0> ..;::;C CD o ~ "'0 ro c o o >­ .0 (j)o (5 .r: CL

Female seriema protecting chicks. Male Burmeister.

The Burmeister's or black-legged some of the surrounding cages. About lIleis er's seriema, Chunga burmeisteri, is a one-third of the rear of the aviary is native of northwest Argentina and sheltered and is eleven feet high and • southwest Paraguay. It is a tall, long­ covered with chain link. Under the enellla legged, dark grey bird with a pro­ sheltered area of the aviary is located a worthwhile challenge nounced white stripe above the eye. Its the nest box which is situated about white underside and black and white eight feet high. The open nest box is by Donald Koetting tail are accented by its black beak and eighteen inches square and four inches Greater Baton Rouge Zoo legs, which provides good camouflage deep. During the winter, heat lamps are Baton Rouge, Louisiana for its mostly terrestrial habits. Dry provided under the sheltered area. woodlands and savannahs with suffi­ The substrate is mostly sand with cient undergrowth for cover is pre­ some topsoil. Plantings include yucca, ' ferred for remaining well hidden while prickly pear cactus and ligustrum hunting their favorite foods such as bushes. Several vines are provided for snakes, mice, in ects, and grain. Often use as perches, but because the birds are the only hint of their presence is their primarily terrestrial, they are seldom veryloudcall, whichhas become a daily used. There is a concretepoolwith con­ occurrence at the Baton Rouge Zoo. tinuouslyflowing waterandthefeeding In 1975 the Greater BatonRouge Zoo platform is located at the rear ofthe ex­ purchased from Charles P. Chase Com­ hibit, approximately two feet from the pany, apairofimportedseriemas which ground and it is under shelter. The pair made a great addition to ourbird collec­ is kept on exhibit year-round but there tion. In the following years we were is sufficient cover for the birds to fortunate to be one of the few zoos to seclude themselves as they wish. Fecal breed the Burmeister's seriema. In this samples are checked monthly and article we hope to share our knowledge worming or dusting is seldom needed. on the propagation of this somewhat rare bird, so that others will be able to In the early spring of 1977 we ob­ enjoy the success that we have had. served nest building and mating activ­ When our birds first arrived, they ities. During the mating season, which were placed in one of the individual is mid-spring through early summer, cages at the Bird House. Their cage is the nest is checked every few days, fairly spacious, (15 feet wide, 20 feet usually by one attendant. The some­ long, and 8-11 feet high). The cage is what flimsy nests are constructed of made from aluminum tubing on the east small twigs, rocks and some mud. The Chicks at two weeks ofage. and south side which is covered by one nests arevery sparse andthe eggs actual­ inch mesh chain link. The remaining ly laid on the bottom of the box. The two sides are cinder block walls which pair seemed to show no interest in in­ offer shade and some privacy from cubating in the beginning and were Continues onpage 6 4 D& Macaws Cockatoos Amazons ~clectus African Greys And Others

Call or write for a price list or additional information 16425 PLACERITA CANYON ROAD NEWHALL, CALIFORNIA 91321 PHONE: (805) 252-3455 suspected ofbreaking their eggs. Finally, the pair started incubating their eggs, but several clutches disap­ peared two or three days before they were due to hatch. It became apparent AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE after many tries that artificial incuba­ Dedicated to conservation of bird wildlife through encouragement of tion was our only alternative. Because captive breeding programs, scientific r=arcb. and education ofthe general public. of this, we began to pull the clutches. MEMBER NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The eggs were incubated at 81 0 F wet African Love Bird Society American Budgerigar Society. Inc. American Cockatiel Society. Inc. bulb and 97.3°F dry bulb, and were American Pigeon Fanciers' Council American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc. British Columbia Avicultural Society Canadian Parrot Association National Cockatiel Society turned three times daily by hand. In National Finch Society Southeastern Avicu1turists Association June of 1978 our first clutch and several MEMBER CLUBS clutches thereafter were hatched out in ALABAMA FLORIDA NEW HAMPSHIRE this manner. Centeal Alabama Aviculture Society Aviaty & Cage Bird Society of New Hampshire Avieultural Society When the breeding season of 1983 South Florida ARIZONA NEW YORK Central Florida Bird Breeders rolled around, our pair again began to Arizona Aviculture Society Finger Lakes Cage Bird Association Feathered Friends of Florida Arizona Budgerigar Society The Greater Rochester HookbiU nest build and show mating activities. Avian Society Avicultural Society of Theson Association Gold Coast Exotic Bird Club, Inc. Eggs were laid on March 19 and 21 and The seed Crackers Rochester Cage Bird Club Greater Brandon Avian Society were pulled for artificial incubation. CALIFORNIA GreaterJacksonville Avicultural NORTH CAROLINA American Canary Fanciers Society,lnc. Carolina Avicultural Society Twenty-six days later the first egg Association Greater Miami Avicultuca1 Smoky Mountain Cage Bird Society hatched, followed two days laterbythe Antelope Valiey Bird Society Society, Inc. OHIO Aviary Association of Kern second egg. Both chicks were brought Polk County Avicultural Society Central Ohio Bird Fanciers, Inc. Avicu1turaJ Association of Suncoast Avian Society Cleveland Canaty & Cage Bird Club to the nursery for handraising. About San Francisco Sunshine State Cage Bird Golden Crescent Cage Bird Club Budgerigar Research Association two weeks after the first clutch was Society, Inc. Mid-American Exotic Bird Bulte County Bird Club GEORGIA Society, Inc. pulled, our pair laid a second clutch of California Game Breeders' Association Georgia Cage Bird Society OREGON two eggs. Itwas decided togive the pair Capitol City Bird Society Greater Middle Georgia Columbia Canaty Club Cage Bird Socety anotherchance at incubating their eggs. Central California Cage Bird Club Emerald Exotic Bird Society Contra Costa Avian Society IOWA Exotic Bird Club of Oregon To our pleasant surprise, the female Exotic Bird Breeders Association Mid-America Cage Bird Society Northwest Bird Club became very attentive to the nest and Exotic Hookbill Society Northwest Pigeon Fanciers ILLINOIS Association her eggs, and began to incubate with Finch Society of San Diego County Greater Chicago Cage Bird Foothill Bird Fanciers Club, Inc. PENNSYLVANIA regularity. The female spent the vast Fresno Canaty and Finch Club Central Pennsylvania Cage Bird Club KANSAS majority of time incubating with the Golden Gate Avian Society Delaware Valiey Bird Club Kansas Avicultural Society, Inc. Golden West Game Breeders and The Greater Pittsburgh Cage Bird male taking over the responsibility for Bird Club. Inc. KENTUCKY Society short periods of time. This allowed the Great Western Budgerigar Kentuckiana Bird Society North Star Parrot Breeders Society Society. Inc. female to feed. The pair did not hesitate LOUISIANA York Area Pet Bird Club Hookbill Hobbyists ofSouthern todefendthenest boxifwepersistedon California Gulf South Bird Club TENNESSEE Humboldt Cage Bird Society MARYLAND Middle Tennessee Cage Bird Club checking on their progress, and the Inbnd Game Bird Breeders Baltimore Bird Fanciers, Inc. TEXAS keepers had to be especially careful not Long Beach Bird Breeders Matyland Cage Bird Society, Inc. Alamo Exhibition Bird Club Norco Valiey Bird Breeders to endanger themselves or the clutch. MASSACHUSEITS Capital City Cage Bird Club North County Avicu1turists Exotic Cage Birds of New England Dallas Cage Bird Society OnMay 2 ourfirst chickhatched, and Northern California Budgerigar The Boston Society for Fort Worth Bird Club Society Aviculture, Inc. Gulf Coast Aviculture Association on May 4, the second chick followed. Nu·Color Bird Association Western New England Cage Bird North Texas Cockatiel Club The parents began feeding and caring Orange County Bird Breeders Society Williamson County Bird Breeders Redwood Budgie Hobbyists Association for the chicks like "old pros". The pair San Diego County Bird Breeders MICHIGAN UTAH kept a close watch on the chicks but, Association Ann Arbor Cage Bird Club AviculturaI Society of Utah San Diego County Canaty Club Mid-West Canaty Club, Inc. after a week, allowed us to take a few San Gabriel Valley Parakeet Motor City Bird Breeders, Inc. VIRGINIA pictures. After approximately two Association MINNESOTA Commonwealth Avicultural Society Santa Clara Valiey Canary & Exotic Minnesota Cage Bird Association National Capital Bird Club weeks, it was noted that one of the Bird Club North Star Parrot Breeders Society Parrm Breeders Association chicks was growing at a rate that was South Bay Bird Club Peninsula Cage Bird Society MISSISSIPPI South Coast Finch Society Virginia Ornamental Bird Society much greater than its nestmate. On the Mississippi Budgerigar Society 1li City Budgerigar Society WASHINGTON nineteenth day, after the second chick Valiey ofParadise Bird Club MISSOURI Avieultural Society of Pogel Sound hatched, the smaller chick disappeared. Ventura County Bird Club Greater Kansas City Avicultural Northwest Aviculture Society West Valley Bird Society Society Nonhwest Exotic Bird Society The larger chick then grew rapidly and Western Bird Breeders Society Heart of America Parrot Society Washington Budgerigar Society. Inc. Missouri Cage Bird Association was fledged after thirty-four days. The COLORADO WEST VIRGINIA fledged chick began feeding on its own Rocky Mountain Society of NEBRASKA Tri-State Cage Bird Fanciers Aviculture, Inc. Greater omaha Cage Bird Society atelevenweeks ofage, andbysummer's WISCONSIN CONNECTICUT NEVADA Wisconsin Cage Bird Club, Inc. end it was nearly as large as its parents. Connecticut Association for Northern Nevada Cage Bird Society Aviculture, Inc. Vegas Valiey Caged Birds The diet for the Burmeister's seriema Association is fed twice a day. The feed consists of COMMERCIAL MEMBERS 2/3 Purina Hen Scratch and 1/3 Game Anirnal Exchange. Rockville. MD Pritchard Bookkeeping Service, EI Cajon. CA Southeast Aviaries, Alexandria, VA Luv-Thern-Birds, Miami, FL Valentine Equipment Co., Hinsdale, IL Bird Chow in the morning. In addition Nekton U.S.A., Inc., St. Petersburg. FL Rainbow Bird Ranch, Asheboro, NC to their grain, several pieces of soaked Kellogg, Inc., Milwaukee, WI Birds ofa Feather, Santa Rosa, CA Sandy Creek Farm, Sarasota, FL Fins, Furs, 'N Feathers. Boca Raton, FL Mason's Exotic Bird Services, San Bruno, CA Monkey Chow is added per bird. In the evening, small meatballs are preparedat For information about contacting any of these member clubs please call that club's closest state coordinator. There is a ' the kitchen consisting ofNebraska Bird state coordinator listing with phone numbers elsewhere in this publication. ofPrey Diet mixedwithhenscratch and game bird diet. Crickets are fed daily 6 and pinky or adult mice are fed when available. The pair has also been ob­ served eating seeds and insects in their enclosure. They have also been known to catch and eat sparrows. 1985 OFFICERS With the arrival of the chicks, the LEE PHILLIPS/President evening meal was served twice a day CLIFTON WITT/Legislative Vice Prestdent PHILLIS K. MARTIN/1st Vice Prestdent TOM C. MARSHALL/2nd Vice President with an increase in the amount of HUBERT MORRIS/CbiefFinancial Officer JACQUELINE M. SPELL/Con'eSponding secretary crickets fed. Hen scratch and game bird LORENE CLUBB/1ix

fered to the nursery. In the nursery they MID-EASTERN CALIFORNIA were placed in a small box with a Craig Hendee (312) 724-2578 Patricia Barbera (707) 996-4266 heating pad which served as a brooder. After several days, when they were able STATE COORDINATORS to stand on their own, they wereplaced ALABAMA LOUISIANA OHIO in a larger box. Handfeeding at this Lorene Clibb (205) 857-3817 John C. Lawrence (504) 343-2622 point in time is now routine for us. The ALASKA MAINE OKLAHOMA formula we have found best is a mixture Archie Fairbrother (207) 394-2252 Dr. Roger W. Harlin (405) 636-1484 ARIZONA MARYLAND OREGON of Purina Dog Chow soaked in water, Mickey Ollson (602) 939-1003 Ro Dahle (301) 551-6%7 Kay Mahi (503) 543-6042

Nebraska Bird ofPrey diet, and Avitron CALIFORNIA (north) MASSACHUSETTS PENNSYLVANIA liquid vitamin supplement. The first Jim Smith (916) 534-1505 Gary Lilienthal (617) 542-7070 Bill Lumley (717) 234-0732 week, the mixture is warmed and is fed CALIFORNIA (central) MICHIGAN SOUTH CAROLINA at three hour intervals, between 6 a.m. Hank Johnson (209) 233-3322 Glen Pace (313) 785-0757 Jerry Sanders (803) 578-6541 CALIFORNIA (south) MINNESOTA TENNESSEE and 10 p.m. The second week, the Dick Schroeder (213) 645-5842 Carol SChmitz (612) 890-6164 Don Wannbrod (901) 685-5261 chicks arefed at four hourintervals, and COLORADO MISSISSIPPI TEXAS after three weeks the chicks were being Kevin Wirick (303) 623-5959 James Duroy (601) 625-7262 Karen Bookout (713) 864-9759 fed three times daily. The earlier CONNECTICUT MISSOURI UTAH feedings were done using surgical Walter J. Willoughby (203) 528-72% Eileen Karius (314) 351-2580 Rex Kennedy (801) 571-6183 hemostats and when the chicks grew DELAWARE MONTANA VERMONT larger, fingers were substituted. After Diane Korolog (302) 731-0170 G. Allan Taylor (406) 587-3338 Heather J. Beck (802) 948-2371 FLORIDA NEBRASKA VIRGINIA eleven weeks the chicks began to feed Mrs. M. Simmons (305) 772-2632 Robert G. Travnicek (402) 821-2490 Carole Wheeler (703) 323-5048 on their own. GEORGIA NEVADA WASHINGTON Several zoos and some individuals Christer Jonsson (404) 344-0816 Joe Longo (206) 631-4245 house the Burmeister's seriema and HAWAII NEW HAMPSHIRE WASHINGTON. D.C. hopefully the success rate oftheirprop­ Richard Hart (808) 239-8146 F. Lawrence Brandt (603) 642-5074 Ruth Hanessian (301) 424-PETS agation will improve. With the limita­ ILLINOIS NEW JERSEY WEST VIRGINIA Terry Veraldo (201) 447-3378 Patty Knoblauch (304) 725-5601 tions on importing, better propagation INDIANA NEW MEXICO WISCONSIN programs will beveryimportantfor this Clifford Brane (505) 864-74% John Nero (414) 499-9013

and many other species ofbirds. With a IOWA NEW YORK WYOMING little patience and work, the Bur­ Ted Pulla (515) 225-0302 Arthur Freud (516) 265-6479 Jerry Youmans (307) 237-9564 meister's seriema could make a nice ad­ KANSAS NORTH CAROLINA dition to any collection and would be John R. Stocker (316) 788-6552 Mike Miller (919) 848-7770 KENTUCKY NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA greatly enjoyed by the general public.• Dr. Thomas B. Angel. Jr. (606) 371-4929 Carol Hamilton (605) 535-2541

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Tim Schexnaydre for providing the majority ofthe in­ formation on the keeping of our Burmeister's, SCHEDULE FOR AFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS and to Mrs. George Felton for providing data on handraising the young. Mark these dates and plan to attend! BIBLIOGRAPHY May 18,1985 Encyclopedia of Aviculture, Volume 1, Brad­ Houston, Texas - Shamrock Hotel ford Press Limited, 1970, London For meeting and hotel information call: David Mellard (713) 665-4485 Grzimeks, Animal Life Encyclopedia, Volume 8, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1972 August 7 tbru 12, 1985 San Francisco, California - Cathedral Hill Hotel The International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 11th Annual Convention Volume 15, B.P.C. Publishing Limited, Great Bri­ tain, 1970 7