Philippines. A possible site for the facility is at Bacolod on the island of Negros to house the seriously endan­ by Martin Vince gered Negros Bleeding-heart G. keayi, Assistant Curator of Birds the subspecies identified by Mr. Oliver Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, SC as the one most urgently needing help. formerly of Sedgwick County Zoo, KS Combining both aspects of "conser­ vation aviculture" in relation to the Luzon Bleeding-heart, in captivity and in the wild, has given the CCAFA and Australian aviculturists the opportunity to actively participate in securing the The White, collared Kingfisher Halcyon chlons en families make up the order while the aquatic kingfishers tend to Coraciiformes; most are tropical excavate their own burrows in earthen Tor sub-tropical birds and all banks. Kingfisher eggs are white and have syndactyl feet, i.e., two ofthe for­ almost spherical, and number 2-3 in ward pointing toes are joined for at the tropics and up to 10 at higher lati­ least half of their length. Motmots, tudes. todies, bee eaters, and certain rollers The White-collared Kingfisher com­ and kingfishers nest in burrows that prises 47 sub-species which can be they usually excavate themselves in found over an enormous range, earthen banks, and their syndactyl feet stretching from the Red Sea, eastwards are presumably an important adapta­ through India, Burma, Thailand, tion to help in such work. Most of the Malaysia and Indonesia, affecting also species in this order are insectivorous the Philippines and many islands in or carnivorous, although the Asian the Pacific Ocean. Indeed, 40 of the hornbills also eat a considerable .sub-species can be found only on amount of fruit. Mature female Luzon Bleeding-heart islands which are mostly very small Pigeon (Galloco.lumba luzonica). This is The 92 species of kingfishers (fami­ and remote: Erromanga, Torres, the only species ofbleeding-heart kept in ly Alcediriidae) are cosmopolitan, Pavuvu, Nissan, Duff, Malaita, Utupua, Australian aviaries but it is doing well except for the polar regions and some Rota, and many more (Howard and there. particularly remote islands. Only six Moore 1991). Each island is the home future of the beautiful pigeon - an species are found in the New World, of a unique form of the White-collared opportunity they have firmly grasped with most living in South East Asia and Kingfisher which, because of their rel­ with both hands. Indonesia. They vary in size from 4-18 atively small and exposed populations, inches (10-45cm) and are thick-set are vulnerable to any environmental Internet Addresses birds with short necks, large heads and change, whether natural or man-made. Charles A. Hibbert: long, heavy bills. Some of the Old At Sedgwick County Zoo we have a [email protected] World species are very beautifully col­ ored, while the New World kingfishers Conservation Committee are green, blue, brown or white. Australian Federation of Aviculture: Alcedinidae, for avicultural purpos­ [email protected] es, can be divided into two broad HAWKEYE PARROTS groups: the aquatic kingfishers (sub­ Queen of Bavaria Conures families Alcedininae and Cerylinae) • Parent-reared for References that live primarily on fish and crus­ ~ Cultural Identity Hibbert C.A., 1996. "Status of the Bleeding-heart • Microchip Implanted Pigeon CGallicolumba sp.) in the taceans; and the forest ·kingfishers ~a.keJ' Wild." Australian Aviculture, pp 163­ (subfamily Daceloninae) that do not for LD. • Health Guaranteed 64. rely on water for their living but turotl Hibbert C.A., 1996. Bleeding-heart Pigeon • Pairs and Indivicfual Husbandry Manual, Conservation instead eat insects, rodents, small birds Queens Available Committee of the Avicultural and reptiles. Generally these forest P.O. Box 802 • Iowa City, IA 52244 Federation of Australia. species nest in pre-existing holes such phone: (319) 338-2231 Hibbert C.A., 1997. "The Luzon Bleeding-heart website: www.hawkeyeparrots.com Pigeon." Australian Aviculture, pp 25-26. as tree cavities or earthen burrows, the afa WATCHBIRD 21 three-quarter acre tropical jungle chicks in 1994 and one in 1995. The failed to hatch. Kingfishers do not exhibit which houses about 200 free­ sequence of events was identical in practice nest sanitation, but these par­ flight birds representing 80 species. each case and I shall describe the ticular birds do carry shells and Most are hardy softbills ranging from breeding of 1995. At the beginning of unhatched eggs away from the nest. Pekin Robins Leiothrix lutea to Imper­ June 1995, both birds were much more By day 5, the chick was receiving small ial Pigeons and starlings. But there are active and vocal than normal, often fly- three-quarter-inch (2cm) pinkie mice. also Amazon parrots, partridges, ing across the jungle exhibit and utter­ The parent carries the mouse length­ ducks, crakes and guans that live ing their sharp shriek of a call three to wise in its bill having first poun~ed it together in the free-flight environment eight times in rapid succession. Both against a branch. amongst the tropical vegetation, sexes started entering the nest box Because the nest box overlooked streams, lake and waterfall. they used the previous year. It was a the lake, it was decided to remove the Temperatures in the building vary parakeet-type box 6.63 inches square chick for handrearing to protect it from between 85° F. (29° C.) in the summer (17cm) and almost 12 inches high (30 the dangers of fledging. It was and 70° F. (21°C.) in the winter. cm) with a 2 1/3 inch (6 cm) diameter, removed at 14 days of age: the eyes At the beginning of 1992, we round entrance hole. The box over­ were half open and the body was cov­ received a six-month old pair of cap­ looked the lake and was filled with ered in pin feathers. Handfeeding was tive bred White-collared Kingfishers. almost 5 inches (12 cm) ofwood shav­ simplicity itself, with the chick eagerly Side-by-side, differences in the sexes ings and fixed about 13 feet (4 m) can be seen, but they are so slight and above the ground to a concrete pillar. variable that surgical or laboratory In the middle of June one of the methods should be used to determine birds developed a balding nape, and I a pair -- these birds had been surgical­ could tell by the colored leg band that ly sexed. Having been quarantined it was the female. Presumably she had and then "howdied"·in an introduction been mated and, when she disap­ cage, the pair were released into the peared from sight one week later, I felt three-quarter acre exhibit. sure that she was in the nest box. They were always exceptionally Indeed she was, and over the follow­ nervous and, even now, remain as far ing three weeks, I was able to see both from people as possible. We have sexes enter the box and spend what never had any problems with aggres­ seemed to be an entire day incubating. sion of any kind, although a group of I had not yet inspected the box, but six Blue-grey Tanagers that originally realized there was no need after seeing lived in the building, would often an Imperial Pigeon chased off a perch chase or displace both kingfishers; and that was beside it. One kingfisher flew they were such a nuisance that we directly at the pigeon's head, veering removed them to off-exhibit breeding off at the last possible moment; the aviaries other kingfisher followed closely Throughout the building there are behind, and both birds made five pass­ six food dishes raised six-and-a-half es before the intruder finally left. feet (2 m) above the ground on metal Clearly there were eggs in the nest poles, as well as dishes on the floor for box. the ground birds. For the arboreal Three weeks later I started to pro­ species, insectivore and frugivore diets vide more livefood than usual in the are offered in the same dish, but not hope that the eggs would start to mixed together. A tiny proprietary pel­ hatch. They did and, as far as I could A four-month-old female White-col/area let called "Tropical Bits" (manufactured tell, the large crickets were the first Kingfisher hatched August, 1995. by Marion Zoological, P.O. Box 875, food items taken to the box. In fact, Wayzata, MN 55391) provides the the rearing food was almost entirely essential nutrients for both diets and, large crickets for the first few days so eating whole pinkie mice, large crick­ because of its size, is eaten by the I was careful to sprinkle a multivitamin ets and small fish. The youngster start­ smallest insectivores and frugivores and mineral supplement on them. ed to feed itself at about four weeks of alike. The insectivorous diet contains The adults started to leave the box age, and was fully independent two chopped hard boiled egg, mealworms, unattended for very long periods only weeks later, preferring pinkie mice waxworms and large crickets (for two days after the first hatch, just as and fish. + recipe see Vince 1994). Most of these they had the previous year. I took that References foods are eaten by the kingfishers; and opportunity to inspect the box and Howard, R. and Moore, A. 1991. A Complete pinkie mice and small fish are also found one healthy chick. No other Checklist of the Birds of the World. mixed in. eggs were present, but they were Second edition. Vince, M. 1994. "Long-tailed Tailor Bird: AFA Our kingfishers produced two almost certainly disposed ofwhen they Watchbird,Vol XXI,No.6. 22 MarchiApril 1998.