inbred, due to the small size of their numbers and habitat. Like most crea­ AMAZONS Rare Birds tures that evolved with relatively few by enemies, they are not very bright. John and Pat Stoodley at the The humble park pigeon is canny and 135 pages, 8-1/4"x 11-1/4" street-wise compared to the pink 85 full color plates pigeon. Rio Grande As part of a cooperative breeding program with the Jersey Wildlife Zoo Trust the Bronx Zoo, San Diego Zoo, ~thers by Sherry Rind and the Rio Grande Zoo has Redmon~ Washmgron maintained Pink Pigeons since the seventies. The original pair is still at the zoo and successfully raises its Although small, the Rio Grande own babies in the zoo's indoor jungle Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico habitat after having been offered vari­ breeds and maintains an important ous habitats and nesting spots. collection of rare birds under the Also living in the steamy, indoor stewardship of Curator Bill Aragon. It jungle is a pair of Helmeted Curas­ is one of the few places in the United sows, large pheasant-like birds. The States to which Australia will send its $78.00 plus $2.50 shipping male sports a bright blue helmet and native birds. To achieve such an envi­ makes a deep, low-pitched booming Dale R. Thompson able status, the zoo had to petition the sound. On their first day out of quar­ P.O. Box 1122, Dept. AF Australian government. Every three antine after their arrival from Albu­ Canyon Country, CA 91386 years, the birds are inspected by the querque's sister city Guadalajara, (Calif. residents add 6-1/2% sales tax) local Australian consul. Mexico, the pair laid an egg. The first (805) 252-4871 The consul should find nothing to clutch was pulled for incubation and Risa Teitler complain about. The psittacines are the pair went on to lay a second. Only P.O. Box 1392 housed in spacious enclosures with one chick survived that year but the Miami Springs. FL 33266-1392 tree branch perches, nest boxes and pair is on another clutch, so the zoo is (Florida residents add 6% sales tax) indoor shelters, sunny and shady hopeful. • (305) 885-7453 areas, gravel to dig in, and plenty of room to fly. The Aussie collection includes Major Mitchell Cockatoos, Australian King Parrots, and Sulphur­ Author Seeks Other Breeders' crested Cockatoos. Input for Upcoming Book The King Parrots laid eggs for the first time this year. Although usually Tony Silva is starting work on the formerly cavity nesters, the female laid her companion volume to his A Mono­ Wa lnut Acres Aviaries eggs on the ground, as first-timers grah of Endangered Parrots. This sometimes do. Zoo personnel pulled new book, entitled A Monograph of Emerald Forest the first four eggs for incubating, Macaws and Conures, will be illus­ leaving one for the hen to sit on. Out trated by Eric Peake. It will cover each Bird Gardens of a total of five eggs, four were fer­ species and subspecies of macaw and 45 wooded acres, streams, tile. Three unfortunately failed and conure in field and aviary. The format ponds, and tropical gardens one hatched. There are so few Kings will follow the first monograph, but devoted to propagation known to be in the United States that will be much more expanded and will even one increases the population by of exotic birds. contain sonograms. Aviculturists are an important percentage. urged to send details of their breed­ breeding Zoo residents for several years, the ings for inclusion. Of particular inter­ Toucans, Toucanettes, Major Mitchell's hatched three eggs in est would be details on the growth Cockatoos, Macaws, April and the babies were left to be rate of young, the number bred and raised by the parents, a reliable pair. Eclectus, African Greys, year, diet fed, cage and nesting box Another breeding success of an sizes and any other information that Australian parakeets, extremely rare species is that of the may be considered important. Those Parrots and Finches Mauritius Pink Pigeon. There are only persons with field experience are also All Birds Closed Banded about 30 of these birds left in the urged to send information; of special wild on the island of Mauritius in the Call or write for price list. interest would be reports of sightings, Indian Ocean, former home of the Jerry Jennings habitat type and locality. Dodo. Deforestation and introduced The idea is to produce as complete macaques (primates) that eat eggs and a work as possible. Proper credit (619) 728-2226 destroy the nests are responsible for would, of course, be given. Route 6, Box 14 the near-extinction of the pigeon. Information should be sent to: Fallbrook, CA 92028 Pink Pigeons are about the size of Tony Silva, Curator of Birds, Loro Visitors by appointment only park pigeons but colored in a soft Parque S.A., 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, pink instead of grey. They tend to be Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.• 16 February / March 1991.