clutch at six months old. Broske says her captive-raised start breeding Breeding the at about seven months of age. Incuba­ tion is around 21 days and young fledge at seven to eight weeks, Tui Parakeet becoming independent two to three ( sanctithomae sanctithomae) weeks later. by Robbie Harris Diet La Habra, California Ben Cooper feeds keet and finch mixture supplemented with one table­ The Tui Parakeet (Brotogeris sancti­ deep. For perches I prefer to use natu­ spoon ofsoaked (not sprouted) millet. thomae sanctithomae) is part of the ral tree branches. The branches used He also feeds CD mix (insectile). Brotogeris family. The Tui is a "cou­ are from my own orchard of over 50 Barbara Broske feeds keet and sin" to the ever popular Grey-cheeked various fruiting trees grown on my cockatiel mix as well as Vita-Finch Parakeet, as both are in the Brotogeris property. I do not use insecticide so I and Vita-Canary. She supplements "a genus. The Tui is a small of seven can assume they are safe. The wood­ lot of green," however, states many of inches in length, and built on the more en nest boxes used measured 11" x the dark greens are "~trong" and the slender side compared to its cousin. A 10" X 7" wide, having a round 2" birds won't eat them. She also feeds nice different feature from the Grey­ diameter hole; these were offered to sweet potato and high grade wheat cheek is that the Tui Parakeets do not each pair. The nest boxes were lined bread put through a food processor. have a harsh loud voice. They have a in a dark cork, which was adhered to She says imported birds are finicky voice like most Brotogeris, but just do the inside with a non-toxic glue. To and are hard to feed supplements, not seem to use it as often. I would the bottom of the nest box three however, the second generation are consider them quiet compared to the inches ofpine shavings were added to better feeders. She prefers Romaine, Grey-cheek. use as a base. Photos and more details broccoli and carrot. The Tui is mainly shades of a bright on nest box lining is described in my I concur with Broske on the diffi­ green, with the breast, abdomen, book "Grey-cheeked Parakeets and culty of establishing supplemental under the wings and tail, lower back Other Brotogeris," T.F.H. food as a part of their diet. Mine prefer and tail coverts more of a yellowish All my birds that are set up in breed­ small seeds, including niger and I feed green. The wing flights are bluish ing cages are in a large wire enclo­ extra straight canary seed, and also green, with the blue a bit brighter on sure. This wire building houses many spray millet. Fruit is seldom accepted, the primary coverts. The most notice­ pairs ofbirds which do not seem to be however some greens and vegetables able differences of the Tui Parakeets bothered by their close neighbors of are. compared to other Brotogeris para­ different species. A few pairs of birds In Aviculture keets are the chestnut-colored beak set up right next to the Tui Parakeets The Madagascar Lovebird was one and glowing golden colored iris. The are Painted Conures, Pearly Conures, of the first lovebirds imported and, in head is the most striking feature ofthis Peach-fronted Conures, Dusky Con­ the past, reached Europe in the thou­ little bird. Those golden eyes are ures, Blue-crowned Conures, Senegal sands. Yet they still remain rare and really set off with the bright yellow and Tovi Parakeets. The diet I are very difficult to establish. The late forehead. To many people, the Tui provided for the Tui Parakeets is very David West tolq me they will even die Parakeet appears to be in color a mini similar to the diet I offer to most of my other parrots. This diet in detail can be of fright in the net, and they should be version of the Yellow-crowned Ama­ found in either of my books, "Breed­ moved in their nestboxes whenever zon (Amazona ochrocephala). The ing Conures," T.F.H. or "Grey­ possible. Tui Parakeet inhabits areas over east­ cheeked Parakeets and Other Broto­ The two excellent breeders ern Amazonas, Brazil, westward geris," T.F.H. The Tui Parakeets have acknowledged in this article are to be through southeastern and available to them at all times a variety commended for their.ongoing dedica­ northeastern to eastern of dry seeds including medium size tion to this species. There are few of and northern . gray sunflower seed, safflower seed the Madagascars left in the country, Over 10 years ago, I was fortunate and a parakeet mix containing 42% and members of the African Love Bird enough to purchase a few of these canary seed. Along with the dry seeds Society need to give immediate beautiful birds. Once the birds were the birds are given a daily bowl of attention to ensure their survival and surgically sexed, I ended up with two fresh cut up fruits, vegetables, continued breeding to successive pairs to work with, in high hopes of sprouted seeds and greens. Corn on generations.• producing more of these beautiful the cob and apple are their favorite birds. It took years to finally get a pair foods which are always the first to be to settle in and produce successfully. eaten. The Wright Roost ., The two pairs were set up outdoors At the end of May 1992, I found an Jeri Wright egg buried in one of the nest boxes of (206) 838·9802 in wire cages, no added heat or cool­ NCNI HAND-FEEDING ing, for the weather here rarely drops Tui Parakeets. This egg was removed, Hyacinths & othermacaws, Cockatoos below 40°F. Each pair was set up in an the shell was slightly porous, but even Conures & Amazons Domestic, Close-Banded individual breeding cage. The cages though it appeared no good I still Roudybush Distributor measured 48" wide, 17" tall and 15" placed it in my incubator. This egg

26 July / August 1994 did, indeed, show feltile within a few and 1 could not do another nest box days, but "rang out" and died. (This check until the next morning, 1 term is what I use when an embryo decided to remove this egg. The little stalts to develop and instead of devel­ white egg was placed in my incubator oping properly a blood ring develops at 99.2°. I monitored the egg all eve­ around the inside of the egg.) ning, did very close egg candling, On June 3, two more eggs were checking for what problem was occur­ found in the nest box. I candled them ring. I did not want to make a mistake with my probe-lite egg candler, but with this egg (nor any other egg), but I they were too freshly laid and just can­ took my time until I was sure. I think dIed out to be clear looking, but because this was my very first Tui healthy, strong eggs. By June 7 (my Parakeet egg I was a bit more nervous bilthday), my present was finding five and over cautious. eggs in the nest. This time when I can­ By 11:39 p.m., I felt strongly that this dled them, three showed veins ­ chick was trapped inside the egg and they were, indeed, fertile. That was a would not be able to free itself on its great present for me after all my hard own. I also felt it was the proper time work and patience. In this clutch, a for the chick to hatch. I then pro­ total of six eggs was laid, with five ceeded to remove the chick from the remaining in the box with the pair. shell (as described in my books). The hen spent all day in the nest box There was no blood, and as 1 wet him alone incubating and tending to her down with a warm damp cotton swab, clutch, while the male stood guard he helped push himself out. I carefully during the day just outside of the box. chipped away at the shell. Within min­ Every evening the male would retire utes he was out. My first Tui chick had inside the nest box with his mate for hatched, alive and well. There had A monumental effort to bring to­ gether in one book the most complete the night. On June 11, candling the been problems inside the egg shell, as and up to date information ever as­ clutch revealed three fertile eggs there was a build up of a thick green sembled on these magnificent birds. Whether breeder, biologist, growing well, but one other appeared and light-green slime, possibly drop­ ornitholol!ist this new book is an abso­ to have been fertile but died. The fifth pings passed by the chick along with lute must"!" egg appeared "clear." On June 17, I other matter. The chick was bathed A Monograph 0/Macaws & Conures decided to candle the clutch again. and cleaned and placed inside my brings together a team of truly committed Now there were four feltile eggs. The professionals. Tony Silva author ofA warm and ready homemade brooder. Monograph 0/Endangered Parrots, Eric last egg laid onJune 11 was fertile and This tiny all pink chick weighed 1.8 Peake internationally acclaimed wildlife now showing visible growth when grams and had a long off-white down artist and Silvio Mattacchione the Canadian Publisher who has brought candled. on its back. I fed the chick every two some ofthe finest new parrot books to I found that the incubation of the hours all night long. At first I was market. Tui Parakeets is done differently than undecided as to either handraise this The book is comprised of a text that of most other Brotogeris, at least chick from day one, or let the parents totalling almost 500,000 words plus 40 new images commissioned especially for with this pair. Most birds in the Broto­ raise it. I handrear hundreds of chicks this book. World wide circulation is geris family stalt their incubation close from day one each year, but I felt that I limited strictly to 2,000 subscribers to the time the last egg is laid.' So would like to see this chick get its first copies numbered, and 50 numbered and signed Remarque Editions. Destined to usually when I candle "their" eggs start from the parents if at all possible. quickly become a collectors item. they would all seem to be at about the I was also curious to see if the pair same stage ofgrowth. With this proce­ even wanted their chick back and if dure of incubation, chicks tend to all they would make good parents. PRICE: Subscribers Edition $175.00 U.S. plus hatch at about the same time. Usually $15.00 U.S. postage and handling. (only 2,000 copies The very next morning the tiny available) Remarque Edition $2,500.00 U.S. per copy within two days all the eggs have chick was placed back in the nest with plus $120.00 U.S. Courier costs within USA and Canada (only 50 copies available). hatched under the Brotogeris parents. its Tui parents. I inspected the nest in M/C, VISA, postal money order accepted. The Tui Parakeets stalted their incuba­ about an hour to find the chick warm tion of their eggs when the first egg and already well fed by its parents. was laid. The hen appeared quite happy and On June 22, at about 7 p.m. I did my content to have her chick back. TOLL FREE 1·800·779·4163 last nest box check for the day. I dis­ On June 26, early morning nest box covered one Tui egg was opened, inspection showed me a repeat of the Published by: with a tiny beak protruding out. It first egg problem. Chick number two SILVIO MATIACcmONE & CO., 1793 ROSEBANK RD. appeared to have been opened by was ready to come out of its shell but PICKERING, ONT., CANADA one of its parents, not by the trapped he, too, was stuck inside. The parents LlV IP5 to TEL: (905) 831-1373 chick inside. Either the parents again tried open the egg to free FAX (905) 831-3734 became eager and helpful, or they their trapped chick. I removed this egg knew there was a problem and as well, and placed the egg inside my • Canadian price is $276.50 including 7% GST. stepped in to help. Because it was so incubator, knOWing and prepared for late in the evening, just before dark what I had to do to save this chick,

afa WATCHl3IRD 27 .-=:(/) crowned Conures would not return to ro I their three very young chicks, so I Q) :.0 removed them for handrearing. The ..Q o a: Cobalt-wings remained on their clutch >- ..Q just fine. (/) oo On June 29, the third Tui chick ..r: 0... hatched under the Cobalt-winged Par­ akeets. No assistance was needed. This little guy did it all on his own. The Cobalt-Wings proved to be great foster parents as usual. The next day, the Cobalt-wings hatched out their first chick in their clutch. They' took great care of their own chicks along with their foster chick, the Tui Para­ keet. On July 1, I noticed that the sn1aller of the two chicks under the Tui appeared to be a bit "dry" with skin starting to flake. This chick was slowly dehydrating, and, if not ren10ved, would die within days. I decided to remove these two chicks and start Even at three to jour'weeks ofage] the distinctive yello"Lu feathers shO"LU up on the cro'wn Ofthe Tui Parakeet. handrearing them. By July 6, all three Tui chicks were in the house being too. This chick had a few more prob­ warm up and dry. At 4:30 p.m., the 2.1 handreared on my formula, which can lems than the first one. It could possi­ gram chick was replaced back in the be found in either of my books. The bly be in some danger if it remained nest with its parents, unfed by me. chicks grew so fast and did fine on n1Y even the slightest bit too long trapped Within an hour I inspected the nest formula. They had good body weight inside the egg. But, by 2 p.m. I box and found the chicks doing well; and excellent feather. By July 15, the removed the chick safely out of the both were fed. three chicks weighed 28 grams, 25.6 egg. This chick had a foul odor from There were two more fertile eggs grams and 24.3 grams. the slime build-up inside the egg. I left in the nest. I personally did not At the end ofJuly, I noticed a swel­ washed and cleaned the chick and like the way the last chicks were ling in the lower abdomen on the placed it back in the incubator to developing inside the eggs. Upon can­ second chick. The chick was rushed dling, one looked as if it just died in to Dr. Max Weiss, Iny avian vet. A full the shell. The other looked as if it was exalnination proved that the chick developing too slowly. I removed the was born with a n1alfunctioning liver. slow growing live egg and placed it Fluid was being developed and seep­ under one of my don1estically reared ing into the body cavity of this chick. pairs of Cobalt-winged Parakeets Dr. Weiss kept the chick overnight (Brotogeris cyanoptera). This pair had and removed the excess fluid from its eggs of their own which were soon to body. The next day when I went to hatch, making their eggs and the Tui pick up the Tui chick, he informed me egg almost at the same stage in that there was little or no hope for the growth. Knowing how rare Tui Para­ liver to repair itself. I still wanted to try keets are, I felt safer with this tame to see if I could keep him alive. The pair of Cobalt-wings raising the last body continued to slowly fill with chick. This pair are excellent foster fluid and each night I would remove parents to other Brotogeris chicks. the excess fluid to make the chick June 28, Sunday morning, 4:45 a.m. more comfortable. This was done with we were hit with a large earthquake, a sterilized needle and syringe. There followed by another quake at were times when I could remove 3 cc 7:55 a.m. The Tui Parakeets remained of fluid and there even seemed to be a in their nest box and took care of their bit more left inside. He ate well and two chicks. All my birds seemed a bit even grew, but on August 11 he died. shaken up, but fine. I had immediately His beautiful little feathered body is gone through my buildings that were going to be donated to the L.A. The TUiparakeet (Brotogeris s. sancti­ equipped with emergency lighting, for museum. th0111ae) is one oj'the rare Brotogerisfound in captivity. As an adult] this bird appears it was still dark at that time. I do feel The two remaining healthy chicks as a 111iniatllre Yello'w-cro'Luned An1azon. Its that walking through and talking to were now placed in a weaning cage. golden eyes are enhanced by itsyellow my birds helps caln1 them down after They would pick and eat seeds, crown. an earthquake. Only one pair of Blue- mainly parakeet mix at first and fruits

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• HOT AND WET Healthy life gi ing eating habits begin BEFO E Chicks are eaned! Post-release Behavior and Movements of the and vegetables, apple being their favorite. They would see me feeding the other chicks in the nursery, and Bali Mynah beg and scream for their share. The (Leucopsar rothschildi) chicks just love their Trix breakfast by Mark S. Collins and Thomas B. Smith, Ph.D. cereal. I think this is because of the Department ofBiology, San Francisco State University different shapes and colors they now come in, and this seems to amuse the ditor's Note: The Bali Mynah ioral aspects of captive-released birds chicks. By August 30, they were both Erelease project was funded in be documented and as much informa­ weaned and eating on their own. part by AFA with a major portion tion as possible on the life history of The two baby feathered Tui Para­ donated by an AFA member club, the wild populations be obtained. keets look just like the adults, except West Valley Bird Society ofSouthern Information gained from such a study for the juvenile eye coloring. At first Califomia. may be of value not only for the their iris color was dark, but at 12 endangered Bali Mynah as outlined weeks of age their iris lightened up to Abstract below, but will have applications to a yellowish-gray color. It still will be a The Bali Mynah is critically endan­ future captive propagation programs while until they obtain their bright gol­ gered, with only 34 birds left in the elsewhere. For example, major efforts den colored eyes. Presently the adult wild. Without supplementing the wild are now under way for the breeding of pair is showing no interest in return­ population, the species is likely to go Hawaiian Honeycreepers and work is ing to nest. Many Brotogeris only pro­ extinct on Bali in the near future. on-going to breed the critically duce a single clutch a year. I am very Using captive Bali Mynahs, we will endangered Hawaiian Crow Corvus pleased and happy with the twosome release birds into native habitat and tropicus (F. Duval pers. comm.). from this season, and I have high assist them in their transition to the hopes for producing more! wild. The information gained from this Background andJustification On FebrualY 11, 1993 I had the two conservation project will advance the The Bali Mynah Leucopsar roths­ young Tui Parakeet chicks surgically science of reintroducing zoo-bred childi is critically endangered and the sexed. The two ended up to be a pair, to the wild and has direct only endemic bird found on the island a male and a female. This has worked applications to planned captive­ of Bali. With white plumage and mask out quite well as I had an extra male. releases of endangered forest birds in of naked blue skin, the Bali Mynah is The young hen and the older male Hawaii, the Caribbean, South America regarded as the world's most stunning have now been set up for breeding. I and Africa. representative of the Sturnidae family am sure she is too young to produce (King 1978). Referred to by a variety this year, but at least they get along Introduction of common names including Bali very well. They seem to really like one Captive propagation of endangered Mynah, Bali Starling, Rothschild's another. Maybe next year this pair will species and reintroduction into native Mynah, or jalak putih as it is known by produce chicks. I do know that Grey­ habitats is a management technique the Balinese, this handsome bird was cheeked Parakeets that are also from that is integral to the Species Survival declared the provincial symbol of the the Brotogeris family have produced Plans (SSP) developed by zoological island in 1989 (ICBP 1992). eggs and chicks for me at nine months parks and various governmental agen­ Historically, populations were of age. So anything is still possible.• cies (Temple 1978, Scott 1987). believed to be confined to dry Usually reserved as a preservation savanna forest habitat in the north­ effort of last resort, captive propaga­ west section of the island (ICBP 1992). tion can "buy time" for an endangered Currently, the wild population is in species, allowing implementation of decline with approximately 34 indi­ more long-term conservation tech­ viduals located in a small section of niques. If captive-bred birds are to be native dry savanna forest, within Bali : -JUNGLE SAFARI: successfully released, life history and Barat ational Park on the west end of _ October 8 - 1"5, 1994 _ _ Escorted by Daniel Brooks _ behavioral aspects must be addressed the island (van Balen 1993). _ from the Houston Zoo _ (Wiley et al. 1992). For example, Individuals are easily maintained in _ Explore Amazonia with naturalist and ornitholo- _ captivity, a fact that ironically has led gist Daniel Brooks. Walk through the treetops on the group size for social species may be - only canopy walkway in the Americas and get a - essential for successful foraging and to the near extirpation in the wild. In - bird's eye view of the forest! Travel on the Amazon - _ and Napa Rivers, explore virgin rainforest, fish for _ mate selection. Additionally, a period the 1960s, the Bali Mynah was trapped _ piranha, visit native villages and see pink dolphins, _ intensively to supply the demands of _ monkeys, sloths, orchids, giant lilies and much more! _ of pre-release physical conditioning Add exotic bird species to your life list, such as; and behavioral training may be Indonesian, American and European - hoatzins, toucans, macaws, parrots, horned scream- ­ • ers, tanagers, cuckoo, pot CO, trogons, manakifls, • required (Wiley et al. 1992). private aviculturists. In 1966, the Inter­ _ cotingas, guans and more. Have fun and learn while _ national Union for the Conservation of _ staying in exotic jungle lodges, located in remote _ For small to medium sized birds, _ nature reserves, where great wildlife viewing just _ however, relatively few studies have Nature and atural Resources (IUC ) _ comes naturally! Only $1795 from Miami. _ focused on these aspects (Ferguson et listed the species as endangered. The - ~ (Low cost, add-on airfares available.) _ - Extension to the Andes and _ al. 1991). The behavioral transitions Indonesian government responded - Machu Picchu available! _ that a captive bird must make from life with a 1971 law prohibiting hunting, - Call EXJIo!orations, Inc. for _ - a free detailed brochure. _ in an aviary to the wild are little capture and expolt. However, this law known, but likely profound. It is has proven to be difficult to enforce. ,,-----, essential, therefore, that the behav- Whereas the wild population declined 30 July / August 1994 --