First Captive Breeding ofthe

The Collared (Pteroglossus midway between the throat and vent torquatus torquatus) is a commonly and above the "belly stripe" is a encountered aracari of the rain forests Collared roundish black spot. The yellow and tropical dry forests of Central breast feathers are further diffused America, where it ranges from south­ with red flecks. The Collared's beak ern Mexico through Belize, Guate­ is tipped in black, with a silver upper mala, Honduras, icaragua, Costa Aracari mandible, red at its base. The ridge of Rica and Panama. It is a lowland the upper mandible and the sides of that has adapted fairly well to by Jerry Jennings the lower mandible are also black. Woodland Hills, California the heavily disturbed habitat, and The eyeskin is bright red and the iris may be frequently seen along road- of the eye is bright yellow. ides and in farmers' field, where it Photos by Jerry Jennings The name "Collared Aracari" is fairly fearless of humans, unlike the derives from a brown ring or nuchal larger , which are often collar approximately three-eights hunted for food. Collareds are usually inch wide that extends around the encountered in small groups of four nape separating the black color of the to a dozen , who fly from tree to head from the olive green of the back. tree, often single file, and engage in This collar is found in four of the six enthusia tic croaking and antic move­ but not in the Pale­ ments of their beaks up, down, and mandibled. Haffer indicates the exist­ sideways. ence of sexual dimorphism in the The Collared Aracari is divided into color of the collar (dark in females ix subspecies, two of which are light in males), but this is not sup­ clinal. One clinal subspecies is found ported by data resulting from surgical in the smaller Yucatan Peninsula pop­ sexings. ulation. Only one other true sub­ Throughout 1988, a small number species is found in Central America, of Collared was imported the Fiery-billed Aracari (P. t. frantzii) into the United States from Honduras. which occur in the Pacific lowlands Eleven of these birds, from several of Costa Rica and westernmost sources, were acquired at Walnut Panama. The remaining sub pecies Acres. These birds were surgically occur in outh America. sexed, the results indicating six males The Collared Aracari has only and five females. Five pairs were set recently been available in the United up individually in flights either States, with the first imports dating 8' x 12' x 7' or 4' x 12' x 7'. The eight back to late 1987. The Collared foot wide flights were planted, Aracari has frequently been mislabe­ Female Collared Aracari at the nest whereas the four foot wide flights led as the banded aracari, the Pale­ entrance. were not. Each pair was provided a mandibled Aracari, and by several less nest log made from a four foot sec­ familiar names. The name "banded tion of palm tree, hollowed out by aracari" is erroneous, there being no chainsaw to a depth of 18 inches and uch . The Pale-mandibled an inside diameter of six inches. Aracari, on the other hand, i a separ­ In the spring of 1989, two pairs ate species of the Collared from South began to work their nests - one pair America, which is different in appear­ in each of the two different styles of ance, and which has also suffered the flights. Sometimes it is easy to con­ misnomer of "banded aracari:' fuse nesting activity with roosting Taxonomi ts disagree on the sub­ activity, since Collared Aracaris species status of the Pale Mandible, routinely roost in their nest log at with some considering it a full night throughout the year. On or species (P. erythropygius). about June 25, 1989, the only pair of The Collared Aracari exhibits typi­ Collareds in a planted flight began to cal aracari coloration in that its head lay and, by the 30th, had completed a is black and the back, wing , and tail clutch of four eggs. OnJuly 15th, two are olive green, and the rump ired. of the chick hatched, and a third Aracaris differ primarily in the pat­ hatched the following day. As the tern of stripe and/or pot overlying nesting cycle progressed, the parents their yellow brea ts, and in the color became increasingly aggressive. By of their beaks and eye . The Collared the time the chicks were a few days has a yellow breast overlaid by a hori­ old, the female would fearlessly zontal black stripe approximately A contented Collared Aracari chick has attack anyone entering the flight, thus one-half inch in width. The stripe is just been fed. making nest inspections hazardous 4 April/May 1990

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE Dedicated to conservation of bird wildlife through encouragement of captive breeding programs, scientific research, and education of the general public. 1989-1990 OFFICERS PHYLLIS MARTIN, President (813) 837-4555 DAVIS KOFFRON, 1st Vice President (602) 268-9237 CHUCK SAFFELL, 2nd Vice President(813) 722-0997 VICKI FLETCHER, Chief Financial Officer (206) 841-2705 SALLIE KLINK, Corresponding Secretary (813) 831-0261 LAURELLA DESBOROUGH, Executive Secretary (415) 372-6174 LEGAL COUNSEL VICE PRESIDENT LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENT Dan McCormic, c/o P.O. Box 56218, Phoenix, AI. 85079-6218 Ruth Hanessian (301) 424-7387 MEMBER NATIONAL &INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS American Cockatiel Society, Inc.• American Budgerigar Society, Inc.• International Dove Society • National Finch &Softbill Society • National Parrot Association National Cockatiel Society • International Softbill Society • International Loriidae Society • Avicultural Society of America Society of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors • African Love Bird Society • Amazona Society

MEMBER CLUBS Northeastern Region MARYlAND FLORIDA (SOUTH) MICHIGAN LOUISIANA Slate coordinator: State coordinator: Slate coordinator: State coordinator: Paul Gildersleeve, regional v. p. Orva Clubb (301) 248-3818 Tom Ireland (407) 968-4214 Jane Stewart (313) 453-3465 (516) 922-1169 Maryland Cage Bird Society, Inc. Aviary & Cage Bird Society of Ann Arbor Cage Bird Club Gulf South Bird Club,lnc. CONNECTICUT NEW JERSEY South Florida Great Lakes Avicultu ral Society Greater Brandon Avian Society Lansing Caged Bird Club MISSOURI State coordinator: State coordinator: State coordinator: Gustave Seehorst (203) 745-3697 Miami Parrot Club,lnc. Mid-Michigan Bird Club Paddy Lambert (314) 962-8186 Suncoast Avian Society Motor City Bird Breeders,lnc. Connecticut Association for South Jersey Bird Club Gateway Parrot Club Aviculture,lnc. The Real Macaw GEORGIA OHIO Greater Kansas City Avicultural New England Finch Fanciers StaIB coordinator: Slate coordinator: Society PENNSYLVANIA Mimi Shephard, DVM MAINE State coordinator: Missou ri Cage Bi rd Association (404) 377-6319 State coordi nator: Kristine Kroner (215) 628-4143 Avicultural Society of Greater Cincinnati OKLAHOMA Archie Fairbrother (207) 394-2252 Anthracite Bird Club KENTUCKY Golden Crescent Cage Bird Club State coordinator: Central Pennsylvania Cage Bird Club State coordinator: MASSACHUSmS Mid-American Exotic Bird Stale coordinator: Chester County Bird Breeders Thomas B. Angel, Jr., DVM •• Bird Fanciers of Oklahoma Delaware Valley Bird Club (606) 371-4929 Sodety, Inc. Dennise Cabral (508) 586-3293 Northwest Ohio Exotic Bird Club Oklahoma Cage Bird Society Berkshire Cage Bird Friends Erie Cage Bi rd Club Kentuckiana Cage Bird Club Unlimited Greater Pittsburgh Cage Bird Society WISCONSIN TEXAS (NORTH) MISSISSIPPI Slate coordinator: Boston Cockatiel Society, Inc. Philadelphia Avicuitural Society State coordinator: Slate coordinator: Tom Squyres (817) 244-4126 Boston Society for AViculture,lnc. VIRGINIA Jerry Pace (601) 781-2364 David Bluma (414) 554-8432 Exotic Cage Bird Society of Milwaukee Bird Society, ltd. Dallas Cage Bi rd Society Slate coordinator. Fort Worth Bird Club New England Dawn Kopf (703) 368-1660 NORTH CAROLINA Wisconsin Cage Bird Club,lnc. State coordinator: Plano Exotic Bi rds Massachusetts Cage Bird Commonwealth Avicultural Society Bob Beech (919) 855-8292 Association, Inc. National Capital Bird Ciub TEXAS (SOUTH) Parrot Breeders Association Charlotte Metrolina Cage Bird North Central Region State COOrdinator: NEW HAMPSHIRE Society Peninsula Caged Bird Society Daniel Gonzalez (512) 399-6464 State coordinator: Raleigh-Durham Caged Bird Society James McCabe, regional vice pres. Tri-State Bird Club & Foundation Parrot People Martin LeTourneau (603) 679-1716 Smoky Mountain Cage Bird Society (612) 753-5241 Birds of aFeather Avicultural Society WEST VIRGINIA IOWA Northwestern Region Northeastem Avicuitural Society State coordinator: PUERTO RICO StaIB coonlinator. State COOrdinator. NEW YORK Patty Knoblauch (304) 725-5601 . Randy Karg (712) 542-4190 Ron Sweere, regional vice pres. Slate coordinator: Mid-America Cage Bird Society (503) 324-2473 Barbara Heck (518) 766·2778 SOUTH CAROLINA ALASKA Broome County Bird Club Southeastern Region SlalB coordinator. MINNESOTA State coordinator: State coordinator: Finger Lakes Cage Bi rd Association Ted Stephens (803) 279·3374 Jim Bauman (907) 34-0623 •• Greater Rochester Hookbill Wllfonl Pace, regional vice pres. (601) 781-2364 TENNESSEE Minnesota Companion Bird IDAHO Association SlalB coonllnator: ALABAMA Association State coordinator: RHODE ISLAND Rlchanl Porter, MD (901) 386-1625 Arnold Davis (208) 775-3609 Slale coordinalor: State coordinator: Greater Memphis Bird Club NEBRASKA Charles Reaves (205) 892-0015 Middle Tennessee Cage Bird ClUb Slate coordinator. MONTANA Alabama BUdgerigar and Cockatiel Tennessee Valley Caged Bird Club Father John G1aves (402) 729-2058 State coordinator: VERMONT Bird Club of Greater Birmingham Greater Omaha Cage Bird Society Fred Frey (406) 549-0530 Stale coordi nalor: Central Alabama Avicuiture Society VIRGIN ISLANDS Peter Lowry (802) 754·6494 Slate coonllnator: NORTH DAKOTA OREGON FLORIDA (NORTH) SlalB coordinator. State coordinator. State coordinator: Mid-Atlantic Region Cal Kimura (407) 892-7661 Cascade Budgerigar Society Central Florida Bird Breeders SOUTH DAKOTA .~ Mid-Eastern Region Slate coordinator: Emerald Exotic Bird Club Dallas Johnson. regional vice pres. Association Royce King (605) 393·1720 Northwest Bird Club ) (301) 540-6198 Exotic Bird Club of Florida Michaeleen Rogers, regional v.p. Rose City Exotic Bird Club Gainsville Bird Fanciers (419) 639·3673 Black Hills Cage Bird Club DELAWARE Gulf Coast Bird Club WASHINGTON State coordinator: Imperial Bird Club IllINOIS State coordinator: Nancy Selz (302) 798-8625 Southwest Florida Bird Club SlalB coonllnator. South Central Region Natalie Weiss (206) 927·6983 Bonnie Doane (312) 223·2117 Jeri Wright, legislative liaison DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Springfield Pet Bird Club Jack Clinton-Eilniear, regional v. p. Sunshine State Cage Bird Illini Bird Fanciers (206) 838-9802 State coordinator. Northern Illinois Parrot Society (512) 828-5306 Thomas Marshall (703) 759-5978 Society, Inc. Avicultural Society of Puget Sound West FloridaAvian Society,lnc. INDIANA ARKANSAS Greater Spokane Avicultural Society State coonlinator: StaIB coordinator: South Sound Exotic Bird Society Nicole Vander Heyden, DVM . Washington BUdgerigar Society, Inc. (317) 786-1826 KANSAS Central Indiana Cage Bird State coordinator: Hal Prester(316) 788-4505·· Kansas Avicuitural Society, Inc.

6 April/May1990 and unpleasant. A few days after hatching, one of the chicks disappeared, prompting Western Region CALIFORNIA (NORTH) concern that it had been cannibalized Slate coordi nator: by one of the parents. Nest inspec­ Steve McNabb, regional v.p. Joanne Abramson (602) 992-4483 (707) 964-4380 tions were made daily, and occasion­ ARIZONA Aviary Association of Kern ally more frequently, until it appeared State coordinator: AvicullUrai Association of the parents were, in fact, providing Sunny Clarkson (602) 943-0614 San Francisco ArizonaAvian Breeders Assoc. Contra Cosla Avian Society good care. Arizona Avicu itu re Society Golden Gate Avian Society On September 9, 1989, one of the Arizona BUdgerigar Society Sanla Clara Valley Canary & Arizona Seed Crackers Society Exotic Bird Ciub two chicks fledged the nest and sat Avicuitural Society ofTucson HAWAII quietly in a tree, while the remaining L.a.a.N.Y. Central Slate coordinator: chick sat in the nest entrance. On the Turkey Flats L.a.a.N.Y. . following day, the second chick was COLORADO Southern California also found sitting in a tree in the State coordinator: Region Susan Baker (303) 223-2452 flight. Colorado Cage Bird Association Aletta M. long, regional v.p. Offspring are very similar in Front Range Avian Society (213) 596-7429 appearance to the adults except, most Rocky Mountain Society of CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) Aviculture, Inc. SAN DIEGO AREA: noticeably, the eyeskin is green. The NEVADA Slate coordi nator: iris is a pale blue-grey, and the beak Slate coordinator: Tom litchfield (619) 749-6706 lacks the adult coloration. The young Joyce Ferguson (702) 649-8026 Finch Society of San Diego County Las Vegas Avicultural Society Hookbill Hobbyists of Southern are approximately two-thirds the size NEWMEXICO Califomia of their parents on fledging and Slate coordi nator: North County Aviculturists remain dependent on them for San Diego County Bird Breeders Association approximately ten to 14 days. Flying Feathers Aviculture Society San Diego County Canary Club During the nesting cycle, the UTAH CALIFORNIA (SOUTHERN) parents were offered a fruit mix State coordinator: LOS ANGELES AREA: consisting of diced apples, papaya, State coordinator: Rex Kennedy (801) 571-6183 canteloupes, and destemmed grapes. Avlcultural Society of Utah Bob Bramer (714) 626-4761 Budgerigar Research Association Utah Pheasant Society They were provided with fresh California Game Breeders WYOMING Association soaked dog kibble (Science Diet State coordinator: Golden West Game Breeders and Canine Maintenance) and live crickets . Bird Club daily. As soon as the young fledged Hi Desert Bird Club Northern California Norco Valley Bird Breeders the nest, the soaked kibble was Region arange County Bird Breeders replaced with dry kibble, which is the ------Valley of Paradise Bird Club Dick Dickinson, regional V.p. West Valley Bird Society manner in which it is served to adult (408) 248-1641 birds. The young Collareds have been • Position open - contact regional vice president If interested allowed to remain with their parents • Indicates 2year term has been fulfilled. If no new interested party and all four birds share their log as a comes forward and indicates adesire to serve, incumbent remains in roost at night. In the wild, offspring position. from the first nest usually assist their parents in the rearing of a second For information about contacting any of these member clubs, nest. This "helping" behavior is please call that club's state coordinator. typical of aracaris and is indicative of their non-aggressive behavior I I SCHEDULE FOR I Pocket Digital I towards their offspring and siblings, AFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS I "Thermometer I Mark these dates and plan to attend! in contrast with other species of June 8,9,10, 1990 ramphastids. I $25.00 Reg.$31.50 I Spring Regional Meeting The readiness with which the For the measurement of nestling Palace Station Hotel Collareds went to nest is a hopeful I I 2411 West Sahara Ave. I food preporation, etc. Instant read I Las Vegas, NV 891 02 indication that this species will do Make early room reservations, 30 days prior recommended. well in captivity. I temperatureWith replacement battery. I Local- (702) 367-2411 It should be noted that the Interna­ All others -1 (800) 544-2411 ~ Free shuttle from airport tional Zoo Yearbook, on three -: Rooms - single or double - $45.00 separate occasions in 1981, 1983, For general meeting info., call AFA office (602) 484-0931 I Wavicicte I and 1984, indicated that the Collared I 06 Aerosol I August7 -12,1990 Aracari reproduced at the San Diego 16th Annual Convention Zoo. The birds in question were I $7.00 Reg.$8.00 I Hyatt Regency Crystal City, An extremely gentle disinfecting solution 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. incorrectly identified and were, in I I Ph: (703) 486-1234 fact, Pale-mandibled Aracaris, two in aerosol form for convenience. Room rate: $63 single, double occupancy Program advertising & exhibit rental, contact: individuals of which were acqUired Mark Sargeant (301) 585-4124 by the author. The first breeding of General convention information contact: Tom Marshall (703) 759-5978 the Pale-mandibled Aracari took place at the Los Angeles Zoo in the early seventies.•

afa WATCHBIRD 7