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Brolga (Grus Rubicunda) Husbandry Guidelines – 2008

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Brolga (Grus Rubicunda) Husbandry Guidelines – 2008 Brolga (Grus rubicunda) Husbandry Guidelines – 2008. By Lynda Veyret, Brolga Species Coordinator, Territory Wildlife Park, Northern Territory, Australia. [email protected] Adult male Brolga. (Photo – Tegan Christophersen, TWP.) Status: Federal: Vulnerable IUCN: Lower Risk ASMP: Australian Non-passerine TAG. Management Level 3 Conservation status: Refer Table 1.1. 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………..5 2. Taxonomy …………………………………………………………………………………….7 2.1 Nomenclature ……………………………………………………………………………..7 2.2 Subspecies ………………………………………………………………….……………..7 2.3 Other common names ……………………………………………………………………..7 3. Natural History …………………………………………………………………..…………...9 3.1 Diagnostic Features ……………………………………………………………………….9 3.2 Distribution and Habitat …………………………………………………………………10 3.3 Longevity …………………………………………………………………………….….12 3.3.1 Wild ………………………………………………………………………………..12 3.3.2 Captivity ……………………………………………………………………………12 3.3.3 Techniques to Determine the Age of Adults ………………………….…………...12 4. Housing Requirements ……………………………………………………………………..12 4.1 Exhibit Design …………………………………………………………………………...12 4.2 Holding Area Design ……………………………………………………………………12 4.3 Spatial Requirements ……………………………………………………………………13 4.4 Weather Protection ………………………………………………….…………………...13 4.5 Heating Requirements …………………………………………………….……………..13 4.6 Substrate …………………………………………………………………………………13 4.7 Enclosure Furnishings …………………………………………………….……………..13 5. General Husbandry …………………………………………………………….…………...13 5.1 Hygiene and Cleaning Requirements ……………………………………………………13 5.2 Record Keeping ……………………………………………………………………….…13 5.3 Methods of Identification ………………………………………………………………..14 5.3.1 Leg Bands…………………………………………………………………………….14 5.3.2 Transponder…………………………………………………………………………..14 5.3.3 Tattoos………………………………………………………………………………..14 5.4 Routine Data Collection …………………………………………………………………14 6. Feeding ………………………………………………………………………………………14 6.l Wild Diet …………………………………………………………………………………14 6.2 Captive Diet ……………………………………………………………………………...14 6.3 Supplements.……………………………………………………………………………..15 6.4 Presentation of Food ……………………………………………………………………..15 7. Handling and Transport ……………………………………………………….…………..15 7.1 Timing of Catching and Handling …………………………………………………….…15 7.2 Catching Bags ……………………………………………………………………………15 7.3 Capture and Restraint Techniques …………………………………………………….....15 7.4 Weighing and examination ……………………………………………….……………...18 7.5 Release …………………………………………………………………………………...18 7.6 Transport Requirements ……………………………………………………………….. .18 7.6.1 Box Design and Materials …………………………………………………………. .19 7.6.2 Furnishings ………………………………………………………………………… .19 2 7.6.3 Water and Food ……………..…………………………………….………………... .19 7.6.4 Birds Per Box …………………………………………………………………….…..19 7.6.5 Preventing Injuries……..……………………………………….………..…………...19 7.6.6 Timing Of Transport………..………………………...…………..….……..………...19 7.6.7 Release from Box…..………………………………..……………..………..………..20 8. Health Requirements …………………………………………………………………………...20 8.1 Daily Health Checks …………………………………………………………………………20 8.2 Detailed Physical Examination ………………………………………………………………20 8.3 Anaesthesia…………………………………………………………………………………...22 8.4 Routine Treatments …………………………………………………………………………..22 8.5 Known Health Problems ……………………………………………………………………..22 8.6 Quarantine Requirements …………………………………………………………………….25 9. Behaviour ………………………………………………………………………………………..25 9.1 Habits ………………………………………………………………………………………...25 9.2 Reproductive Behaviour ……………………………………………………………………..25 9.3 Behavioural Problems ………………………………………………………………………..25 9.4 Behavioural Enrichment ……………………………………………………………………..26 9.5 Introductions and Removals …………………………………………………………………26 9.6 Interspecific Compatibility …………………………………………………………………..26 9.7 Intraspecific Compatibility …………………………………………………………………..26 10. Breeding …………………………………………………………………………………………27 10.1 Mating System ……………………………………………………………………………...27 10.2 Initiation of egg laying………………………………………………………………………27 10.3 Techniques Used to Control Breeding ……………………………………………………...27 10.4 Artificial Insemination (AI)…………………………………………………….…………...28 10.5 Occurrence of Hybrids ………………………………………………………………………31 10.6 Timing of Breeding …………………………………………………………………………31 10.7 Age of First Breeding ……………………………………………………………………….31 10.8 Ability to Breed Every Year ………………………………………………………………..31 10.9 Ability to Breed More than Once Per Year ………………………………….……………..32 10.10 Nesting Requirements ……………………………………………………………………..32 10.11 Breeding Diet ……………………………………………………………………………...32 10.12 Incubation Period ………………………………………………………………………….32 10.13 Clutch Size ………………………………………………………………………………...32 10.14 Age at Fledging ……………………………………………………………………………32 10.15 Age removal from Parents ………………………………………………………………...32 10.16 Growth and Development ………………………………………………….……………...33 10.17 potential Growth Problems…………………………………………………………………35 11. Artificial Incubation and Rearing of Brolgas …………………………………………………..36 11.1 Incubator Type ……………………………………………………………….……………...36 11.2 Incubation Temperatures and Humidity …………………………………………………….36 11.3 Desired % Weight Loss ……………………………………………………………………..37 11.4 Hatching Temperature and Humidity ……………………………………………………….37 11.5 Normal Pip to Hatch Interval ……………………………………………………………….38 3 11.6 Brooder Types and Design ………………………………………………………………….38 11.7 Brooder Temperatures ………………………………………………………………………39 11.8 Diet and Feeding Routine …………………………………………………….……………..39 11.9 Specific Requirements ……………………………………………………………………....39 11.10 Pinioning Requirements …………………………………………………………………...40 11.11 Identification Methods …………………………………………………………………….41 11.12 Hygiene ……………………………………………………………………………………41 11.13 Behavioural Considerations ……………………………………………………………….41 11.14 Use of Foster Species ……………………………………………………………………...42 11.15 Rehabilitation Procedures …………………………………………………………………43 12. Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………………...44 13. References ………………………………………………………………………………………..44 14. Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………..47 15. Glossary ………………………………………………………………………………………….48 16. Appendices. ……………………………………………………………………………………...49 Figures/photos: Front page: Male Brolga……….….…………………………………………...………………………1 Figure 1:1 Unison-all….……………………………………………………………………..…………5 Figure 1.2: Brolga eggs………………………………………………………………………………...6 Figure 1.3: Brolga chick and 2nd egg…………………..……………………………………………….6 Figure 1.4: Brolga pair on nest…………..………………………………………………….………….6 Figure 2.1: Overview of Crane Morphology…...………………………………………………………8 Figure 2.2: DNA Phylogeny of Cranes……….…………………………………………….………….8 Figure 3.1: Brolga chick – 50 days old….…………………………………………………..…………9 Figure 3.2: Breeding and non-breeding ranges of the Brolga…….…………………………………..11 Figure 3.3: Distribution of the Brolga in Australia…………………………………………………...11 Figure 7.1: Rod used to keep Brolga at a distance……………………………………………………15 Figure 7.2: Hold of a crane’s wings and body…………..……………………………………………16 Figure 7.3: Aggressive bird’s head held by a second person…………………………………………16 Figure 7.4 & 5: Serendip Sanctuary, Brolgas held in wrap and hood……...…………………………17 Figure 7.6: Restraint of Brolga by sitting over it……………………………………………………...18 Figure 8.1: BCI an indicator of nutrition……………………………………………………………...21 Figure 10.1: Hooded brolga standing……...………………………………………………………….28 Figure 10.2 & 3: Brolga going through AI procedure……...…………………………………………29 Figure 10.4: Brolga going through AI procedure…...………………………………………………...30 Figure 10.5: Female cloaca – out of breeding season…...………………………………….…………30 Figure 10.6: Breeding pen at Serendip Sanctuary…….………………………………………………31 Figure 10.7 – 9: Brolga chicks, 5, 8 and 12 weeks old…..……….…………………………………...34 Figure 10.10: Hand-reared Brolga chick’s growth weight……………………………………..……..35 Figure 10.11: Percent weight gain changes of chicks from week 1 – 14……… ...………….…….…36 Figure 11.1: Relative humidity calculations…...……………………………………………………...37 Figure 11.2: Brooder Box……….…………………………………………………………………….38 Figure 11.3: Scoop method of newly hatched chicks...……………………………………………….40 Figure 11.4: One-week-old Brolga chick swimming……………………………………….……….41 Figure 11.5 a & b: Puppet feeding chicks to avoid imprinting……………………………………….42 4 1. Introduction. The Brolga, one of two cranes native to Australia, also occupies a small area in New Guinea (Meine, C. & Archibald, G. 1996). A tall; stately grey bird with long neck, beak and legs; can be observed either singular, in pairs, or in flocks. Brolgas are omnivorous, preferring habitat with ephemeral or permanent water-bodies. They move from area to area depending on weather/breeding season and food availability. Although breeding is not difficult in the wild, in captivity there are only a few brolga pairs that breed successfully (pers.obs.) Weights: Adult Males: 4.5 – 7 .25 kg, Adult Females: 3.2 – 5.2 kg (ARKS. 2004) Measurements: Males: 1050 – 1250 mm, Females: 950 – 1150 mm. (Schodde & Tidemann eds. 1997). Eggs: Figure 1.2. Tapered – oval, roughly 92 x 61mm; basically cream with reddish-brown and lavender markings (Schodde & Tidemann eds. 1997), weighing 170 – 195gms (Ozcranes 2006). Sexing Methods: Laparoscopy; DNA Analysis (see Appendix), Faecal, Steroid, Feather Pulp, or Vent Sexing. A natural way would be in observing the behaviour of the birds (Scott, Swengel. 1996). At Territory Wildlife Park (TWP), the female is timid, showing neck-retracted submissive postures. The male is the dominant, with a more erect and aggressive posture, spending a lot of time observing and approaching intruders. (pers.obs) Although it is usually the male that is the aggressive of the sexes, at Perth Zoo it was noted that
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