Breeding the Pink..necked Fruit Dove at the St. Louis Zoo (Ptilinopus porphyrea)

byBruce Bohmke, Curator ofBirds St. Louis Zoological Park St. Louis, Missouri Fruit doves belonging to the genus vated platform one and a half meters Greenwings Ptilinopus are among the most bril­ high. liantly colored birds in the world. This original pair of birds laid their Buffon's The Pink-necked Fruit Dove with its first egg September 25, 1987,31 days bright purplish-pink head, neck and after arrival at the zoo. The egg Hyacinths , upper breast, is surely one of the pipped after an 18 day incubation most colorful of all. Found only in period. Due to unavoidable human Militarys forested mountain areas of Sumatra, disturbance in the aviary, the chick Blue and Golds Java and Bali (Goodwin, 1983; van died before hatching completely. A Balen and Marhadi, 1989), the Pink­ second egg was laid January 3, 1988 Scarlets neck was little known to modern avi­ and this egg hatched 18 days later. culture until the mid-1980s. This arti­ The chick was closely brooded by Redfronts cle reports on the propagation and the parents, primarily the female. • ALL BIRDS ARE ClOSED BANDED management of this species at the St. The chick left the nest after 15 days. and VETERINARIAN CHECKED Louis Zoological Park. Although I will refer to this as a fledg­ • UNRElATED PAIRS AVAILABLE A single pair of Pink-necked Fruit ling, the chick was very small in rela­ Doves was purchased in August 1987 tion to the parents. The average of ~oanne Abramson S from a dealer who had imported three fledged weights is 75 grams. ~~~~~~~~~~ them from Indonesia. The birds were Weights of adult birds ranged from . housed in a planted aviary in the 153 grams to 195 grams. The chick P.O. Box 1271, Fort Bragg. CA 95437 zoo's tropical bird house. The exhibit was always attended by a parent the was an area of 18 square yards (15 first few days after leaving the nest 707-964-4380 square meters) and is 12 feet (3.7 m) and only after three to four weeks high. The display is viewed by the was the chick regularly seen without public from only one side through a parent nearby. piano or harp wire. The wires are The next egg was laid March 1 spaced 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) while the first chick was still in the apart. Perching is prOVided by an enclosure. This behavior has been assortment of natural branches and noted for other ptilinopus species LIVE vines as well as Ficus trees planted such as the Jambu Fruit Dove PET FOODo within the enclosure. Other plants (Roberts, 1991), and Black-naped within the exhibit include Aglao­ Fruit Dove (Bohmke, 1990). With the MEAL WORMS nema, Dracaena, Philodendron, Pink-necked, no aggression was WAX WORMS and Sheff/era. The substrate is soil noted and the parent not occupied covered with oak bark chips. Sky­ FLY lARVAE with sitting on the egg would often CRICKETS lights illuminate the display and attend the chick. The chick was incandescent lighting is added to pro­ removed about half way through vide a minimum of 12 hours of light incubation to avoid possible compli­ TOP QUALITYI each day. Temperature of the enclo­ cations. Subsequent chicks were GUARANTEED sure varies from 25°C in winter to removed from the adults' enclosure 36°C in summer. after as little as 35 days. No problems The diet offered to the Pink-necked have been experienced with the CALL OR WRITE ~ Fruit Doves was the same diet we had young failing to thrive with this FOR BROCHURE ~ fed to a breeding pair of Black-naped schedule. Chicks have reproduced at Fruit Doves. This diet includes fruit ORDER TOLL FREE one year of age and may mature 1-800-222-3563 1.1.. .. (apple, orange, banana and grapes), slightly earlier. canned vegetables which have been ALL OTHER CALLS: 513-874-5181 cooked and diced (corn, black-eyed There seems to be little seasonality F~ 513-874-5878 peas, carrots and beets), a small associated with Pink-necked Fruit amount ofSoft-billed Bird Fare (made Dove reproduction. Eggs have been by Reliable Protein Products), and produced at St. Louis in every month supplementation with Vionate and ofthe year. It is likely that fruit doves

calcium three times weekly. This diet in the wild breed in response to sea­ P.O. BOX 15001-HAMILTON, OH 45015 is offered daily at 9:00 a.m. and again sonal food availability. If food is in the afternoon if chicks are being always abundant, as in captivity, then KNOWN FOR QUALITY AND SERVICE! fed. The food is offered on an ele- reproduction always seems to be

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appropriate. Pink-necked Fruit Doves look like As with other doves (Goodwin, adults. 1983), the nest platform is a flimsy Detennination of sex in both adults affair made out of a few twigs. Both and chicks may be a problem. Some wicker baskets and wire baskets have aviculturists report they are unable to been used by the Pink-necks. A sex birds based on variation in plu­ shallow 1/4 inch (.6 em) mesh wire mage coloration between males and One size 36" x 12" Assembled - S75.00 cup seems almost irresistible to most females. All adults (4.2), received at fruit doves. The see-through nature St. Louis were readily sexed on the of the wire mimics a typical dove basis of the male's purple coloration nest perfectly. The only problem being a more intense hue than that of with wire is the eggs may be easily the female. The first juvenile plu­ • Wood lining available. • Boxes ordered dented by pressure from an incubat­ mage is entirely green with yellow unassembled come without wood lining. ing bird. The addition of sink mat­ feather edging. At three to four • Many others not pictured. •L Box and Z box have left ting, a flexible plastic mesh made to months of age, the pink feathers or ri ht entry holes. set drying laboratory glassware on, begin to molt in. The color ofthe first avoids this problem. Generally sev­ two chicks hatched resembled the • Leading breeder of large Psittacines for over 25 years. eral nests are placed in what look like female plumage when they molted. good nest locations to humans. The Both these birds were surgically • Now offering a proven product line for the serious aviculturalist. locations are altered ifthe fruit doves sexed and were confirmed to be • Eucalyptus chips and shavings for seem to favor a different spot. female. The third chick molted in bedding. Three pairs of Pink-necked Fruit much brighter plumage and closely • Breeder cages and doors a specialty! Doves have bred at the St. Louis Zoo. resembled a male. The sex of all sub­ • Aviary and cage wire now avai lable at Twenty-eight single egg clutches sequent hatches was determined by the lowest prices anywhere. have been produced with 15 chicks differences in plumage color. At least • Premium breeder pairs and baby birds hatching. The average incubation four of eight chicks sexed in this always available. period is 18.5 days. A number of eggs manner have confirmed the sex • Most items in stock for immediate laid were broken during laying or determination by reproducing. It is shipment. incubation. Fertility has been high possible that diet may playa signifi­ SASE FOR CATALOGUE with only two eggs found with dead cant role in determining plumage embryos in the shell. Of the 15 color. There may also be significant 1181 Fourth Avenue • Napa, CA 94559 hatched chicks, ten survived to inde­ color variation in plumage between (707) 255·8833 • Fax (707) 255·5446 pendence. At six months of age, birds from different parts of the 32 April/ May 1992 SUN SEED SUNSCRIPTION™ SUN·STIXM... PLUS SUN SEED SUNSCRIPTIONTMSUN· STIXTM are vitamin­ enriched, delicious treats for birds and small animals. They are a special formulation of the finest, flavorful, natural ingredients. SUN SEED SUN·STI)(TM brand new "SUNSATIONALLY SEALEDTM" packaging features a unique design with a specially engineered foil liner that guarantees locked-in freshness. The large SUN· STI)(TM has the exclusive rawhide center which provides hours of safe playtime fun. SUN· STI)(TM are available in single-pack and value four-pack packages. Plus, your pets will also love SUN CAKESTM,SUN SEED BELLS and SUN SEED PINE CONE treats. All are "SUNSATIONALLY SEALEDTM."SUN SEED SUN·STIXTM...... your pets will love 'em. Try'em. They are truly "SUNSATIONALm".

SUNsCltJPTION'M IT'S SUNTHING SPECIALTY SUN SEED GUARANTEE If you're not totally satisfied with a SUN SEED product. simply return the unused portion for replacement, substitution or a full refund. SUN SEED CO., INC. Box 33, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 range although only one form is described (Goodwin, 1983). A major difficulty in maintaining AvianTrade Shows Pink-necked Fruit Doves is the pro­ pensity for females to die. At least five pairs in different zoos have had a & Seminars hen die. Pink-necks do not seem to accept close confinement as well as other species of fruit doves. Males Monterey Bay Cage Bird Club Middle Tennessee cage Bird Club alongwlth wlll be hostingIts annual will not co-exist without a great deal Future Farmers ofAmerica Club SpringBirdAffair of chasing. When pairs are set up, wlll hosta May23&24,1992 males have a tendency to drive the Pet Bird Care Seminar Quality Inn AIrport Motel I Sunday, March 22, 1992 I International Plaza on Brtley Parkway females. This can be particularly dan­ I 1 :00 to 6:00 p.m. Nashville, Tennessee gerous for the female if she is not yet Cost ofadmIssIon Is $5. ThIs event Is sImilar to a giant Ilea 'JI WllIbeheldat market for bIrds and bIrd-related Items. sexually mature and cannot respond j Leland High School The public Is cordially Invited to attend properly. Successful pairs at St. Louis i 6677 Camden Avenue, San Jose 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. have laid eggs within one to four For more Information contact: No admission charge. MBCBC, 390 Cypress St., For more Information contact: months of being put together. Pairs Sunnyvale CA 94086 or JIm Weber, faJr chaJrman which do not reproduce relatively phone (408) 730-2210 P.O. Box 602. Greenville, KY 42345 soon after being put together may be Speakers Include: orcall (502) 338-7626 Sally Blanchard, bird behaviorist immature, incompatible or inappro­ Tom Roudybush, avian nutritionIst priately housed. Mike Murray. DVM, avian veterlnartan Greater Rochester HookbUl Association DavId Cota. "TonlghtShow" guest Bird Sale andAuction '92 Non-breeding Pink-necked Fruit and bird traJner June 13, 1992 Doves are compatible with a wide Followlng the seminar, there wlll 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. range of softbills and ground birds. be a fun show and workshop for the Skating Institute ofRochester FFA Club members. I Boys Club Place, Rochester, NY Breeding has taken place with aviary AdmissIon Free companions such as the Hooded ContactWalt Schwlnd (716) 544-6221 Tennessee Valley Caged Bird Club Interestedvendors - contactWalt Pitta, Bleeding Heart Dove, Magpie presents Its Robin, Thicknee Plover, Small-billed Annual Spring Exotic Bird Falr Yellow~vented Apri14&5,1992 cage Bird Club ofNortheastTennessee Tinamou, and Bulbul. Knoxville Convention Center Is hosting Its Aggression towards Pink-necks has For Information call: 2ndAnnual Spring Bird Falr been instigated by other large pigeon FaJr ChaJrman HelenThompson June 13 & 14, 1992 (615) 745-8179 orwrite to Jonesborough Middle School species such as the Nicobar Pigeon Tn. V.C.B.C.• P.O. Box 51425, Hwy -lIE, Jonesborough, TN and Black-neck Fruit Dove. Knoxvllle, TN 37950 For Information call orwrtte Floyd (Johnny) Black (615) 926-3753 Fruit doves make highly desirable c/oCBCNETN, P.O. Box 292, display specimens and are relatively Bird Clubs ofVirginia Jonesborough, TN 37659 Is sponsortng Its simple to manage in captivity. Off­ or 8thAnnual Convention & Bird Mart JudyArthur (615) 753-4066 spring have been produced from at April 10·12, 1992 least six pairs of wild-caught birds Springfield Hilton Sprlnglleld, VIrginIa The Greater Memphis Bird Club and this species seems on the verge For convention Information contact: Spring Bird Fair of becoming established. It appears, Dorl Decker (703) 339-1544 or June 13 & 14, 1992 however, that additional wild-caught Dick Ivy (804) 898-5090 AIrport Park Hotel or write: 3896 Lamar Ave., Memphis. TN stock may be difficult to acquire. BCV For Info contact Every effort should be made to man­ 70II-A Manchester Blvd., Suite 107 Mary Noland Alexandria, VA 22310 371 Dreger. Memphis, TN 38109 age the birds already in captivity to For bird mart Information contact: (90I) 332-7258 preserve genetic diversity of this CynthIa Parry (703) 97:3-0275 beautiful fruit dove. 5thAnnual CFBB Bird Swap Meet Central Indiana Cage·Bird Club Sunday, Apri126, 1992 presents Its Bibliography 9a.m. t04p.m. Fourth Annual Cage Bird Fair Admission: $3.00 June 28·29, 1992 Bohmke, B. 1990. Husbandry and Propagation at Kissimmee Valley Uvestock Marton CountyFaJrGrounds of the B1ack-naped Fruit Dove, Plilinopus Exhibition Hall Indianapolls, IN melanospila, at the S1. Louis Zoo. Avicul· Highway 192/441, Kissimmee, FL For Information contact: tural Magazine, 96(4): 178-180. For Information call: Janice McGinnIs, chaJrperson Goodwin, Derek; Pigeons and Doves of the Raymond Gera (407) 725-0514 P.O. Box 33074 World, Cornell University Press, 124 IndIanapolis. IN 46203 Roberts Place, Ithaca, NY; 3rd edition, Plan to attend or call (317) 783-3592 1983;pp.2(~~270,273. Rose CityExotic Bird Club's SpringBird Expo Roberts, H. 1991. Breeding the Jambu Fruit the Northwest's largest CentralAlabamaAviculturai Society's Dove at the Memphis Zoo and Aquarium, May 16& 17, 1992 Annual Falrand Show AFA Watchbil'd, 18(2): 3(~39. Washington County FaJr Grounds September 5 & 6, 1992 van Balen, S. and Marhadi, A. 1989. A Breeding Hillsboro. Oregon Governor's House Hotel Record of the Pink-necked Fruit Dove, Plil­ A short drive from Portland 2705 E. South Blvd.. Montgomery, AL inopus pOl'phyreus, in Java, Kukila, Dec. Forvendor space Information, Hotel reservations 1-800-334-8459 call Ron Marks For further Information contact 1989, pp. 144 and 145. (503) 684-3799 Charles Reaves (205) 892-0015 P.O. Box 2130, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 Lorene Clubb (205) 857-3817 Acknowledgements I would like to thank the St. Louis Zoo Bird Department staff for their observations, insights, and dedicated care ofthe birds.•

34 April / May 1992