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What Could Be Greater than the Greater Vasa Parrot? (Coracopsis vasa) by Susie Christian, Morro Bay, California species are very hardy and the Lesser adagascar! An exotic, trop­ Vasa Parrot, Coracopsis nigra, is consid­ ical island that lies off the ered a pest by the government. C. vasa M east coast of Africa, the occurs on Madagascar and the land of the Lemurs, Baobab trees, all Comoros, C. nigra on Madagascar, the manner of flora and fauna oddities and Comoros and Seychelles and Agapomis the Greater Vasa Parrot, Coracopsis cana, although originally probably vasa. Their scientific name, Coracopsis endemic to Madagascar, has been intro­ refers to their supposed resemblance to duced to the Comoros, Seychelles, crows and the word "Vaza" is Malagasy Rodriguez, and Zanzibar. Only C. v. for parrot, in the dialects spoken in the vasa is distributed in the east. C. v. south of the country. drouhardi, however, is found in the For a better understanding of the west and south of Madagascar where uniqueness of the Vasa Parrot, it seems it occurs in semi dry forests and savan­ helpful to have a brief picture of the nah. Most of the Vasas exported from land from which it originates. Madagascar are the western sub­ Madagascar is the fourth largest island species, drouhardi. in the world after Greenland, New The subspecies of the Lesser Vasa Guinea and Borneo. It has a land-mass from the Seychelles is highly endan­ of over twice the size of the British gered and populations are declining Isles. Approximately 120 million years on the Cormoros Islands. Although ago it was a part of the continents of people eat Vasas and kill or trap any Africa and India, in the super continent Vasa that comes near the crops, they of Gondwanaland, which also includ­ are fortunately still abundant in ed South America. Madagascar broke Madagascar. free from Africa and drifted into the Vasa parrots inhabit the forests and Indian Ocean, thereby very gradually savannah below 1,000 meters and are isolating its flora and fauna. There is an more abundant at lower altitudes. actual dent in the coastline of present Vasas are dependent on the evergreen day Kenya and Tanzania where forests above 300 meters and visit the Madagascar split apart from the main­ open country to feed during the day in land. The ensuing isolation of the ani­ small groups of up to 10, returning to mals and plants has resulted in the the forest to roost in much larger unique and unusual wildlife that are groups. In Madagascar they nest dur­ today found only in Madagascar. ing the rainy season during October About 80 percent of Madagascar's and November in hollow trees, nor­ plants and animals are endemic, that mally several meters off the ground. is, unique - evolved on the island and The third parrot species found on existing there and no where else on this large, rather "parrotless" island, is the earth. There are 258 species of the Grey-headed Lovebird Agapomis birds of which 53% are endemic. For a cana, a small, lively, brilliant emerald mainly tropical country boasting a green bird. wide variety of habitats, Madagascar There were very few Vasa parrots in has a remarkably small avian popula­ the United States before 1984, when tion in stark contrast to Africa's teem­ about 800 of them were imported from ing population of colorful birds of all Madagascar. Because they weren't a kinds. strikingly colorful bird, many avicultur­ The three species of parrots found in ists showed little interest in them and Madagascar are all endemic to the no further large Vasa shipments were Madagascar subregion. All of these ever brought in. 54 September/October 2000 Greater Vasa parrots are very c The breeding cycle here seems to unique and fascinating, although their ~ start about February with the increased ~ drab nondescript appearance doesn't ~ vocalizations and more aggreSSive grab the eye of most aviculturists who ~ behavior. The hen's ovary begins to look for the color and flash of the ~ grow in size and by the peak of breed­ more gaudily colored parrots. I notice ~ ing season, in the late spring, her ovary them described as "Black Parrots" or grows to fill a third of her body cavity. dark grey, but through my eyes they The cloacas of both sexes also seen as brown colored. To me, they enlarge and the male's cloaca actually have a hawk-like appearance due to protrudes when they are ready to their proud, regal upright carriage, breed. The males have control of the hom-grey, slightly elongated bill and alnount of protrusion and can retract gentle brown eye color. They are a the cloaca back into their body. A fully large bird at 50 cm in length, weighing extended Iuale cloaca is about the 500g or more and are well propor­ dian1eter of a hot dog and can be up tioned, having long necks, long to two-inches long. The hen's cloaca straight tails and small heads. does not normally protrude but can do Vasas have only luelanin for feather so while defecating. coloration and during breeding season Another lovely feature of the hreed­ their feathers turn from sooty grey to ing cycle is the skin color on their light chocolate-like brown with a hint heads and necks turns a lovely brilliant of iridescent green when viewed at a n1ustard yellow on hoth sexes. The certain angle in the sunlight - rather cere, which is usually white on the like a piece of worn out mens' suit fab­ 111ale, turns yellow too. The female ric with a greenish nap showing Vasa's head also becon1es completely through the brown. This color shift is A pair qf Vasa Parrots in the cage, Ll ith hald and continues part of the way due to a chemical change in the oil "Head(y, II the handfed Vasa perched 011tside. down her neck. secreted from the oil gland used in Head(y is slight(y handicapped bllt doesn 't Carnille laid a total of three eggs. seem to knOLl it. preening. Vasas have very long limb One I found on the floor in front of the bones, which give then1 a hawk-like Of course mating season was a great nest box and the other two actually appearance when they walk. Their exciting event. The pair were housed in luade it into the box. The egg laid on prominent ceres are naked of feathers a 4 X 6 X 6 foot cage, outdoors in our the floor was slightly dented and ohvi­ as are their whitish eye rings. perfect Califolnia climate. We gave ously too far gone to put in the box, but Vasas aren't kept regularly as pets by them a choice of two nest boxes. The she sat on the other two eggs for at least bird owners and few pairs that are set hoxes were 12" X 12" X 36" deep. One a month. Upon inspection, they were up as breeders are successful. I attempt­ was hung veltically and the other was infertile and she didn't re-clutch. I mar­ ed breeding them for two years, but hung horizontally. Because she was veled at the appearance of her eggs. had to find my pair another hon1e in such a hag, I felt she at least had to have Each of the three eggs were different in the middle of 40 acres because of their a pretty nalue. I nan1ed her Camille. size, shape and overall appearance. loud, annoying off-key braying, Well Caluille chose the vertically hung 'They actually looked like reptile eggs squawking, un-oiled hinge sound hox to nest in. She n1ade a great deal and had a celtain roughness to theru as vocalizations. I live in a tightly packed out of the whole breeding thing and well as heing not exactly round. VelY neighborhood and was velY concerned was the classic dran1a queen. primitive looking! the caterwauling during the breeding I would Iuarvel over their style of When I realized that I had an incor­ season would jeopardize n1y quieter courtship (they didn't care if I watched rect match, I sold the wild caught hen species with the neighbors. as long as I ren1ained still) and the and bought another to replace her The first year I had the Vasas, I n1is­ weird and uncanny sounds that were a he fore the next hreeding season. This takenly paired a wild caught older hen part of it. They would face one anoth­ new hen was a year younger and was with a captive raised three-year old er on the perch and swing their velY still immature so no eggs were laid the n1ale. She was very domineering with long necks around each other in a next year, although they did get along hitu and guarded the food dish so he large sen1i circle. I prayed they would­ luuch better, hoth being domestic couldn't eat. Every day when I put n't get thelu permanently entwined! birds. This pair now reside in the food in the bowl I had to stand there They also did a unique courtship Sierras and have heen said to out­ and give her the evil eye to keep her dance with the hen hending down scream the Macaws that are their away long enough for him to dine. If I indicating he should lnount her, then neighbors. gave them two bowls she would try to throwing her head back wildly, biting At this tin1e I have one three-year guard them bothJ running quickly the hend in her wing with a gobbling old Greater Vasa male that lives with from one bowl to the other.
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