Domestic Breeding of the Brazilian Cardinal by Edith Pendleton, Ph.D., Fort Meyers, Florida

ittle has been written and even less ing and stress, and those that survived demeanor. On the other hand, once a bird documented about the domestic often bore the scars of combat, including reaches puberty, it will fight for and L breeding habits of the Red-crested missing toes and eyes, mauled feet, or defend its hen to the death. A bird can be (Brazilian) Cardinal. With encouragement amputations. fully scalped and left bleeding to death in from Kenneth Reininger, Curator of Birds the course of 10 minutes; a bird can 10 e at the North Carolina Zoological Park, pli­ one or more toes, or an eye, in five min­ vate aviculturalists have begun a coopera­ '13razifian Caraina[s tliri[[ utes. Two birds housed together may be tive infOImation exchange with zoos on to tlie company of tlieir own congenial at dawn, but mortally maimed behalf of this beleaguered softbill. Only {in" antI aViary observe by afternoon, should spring fever strike six zoos nationwide successfully reared ana imitate one anotlier. them. For that reason, never leave two Red-crested Cardinals in 1992, from a unsexed birds nearing puberty together, or pool of 86. There were 62 birds in zoos in even housed side by side, from February 1987, and 52 fi ve years earlier, in 1982, Pairing and Sexing Birds through August, the breeding months, perhaps reflecting the growing trend Brazilian Cardinals thrill to the compa­ unless you have every guarantee they are toward walk-in rainforest exhibits. ny of their own kind, and avidly observe a bonded pair. Colonies of Brazilian Cardinals have and imitate one another. An older bird Both sexes will sing at about six been sighted sporadically in Miami, but who knows your flight well can be an weeks. Hens as well as cocks will trill and Hawaii remains the only Amelican region invaluable asset, regardless of its breeding carryon at this age. The most reliable gen­ with a sustained alien population. There, perfonnance. A tame bird is even more der indicator is bone structure. At about the species inhabits areas of O'ahu, low­ help to you, as wilder members of the nine months, the hens will begin to take land Kaua'i, Moloka'i, and Lana'i, with aviary will readily come to the cage of a on the shape of an English Budgie, with growing numbers on Maui. Ornithologists confined bird, and will respond to its calm thick breasts, wide shoulders, and a gener- will find them plentiful at parks and golf courses, with colony flocks at the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii, the Coast Guard Air Station at Barbers Point at Waikiki. and on the grounds of the Honolulu Zoo. The birds were introduced into Hawaii in 1928 for insect control, and soon joined an exotic population of imports that today includes the Yellow­ billed (Pope) Cardinal, the common mynah and the Lavender Waxbill. To cap­ ture and sell such birds is illegal. FIND OUT WHY HUMIDAIRE EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN THE In Finches and Soft-billed Birds, Bates and Busenbark describe the Brazilian CHOICE OF ZOOS, PRE­ Cardinal as "extremely hardy," "ideal for SERVES AND PROFESSIONAL the beginner" and "inexpensive and usual­ BREEDERS WORLDWIDE FOR ly readily available (pg 233)," comments OVER SIXTY-FIVE YEARS. that reflect the once-plentiful supplies of WRITE, CALL OR FAX FOR imports. Hobbyists may remember occa­ YOUR FREE CATALOG! sions as recently as 1965 when these birds could be purchased in lots of 50 or more for $15 apiece. Housed in groups in free­ P.O. BOX 9, NEW MADISON, OH 45346 U.S.A. IlumlDAIRE TELEPHONE [U.S.A.] TOLL·FREE (800) 410·6925 standing cages, such captive Red-crested INCUBATOR COMPANY WORLDWIDE (513) 996·3001 • FAX (513) 996·3633 Cardinals frequently perished from maim- afa WATCHBIRD 9 ally more square appearance. Males will 1996 retain the lanky look of the adolescent, ?lever attempt to rusn tne gaining length but little weight. Both hens nesting process 09 provia­ COMMITTEES and cocks will strut, fan the tail, arch the ing a reaa9-maae nest or 09 AFA IN BRIEF (monthly newsletter) back and court. confining tne pair to close Cheryl Jones (509) 226-0611 Often, the hen will clack her beak dur­ quarters. fax (509) 326-6725 ing advances by the male, indicating her AVIAN RESEARCH interest. As the birds reach puberty, males William Sager, D.V.M. 508-486-3101 will become noticeably aggressive, charg­ bound hen. Never attempt to rush the nest­ AVYAWARDS ing at the cage walls, calling, stretching ing process by providing a ready-made CAPTIVE BREEDING SURVEY their necks and engaging in combat with nest or by confining the pair to close quar­ Starr Kirkchoff 616-327-3399 anything that moves. A new male released ters. Strong bonds must be forged CITES between the birds before successful nest­ Al McNabney 510-945-1785 into my aviary one February crushed the CONSERVATION/SMALL GRANfS skulls of eight Green Singing Finches 109 can occur. Benny Gallaway 409-775-2000 within an hour. At the height of spring These birds need ample space (at least fax 409-775-2002 mating, the Red-crested Cardinal will 10 feet of open flight) and plenty of nest­ CONVENTION COORDINAlOR attack Fairy Bluebirds, Black-crested ing sites both within thick vegetation and in the open. Hens may elect to build on the COOPERXI1VE BREEDING PGM Finches, Grenadiers, Violet-ears Waxbills Sharon Garsee 916-784-1314 and any other aggressor. side of the flight, in a cavity in a hanging DRAWING COORDINAlOR During courtship, hens will become plant, or in a nest woven into the branch­ Cathy Ford 805-684-0752 absorbed in feeding and other activities, es of a tree such as a ficus or bamboo. EDUCATION and will generally appear preoccupied. EIHICS However, should a true pair be separated, Nesting Larry Ring 916-885-7868 the male will give sharp, deep staccato It is the hen who must approve the nest, EXECUTIVE DIREC10R calls and will hasten to the hen's side but the cock who must weave it. Thus the Robert J. Berry 713-434-8076 wherever she goes. To verify a pairing, cock may suggest first one site and then fax 713-433-3731 ANANCE release the birds into a larger area and another. A careful curator will watch the Jim Hawley bus 602-838-4770 watch their movements. A true pair will activities ofthe cock, who will select a site fax 602-987-3389 never range out of sight of one another, and then call joyously to attract the hen's FUND RAISING and should they become separated, the attention. If she seems to approve the site, Tom Marshall (703) 777-3252 male will thunder out his summons, a call the curator may want to secure a suitable ILLEGAL BIRD TRADE that is unique and unmistakable, guttural basket of grapevines or screen mesh, or Marty Muschinske (619) 468-3201 LEGAL COUNSEL and demanding.* use an orchid box, small Easter basket or Gary Lilienthal (617) 345-0770 Never venture to test two males, even some other shallow natural-fiber cavity. LEGISLATION for a moment. Their combat is vicious and Several such containers may be Dwight Greenberg (407) 631-9800 the results permanent. Any two sparring attached to walls and trees, but should be fax (407) 632-4338 MEMBERSHIP birds, regardless of their sex, should be placed to encourage nesting in a spot that Paddy Lambert (314) 962-8186 separated immediately, at least for a cool­ provides ample shade from noon sun and NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS ing down period. Terrified birds-even protection from rain, that is well out of lifelong mates-will attack one another in reach of ants and mosquitoes, and that is PARLIAMENTARIAN Gary Clifton (602) 830-4920 a crisis. Avoid such disturbance at all cost. accessible by ladder to the curator, who PUBLIC RELATIONS Never place two birds, even a pair, in a will need to inspect activities regularly. A Cheryle Jones (509) 226-0611 closed container such as a shipping crate. nest tightly woven into the branches of a fax (509) 326-6725 When frightened, they will maul each shrub at the far back of the flight is not PUBLICATIONS other. suitable for a safe, productive breeding Sheldon Dingle ph/fax (818) 289-4400 season, since the chicks will be inaccessi­ PHOENIX BUSINESS OFFICE Carol Inderrieden (602) 484-0931 Courtship ble for medical treatment, banding, and fax (602) 484-0109 Birds ready to nest will display relaxed observation. WATCHBIRD STAFF congeniality toward one another. They do A large tree in a pot can be helpful, but Dale Thompson (805) 252-4871 not engage in mutual grooming, but should be provided well in advance of Editor-in Chief fax (805) 252-5861 remain solicitous ofthe other's allegiance. actual courtship lest the birds become dis­ Sheldon Dingle ph/fax (818) 289-4400 Mating occurs in swift attacks by the tracted. For nesting, my hens consistently Mgr.. Editor male, usually on the ground when the hen select an orchid box placed in the highest M. Jean Hessler (714) 548-3133 becomes inattentive. A flat board provid­ comer of the aviary, nearest the fan and Art Dir./ Prod. fax (714) 548-0420 Sharon Rosenblatt (703) 255-3399 ed at perch height may be of assistance the night lights. I hang a large flight cage Advertising fax (703) 281-3140 when the male elects to mount. A male directly under the nesting box to provide a or Phoenix Office that fails to mount the hen will trigger a lookout for the male, who will sing, nap series of disasters culminating in an egg- and relieve the brooding hen. The under- f

10 November/December 1996 girding cage also provides a safe landing for the fledgling and makes it possible for Commercial Members the curator to closely monitor droppings Aardvark Imports, Santa Monica, CA Jewels on Wings, Elko, NV expelled from the nest. About Birds, Hebron, IL Jungle Enterprises, Homestead, FL When the hen expresses her desire to Adstt, DVM, Schenectady, NY Just Parrots, Lexington, SC Albany Aquarium, Albany, NY Kaytee Products, Inc., Chi~on, WI mate, the male begins feverishly building American Bird Center, Goulds, FL Kellogg, Inc. Seeds & Supplies, WI the nest. He first needs sticks, pine needles And Feathers Bird Studio, Chicago, IL Kookaburra Pets, Carro~on, TX and pliable twigs, followed by hemp Animal Affinity, Chicago, IL L'Avian Plus Pet Products, Stephen, MN Animal Cove, Columbus, GA L1M Animal Farms, Pleasant Plain. OH string cut into 2 inch lengths and unrav­ Animal Crackers, Greendale, WI LGL Animal Care Products, Inc. Bryan, TX eled and scattered about the flight. He will Animal Environments, Carlsbad, CA Lafeber Company, Comell, IL Ark Animal Hospital, Alamagordo, NM Lawrence, Louis M., Fort Meyers, FL gather these to line the nest. My birds also Avian Acres Exotic Bird Farm, Flemington, NJ Lima's Exotic Birds, Woodland Hills, CA incorporate green Easter grass and fresh Avian Kingdom Supply, Inc., Dallas, TX liVing Design, Inc, Worthing, SD Spanish moss; they shun yam, hair, Avian Resources, San Dimas, CA Loriidae Production Network, Woodlake, CA Aviary of Naples, Naples, FL Luv Them Birds, Goulds, FL thread, feathers and native grass. In des­ Avid Marketing, Norco, CA M.R. Pets, Inc.,Dale City,VA peration, a hen may also be cajoled into Avttech, Inc., Frazier Park, CA Magic Zoo, Rough and Ready, CA Avocet Mfg., Ltd., Kirkland, WA Magnolia Bird Farm, Anaheim, CA accepting a pre-constructed canary nest if B&HBirds, Bishop, CA Max Sharpe, Plant City, FL her mate has engaged in elaborate materi­ Bell's Exotics, Inc., Wrightsville, GA McCauley, Newburgh, IN al gathering without a clue what to do Bird Bank News, Felton, CA McCormic, Wildwood, FL Bird Country, Lewistown, MT Moyer & Son, Sounderton, PA with the materials. Keep in mind that a Bird Hill Products, Paso Robles, CA Mt Olympus Aviaries, Sa~ Lake City, UT hen, once duped into thinking her cock Bird Shop, Sacramento, CA Murad, Aspen, CO wove the nest, will be vulnerable to end­ Birdlady's Babes, Atascadero, CA Nekton USA, Inc, Clearwater, FL Bird-on-a-Stick, Merriliville, IN Neotropic Aviaries, Myakka City, FL less disappointment. If the cock is unable Birds, Etc., Anchorage, AK Newhall, Acampo, CA to conceive and build a nest, he is not Birds Nest, Sacramento, CA Northcoast Bird Adoption & Rehab, Twinsburgh, OH Birdzerk Aviary, Marshallville, GA Ohio Assoc of Animal Owners, Pleasant Hill, OH ready for the arduous task of rearing three Blue Skies Aviary, Whttwell, TN "P" Patch, The, Benton, MS clutches of young birds. The cock Boston Exotics, Action, MA P& J, Marshalltown, IA becomes a critical link in the life of the Brown, W. D., Ragley, LA Paradise for Birds Rehab, Cary NC C&F Parrot Farm, Chorpus Christi, TX Parrot Jungle & Gardens, Miami, FL chick and will serve as guardian and men­ Caged Bird Hobbiest, Miami, FL Parrot Training Videos, Seattle, WA tor to the fledglings long after the hen Calderin, Coral Gables, FL Patty's Parrots, Booneville, MS rejects them. Never push the cock bird Cedar Hill Aviary, Northbranch, NY Penn-Plax Inc., Garden City, NY Cock-a-Doodle Too, Richmond, VA Pet-iatric Supply, Wichita, KS into fatherhood before he is truly capable Corners Ltd., Inc.. Kalamazoo, MI Pets NSuch, Inc., Erlanger, KY and ready. Country Critters,Ltd., Medford, NY Picture Perfect Parrot, Berea, OH Creative Bird Accessories, Darien, CT Pittman Intemational, Anaheim, CA Keep in mind that the hen will re-use Cuttlebone Plus, Fallbrook, CA R& MAviaries, Hunlock Creek, PA the nest all summer, so it must be sturdy. Darlene Sousa - Jewelry & Gifts, Sunol, CA Rain Forest Exotics, Soquel, CA If the hen detects any weakness she will Denise's Parrot Place, Mercer Island, WA Rain Forest Exotics, Inc., Conroe, TX Di VinciLtd., Las Vegas, NV Raintree Publications, Fort Bragg, CA reject the nest. Any disturbance at this Double "M" Feed Co., Terry Town, LA Reynolds Bird Refuge, Garden Grove, CA critical time could lead to an unproductive Dr. Gregory Alan Rich, DVM, Metairie, LA Robin's Nest, Stockbridge, GA Earthrise, Bright & Hea~hy,Tolihouse, CA Ronie's For the Love of Birds, American Fork, UT breeding season. Do not rush around Eden's Nestbox, Eden, MD Santa Barbara Bird Farm, Santa Barbara, CA adding plants or relocating birds. Tnings Edie's Bird Farm, Glendale, Al.. Santillo, Mireille C., Ft Lauderdale, FL must be calm and ready before the process Enchanted Wings Aviary, Grand Prairie, TX Saunder's, W. B., Stockton, CA Exotic Birds, Richard Gilmore, Graham, TX Scarlet Orchard Aviaries, Otis Orchards, WA can move forward. The birds should have Expandable Habttats, Rockton, IL Schults Bird Farm, Langhome, PA absolute privacy, ample fresh water, F& DExotics, Princeton, FL Sharpe, Mac, Plant City, FL FMBrown's Sons, Inc. Sinking Springs, PA Skyline Garden, Martin Muschinske, Jamul, CA sparkling cleanliness in all things, and Fabulous Feathers Aviary, Texarkana, TX Stembridge, Carson, CA plenty ofopen space so that danger can be Fantastic Feathers, Port St. Lucie, FL Super Pets, Anaheim', CA easily detected from any point ofobserva­ Feather Fantasy, Inc., Holmstead, FL Swan Creek Supply, Saginaw, MI Feather Friendy, Coral Springs, FL Swellands Cage & Supply Co., Ramona, CA tion the male selects. Thick plantings that Feather Tree, Long Beach, CA Teri's Pets, Corpus Christi, TX obstruct the view and make access to the Featherhaven Exotics, Smtthfield, NC Top Flight Aviary, Inc., Redding, CA nest difficult can lead to calamity. I once Feathering Heights, Scotts Valley, CA Topp Flock Aviary, Inc., Loxahatchee, FL Featherwood Farms, Waddell, Al.. Torrey's Parrot Place, Spokane, WA witnessed a cock build an elaborate nest in First Flight, Belleville, IL Touch of Grey Aviary, Marlboro, MA the uppermost branches ofa thick bamboo Fledgling Company, Niles, IL Tucker Farms, Estancia, NM Four Paws Products, Hauppauge, NY Up At Six Aviaries, Bosque, NM that brushed against the roof of the flight. Frey, Dr. Wa~er H., Idabel, OK Urban Bird, New York, NY The hen readily laid two eggs, but the Friedman, Alan P., Ba~imore, OH Verde Squirts Aviary, Long Beach, CA rapid growth of the bamboo paired with Ginny's Jungle, Andover, NJ Waterloo,Wings Stained Glass, Chelsea, MI Greenfield Bird Farm, Solvang, CA Waylyn Enterprises, Onyx, CA the rampant infestation of ants always Goldenfeast Pet Foods, Pottstown, PA Wildwood Seed & Specia~ies, Monroe, OR found in bamboo led to disaster; the hen Heartland Pets, Eagan, MN Wings of Paradise, La Porte, TX Hidden Forest Wildlife Art Gallery, Fallbrook, CA Wyld's Wingdom, Moyock, NC was horribly bitten by the ants as she Higuera, Katherine, Seattle WA Yvonne's Swings and Things, Rochester, NY brooded, and the young birds were Hill Country Aviary, LLC, Dripping Springs,TX Zoogen, Inc. Davis, CA devoured. Use good judgment and dis­ Hookbill Heaven, Mohawk, NY Zupreem, Mission, KS JERBirds, Inc., Ocean Grove, NJ courage any impractical nesting activities.

afa WATCHBIRD 11 Immediately upon completion of the only in the second year will the mature dency to leave youngsters with their par­ nest the hen will lay two or three eggs. Do Brazilian Cardinal develop its characteris­ ents until the first year. not inspect the nest during this time. If she tic blood-red (cock) or tomato orange Diet, cleanliness and open flight space is brooding, she has an egg. Wait at least (hen) coloration that marks it as sexually are critical during this critical time. The five days before attempting to inspect the active. In fledglings, acre t the color of fledgling should receive a diet that nest. Thereafter, use restraint. On the tenth Hershey chocolate indicates a high-pro­ includes: day of brooding, a small gray-pink chick tein diet; a crest the color of coffee with • Rich finch seed. will emerge, and the parents will immedi­ cream indicates a diet consisting of seeds. • Parakeet mix. ately begin the delicate task offeeding and In the 12 months between fledging and •A cube of ZuJpreem monkey chow care of the chick. After day 12, begin the final molt the chick must attain its full soaked in Gatorade fortified with Nekton­ checking the nest daily for evidence of adult growth. S mixed fresh daily. diarrhea, an odiferous indication that coc­ Ifits diet is inadequate or a case ofcoc­ • Fresh food daily to include sliced cidiosis has set in. Immediately swab the cidiosis goes untreated, weakness will be grapes, sliced orange, mango, banana. chick lightly with liquid Ivennec, add a revealed first in much noisy begging, then cucumber, frozen peas, peaches. mild dilute of Chlorox to the drinking a reluctance to explore, and finally • Unlimited medium mealwonns water, and remove mealwOlms, substitut­ through an unwillingness to leave the par­ offered in a IO-gallon fish tank with I-inch ing with quarter-inch' crickets offered ents. In extreme cases the chick will layer of fresh bran. frozen every two hours. If crickets cannot become lethargic, and will finally suc­ • Waxwonns when available be obtained, use mini-mealwolms. Do not cumb by simply refusing to move. In offer waxworms until the tenth day, or the cases of parasitic infestation (coccidiosis), This is the MINIMUM diet. A negli­ chick will die of an impacted crop. the chick will develop a curled foot; the gent curator will see the results for years second foot will also go lame within eight to come, in every aspect of the adult bird's Brown Heads hours, and within 24 hours, if not given life. Fledgling Brazilian Cardinals have an emergency treatment, the chick will die. erect crest of brown until they reach This sequence can occur any time from Monkey Chow and Gatorade puberty at about nine months. The crest birth until the chick is fully five months Daily offer a cube of Zu/preem on first molting becomes rust brown, and old, and contributes to my growing ten- Monkey Chow in a honey cup, soaked in green Gatorade enriched with the powder nutrient Nekton S. When the Gatorade soaks in, add more, so that the cube is swimming in fluid. Birds trained to mon­ key chow know to eat the soft food even in grave distress, a habit that will stave off dehydration until the patient regains strength. Aviculturalists may argue the point, but brooding hens receive it fresh twice daily in my aviary, and if they start the chicks on it, a successful brood usual­ ly follows. If anything goes wrong, I sim­ ply add medication or additional vitamins to the Gatorade. If I am forced to pull the chicks for hand feeding, they are already accustomed to the monkey chow and will take it from tweezers readily.

*In addition to the summons call of the sepa­ rated male, Brazilian Cardinals vocalize in five major areas: The twitteling practice song of fledglings from 12-30 weeks old characteristic of both sexes; the soft chipping sounds of the parent birds offering food and encouragement to their young; the joyous melody of the male at day­ break and during breeding; the shrill screams of distress used by birds under attack; the three-syl­ lable song of greeting used by both sexes to wel­ come a returning mate to the roost. Valiations on these main groupings include a query call that seeks information about birds in the area, and a steady staccato chipping ofdistress used to signal lurking danger. ,..

12 November/December 1996