Melanogaste~ Rufa, Anhinga) and Novaehollandiae

by Michael E. Mace, Lead Keeper San Diego Wild Animal Park The family Anhingidae consist of the genus Anhinga and four specie, melanogaste~ rufa, anhinga) and novaehollandiae. Di tributed world wide in tropical and ubtropical region inhabiting fresh at r lake riv r , marshlands and occa ionally in coa tal lagoon . Continued onpage 37 A male African darter resting on a partiallysubmerged rock. African darter basking in the sunshine drying ofitsplumage. African darter swims with mostofits bodysubmerged which aids in its diving. An African darter is ingesting two smallfish he has captured. 36 April/May 1987 At a distance darters resemble cor historical site or select a new location. morants with some authorities classi Females arrive later to choose a mate. fying them under Phalacrocoracidae, After a pair bond has been established however, closer examination shows through a series of head bobbings and numerous morphological and behav vocalizations, the nest is completed, ioral differences. Unlike cormorants, made ofloosely woven sticks lined with the bill of the darter is pointed and long finer twigs and reeds. ests can be built with serrated edges ideal for spearing close to the ground or in trees up to six and grasping prey. The neck is "5" meters in height proximate to the water. shaped with a unique hinge mechanism Copulation occurs on the nest, the at the eighth vertebra allowing the bill to hen crouching with head outstretched, THE ACADEMY APPROACH be thrust out at accelerated speed. the male mounting, wings partly to Effortlessly propelled by large spread, grasping her bill or a nearby webbed feet, the entire body may be twig for stability. Mating may continue TAMING MACAWS submerged except for the long neck and early into incubation. by RISA TEITLER head. At first glance one might think of an aquatic snake, hence the synonym of The pale blue or green elliptical eggs, VIBEEJ measuring 46 to 60 cm by 31 to 41 cm, "snakebird~' Voluntarily controlled air 78 min., color. VHS or Beta sacs and heavy bones allow it to swim can number up to six in a clutch, four being the average, and are laid at two $59.95 (Mass. residents add $3.00 tax) submerged for several minutes while Make checks payable to: snaring food or escaping from predators. day intervals. Eagle's Nest Video, P.O. Box 100, Both parents share in the role ofincu Auburn, MA 01501 Emerging from the water, darters bation which lasts from 25 to 28 days. must sun themselves for a period of Upon hatching, the naked, altricial time to dry their feathers. This is usually chicks are fed predigested food dribbled OG on a log or rock, wings held out from from the bill of either parent and r::~ their body with the tail spread in the brooded ·continuously. On hotter days ~ Ct'1 "t.Send $1.00 shape of a modified fan to shorten the the parents stand over the chicks, wings tl discount available drying time. nlike waterfowl, their spread, to provide shade. In a short time your source for. .. plumage is easily saturated with water. A the young are covered with the white LAFEBER'S PRODUCTS flightless period occurs annually as down which later turns a buff brown. primaries molt simultaneously in the • PELLETED FOODS As they develop, the young can be • EMERAlD I & II fashion of some species of waterfowl. observed inserting their entire head into During this flightless time the birds stay the gaping mouth of the parents to • NUTRISTART, etc. even closer to a body ofwater for sanc retrieve food. At 4 to 6 weeks, they are raise healthier birds... tuary and roost on branches which are well developed, though not completely more nutrition for your money... easy to ascend. Cumbersome on land, independent, and fledge at 6 to 8 AVI-CULTUR-l BllllONTM darters are remarkable fliers, soaring to weeks. great heights while riding thermals or Zoological institutions, as well as concentrated Lactobacillus acidophilus gliding above the water's surface. private aviculturists, have limited expe • combat diarrhea & "pasted-up" rience working with the genus. I feel vents Though they may roost in aggre the reasons are two-fold. Zoos in gations up to 100 with cormorants, • combat the effects of stress general have limited waterways, tradi from crowding, molting, drugs, egrets, herons, and spoonbills, darters tionally exhibiting the more colorful etc. choose solitary foraging primarily on species of waterfowl such as swans. • fight E. coli, Salmonella, etc! varieties of fish, frogs, and aquatic Private aviculture deals primarily in • Just sprinkle on food. arthropods. birds whose diets consist of seeds and To enhance game capture, the man frUits, and they find feeding live or dibles can be held agape doubling the frozen fish cost-prohibitive. Lacking a point of attack. This has been docu ~:~~~:~c:~:~L;I demand, animal dealers have limited mented by observations of fish having motivation to import. Recently A. rufa :~~?:;l\\ twin holes in their flank. The speared ofAfrica (at this writing the only ones in prey is taken to the surface, tossed in the this country) and A. anhinga of the Wm. V. Reichert & Son • Dept W air and consumed head first. southeastern United States have been 1523 Potter Rd. Park Ridge, IL 60068 The nesting habits ofAnhingidae are displayed at the San Diego Wild Animal 312-825-BIRD well documented. Males may choose a Park.• afa WATCHBIRD 37.

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