2xotlc ~heagahtg 3. Adequate nutritious diet. Most of the species listed as endan­ eaptiVe/PltVu1.7ement iV1d ~'to?a7t1tion gered or threatened are receivin.g attention in captivity and success IS by Mickey Dllson, Glendale, AZ being attained with many of these. (Aug/Sept 1979 ) ;11iLket{ OliSOl1 has dOl1e mO'le There are 16 genera comprising 48 Edwards' Pheasant The Edwards' Pheasant Lophura nJo'lk 011 pheasMts Md othe'l tjAlLi­ recognized species of pheasants. In some species there are numerous sub­ edwardsi is a small and beautiful bird 11aceous 6i'lds thM almost t:lJ1lfol1e species or races bringing the number first discovered in 1895 with a small else i11 Ame'l£CM atJ£cultu'le. d-le of forms to about 150. distribution in central Vietnam near Hue (Way). It was first imported in has alJValfs 6eel1 a J1JiLLiJ1'j tea.che'l, All of the pheasants, including peafowl and junglefowl, are found in 1925 to France by Dr. Jean Delacour, Sha'li115 his k110J1Jl£d5e a60ut these Asia except the Congo Peacock of when he brought some 15 individuals 6i'lds and he J1Jas a pwnee'l in 'lep'lO­ Africa. to his collection. It was successfully propagated and distributed to zoos ~nd duci115 mAAlf o~ the mO'le di~~£cuLt During the past 50 years radical changes have taken place in much of aviculturists in Europe and Amenca. species. Asia which have severely decimated But recently it has become increasingly wild populations of many species of difficult to breed and abnormalities in he pheasants are among pheasants. Human over-population, plumage are appearing. the most popular and col­ deforestations, military conflict, cou­ Since these birds are likely extinct in q orful of all display birds. the natural distribution, the World pled with the fact that pheasants are For centuries their exotic appearance, considered good eating and are very Pheasant Association has recently start­ along with relative ease of captive colorful, account for the reduction in ed a Stud Book under the direction of management, have made them com­ numbers of wild population. Dr. Tim Lovel to attempt to random mon in most avicultural and zoological Political upheaval, over-population pair birds as much as possible. To collections. and poverty in many Asian countries date, 240 birds in 93 collections have No other group of birds has made make protection of rare species in the been identified and I urge any collec­ such an impact on the social and eco­ natural population almost impossible. tions with Edward's to participate in nomical history of mankind, since Therefore, it is most important to main­ this Stud Book project. domestic poultry are descendant of the tain a viable, productive population in junglefowl, thetnselves members of the captivity of these disappearing forms. Editor's Notice: pheasant family. Game Pheasan~ hav: Sources: The Times, 5 September 1996; WWF Fortunately, most species can be News} Summer 1996,3. been hunted for centuries both ln thelr propagated successfully in zoos and native distribution and as transplanted private collections if a few essential ~oo Pheasant Rediscovered sport bird for western man. Fev: considerations are given priority. visitors fail to have at least a hmited Edward's Pheasant Lophura edwardsi} thought to be extinct in the wild, has been redis­ knowledge of what a pheasant is, as These include: covered in Bach Ma National Park, central they have affected the lives of most 1. Suitable climatic conditions for the Vietnam. A mating pair has been caught by local people, serving as food source, sport, or species. villagers. The last recorded cap?ure ofthe species as display birds in parks and gardens. 2. Proper, adequate environment. was in 1928 and three expeditions between 1988 and 1994 failed to find any trace ofthe bird. The <D ~ female has since died from injuries sustained in I <D capture and the male has a broken leg. C ~ a: .3 >­ .0 o (5 .c Swinhoe's Pheasants 0.. Swinhoe Pheasants Lophura swin­ hoei, a closely related species to Edwards' is a success story for captive propagation. An inhabitant ofthe interi­ or ofTaiwan, it was extremely rare in its native range. First imported to Europe in the 1860s it has bred in captivity extremely well and was one ofthe most commonly kept pheasants until the Endangered Species Act of 1973 dis­ couraged its captive propagation. Satyr Tragopan) Tragopan satrya 22 July/August 1998 ~ were successfully propagated in Argus Pheasants ~ Europe, a first captive breeding, and in The Argus Pheasants are jungle birds ~ 1977 were reared in New York in the found on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra .3 ~ collection of Mr. Charles Seville. and' Borneo. They have always been o 15 L prized in collections becau e of their a.. Fireback Pheasants interesting display and beautiful long Fireback Pheasants also are inhabi­ secondary feathers which grow four tants of the low lying jungle areas of feet long on adult males. South East Asia. They lay only two eggs per clutch so large numbers are not reared and Siamese Fireback these birds have always been rare in The alost common is the Siamese captive collections. Fireback Lophura diardi which is well established in captivity in both Europe Palawan Peacock Pheasant and America. The Palawan Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron emphanum is another Malayan Crested and warm climate bird which has been Bornean Crested Firebacks decimated on the island ofPalawan by The Malayan Crested and Bornean forest destruction. It has always been Koklass Pheasant, Pucrasia macrolopha Crested Firebacks are beautiful birds scarce in its range and very localized. which have become well established Since the 1930s there have been sever­ ~ in the past few years in American avi­ al importations and at present we have ~ culture. D a fairly strong breeding stock in many c co Cf) collections. However, as with all mem­ '0 Crested Fireback ~ bers ofthe peacock pheasant tribe, the Q) t ::J The Crested Fireback Pheasant clutch size is only two eggs so large 8 o Lophura ignita has been imported sev­ numbers are not reared. '0 L a.. eral times but seems to be more deli­ cate and has never propagated well. Hume's Pheasant There are very few in captivity today. The Hume's Bar-tailed Pheasants Syrmaticus humiae were first import­ Wattled Pheasant ed in the early 1960s from their native The Wattled Pheasant Lophura bul­ Southeast Asia. Hume's have extreme­ weri from the interior of Borneo has ly local distribution and are nowhere recently been propagated in Mexico abundant. They have proven to be for the first time. It is hoped they will very easy to propagate in captivity and become more available as they are were well on their way to becoming very striking birds which need to be common in captive collections before established in captivity. the 1973 passage of the Endangered All firebacks make excellent display Species Act. I received one of the first Temminck's Tragopan, Tragopan temmincki birds as they are usually tame and in pairs imported into the U.S. in 1966 warm climates, quite hardy. In cold and in one year 22 were successfully In 1967, 30 captive raised Swinhoes' areas artificial heat is necessary. reared with no major difficulties. were sent to Taiwan to be re-intro­ duced into their natural habitat in a for­ est area controlled by the Taiwan "Quality Leg Ballds With A Worldwide Reputatioll!" ational University. More have been PARROT BA D• COCKATIEL BA DS' LOVEBIRD BA DS' PARAKEET BA DS Since sent since the Taiwanese government CA. 'ARY BA iDS' FI CH BA DS' STAINLE S STEEL FEEDI G EEDLES 1978 has also propagated some in captivity ALL SIZES PLASTIC BANDS' FEEDI G SYRI GES' CLAW SCISSORS to be released and these birds are once BA DCUTIERS • PIPETIES' ETS again becoming well established. Closed Month "New" Salvadori's Pheasant of July Stainless Steel Also clo ely related to the above Send self addressed stamped birds is the Salvadori's Pheasant of the Parrot Bands envelope for brochure! interior of south Sumatra. Three were L & M Bird Leg Bands • imported into France in 1939 only to P.O. Box 2943 • San Bernardino, CA 92406 Dept: AF :~:::::::=:::;:;:I .. be destroyed by the Second World Phone: (909) 882-4649 • Fax (909) 882-5231 War before propagating. In 1976 they Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) • E-mail: [email protected] the afa W TCHBIRD 23 Brown Eared pheasant, Crossoptilon mantchuricum Swinhoe's Pheasant, Lophura swinhoei 24 July/August 1998 Mikado Pheasant avicultural subject. Prior to 1960 it had Some of the grazing pheasants such as The Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus the reputation of a very delicate tragopans, eared, or Koklass need as mikado inhabits the indigenous forests species to propagate and maintain. much as 700 to 800 sq. ft. per bird to ofthe temperate zones ofTaiwan. The However, in recent years we have adequately provide for their needs as Mikado has been declining during the learned that Koklass require abundant they enjoy and need room to graze last 25 years in Taiwan, however, it is green food to supplement the regular and dig in the soil. being raised in some numbers in cap­ pheasant diet. Also it is prone to feath­ Minimum height for pheasant tivity. It prefers a colder climate than er picking and needs more space than aviaries should be 8 feet. More desir­ many pheasants and does not do well most pheasants. Recently, several avi­ able is a height of 10 to 14 feet as the in warm climates. culturists in the u.s. and in Europe birds can perch above any danger have been successfully propagating which they feel threatens them.