Successful Breeding ofthe Long,tailed Cissa at the Houston Zoo
(Cissa chinensis)
by L. C. Shelton, Curator of Birds Houston, Texas
Among the 100 or a species pres ently a signed to the family Corvidae (Austin, 1961) occur orne of the world' rna t familiar birds uch as The Long-tailed Cissa's (Cissa chinensis) green plumage is dependent upon an the rook and common jay of Eurasia adequate amount ofcartenoids in their diet. Ifthis is lacking) the bird's color changes and the American crow and blue jay to light blue in captivity. of orth America. Many of the cor id specie are also highly desirable zoo logical and avicultural subjects black, red-orange beak and legs, Far East in a period when avicultural becau e of their beauty of plumage, graceful graduated tail and typically knowledge was still in its stone age, graceful hape and bold, active corvid curiosity which keeps it on the species also obviously has other behavior. ear the top of this cate the move in an aviary. If the bird rates corvid characteristics - namely, gory is Cissa chinensisJ and whether a ten on those characteristic , it must hardiness and adaptability. If the popularly called Long-tailed Ci a, be a igned a much 10 er rating for specimens reaching the London Zoo Green Magpie or Green Hunting Ci a its voice which is unmusical and were not already blue upon arrival, (Goodwin, 1976), this specie has har h, but certainly not a unpleasant the green in their plumage undoubt great appeal as a result of it ilken, or a persistent as the oices of many edly later changed to light blue, for bright green plumage with di tincti e p ittacines. One must also remember the cissa's green plumage is depen marking of che tnut-red, white and ci as are corvids, and this translates dent upon an adequate amount of into aggression toward similar-sized cartenoids in the diet and this was not or maIler birds and the trait of fully understood until more recent THE SCARLET ACAW, INC. robbing other nests of eggs and times. Even Jean Delacour (1936) .. IRDS ARE OUR 0 LY BUSt ESS" • HAND FED BABIES. BREEDERS· TAU
8 October / November 1989 Jumna Valley of the lower Indian the Long-tailed Cissa evidently had ing and laying of eggs did occur in Himalayas eastward to northern Laos never been successfully raised in cap this exhibit, all eggs produced here and south China and southward to tivity in orth America until two ended up by being broken. In the Malaysia, Sumatra and northwest chicks fledged on May 10, 1988 at the hope of getting better results than in Bornea (King and Dickinson, 1975). Houston Zoo. Interestingly enough, the exhibit, the birds were moved to Goodwin (1976) divides the species although there have been a number of an off-exhibit propagation facility, into four confusingly similar subspe importations of the species in the last but the extreme aggression of the cies over this area. Without access to five years, both members of the zoo's male there toward the female necessi museum skins or exact knowledge of breeding pair were quite mature by tated the separation of the birds. the trapping location, assignment of avian standards, especially the male From 1982 to 1986 the present breed the birds which have arrived in the which is a known 16-plus years of ing female was mated to a different nited States to a specific subspecies age! Former Houston zoo Curator of male, and during this period several is almost impossible since there are Birds, Robert Berry, says of the male, clutches were laid. One chick was intergrades. Although the Short-tailed "It was one of those single goodies I actually hatched, but soon disap Cissa or Green Magpie (Cissa thalas inherited when I joined the zoo peared, undoubtedly from canni sina) is also imported, it does not even then it was an adult - and it was balism on the part of one of the have the distinct wing markings of years before I could obtain a mate for parents. From 1984 on, all eggs the Long-tailed and is easily identified it:' In comparison with the male, the which were laid by this pair were as a separate species. ISIS (1987) listed breeding female was a mere eight infertile. In 1986 the development of ten (5.5) chinensis in five zoos (which plus years at the time of breeding, severe cataracts in the male forced his did not include five (2.3) at the having been obtained as an adult euthanasia, and the present breeding Houston Zoo) and listed eight (1.3.4) import in July 1981 from Aves pair was established in an off-exhibit thalassina in three zoos. From International. outdoor aviary. personal knowledge I know that a Both breeders had also been paired The dimensions of this aviary were number of specimens of both speci~s with other mates, proving once again 12' long by 5' wide by 8' high. Of since 1987 have been added to both that one cannot just put two birds of metal frame construction, the aviary zoo and private avicultural col the opposite sex together and expect was covered in 1" by 1/2" welded lections. a success. Once a mate was obtained wire and had a fine gravel substrate Despite its long history as an for the old male, he and his mate had upon natural earth. For protection avicultural subject and the great been placed in an exhibit in the zoo's from the elements, one yard of the advances in aviculture since 1861, Tropical Bird House. Although nest- flight was covered with solid roofing,
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afa WATCHEIRD 9 and bamboo screening was placed nesting sites, it was decided to make around the sides, back and keeper her nest choice as disaster-proof as entry door to give the birds greater possible in 1988. A cloth was tightly privacy. The rear of the flight was affixed over the soil substrate in the 1989 COMMITTEES planted with 8' bamboo, and natural basket to prevent a fatal recurrence of branches of approximately 3/4" soil ingestion by chicks in the nest. AVIAN RESEARCH diameter were wired into place at var With one potential problem hope Dr. Susan Clubb (305) 226-6778 ious locations for perching, and sited fully solved, another very real AVIAN TRANSPORTATION to encourage flight exercise by the problem to successful breeding now Clifton Witt (301) 589-1262 birds. Although an "outdoor" flight, appeared - destruction of eggs by AVYAWARDS this aviary, like the others in the zoo's the male. This observation is from the Dale Thompson (805) 252-4871 off-exhibit propagation facility, has notes of Bird Keeper Judy Kinsman: CALIFORNIA LIAISON flexibility in cooling and heating in "Male made trips to nest every few Laurella Desborough (415) 372-6174 extremes of weather. Shade cloth and seconds, finally staying. Female sat, CITES a circulating fan are used for cooling trying to keep male from getting at Lee Phillips (301) 798-1353 during Houston's long and intense freshly laid egg. Male continued prob CLUB PROMOTION hot season, and during periods of ing, then pulled at female's wings and cold, the flights can be covered in tail. As I was about to enter flight, CONSERVATION heavy, fabric-woven polyethylene male got the egg, carting it around Jack Clinton-Eitniear (512) 828-5306 (Griffolyn) with heat provided by a until female flew to same perch and MEETS & CONVENTIONS gas-powered forced-air heater. male dropped the egg to the ground:' COORDINATOR Phyllis Martin (813) 837-4555 Although the female actually began Based upon this observation, the laying eggs within 13 days after the male was immediately removed. For CONVENTION 1990 Paul Alarcon / Dallas Johnson birds were placed together, there tunately, the females of most corvids (301) 253-5696 would be many months of frustration .do all the incubation. Even though EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICES before success would be achieved males share in the feeding of the Kayla Snyder (215) 855-4463 with the species. Not the least of the young, this does not present a gen ETHICS frustrations to the bird section staff uine obstacle to successful breeding Trudi Dam (813) 422-5239 was the birds' unlikely choice of a without the presence of the male in FINANCE nesting site - a hanging plant basket captive circumstances. The probabil Vicki Fletcher (206) 841-2705 containing a live asparagus fern. After ity of a female corvid raising her LEGAL COUNSEL their usurpation of the planter as a clutch unassisted in the wild would Dan McCormic (contact thru AFA office) nest site, they at first added a few pine be most unlikely, for much foraging LEGISLATION needles to the center of the plant. would be required to obtain adequate Since the keepers ceased to water the food for the hungry, growing nest MEMBERSHIP SERVICES fern during this nesting attempt, the lings. Even if the female could find Joe McLaughlin (503) 538-6323 plant died. Unaware at the time of enough food alone for the young, the AFA IN BRIEF (monthly newsletter) how the female would leave the nest long periods of her foraging would Gary Clifton (602) 946-1304 at the slightest hint of an approach, excessively expose the nestlings to NOMINATING AND ELECTIONS the keepers felt that she was not incu predation and temperature changes, Wanda Elder (901) 853-9988 bating her eggs and the decision was especially critical during the first few PUBLIC RELATIONS made to remove the three eggs and days in the lives of altricial nestlings. Linda Rubin (617) 469-0557 place them in an incubator. Of the But all this is a different matter in cap PUBLICATIONS two fertile eggs, one hatched on July tivity. Enough food can be provided M. Jean Hessler (714) 548-3133 17, 1987 and was handfed small for her use so that it's only a matter of FAX (714) 548-0420 pieces of pinkies and cat chow by for seconds for the female to hop off the RAFFLE ceps, but it died within a few days. nest, pick up food and return to the By the time the cissas nested a nest. The zoo had already used the SPEAKERS second time in 1987, only dead, stratagem of removing the egg Jerry Pace (601) 781-2364 dried stalks remained of the fern in destroying male of another corvid, STATE COORDINATOR the hanging basket. Despite the provi Collie's Magpie Jay (Calocitta for Amy Wore II , D.V.M. (818) 704-0223 sion of plentiful nesting material, the mosa colliei), with full success in WAYS AND MEANS birds simply removed the dead 1986. A.B. McNabney (415) 945-1785 remains of the fern and added no After the removal of the male, the material to the basket, the female lay female laid two eggs and incubated BUSINESS OFFICE ing and incubating her eggs upon the them in a fashion which made the Sue Jordan (602) 484-0931 bare soil. Two chicks were seen in the bird section staff nervous about the nest on August 4, one soon disappear outcome. The slightest activity in the ing. The other chick was removed for area near the flight would cause her WATCH BIRD STAFF Jack Clinton-Eitniear/Editor (512) 828-5306 handraising; however, this endeavor to leave the nest. As a result, keeper Jerry Jennings/Editor (818) 884-5476 was doomed, for the chick had activity in this area was kept to a Dale Thompson/Editor (805) 252-4871 ingested soil from its earthen minimum, and staff members not M. Jean Hessler/Art Director, bottomed nest. This caused impac assigned to the facility, including me, Production (714) 548-3133 tion from which the chick soon died. stopped going into the area. After 19 Mark Sargent/Advertising (301) 585-4124 Since the female continued to show days of incubation, both eggs no interest in other baskets offered as hatched, and the female proved to be 10 October /November 1989 a model parent except for continuing wire mesh bottom. The male also did this article is based. I also appreciated to leave the nest at the slightest not destroy the eggs and assisted in the help of former curator of birds provocation. feeding the young after they hatched. Robert Berry in providing historical The normal maintenance diet for The young Woodland Park birds were background on the Long-tailed Cissas the cissas included bird ofprey diet, a sent to the Pittsburgh Aviary where at the Houston Zoo. dog/cat chow mixture, chopped one of the young Houston birds is greens (endive/spinach) and chopped being sent. The other Houston bird References fruits and vegetables, including car was paired with a wild-caught female Austin, O,L., Jr. 1961. Birds of the World. rots, yams, tomatoes and papaya for the zoo owned, and placed on breed New York: Golden Press. cartenoids. Daily feedings of live ing loan with a skilled local avicul Delacour, J. 1936. Aviculture, Vol. 1. food (mealworms, crickets, pinkies turist. Perhaps all this bodes well for Hertford: Stephen Austin and Sons. and occasionally anoles) are regularly the establishment of a captive popula Goodwin, D. 1976. Crows of the World. provided first thing in the morning tion of this beautiful species in avicul Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. and last thing in the afternoon by the ture and in zoos in the United States. ISIS SDR Abstract, Brids. 1987. Apple Val keepers. Once the chicks hatched, ley, MN: ISIS. King, B.E and Dickinson, E.e. 1975. A additional pinkies (or chopped adult Acknowledgements Field Guide to the Birds of South-east mice when pinkies were in short sup A special thanks is given to Hous Asia. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ply) were given on a consumption ton Zoo bird supervisor Rochelle Rutgers, A. and Norris, K.A. 1977. The basis, for the parent seemed to feed Plasse' and bird keeper Judy Kinsman Encyclopedia of Aviculture, Vol. 3. these almost exclusively to the nes for providing the data upon which Poole, Dorset: Blandford Press.• tlings. A vitamin/mineral powder, in addition to being sprinkled on the regular diet, was sprinkled on these. q.",EA'("/i Unsurprisingly after being fed mostly • 4o'. on pinkies devoid of cartenoids, the " ..J young birds were bluish in color Commercial ~ ~ f Members i~ when they fledged at 22 days of age i=-c ..... o cu-: ~... on May 10. Both birds remained with + OF A'II'<- the mother until June 8. After being All About Birds, Fairfield, OH Kaytee Products, Inc., Chilton, WI on the regular adult cissa diet rich in American Bird Company, Kellogg, Inc., Milwaukee, WI cartenoids, the birds molted into Falls Church, VA LIM Animal Farms, Pleasant Plain, OH bright green plumage and are now Animal Crackers, Greendale, WI Lake's Minnesota Macaws, Inc., indistinguishable from the adults in Animal Kingdom, Inc., Chicago, IL St. Paul, MN Animal Kingdom, Dallas, TX Lowcountry Parrot Jungle, Ravenel, SC appearance. Laparoscopy revealed Arizona Biological Controllnc., Luv Them Birds, Miami, FL both birds to be males. Being of the Tucson, AZ Magnolia Bird Farm, Anaheim, CA same sex, the young birds became Avian &Animal Hospital, Largo, FL Micro Bio Products, Tempe, AZ increasingly aggressive toward each Avicultural Breeding & Research Center, Miramar Animal Hospital Inc., other, making separation a necessity Loxahatchee, FL Jacksonville, FL in early December. B&RBird Ranch, Apache Junction, AZ Nekton U.S.A., Inc., Clearwater, FL Although the same procedure of Bassett's Cricket Ranch, Inc., Visalia, CA Parrot Jungle, Inc., Miami, FL removing the male after the first egg Beastly Distributing, Brooklyn, NY Parrotville Aviaries, St. Clair, MI was laid was used in two later breed Bio-Pak Associates, Farmingdale, NJ Pet Farm, Inc., Miami, FL Petland - Flint, Michigan ing attempts by the pair in 1988, Biomune, Inc., Lenexa, KS Bird & Board, Orange, CA Petland - White Flint Plaza, neither was successful. Two chicks Bird Shop, North Highlands, CA Kensington, MD hatched in June, but later died. The Birds Breeding Farm, Belgium Pets 'n Such, Erlanger, KY third clutch of eggs in August was Birds of Paradise, Houston, TX Pirates Paradise, Mesa, AZ infertile. At the time of writing (mid Blue Feather Products, Purina Mills,lnc., St. Louis, MO March 1989), the adults are again San Bernardino, CA Ratnavira Wildlife Art Gallery, exhibiting the aggression toward Burke's Birds, San Bernardino, CA Fallbrook, CA keepers associated with the onset of Chicken Ranch, Livingston, TN Reliable Protein Products Inc., breeding. Citrus Park Animal Hospital, Tampa, FL Studio City, CA In addition to this good news, the Crofton Animal Hospital, Gambrills, MD Rolf C. Hagen, Inc., St. Laurent, Di Vinci Ltd., Las Vegas, NV Quebec, Canada zoo has another pair on exhibit which Docktor Pet Center #450, Santa Barbara Bird Farm, did engage' in nest building (in a Watertown, MA Santa Barbara, CA normal basket!) last year although no East Coast Aviaries, Inc., Conway, SC Scarlet Oak AViaries, Glenwillow, OH eggs were laid. This pair is again Eight In One Pet Products, Inc., Special Diets Services, Essex, England showing interest in the nest area. But Hauppauge, NY Swan Creek Supply-Grumbach the best news of all is that the Wood Elgas Studios, Big Timber, MT Incubators, Saginaw, MI land Park Zoo (Gregory Toffic, pers. Erect Easy Wire Co., Inc., Tammy's Landing, Kernville, CA comm.) also bred the Long-tailed N. Hollywood, CA The Reptile Place, Mahwal, NJ Cissa in 1988, hatching three chicks Fiesta Toys of Florida, Pensacola, FL The Seed Factory, Modesto, CA in late June. This pair was also less Fins, Furs, 'n Feathers, Boca Raton, FL Wilson's Parrots, Alexandria, VA Greeson's Baby Parrots, Zeigler Bros. Inc., Gardner, PA aberrant in their nesting habits than Ft. Lauderdale, FL Zoovival, Inc., Clearwater, FL the breeding pair at Houston. They Hagen Avicultural Research Institute, built a nest of twigs upon aI' square, Rockwood, Ontario, Canada 4" deep, platform with aI" by 1" afa WATCHBIRD 11