti111es chase 12 Third Quarter 2002 females but this seldom results in they will come to the hand to for hand rearing at eight days of age. serious fighting. receive this. Large insects are usual­ The birds will soon lay a second They are usually the first birds ly beaten into pieces on a rock or a clutch, which can be left with them. to give the alarm call if, for example, stump. Australian Orange Chats fade If young birds are left for the adults a raptor flies over, and the other after years in captivity and in order to rear, a good supply of livefood is birds in the aviary soon learn to take to maintain their color they can be essential. Within six weeks of fledg­ cover when the chats alarm call is fed color food as is used for red fac­ ing the chicks are best removed to heard. This generally high pitched tor canaries. avoid persecution from the parents. call can be a little irritating, as the Chats are relatively easy to other birds tend to panic when the hand raise and are best removed for call is heard. Chats are fond of They hand rearing after at 7 - 10 days of bathing and a shallow pool of water age. The following guideline should should be available for this. They are usually the be followed for rearing to day 10 - are willing nesters, but will not first birds to give the having reached that stage there nest if the inhabitants of the should not be any further prob­ aviary are incompatible or alarm call if, for exam­ lems. insufficient livefood is sup­ ple, a raptor flies over, The incubator should be plied/available. Chats are rela­ set at 37.2° C (99° F) and a rel­ tively hardy birds, which are and the other birds in ative humidity of 57-60 %. Eggs able to withstand overnight the aviary soon learn to should be turned at least seven temperatures down to freezing. times per day. In incubators, They do however require day­ take cover when the which automatically turn eggs time temperatures in excess of 8°C chats alarm call with rollers over a mat should (46.4°F) have the delicate eggs resting on In severe climates, which do not is heard. paper towel. At the first external pip, meet the requirements described, the turner is switched off, or the they should be housed indoors with eggs moved to a dedicated hatcher. some additional warmth. During courtship and incuba­ Eggs are hatched at the same tem­ Chats are naturally almost tion, in some species, the male will perature or very slightly lower than entirely insectivorous but in captivi­ feed the female. For many species, a described for incubation. Eggs usual­ ty they will feed on soaked cat kib­ wooden box, the size of Budgie nest ly hatch within eight hours of the ble, fresh bonemeal, commercial box with a half-open front, should first external pip, often hatching softbill food, minced ox heart, a vari­ be supplied. A large jam tin with half within a few hours of the first pip. ety of insects, and a little fruit. the front covered will also be After six hours the chicks are moved The following diet can be pre­ accepted but should be placed in to a brooder with a temperature of pared in bulk and frozen in the pro­ the shade. Some species however, 36° C (96.8° F) and 65 % humidity. portions as required per day: such as the stonechats, prefer to nest The first droppings are small and on the ground in amongst some green / blue colored resulting from • 4 cups of commercial softbill mix vegetation. The nest is cup shaped, the yolk absorbed shortly before • 2 tablespoons glucose built of grasses and rootlets and hatching. • 2 teaspoons calcium supplement lined with animal hair. The 3 - 4 (powder) eggs are pale greenish blue with Handrearing • 1 teaspoon multivitamins some rust colored freckles. Both Day 1: The chicks are placed • I/2-teaspoon minerals and trace sexes incubate for 16 days and both together in a bowl lined with paper elements formulated for avian species assist in feeding the chicks, which towel with some wood shavings to • 3 cups water fledge at 20 days. Fecal sacs are provide some grip. The bowl is then • 1 teaspoon cod liver oil removed from the nest. They do not placed in an incubator set at 36° C ADD: - tolerate nest disturbance well and (96.8° F) . The chicks are naked and • One ox heart - cut off all fat and are easily evicted from their nests if pink in color. After 3 - 4 hours the then mince. housed with larger softbills. chicks are fed a few drops elec­ • 4 hard-boiled eggs / grated with the Many species such as the trolyte solution every hour for the shell. Australian Orange Chat perform a first 4 feeds. Thereafter the chicks very convincing "broken wing act" are given a little commercial hand Livefood is always their favorite when the nest site is disturbed. To rearing formula and hard boiled egg and to assist in taming the birds, ensure success I would advise that yolk to which warm water is added livefood is best fed by hand. In time the first clutch of chicks be removed to the point where the food had a the afa WATCHBIRD 13 firm porridge consistency but could Some fruit in the form of grated be drawn into the syringe with ease. apple, diced paw-paw, and banana The first feeds are given with a small is added to the diet and eagerly con­ insulin syringe. Each feed consists of sumed. At each feed three to four 0.2ml of food. Feeds are given food items are taken and '/2 of the hourly 6am - lOpm. and the chicks entire diet now consisted of heart begin to voluntarily beg soon after strips dipped in rearing food and the hatching. Nest liners changed three rest of fruit and insects such as diced times per day. mealworms, small crickets and moths. The chicks are at an awk­ Day 2: Temp: 35° C (96.8° F). ward stage where the belly and The chicks beg eagerly for food and if stomach had become large and they the droppings are rather loose, begin sway from side to side while beg­ to add finely diced heart, waxmoths, ging for food. Feeds are now given mealworms and whole crushed meal­ every one and half-hours and the worm beetles or pinhead crickets. chicks are stimulated to beg by giv­ These items are dipped in the mois­ ing it a soft blow or making a tened commercial rearing food and squeaking sound with the lips. fed with a forceps tweezer. One solid While begging they give a high food item is added in addition to the pitched call. 0.2 ml of rearing food given at each feed. Day 7: Temperature: 31 ° C (88° F). The eyes begin to open and the Day 3: Temp: 34° C (95° F) first quills appear on the back and decreased from now on by 1° C wings. Nest cleaned at least five (1.8° F) per day until an ambient times per day. The chicks' gapes temperature of 25° C or F) is also gather softfood and this should reached at which stage the chicks be cleaned off with a cotton wool will be well feathered and able to bud and warm water, twice per day. regulate their own temperature. The chicks' droppings begin to improve Day 10: Temperature: 28° C and show the typical '/:, brown and (82° F). The eyes are wide open and III white color which a healthy quills appear on the t1anks and passerine chick should produce. The crown as well. The size of the food diet is slowly changed to include items is increased slightly. At this small strips of ox heart dipped in the stage they are still fed every hour moistened rearing food and a por­ and a half and consume up to four tion of commercial softbill food. This food items per feed. Their calls were food is fed with a forceps tweezer quite loud at this stage. and easily swallowed by the chicks. A soluble multivitamin and a calci­ If chicks are removed from the um/phosphorous supplement are nest when half feathered they will added to the rearing food. The begin to beg for food within 12 chicks should be taking two food hours. A forceps tweezer and a thin items at each feed. A bowl of water syringe, which has the narrow tip is maintained in the brooder to removed, are used for feeding. The ensure that the chicks do not dehy­ chicks are fed hourly when small drate. and this can be reduced to every two hours once they are well feath­ Day 4: The droppings are now ered. They will begin to peck at produced immediately after each food about five days after t1edging feed, in a fecal sac which was '/" but still require hand feeding for two white and 1/3 brown in color. These weeks. A dish with a variety of foods fecal sacs are strong enough to be as mentioned above should be sup­ removed with a tweezer and thus plied from five days after t1edging ensure good hygiene is maintained. onwards. .:. 14 Third Quarter 2002