The Kori Bustard (Ardeotis Kori) Observations, Description, Status, Care, Behavior and Captive Environment

The Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori) observations, description, status, care, behavior and captive environment

by Kevin Schneider Lakeside, California

Kori Bustards were in Africa when become quite rare near centers of that they look like giant Road Run­ primative man finally decided that it human population. They survive in ners from Africa. Along with the might be a good idea to stand up for parts of their former range only others in the genusArdeotis, they are the first time. They were also there because ofstrict protection." a long lived bird and are among the long before the Super Continent split Kori Bustards as well as all other largest of the Bustard family. The into Africa, Australia, Saudia Arabia bustards on this planet are extremely adult female Kori stands a little over and India. endangered, living in depleted popu­ three feet tall with a wing span of This fact is readily apparent with lations in their various countries of about five feet and average weight of the four species of Ardeotis being origin. They are being pushed to the 12 pounds. The adult males stand a represented by Ardeotis kori in edge ofextinction in our time. little over four feet with a larger wing Africa, Ardeotis australis in Austra­ span and an approximate weight of The captive gene pool of Kori lia, Ardeotis arabis in Saudia Arabia 18 to 20 pounds. andArdeotis nigriceps in India. Bustards in the U.S. consists of Kori Bustards have a strong head approximately 58 birds represented Excerpts taken from "Birds of the and straight beak with a cap of short by approximately 1/3 male to 1/3 World" by Oliver L. Austin, Jr., state blackish feathers on their head mixed female birds. "The Bustards (Spp.) are a well with a very nice flowing crest which All Ardeotis share similar character­ marked family of large cursorial can be raised if excited. Feathers istics of body type; display behavior; upland ground birds that live on around their facial area are a mix of opportunistic feeding habits; behav­ open, grassy plains and brushy savan­ light grey and white. ior during egg laying and incubation; nas.... The Bustards are great The neck feathers are of heron-like behavior in response to life threaten­ wanderers and some of the northern quality and are a white feather with species perform extensive migra­ ing situations; their acute awareness thin black stripes. The neck feathers tions. They fly in typical crane fash­ of their captive environment at every can also be raised when excited. moment of the day and night and ion with the head and neck straight They have a blackish "collar" of their total dislike of man during the out in front. Their wings beat feathers at the base of the neck, first year ortwo ofcaptivity. strongly and steadily. In flight they where it joins the body. This" collar" strongly resemble geese; the notice­ There is very little known about the is almost a full circle. Coloration is able difference being their long legs Kori Bustard. The best way to broken, to a degree, at front center trailing behind the tail and curious describe these birds to anyone who by the extension of neck feathers aerial posture of the rear of the body has never seen them before is to say meeting the white of the chest area sagging low. Unlike cranes and geese, they are not high fliers, and even on long migrations Bustards seldom rise more than 200 or 300 feet above the AVIAN TRADER CLASSIFIEDS ground. As a rule, Bustards travel in small 100% OF OUR SUBSCRIBERS READ THE CLASSIFIEDS!! flocks of a dozen or so birds. Highly popular as game birds, they run so *Buy, Sell, Trade Your Birds, Equipment, Supplies nationwide. rapidly they are difficult for a hunter *Subscriptions: 12 Issues $7. 25 Issues $14. 38 Issues $21. to approach on foot. However, they ~~~"'\ *Ads due 25th of each Month. 35¢ a word. $7 Min. per Ad. often crouch and hide, depending on *Published Monthly. Mailed 1st Class. camouflage to protect them. Unfor­ *We accept Checks and VISNMASTERCARD. tunately, they show so little fear of a *NO LONG WAIT FOR CIRCULATION!! man on horseback or camelback or in a car that they have little chance MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS and ADS to: ATC, Dept. A, P.O. Box 6215, against modern weapons. Like all Traverse City, MI 49685-6215 Fax (616) 946-9317 birds of savory flesh, they have now #

afa WATCHnIRD 53 and on a small space on the back of the neck, at its base, where the color is white. The outer wing coverts are a mixture of black, white and a fine Avian brownish and black vermiculated pattern. When the birds have their wings Trade Shows folded, feather coloration on the upper body of the bird consists of a fine vermiculated pattern of various & shades of brown and black. With wings extended, primary flight feathers and some secondary wing Seminars feathers are a banded black/gray and white changing to the vermiculated pattern as the feathers near the body AnnualFall Sale 3rdAnnual Educational Seminar ofthe bird, on the wing. presentedby and Bird Swap Meet TennesseeValley Caged Bird Club October 11, 1992 The underparts of the birds and August 29, 1992 RlssimmeeValley . their chest area are a cream white 9 a.m. to5p.m. Livestock Exhibition Hall color. University ofTennessee Open to the public - The elongated tail coverts have a Agricultural Campus 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. very fine vermiculated pattern and a For information, call $3.00 general admission finer texture than the wing feathers. (615) 681-1155 or (615) 690-0613 For information call: The tail consists of about 18 tail Ray (407) 725-0514 feathers and is banded similar to the CentralAlabama Dwight (407) 631-9800 primary wing feathers, with one AviculturalSociety presents its exception, the upper one fourth is a vermiculated pattern of gray and AnnualFairand Show The Greater Rochester September 5 & 6, 1992 HookbillAssociation's black. Governor's House Hotel 9thAnnual Parrot Exhibition They have fairly long, strong legs, a 2705 E. South Blvd., October 17, 1992 rather long neck, short tail and broad Montgomery, Alabama 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. wings. They have extremely good Hotel reservations 1-800-334-8459 Rochester Museum & Science Center eyesight and an enhanced sense of For further information contact 657 EastAve., Rochester, N.Y. smell. "They have only three front Charles Reaves (205) 835-0506 Forinformation, call toes, the hallux is missing, which are Lorene Clubb (205) 857-3817 Bob Gately (716) 621-7540 short and broad and well adapted for running." The first joint on their legs 3rdAnnual folds their legs backwards, under­ N.W.O.E.B.C. Bird Fair Wisconsin Cage Bird Club September 12,1992 neath them, when they lower them­ 15thAnnual Budgie, Canary & Lucas CountyRecreation Center selves to the ground. This adaption Finch Showand Fall Bird Swap allows them to spring off the ground For info, call (419) 693-7439 October31, 1992 after 4:30 p.m. EDT Fond du Lac Holiday Inn from a sitting position with wings 615 Rolling Meadows Drive outstretched, vocaliZing, hopping Town & CountryFeathered Friends Fond du Lac, WI . and flapping out ofhann's way. 5thAnnual Exotic Cage Bird Fair For information: Kori Bustards are one of the heavi­ September 27,1992 Bernie Rahmlow (414) 231-8606 est, flapping, flying birds on this Washtenaw CountyFairgrounds Saline. Michigan planet. Nonnally these birds are very For information: quiet, except for the breeding season NancyK. Egerer (313) 227-6503 Mid-Michigan Bird Club when the male displays and calls. November 7, 1992 However, there is an exception. AviculturalSociety Byron Elementary School These birds are extremely vocal ofTucson 401 E. Maple, Byron, MI when worked with. Their basic presents its For information: ground rules are; don't get within 20 Dale Teeke (313) 427-3179 AnnualBird Fair feet of me, don't touch me and don't October 4, 1992 look directly at me or I'll throw a fit Tucson Convention Center like you've never seen. It's real inter­ For info, call (602) 721-4768 Middle Tennessee Cage Bird Club Fall Bird Showand Fair esting trying to weigh these birds. If Imperial Bird Club gUality Inn-Executive Plaza they must be moved I think it would 4thAnnual Swap Meet 823 Murfreesboro Rd. be much easier to "walk" these birds October 4, 1992 Nashville, TN instead ofpicking them up. Lakeland, FL For information: When these birds are caught up by For information: Ed Dittmar (615) 444-4101 hand and held off the ground, they Jean Pattison (813) 686-4532 David Holcomb (615) 399-3201 roar and scream like a lion. When startled in their enclosure they will "cough" repeatedly similar to a lion and move away, putting as much dis- 54 August/ September 1992 tance between themselves and the to insure their well being and safety injured as a result. I have known keeper as possible. in captivity. If they are placed in the none to survive the complications of These vocalizations must be a very proper captive environment their a broken wing. Keeping Kori Bus­ effective defense in themselves, in lives can be extended, their quality of tards with hoofed stock is a deadly, the birds' respective countries of ori­ life improved and their dislike for man made trap, which can easily be gin. I'm fairly certain that if someone man can even be reduced to toler­ avoided. happened to trip over a Kori Bustard, ance over a long period of time. It seems that proper climate and or a group of them, during the mid­ These are extremely intelligent birds seasonal changes to match those in dle ofthe night, in Africa, the attend­ of the open grasslands, desert and the country of origin would have ing physician would probably find it and brushlands and they do not take great effect on reproductive behav­ necessary to recommend complete kindly to captivity by what may seem ior. These birds, being from a warm, bed rest for at least a couple of days to them as a well known predator dry weather environment with rainy due to the trauma experienced. species. seasons instead of "winters" would At the other extreme these birds Genetic memory of more or less have a great deal of difficulty en­ also have a very soft sound that constant contact with our species in during freeZing temperatures and seems to be used as an indicator of the past may be one of the reasons standing on cold, damp, frozen, reassurance during the times they for their anxious behavior, constant snow covered ground. The birds display a curiosity or interest in a situ­ pacing and reaction to keepers in the would also be aware of the lack of ation taking place in or around their captive environment during the first proper natural food sources at antici­ enclosure. This sound can also be few years of captivity. Another rea­ pated times ofhatching chicks due to modulated to harsher tones if an son is that these are still wild birds the" abnormal" winter weather they imagined threat developes due to with opportunistic feeding habits experience in places such as Seattle their curious behaviour and the including a foraging behavior that or Omaha. vocalizations can be escalated to would take them over great distances In addition, if these birds are placed their' 'coughs" and again moving during anyone day. in areas where they are subjected to away to another part of their enclo­ Specific requirements for these exposure to freezing weather for sure. This soft sound is sometimes birds cannot be overstressed. long periods of time, their make up used and modulated when food is Approximately 18 percent of the of long, bare, legs does not allow taken from the hand. captive gene pool in this country was them any protection, therefore it The two females that live with us lost during the past two and one half seems to me they would be suscepti­ now, arrived in an animal transport years. The majority of deaths that ble to developing circulation prob­ trailer at about 11 p.m. on a Novem­ occured were due to improper handl­ lems including rheumatism and ber night in 1988. The handler and ing, shipping and captive environ­ arthritis. If they have foot pumps in his wife went into the trailer to physi­ ment. their feet as humans do to facilitate cally carry the birds out while I Information gathered to date the blood's return to the heart, then braced myself against the outer door. shows that Kori Bustards cannot be standing in snow or on frozen ground I was totally unprepared for what placed in the same enclosure with would definitely complicate their occurred next. My knees actually hoofed stock. In addition, female health and survival in captivity. Due became weak and started to buckle Koris without mates must not be to the large enclosures these birds as the roars and screams of what allowed to be harrassed by peacocks. require, the best places to attempt seemed to be lions exploded from In their attempts to escape any type keeping these birds in captivity the interior of the trailer. In a short of aggression they try to flee beyond would be in the southern, drier areas, time the handler emerged from the their enclosure even if there is a solid of the U.S., that experience a climate trailer holding this gigantic, magnifi­ wall there. They are not compatible, similar to their country oforigin. cent bird in his arms, his wife walk­ in captivity, on exhibit or off, with It has been shown that Kori Bus­ ing by his side holding the bird's any other bird or animal except tards use four basic behaviors to head. By this time bird was really maybe their natural association with respond to life threatening situations angry and although the screams African Beeaters. Eventually, like an in the wild; they run, fly, 'freeze" or stopped when they came out of the accident waiting to happen, they die, hide under cover. Two of these trailer there continued to be a good as a result of being part of a mixed options and sometimes three are amount ofthreatening growls. exhibit. removed from them in captivity. Due If a chase develops into a fight or Specific information received to the Kori's nature, this causes com­ flight situation during a capture pro­ details how birds with broken wings plications that need not occur. In ceedure between k~eper and bird in and other injuries have been found addition, these birds are not geneti­ an enclosure, things get worse very the next day, upon the keeper's cally programmed or eqUipped to fast. Capture techniques must be spe­ arrival. The majority of these birds stand and fight it out. It's just not the cifically tailored to the bustards as were kept with hoofed stock or they way they do things. Even under nor­ they will throw themselves against jumped a fence into a hoofed stock mal circumstances, when two males walls attempting to escape a rush to area and were damaged as a result. are haVing a disagreement one of capture and they break bones. c.aus­ Kori Bustards will bed down in the them proves dominance and the ing eventual death. In additiOn, same spot every night, when in cap­ other gives way, prOViding there is shipping containers and capt~ve tivity, with the dominant bird com­ room enough available for the other environments must also be specific manding the best view oftheir' 'terri­ bird to actually remove himself from to their needs. tory". They normally do not move at the area. When two males are placed Kori Bustards have very specific night. On occasion, hoofed stock in a sealed and secure, confined area care requirements that are necessary does move at night and the birds are the dominant male can and will kill afa WATCHmRD 55 the other bird. 1/4 cup dried shrimp meal to balance pared diet. Live food is accepted dur­ The most common defensive calcium phosphorus levels ing breaks in the weather. At these behavior used by these birds in cap­ 1/3 loaf Bird of Prey Diet from Ani­ times mealworms, mice and crickets tivity, when not threatened with cap­ mal Spectrum in Nebraska are essential in maintaining health ture, is to move away by walking, All ingredients, except Bird of Prey and body Weight. Birds will usually bouncing, running or by hiding Diet, are blended in a blender to a skip one feeding when attempts are under cover of brush or trees. They fine, granular consistency. The object made to return them to the prepared will also make use of man made sight is to end up with a mixture that has a diet. barriers and move to a strategic place moisture content, consistency and Kori Bustards drink water daily. within the enclosure and become color similar to the Bird of Prey Diet Water is provided in a four to five motionless, attempting to blend in before mixing with same. foot diameter children's wading pool with anything that will hide their Moisture content is controlled by that is about 10" deep. outline. Sight barriers are a very mixing dry Game Bird All Purpose If light bodyweight becomes a important part of any enclosure for Diet and dried shrimp meal at the end problem, shelled and unshelled pea­ these birds if success is to be gained of the blending operation. Control nuts can be hidden in the meatballs at reducing daily stresses and in­ color by adding carrot. Ifthe mixture prior to feeding. This combination creasing chances of reproductive is too dry after all ingredients are can also be fed prior to the approach behavior. mixed, add more apple or water to of mild winters to allow the birds to The more sight barriers used and desired consistency. produce the necessary reserves they the larger the enclosure the more Final blended mixture should be need to withstand the cold, wet they stop pacing the fence line exhib­ approXimately two thirds the volume weather. iting stressful behavior. In a smaller of 1/3 loaf Bird of Prey Diet. Com­ At our location, I try to clean out area of confinement the increased bine blended mixture thoroughly the birds' systems about once a use of sight barriers ensure the birds with Bird of Prey Diet and make into month by putting them on live food a safe place to retreat to and reduce a a meat loaf. Pull off pieces of this only for at least two days in a row. major portion of the stress they mixture and form into small meat­ Any longer than that and they do not suffer in a captive environment. In balls with a minimum size of a quar­ return to the prepared diet easily. confined areas, 50' x 50', initial sight ter to a maximum size ofa halfdollar. Other methods of feeding include barriers can be as simple as two or Make new mixture daily. hiding about four pieces ofEukanuba three, solid, eight foot walls making Feed twice daily, morning and Dog Kibble, 1/2" x 1/4" size, in the up their enclosure with potted afternoon, placing the food dish in a middle of Bird of Prey Diet meatballs. shrubbery within about four to eight shaded area of the enclosure. Expo­ Kibble can also be coated with vita­ feet of the walls. This arrangement sure to direct sunlight will harden mins before hiding it in the meatballs will also provide them with the meatballs in a very short period of by placing it in a zip lock bag with shade they need during the hottest time. Can be left overnight if fed Super Preen pOWdered vitamins. part of the summer months. In addi­ approximately two hours before sun­ Another method prOVides a basic tion to sight barriers at their eye down and if the weather is cool diet ofdry Hi Pro dog food by Univer­ level, barriers to life threatening allowing birds to have food at dawn sal. Dry food is soaked in water until attacks from above are also needed. or dUring the night as they may be it is saturated and then fed to the The two Koris at our location are partially nocturnal, especially on birds. This diet is supplemented with extremely sensitive to flights of nights dUring the full moon. Leaving foraged material, cut up beef kidney eagles over their enclosure. When food out at night is not recom­ and hamburger. Oyster shell is also eagles are in the air, everybody's mended during hot weather as mix­ given to the birds. looking for a bush or small tree to ture would probably spoil overnight. Another group feeds a basic frozen hide under until the danger passes. When they are on a regular feeding mice diet. Mice are thawed before When they become familiar with schedule, they normally will take one feeding and in addition to this the their keeper they will feint an attack or two of these meatballs at a time. If birds are allowed to forage on a defense display. They seem to enjoy enough food is placed in the dish couple of acres to supplement their this sometimes. No eye contact is they will return repeatedly to eat dietary needs. done without a reaction. what is left. The follOWing list shows some of On occasion, they also seem to Kori Bustards must be able to pick the foods the Kori Bustards will eat in really enjoy standing very tall and up a food object as a whole unit thus addition to a prepared diet: flapping a couple of times, while enabling them to flick it back into Giant grasshoppers or locusts standing in one place. their mouths with a short jerk of Hamburger orground steak The following diet for Kori Bus­ their head. If they are forced to meatballs tards in captivity was provided by scrape a prepared mixture from a Pieces ofbeefkidney Wayne Schulenburg ofthe San Diego bowl, a portion ofthe food could end Feeder goldfish Zoo. up stuck to their bills causing danger­ Lizards and probably snakes 1/2 cup moistened Hi Pro dog food ous bacterial growth. Meatballs of Small cherry tomatoes 1/2 cup soaked Hi Pro Kibble proper size are easily swallowed and Red and green grapes 1/2 diced apple, no seeds or core are a very good vehicle for adminis­ Milo and possibly othergrains 1/2 cup chopped spinach leaf tering medication, vitamins, alfalfa Shelled peanuts 1 hard boiled egg, without shell tablets, shelled and unshelled pea­ Sunflowerseeds in the shell? 1 grated carrot nuts orpelleted foods. Flowers ofthe Cape Honeysuckle 1/2 cup dry Game Bird All Purpose On days of rain and inclement 50 lb. sack of oyster shell dumped on Diet weather, the birds do not eat the pre- the ground in their enclosure at least 56 August/ September 1992 desert birds by Saudi Arabian hun­ ters" ("Bustards in Decline" by Paul D. Gorlup and Harsh Vardhan). This action developed into a nation wide movement in defense of these birds. As a result, a successful, in country program, was established to protect the birds and to encourage their survival. The Bishnoi people live in the Indian desert and share the habitat with the Bustards. They have become responsible for the Great Indian Bustards' safety and survival as a species. "Significantly its Bishnoi people share the credit of saving both flora and fauna at the cost of personal life" (" Bustards in De­ cline"; by Paul D. Goriup and Harsh Vardhan). The Australian bustard is currently listed on Appendix II. A very successful government breeding program in Australia has been working with the Australian Bustardfor 20 to 25 years. The Arabian Bustard is currently listed on Appendix II.

Closing Statement: These birds must not be lost to our sight. They have been our compan­ ions for a very long time. The basic "animal contract" that man has with all flora and fauna in this biosphere demands that all Bustards be totally protected from any further destruc­ tion and their present status be rec­ ognized. In addition to recognition it The Korl Bustard is one ofthe largestflying birds. The malesstand overfourfeet tallandthefemales, threefeet. Allbustards are is imperative that correct and neces­ extremely endangered. sary precautions be enacted and enforced at this time to ensure their once a year CITES Status ofEachArdeotis future, along with ours. After all is Grasses Kori Bustards are currently listed said and done, the truth ofthe matter It is imperative that these birds on Appendix II of CITES. As with all is that we are all in this together. have a variety of grasses, clover other Bustards, they live in depleted In 1980 the first International Sym­ and/or fresh green alfalfa plants avail­ populations and are still under a great posium on Bustards was held Novem­ able to them at all times as they seem deal of pressure from many direc­ ber 1st to November 3rd in ]aipur, to have an interest in eating some tions. Human encroachment, loss of India. There is a World Bustard Move­ types of hardware. Korl Bustards use habitat and hunting for food and ment in existence at this time and a combination of grass and other feathers are all primary factors for there is a proposal to organize green material to form pellets around depletion of the species in the wild another symposium on bustards in foreign objects in their crops. These beyond their ability to reproduce and India later next year. The Interna­ pellets are then coughed up. Without compensate for their losses. tional Council for Bird Preservation the fresh grasses to clean out the Additional contributing factors headquartered in the United King­ crop and form the pellets, the objects have also become apparent due to dom maintains a Bustard Study most likely stay there and cause vary­ the political and economic instability Group. Paul D. Goriup leads that ing degrees of problems. The hard­ of many of the birds' respective group. His address is: The Nature ware problem is something to seri­ countries oforigin. Conservation Bureau, 122 Derwent ously consider ifthese birds are in an The Great Indian Bustard is cur­ Road, Thatcham, Newburry, Berk­ exhibit with close proximity to the rently listed on Appendix I ofCITES. shire, United Kingdom RG13 4UP. public. One of our birds here swal­ Successful steps were taken, proba­ If these birds are lost due to our lowed metal "pig clips" used to hold bly in 1978, in]aipur, India to secure neglect it will be a very sad comment the nylon aviary netting together the survival of the Great Indian Bus­ on our time. A tragedy. If you have over the top of their enclosure. She tard when the citizens of that city any interest in these birds, please coughed them up a week or two later ,'took out a silent procession protest­ write to Mr. Paul D. Goriup and join in a grass pellet. ing against the killing of the rare the effort to save these birds.• afa WATCHBIRD 57