The Laughing Thrushes (Garrnlax )

Josef H. Lindholm, III Keeper of Fort Worth Zoological Park

he 48 pecies in the ge~us Garrulax constitute one of the T major groups of Asian passer­ ines, and a number of species have held important places in aviculture. Ganrulax canorus, the Melodious Jay Thrush or Hwamei ha been a much­ exploited cage in China for hun­ dreds of years. The White-crested Laughing Thrush (G. leucolophus) and the Greater Necklaced Laughing Thru h (G. pectoralis) w re main tays of both the Indian and Thai bird trades that flouri hed in the 1950' and 60s the major sources of Asian entering the U.S. in those decade. Prior to the 1980s about half-a­ dozen species in this w re com­ mon commercial imports to this coun­ try (Bates & Bu enbark, 1963). Other 'pecie howed up from time to time, specially out of Hong I(ong. In the mid 1980s, a much richer variety of Ganrulax pecies became available, hen the People's Republic of China Red-winged Laughing Thrushes (Ganulaxformo us) at the F011 Wonh Zoological Park. began large- cale commercial exports of birds. Traditionally, Laughing ThlU hes (orJay Thrushe a they are just as commonly called) of one kind or another have been traditional zoo softbills for a long time. From the accompanying table it will be seen that of the 15 species of Ganrulax hatched in U.S. zoos in the period 1959 - 1995, only four com­ menced breeding before 1987. It is also interesting to note that the one specie consistently bred during the 1970s, the White-crested Laughing Thrush, was hatched far less frequent­ ly in the late 1980s and 90s, as some of the novel species began to be prop­ agated in numbers. Perhaps this is to be expected. At any rate, by the 1990s it wa clear that some sort of program would be needed if any species was to be truly established in this country's zoo as a self-sustaining population. In As of30June 1995 67 White-crested Laughing Thrushes (Garrulax leucolophus) were distrib­ 1994 the various Species Interest uted among 27 U.s. public collections. This bird wasphotographed at the Los Angeles Zoo. Committees of the Taxon

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PRETTY BIRD INTERNATIONAL INC. c Advisory Group (operating under the ~ Q. E aegis of the American Zoo and o .c r- Aquarium As ociation) were formed. a:: The SIC for Laughing Thrushes wa coQ) o inaugurated with three people. The -g m Q) Specie Interest Committee Organizer 0> 'D (SICO) is jimmy Pichner, long-time •o 0 o Curator of Birds at the Minnesota Q) o0> Zoological Gardens who al a recently Q) CD >­ as 'umed re pan 'ibility for the .0 o Rothschild 'Mynah studbook. The other .co participants were Christopher Brown, 0... Curator of Birds at the Fort Worth Zoological Park, and Anita Cramm, Curator of Birds at Lincoln Park. Out of the 18 species of Gan'ulax 'held by .. zoos a ' of 31 December, 1994, four were designated as target species species in the Fir t Draft of the Pa'serine TAG Regional Collection Plan, which resulted from a two day meeting of SICOs at eattle, in eptemher of 1995. If the draft is approved as is, these will he the Laughing Thrush speci ,that zoos will he encouraged to estahlish as 'elf-su '­ taining population'. A White-browed Laughing Thrush (Garrulax sannio) at the San Diego Zoo where eight were White-crested Laughing Thrush .ful(y I ared.from 1988 through 1993. It was almo 't inevitahle that one of these four is the White-crest d

Laughing Thru 'h. Quite aside from the c .c fact that this 'pecie' i' triking-Iooking, ~ >­ .0 hardy an adlTIirahle songhird (per­ o .co forming duets), and typically stay' out 0... where people may enjoy it, it ould be mo't annoying to not finally have 'omething to show for all the speci­ mens hatched in this country's zoos over more than 25 year' a total of 419 from 1968 through 1995. Out of this total, howev r, at least 258 died before reaching adulthood. The problen1 of neonatal lTIortality remains a major problem. A contrihut­ ing factor is the tendency for "the hirds to re-cycle on to the n t quickly, and not to finish off the chicks after fledg­ ing" (Roth, 1993). The Minnesota Zoological Garden' ha dealt with thi ' by pulling chicks and handrearing them (Ibid, 1993). I have not heard whether hand-raising at thi' ag leads to imprinting. While imprinted Jay Thrushes make charming pets, they are certainly not the hest of hr eder' and are definitely an escape risk in The enigmatic Yellow-bellied Laughing Thrush (Garrulax galbanus)) the subject ofpartIf of walk-through aviaries. this article, This specimen is in a breedingprogram at the Fort Worth Zoological Park.

44 January/February 1997 The White-crested Laughing Thrush five of the chicks (from two clutches) System) listed 67 specimens distributed breedings in U.S. zoos have definitely hatched in 1973 were pulled at the age among 27 U.S. collections. At least 50% declined in recent years. Ofthe 29 col­ of 10 days and hand-reared easily on a were captive-bred. Only 12 hatched in lections that bred this bird in the u.s. diet of mealworms and Zu/Preem U.S. zoos in 1995: Four at the Henry from 1968 through 1995, 13 did so in Canned Feline Diet (Young, 1978). Doody Zoo in Omaha, and eight at St. the 1970s, 18 the '80s but only seven By March of 1974, only two adults Louis. The largest holdings at the end did in the '90s. A major reason has were still living in the aviary, and it was of 1995 were at St. Louis with seven been the importation of other not clear if these were a pair. The five birds, followed by Minnesota with six. Ganulax species in recent years. Not hand-reared offspring were reintro­ Though none of these birds are identi­ only are these novelties colorful and duced to the exhibit, and had to be fied to subspecies, I think it likely they otherwise attractive, most of them removed at once, as the remaining two are all the Indo-Chinese Ganulax leu­ have proved to be markedly less attacked them murderously. These two eolophus diardi (also found in China's aggressive than the White-crested were a pair after all, and hatched three Yunan Province ). A great many were Laughing Thrush. chicks that same April. This time, the exported out of Thailand in the 1960s The White-crested Laughing Thrush chicks, though again removed at 10 and '70s. has a long-standing reputation for days, were placed in a "nursery" cage The San Diego Zoo and Bronx Zoo aggressiveness, especially when in the aviary. After 12 days ofbeing fed breedings are attributed to this sub­ breeding. This has not prevented it by their parents, they were released species. In the 1950s and '60s, the larg­ being kept in all sorts of mixed without incident. er and grayer Himalayan G. I. kueolo­ aviaries, but caution is advised. In 1975, 11 chicks were successfully phus was exported to the U.S. from Unrelated White-crested Laughing handreared, and six were likewise India, and the very dark Sumatran G. I. Thrushes are notorious for aggression raised in 1976. Again, the chicks were bieolor has recently arrived in Europe, against members of their own species pulled at 10 days of age. The three where it has already bred. I am not as well. The most detailed published young birds released in 1974 assisted aware of either of these breeding in account of the breeding of this species with feeding and protecting their sib­ American zoos. I am aware of concerns the repeated lings, as well as in nest construction. The Passerine Taxon Advisory successes at the now-defunct Busch However, all incubation was done by Group's recommendations for White­ Bird Park in Houston (Young, 1978). the breeding pair. The young birds crested Laughing Thrushes are as fol­ This article is illustrative of the prob­ never attempted to breed in the pres­ lows: "A popular species for display. lems typical in working with this ence oftheir parents. A similar situation Populations in the wild appear to be species. While the breeding records of existed at the Minnesota Zoological doing well, and maintenance of the the International Zoo Yearbook cover Gardens, where a group of six, which North American captive population the years 1974 through 1976, breeding had "been raised together since they has been inconsistent. The North actually took place the previous two were juveniles" were maintained in a American captive population has been years as well. Not one of the of the 45 walk-through aviary, but only one pair bolstered by imports from the wild chicks hatched at the Bird Park over bred (Roth, 1993). when numbers get low and captive those five years were reared in an The Minnesota Zoological Gardens breeding falters. This species has the entirely normal fashion. has far and away been the most suc­ highest number of individuals in cap­ InJuly, 1971, six "newly purchased" cessful u.s. collection breeding White­ tivity... A good species to develop cap­ specimens were liberated in the Bird crested Laughing Thrushes, with 42 tive husbandry techniques for Park's 3,000 m2 walk-through aviary. surviving out ofthe 88 hatched over an Ganulax... Studbook recommended." By June, 1972, only three birds were 11 year period. A brief summary of In contrast to the wide-spread and left, so six more newly purchased birds Minnesota's work is provided by Roth long-kept White-crested Laughing were introduced. Every one was killed (993). Thrush, the other three TAG-elesignated by the original three in three days. It Breeding occurred throughout the Ganulaxspecies have small ranges and was then discovered that there was a year. Nests were generally built from more-or-less recent captive histories. nest with four chicks in a tree two scratch (bamboo leaves were a pre­ meters off the ground (Young, 1978). ferred material). They were usually Red-tailed Laughing Thrush All three adults fed the chicks. The "five to six feet from the ground." Until specimens began appearing in chicks however succumbed to another Adults fed only insects to their chicks. Europe and the U.S. in 1987, the Red­ prevalent source of neonatal mortality As previously noted, there was a ten­ tailed Laughing Thrush (Ganulax mil­ for this species. They left the nest dency for chicks to be neglected once net) had only twice been exported before they could fly and were either they fledge so that they need to be from Asia. Jean Delacour (939) drowned or eaten by one or another of handfed. brought one back from Indo-China in the fifty-odd species of birds which No White-crested Laughing Thrush­ 1929. That bird was still alive at Cl€~res shared the exhibit. The fifth and last es have been hatched at the Minnesota when Delacour received further speci­ chick hatched in 1972 suffered a simi­ Zoological Gardens since 1993. As of mens in 1939--collected by none lar fate, the only hatching from a clutch 31 December, 1995, ISIS (The other than Charles Cordier, the great of three laid in October. Therefore, all International Species Information Swiss Collector (who died in 1994 at afa WATCHBIRD 45 the age of 97), captured in Vietnam joined by 10 more in 1983 (Lieberman, recently established group", will serve Nam near the Yunan border (Delacour, 1984), These birds were distributed as the nucleus of a breeding flock. 1939). among four exhibits. Groups of two Successful breeding in the forthcoming When it became commercially and six were respectively set up in seasons will provide future generations available from China in 1987 and suc­ planted community aviaries, while four of this handsome Laughing Thrush to ceeding,years, this beautifully-colored and five birds were liberated in the other aviculturists and zoos that are and hardy bird at once attracted atten­ large walk-through aviaries known as interested in keeping such a charming tion. And when it became apparent the "Upper and Lower Rainforests." songster." that, as Delacour (939) had noted The dimensions of these enclosures Early breeding results made it long ago, this species resembles "a are provided by Alan Lieberman appear that this wish might be fulfilled. large Pekin Robin" in its habits (rather (984) in an Avicultural Magazine None were hatched in 1984. However, than the irascible White-crested account of this species at San Diego, from 1985 through 1989, 33 were Laughing Thrush), a number of zoos which remains one of the definitive hatched, and only seven failed to sur­ acquired it. As of 31 December, 1995, accounts of Canulax aviculture, vive, the International Species Information None of the seven 1981 birds bred San Diego Zoo did send specimens System listed 51 specimens distributed until 1983, That year "a flurry of Red­ to the Bronx Zoo and, of course, the among 11 US, public collections, mak­ winged Laughing Thrush nesting activ­ San Diego Wild Park. ing it the second most common ity began in all four aviaries, involving Ultimately, though, this stock did not Canulax species in US. zoos in 1995, what is thought to be, at most, six pairs become' established. After 1989, no Four bred it in 1995: Houston, the of birds" (Lieberman, 1984). (The 1983 Red-winged Laughing Thrushes were Minnesota Zoological Garden, St. importation of 10 specimens arrived in fully reared to adulthood in U.S, Zoos. Louis, and the San Diego Zoo. Out of january, so some of these birds went This has remained the case at least to the 12 hatched, only two died at less to nest in a hurry). A total of 11 nests 1 january, 1996, The Miami Metrozoo than a month of age, The total from were built between 3 March and 21 did raise three in 1989, but was the 1987, when U.S. zoo breedings com­ july, typical Canulax cups composed only US, zoo beside the San Diego menced, through 1995, is 111, with 62 of "dried grasses, bark fibers, pine nee­ Zoo to do so. Houston, and the Reid surviving, among seven collections, dles, and bamboo leaves," Eight of Park Zoo, in Tucson, were, through The Passerine Taxon Advisory these nests were built in Golden 1995, the only US. zoos to breed Red­ Group's recommendations for the'Red­ Bamboo (Phylostachys aurea), wings in the '90s, but failed to rear any. tailed Laughing Thrush are as follows: Lieberman (984) describes nests built According to ISIS Bird Abstract as of "Good exhibit species. Wild popula­ in these plants as "materials". woven 31 December, 1995 (ISIS, 1996) 26 tion is near-threatened, Present captive around and between the the '/2 in. to 1 Red-winged Laughing Thrushes were numbers are large enough to sustain a in". stems of the bamboo, incorporat­ distributed among seven US, zoos, I captive population if reproduction ing the bulk ofthe bamboo clump into have been informed, however that the improves. We need to decide on the matrix of the nest itself. Wherever nine birds listed at the San Diego Zoo which level to work with the available, bamboo leaves were used as do not, in fact, exist. Considering that species/subspecies, Population is large the finishing material to form the inte­ there have been no fully successful enough to warrant a studbook", rior lining of the nest chamber." breedings in US. zoos since 1989, it Acquire additional founders, develop Out of these 11 nests, eight pro­ would appear that the prospects of written husbandry protocols and duced eggs (clutch size ranging from establishing an American population recruit studbook keeper," one to three, five of the clutches con­ of this species are grim, I do not believe the above-men­ sisting of two eggs), Two clutches tioned subspecies question is really a abandoned after more than 21 days However, there are reasons for opti­ problem. I think all the birds imported were discovered to be infertile. mism. This species began appearing in to the U.S. were collected in China's Another three disappeared. a sixth commercial shipments from China in Yunan Province, so that they are all C, clutch consisted of a single dead-in­ the late 1980s, and unlike some other milnei sharpei. shell (Lieberman, 1984). Chinese birds that have since become After incubation periods of to 17 unavailable, continues to be offered by Red-winged Laughing Thrushes days, three Red-winged chicks hatched importers, At the 1996 Annual While the first US. importations of at San Diego in 1983. One of these Conference of the American Federation Red-tailed Laughing Thrushes were died of injuries inflicted by another of Aviculture, Dick Schroeder mentioned commercial, and available to both zoos pair about to breed, At the end of that a California bird dealer who, as of and private aViculturists, the first Red­ year's breeding season, Al Lieberman August 1996, held around 200 newly winged Laughing Thrushes (C, formo­ (1984) expressed hope that sustained imported specimens. sus) to arrive in this country were part propagation would be achieved: "In In the last several years quite a of an exchange between the San view ofthe restrictions imposed on the number have been acquired by Diego Zoo and the Chengdu Zoo in exportation of nearly all of Mainland American private aviculturists, and the People's Republic of China, Seven China's avifauna, it is hoped by the there are several who are definitely birds arrived from Chendu in 1981, staff of the San Diego Zoo that this interested in sustained propagation of

46 January/February 1997 this hird and making available captive­ International (formerly the were collected in Szechwan, the hred specimens to zoos. Ted Fox, Bird International Council for Bird later commercial shipments came, I Supervisor at the Burnet Park Zoo in Preservation) as a "near-threatened believe, out of Yunnan). Syracuse, ew York, also maintains an species" (Collar & Andrew, 1988). I References BATES. H. & R. BUSENBARK (1963) Finches extensive collection of his own. imagine this has something to do with and Sofl-billed birds. T.F.H. Concerned by the appearance of a for­ a historic scarcity of this bird in study Publications, Inc. merly unobtainable species at bird skin collections. COLLAR, N..J. & P. ANDREW (988) Birds Iu marts, he acquired nine pairs. As of Its range includes the Chinese walch - The ICBP Wurld Check-lisl uj' September, he had so far hatched 21 in provinces of Szechwan and Yunnan as Ihrealened birds. Smithsonian Institution Press. well as Tonkin and nOI1hern Vietnam 1996. DELACOUR,.J.T. (939) Mr. C. Cordier's collec­ The Red-winged Laughing Thrush, - all areas where little museum col­ tion. Avicullural MagaZine Ser V Vul a species targeted for serious programs lecting was done, and which the tire­ IV, 267-271. by zoos and yet also Widely held in some complications of politics made I ITER ATlO AL SPECIES II FOIUvIATION SyS­ inaccessible for years. There is ceI1ain­ TEM 0995-96) ISIS Bird Abslracl as uf private collections, may well estahlish 31 December0994-95). a precedent in cooperation hetween ly a potential threat to this bird's habi­ L1EBERMA A. 09R4). Breeding the Red- American zoos and private avicultur­ tat. However, Roland Wirth, of Birdlife Winged Laughing Thrush (Garrulax ists. Based on the September,1995 International, and the Zoological formosus) at the San Diego Zoo. working meeting recommendations of Society for the Conservation of Species AlJicullural MagaZine XC, 87-90. ROTH, v. (993) White-crested Laughing Thrush and Populations (based in Munich), the Passerine TAG, this hird has heen (Garrulax leucolophus) A.F.A provisionally designated as one to be pointed out to me that as long as any W'atchbird XX (no.6) 36-37. maintained in a self-sustaining popula­ habitat for Giant Pandas remains, Red­ YOUNG. itA. (978) Co-operative breeding the tion. Specific TAG pronouncements on winged Laughing Thrushes will contin­ the White-crested Laughing Thrush this species include a recommendation ue to exist in Szechwan at least. (Garrulax leucolophus), with notes on its hand-rearing at Busch Bird that further stock be obtained. A It goes without saying that the Park, Houston. Inlernalional Zou species manager should also be People's Republic of China, not to Yearbook XVIII, 106-109. appointed. The Red-Winged Laughing mention the world-wide conserva­ ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON 0960­ Thrush was chosen for uch treatment tion community, will see to this. 96) Species of birds bred in zoos and other institutions 1959-Q3. Ibid. 1­ on the hasis of its listing by Birdlife (While the original San Diego birds XXXIV. -+

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