Photo by George D. Dodge and Dale R. Thompson --.--...-----..1 Breeding the Fairy Lorikeet

( pulchella pulchella) by Dick Schroeder Inglewood, California

This little gem is every bit as exquisite as its name implies. Being primarily red below and dark green on the upper parts, it gives the impression of a miniature Stella's Lorikeet (C. papou stellae)~ although at 7" (18 cm) its less than half the This photo shows the subspecies Charmo­ Stella's size. The rump is blue. The syna pulchella rothschildi. The difference thighs are purple-black as is the nape between these subspecies is that the C.p. and the top of the head. The tail is rothschildi has a large) green chestpatch green at the base, red in the middle, The subspecies Charmosyna pulchella that is lacking in C. p. pulchella. C. p. pulchella wasfirst reproduced in captiv­ rothschildi was first bred by the San and yellow at the tip, with bright Diego Zoo. yellow on the underside. The red ity by Dick Schroeder on October 10) breast is streaked with bright yellow. 1989. This photo shows the adult(left) keets were soon to be available from a There is a sub-species (C. pulchella with a youngster. local importer, I had to have some. rothschildi) which has a broad green east to the Huon Peninsula and south­ I purchased nine (all he had). band on the upper breast, as well as ern Papua. They included both subspecies. After the yellow streaks. As with the red The genus Charmosyna has always an observation/quaratine period in Stellas, they are dimorphic, the held some of my favorite psittacines. my garage, they were set up in three females having yellow on the sides of They are among the most colorful of pairs, two pairs of. C.p. rothschildi the rump. all , as well as having a certain and one pair of the nominate race. Their distribution in the wild is in dignity that's hard to describe unless There were three extra males. the mountains of ew Guinea, partic­ you've experienced it. So, in July of They were all housed in identical ularly from the Vogelkop, West Irian, 1988, when I heard that Fairy Lori- cages, being 2 'x2'x4' with 6" square x 10" deep nest boxes. The entrance holes were 2" in diameter. These units were stacked three high and Kuhl's Ruffed Lory... were originally planned for holding one of five lories, is one of the world's most spectacular cages for babies, and not intended for birds. It is native to only breeding, but you know how that Rimitara, where its numbers are goes when space is limited. declining, but introduced popu­ The diet of the Fairies is the same as lations on Christmas, Washing­ ton and Fanning Islands are most of our other Charmosynas ­ thriving. Like all Vinis, it is Avico Lory Life ectar and fresh fruit. extremely playful and curious. The Stellas will eat the Lory Life dry Efforts are now underway to establish this rarely kept lory in diet just fine (with the addition of captivity. It is of utmost impor­ nectar), but the Red-flanked (C. pla­ tance to establish alilories in centis) and the Striated (C. multi­ self perpetuating captive breed­ ingprograms. Avicoprovides a striata) seldom touch the dry diet. In major tool in establishing lories fact, they seldom eat the fruit in captivity through its nutri­ although they are fond of grapes. I tional programs. Avico Lory feel that nectar is a necessity with the Life Powder and Lory Life Nectar along with fruit provides smaller members ofthis genus. a complete diet for alilories. For The first Fairies to go to nest for us information regarding these were a pair of C. rothschildi. They products, as well as our other diets for hummingbirds, sun­ laid in July of 1989. Two eggs were birds, frugivorous and insectiv­ laid, which is typical of lories. Having orous birds, write or call: not bred this species before, we weren't sure of the exact hatch date. I-~-~_~ As luck would have it, the first chick AUrea hatched the morning that Maurine For orders only and I were leaving for the AFA 1-800-747-9878 convention in Phoenix, Arizona. My For information or orders in-laws were staying at our house to (213) 776-6486 care for the birds and other critters. I Cuttlebone Plus (distributor for Avico products) didn't want to burden them with the 644 South Isis Ave., Inglewood, California 90301 extra worry ofa newly hatched chick. I knew that the regular amount of

8 October / November 1990 food would be plenty for the pair as 30th. She was 50 days old. Unlike the well as the chick(s?) during the week parent, she had no trace of yellow on AVICULTURAL that we would be gone. We returned the breast; in fact, the breast had a SOCIETY OF as scheduled to find the chick seem­ broad green band, much wider than QUEENSLAND ingly doing well and the other egg that of c.p. rothschildi. The green on Welcomes Dew members infertile. The next afternoon found the back extended clear up the neck An Australian Society catering to all birds bOth in the baby dead. There was no food in and to the crown of the head. There captivity and in the wild. We publish a bi-monthly its crop. It would have been a simple magazine on all aspects ofaviculture and conser­ was no break at the neck. This area is vation. Anyone interested in membership please matter to pull the chick for hand rear­ purplish in the adults. The beak was contact Ray Garwood. 19 fahey's Road. Albany ing but since we had no intentions of dark at first but began changing to Creek, 4035 Queensland, Auslralla. Annual making a pet out of it, we let the subscription, $22 (A) airmail, or $16 (A) surface. orange in a couple of days. This may Please remit monies or bank drafts in Australian parents give it a try. Its always a disap­ be due to the coloring agents in the currancy. pointment when something like that Avico Lory Life nectar, as I've seen it happens, but I feel that if they nested in my Ornate Lories ( once, they'll do it again, hopefully ornatus) as well. The baby is well Tell the advertiser with brighter results. cared for by the adults, and is usually you saw his ad in the On September 13th, 1989 I noted sandwiched between the parents on in my records that neither of the C. the perch. All three return to the nest WATCHBIRDI pulchella pair had been seen out of box at night even though the chick the nest for the previous two days, has been eating on its own for several Arizona Seed Crackers although some of the nectar had been weeks now. consumed. On September 15th, one At the time of this writing, late Society egg was laid, followed by the second December 1989, the proven pair of C. presents on the 17th. We estimated the hatch rothschildi are nesting again. It looks date at October 10th, 1989. On Octo­ as if this species may prove to be easy Chris Davis ber 11th, I check the nest during the to reproduce in captivity. If you hold on morning feeding, as both birds were any of these feathered jewels, please Behavior out of the box. I discovered a chick be aware of the subspecies so as not just kicking the last of the shell free. to hybridize. Who knows when (and Modification Techniques Its down was still wet. On October if) we'll see any more imported and October 21, 1990 Phoenix Az 12th, neither bird was seen out of the we need to be very careful with what box, although the normal amount of we have.• call (602) 982-2125 for details food was taken. On October 15th, the .------1. _ other egg still hadn't hatched, so I fig- ured one was all we would get. At nine days of age, the afternoon Pure, natural, and cleaned... feeding (I feed twice a day to the pairs finest cuttlebone available. that have chicks or eat all of the small 6" - 7" • medium 7" - 10" • Jumbo 10" - 13". mixed sizes morning offering) revealed a chick with a crop so full as to pop. One adult or the other was always in the nest. They also started to eat more fruit at this time, although nectar was still their favorite. They chose grapes first, followed by apple, pear, and 5 Ibs. at $3.90 per lb. = $19.50 papaya. The chick was banded at this 10 Ibs. at $3.00 per lb. = $30.00 (Minimum time. All orders prepaid and shipped freight collectorder 5 Ibs,) The nest was checked at least once a day, usually during the morning FEATURING AUIC@~.I<: ~.I<: ~ feeding, as both birds would be out LORY AND SOFTBILL DIETS on the perch at that time. At the first sign of an empty crop, the chick "f 21bs $ 650 L L"f N t 2Ibs.$17.00 would be pulled for hand feeding. Lory LIe 5lbs: $16:25 ory Ieee or 5lbs. $42,50 The adults spent less time in the box during this period. In fact, when they OTHER SPECIAL NECTAVORE DIETS AVAILABLE were seen engaged in mutual preen­ With the addition of fresh fruits these are complete diets. ing on several occasions I was sure we had lost the chick. Wholesale and breeder By November 10th, it was apparent (213) 776-6486 prices available. that the chick was a female as her yel­ Dick Schroeder: breeder of softbills, rare lories, and pet parrots low rump patches were quite evident. In fact, she was pretty well feathered at this time. Food consumption had increased greatly also. The nectar was replenished every afternoon. The baby left the nest on November afa WATCHBIRD 9