species of the Double-eyed Fig Breeding and Maintenance of the O. d. diophthalma; that was still occa­ sionally available to local aviculturists. Orange ... breasted Fig Parrot I then sought to find these from dealers, but found that they do not Opopsitta g. gulielmiterti have them, mainly due to the rarity and high mortality rates of this partic­ A Profile of the Species in Captivity ular species of Fig Parrot. Indeed, from my experience, newly collected birds are decidedly delicate and by Lawrence K.G. Kuah the experience can almost be com­ Singapore pared to the thought of trying to accli­ matize Pygmy Micropsitta sp. in captivity. he Orange-breasted Fig Parrot behind byprominent black band and Thus, coupled with stress and infec­ T has a total of seven recognized below by a greenish-blue band; orange tions with bacteria, in less than sanitary subspecies, of which some five sub­ ear coverts; breast greenish. conditions provided by the native deal­ species have been kept in collections. Immatures are similar to the female. ers and trappers, very few birds can be Notably that ofthe five specimens oftwo However, there is a distinct immature expected to survive. I then planned different subspecies exhibited at Loro phase where chicks, on fledging, have two informal expeditions to Salawati and Parque, Tenerife. gray cheeks, slowly acquiring the Sorong in Irian ]aya, Indonesia, and However, as from most accounts ot orange, as they molt into a plumage began the difficult task of trapping and the species, the typical specimens are phase, not unlike that of an adult keeping these birds alive. A total ofnine described to be smaller and lighter in female, and young males takes about two birds was obtained from these two build than that of the closely related, to three years to attain full adult plumage. trips, and these have formed the basis Double-eyed Fig Parrot O. diopthal­ Various authors have indicated that of my breeding nucleus for this rare and mao This is because all the specimens Orange-breasted Fig Parrots are common exquisite Fig Parrot. described are from the subspecies ama­ to numerous where they occur, replac­ After appropriate isolation and quar­ bilis,fuscifrons, nigrifrons and suavis­ ing the habitat unoccupied by Double­ antine at our facility in Singapore, the sima; all ofwhich are smaller and differ eyed Fig Parrots, especially in the birds were initially housed in spacious immensely in coloration to the nominate southern parts of its range in Papua New flights that were planted. This pro­ gulielmiterti. Indeed, I suspect the Guinea. The distribution and status of duced nearly disastrous results, with two length which Forshaw used for his the nominate gulielmiterti is restricted birds dying within the first week. Finally, description of the nominate subspecies to the western part of Vogelkop, Irian they were accommodated in small lori­ ofthe Orange-breasted Fig Parrot in his ]aya, near the Indonesian town of keet cages, measuring 150 x 80 x 100 Parrots of the World, is not from Sorong and to the Western Papuan cm high (60 x 32 x 40 in.) with natural gulielmiterti. Island of Salawati. It is the westernmost guava and rambutan branches provid­ The accurate descriptions for the and most isolated occurring form of the ed for gnawing. various subspecies can be found in species and no other subspecies of This appeared to be the most suitable various articles and publications, such Orange-breasted Fig Parrot occurs with­ alternative, and the birds were broken as an earlier edition of the LOriJournal in its range. up to form pairs and trios, consisting of International, a Dutch publication, From my personal observations, it is an extra male. They cannot be kept on and in several parrot books written by decidedly local and rather scarce in its a colony system once established, as they celebrated aviculturist Rosemary Low. numbers, with only approximately 30 are quite aggressive and very territori­ Unfortunately, incomplete or scarce birds found in a single locality. al; observations have shown that, like information pertaining to the nomi­ I had never seen or heard of the Eclectus Parrots Eclectus roratus, the nate gulielmiterti has usually been Orange-breasted Fig Parrot during my female is dominant and can effective­ found. The description by Forshaw is starting years in aviculture, until a pair ly prevent weaker birds from obtaining as follows: of the subspecies suavissima was illus­ any food or drink, and will persecute MALE: General plumage green, trated in the publication ofthe Singapore them relentlessly. paler and more yellOWish on under­ Avicultural Society. They immediately These birds are most endearing and wing coverts and lower underparts; endeared me to their small size and through careful husbandry of wild forehead, crown and behind eye dark exquisite coloration. caught birds, I have managed to hold blue; lores, throat and sides of head Previously, the genus Opopsitta was a minimum breeding population of 15 paleyellow (or cream-white); variable represented by only th.e nominate sub- pairs of the nominate gulielmiterti. black line on ear coverts (completely absent in some specimens); breast and upperabdomen orange; concealedyel­ AFA Watchbird advertisers represent some ofthe best in low edging on innermost wing coverts; the business. When you buyfrom these fine sources, be bill grey black; legs greenish grey. sure to tell themyou saw their ad in Watchbird! FEMALE: Cheeks yellow, bordered

afa WATCHBIRD 59 Some of the other subspecies are also used once weekly in water, in the form Photo. by Lawrence Kuah kept, but the nominate form is still my of NEKTON S (Nekton Produkte ­ favorite, because of their wonderful Germany) and extra supplements of vit­ color scheme, larger size and stocky amin K are used in the morning feeds, build. They are slightly longer and larg­ in the form of NEKTON Q (Nekton er than all Double-eyed Fig Parrots Produkte - Germany). and exhibit much interesting behavior. There have been instances where I These Fig Parrots, together with have observed Double-eyed Fig Parrots Double-eyed Fig Parrots, have been dropping dead from their perches, due observed feeding on seeds of fruiting fig to excessive internal worm infestations. trees, and some other blossoms and fruit Thus, as a precaution, I worm the in their native habitat and, indeed, Orange-breasted Fig Parrots, after they immediately after trapping them, they have become established, using YOME­ would accept only ripe figs as their SAN tablets for children. The dose source of food. After they were brought repeated after two weeks guarantees that to the dty and then onward to Singapore, eggs and larvae, not destroyed previ­ they were slowly and somewhat painful­ ously, are completely eradicated. Their ly converted to a diet of bananas, condition tends to improve and since guavas and apples. This formed the ini­ they are housed in suspended lorikeet tial diet, but was not satisfactory or cages, there is little risk of re-infestation. adequate to my standards; thus, attempts Nest sites observed in the wild on the were made to "persuade" them to West Papuan Island of Salawati, where accept various mixtures and diets, but some of the birds were obtained per­ The Female Orange-breasted Fig Parrot has it was found that they refused a total­ sonally by myself, were on slightly orange ear coverts and a greenish breast which easily distinguishes her.fro1n the decaying trees in deep forest, on the site ly liquid mixture and only partially male, whose entire breast is orange. In this accepted a lumpy mixture consisting of of a broken branch or joint of the tree, species the female is dominant. diced fruit, pound cake and lory mix­ often obscured by moss and epiphytes. The Orange-breasted Fig Parrot is uncom­ ture, given in general to all the larger Fig The nest is not very deep but usually at mon in captivity. Although the photo is not Parrots of the genus about 40 em (16 in.) down from the nest sharp, you can see the beautiful colors qf while in quarantine. entrance. the species. Then a unique mixture was formu­ Thus, standard horizontal boxes lated to suit their tastes and dietary were designed for use in these fig par­ and it is the female here that shows all preferences. It consisted of verY young, rots, and some of the smaller lories. The the threat displays and is very anx­ sprouted wheat and various millet dimensions are 14 in. x 5-1/2 in. x 3 in iously throwing herself furiously at the seeds, mixed in fresh corn kernels and high and all the captive Orange-breast­ adjoining bars in an attempt to drive very lightly topped with a thickened mix­ ed Fig Parrots, whether paired or not, away the intruding arrivals. Mating ture of NEKTON LORI (Nekton Produkte prefer to roost in these boxes at night. occurs frequently, and is performed - Germany). And fresh fruits in season 'The interior is filled with soft peat and with one foot on the perch; the male were provided ad lib, and these usually small grade, red wood bark, which the tacking himself with peculiar movements consisted of ripe guavas, small figs birds enjoy excavating. not unlike those of mating lorikeets. They (available from local trees and import­ Orange-breasted Fig Parrots do not would mate at any time of the day, even ed specially for them - it is not so show any seasonal preference for breed­ late at night - in artificial lighting. And palatable to the human taste, as it is thick, ing in our facility, but it seems that these birds, once acclimatized to con­ sticky, starchy, not so sweet and full of they are stimulated at around the mon­ ditions in captivity, are so tame that they tiny seeds), bananas, apples and pears. soon season, which occurs both in would mate in full view of strangers. Surprisingly, these birds refused to Singapore and in their native habitat at Thus, Rosemary Low managed to obtain sample any citrus or papayas. about the same time. some photographs and make observa­ During the breeding season, fresh ant After some initial nest preparation, the tions, when she visited us in 1993. larvae and mealworms were provided, pair get more territorial and certain The usual clutch consists of two but only the former was relished. Other threat displays are exhibited when round-oval, white eggs, with incubation forms of live food, such as grubs and somebody is in view. The male usual­ commencing on the production of the maggots, are often looked upon with dis­ ly jumps from perch to perch in wide second egg. Incubation is carried out dain. deliberated movements, and stretches exclusively by the female and lasts Vitamin supplements and calci­ out his neck in typical lory like fashion. approximately 20 days. But for the um/mineral supplements are added He may also preen the feathers at the smaller subspecies, such as nigrtfrons, . more frequently than for other fig par­ sides of his chest and neck. He also it could be as short as 18 - 19 days. rots. It has been published in several makes a sharp call, while both sexes will Young Orange-breasted Fig Parrots papers for fig parrots in the USA that vit­ put up a constant chattering. At most hatch with grayish-white down. Both par­ amin K and zinc may not be adequate other times, these birds are relatively ents are more aggressive and active in normal diets and supplements are rec­ quiet. It is recommended that pairs be during this period of time, with a greater ommended for their continued well kept out of sight of other members or interest in live food for some pairs and being and breeding successes. pairs of its kind that are unfamiliar to an acceptance of a slightly wetter mix­ Standard vitamin supplements are them. As they will appear visibly stressed ture, previously ignored.

60 January/Febnlaly 1996 Of all our available pairs, at least 11 have laid, but the majority of chicks hatched could not be raised successfully Successful breeding of the Orange, beyond the first week. On pairs that refuse to accept live food or a more enriched, soft food mixture, the chicks breasted Fig Parrot at Loro Parque are doomed to an early demise. Only by Roger G. Sweeney the few pairs that choose to accept Lora Parque S.A., Puerto de la Cruz, the foods containing the essential nutri­ Ten erife, Canary Islands tion sufficient to cover the needs of the young can raise young successfully. Our successful pair managed to he Orange-breasted Fig Parrot O.g.a1nabilis in question are not hatch both chicks, one of which was Opopsitta guliel1niterti occurs housed within visibility distance of neglected and died on the second day. naturally on New Guinea, including other Opopsitta pairs. The first chick was raised by its parents Salawati inthePapuanislands, and also The same dietary mixture is fed until about 12 days, when it was sud­ the Aru islands, Indonesia. Seven dif­ to the adult pair twice a day through­ denly abandoned. It was then removed ferentsubspecieshave beendescribed, out the year, once early in the for handrearing and placed in a com­ although this figure may be inneed of morningand again duringthe middle mercial parrot brooder at 92° and fed a slight revision. Perhaps the most of the afternoon. A main dish pro­ with the same lory rearing mixture, distinctive subspecies is Opopsitta vides a mixture of various chopped consisting of NEKTO LORl (Nekton guliel1niterti a1nabilis, which occurs fruits and vegetables, alfalfa, palm Produkte - Germany), with additional from the Northeastern region of New fruits and fresh figs. A second dish rearing mix consisting of ground seeds Guinea. This subspecies differs very contains a commercial dietary pellet, and pulverized sweet corn. noticeably from other subspecies by a mixture of small dry millet, niger It developed rapidly. The chick was the fact that the adult male lacks and canary seeds, a canine pellet, a fully fledged at about forty days and it the distinctive orange coloration ofthe special supplement cake which is resembled the adult female in col­ breast and upper abdomen, which is made at Lora Parque and live food oration, with a grayish-hom colored beak. instead a pale yellow. The male bird in the form of mealworms. Through­ This young bird was initially thought also lacks the black marking on the ear out the year the diet is supplemented to be a female, but after approximate­ coverts that is usually present in other with a general vitamin/mineral pow­ ly two years, some spots of orange subspecies. The female bird by com­ der, plus a small amount ofadditional appeared on its breast and the answer parison has the black ear coverts and Vitamin K in powder form. When was obvious! In fact, prior to its trans­ also the rich orange breast and upper the time is approaching for chicks to formation, I had observed "her" copu­ abdomen coloration, making sex hatch then the diet is supplemented lating with another adult female, but I identi- fication for this subspecies the daily with Lactobacillus in powder thought that females may exhibit male reverse of the nominate description form sprinkled over the food, which copulatory behavior as well. But, I was and most of the other subspecies. is continued until the chicks have wrong and that thought now seems The Orange-breasted Fig Parrot fledged. I have now used similar to be remote. has been represented in the Loro dietary guide lines to these to success­ The secret to raising and breeding fig Parque collection by the subspecies fully rear both species of OjJojJJittcl parrots successfully is relatively straight­ O.g. a17/a bili.r for several years, al­ and all three species ofPsittaculiros- forward (I refrain to mention easy, though in recent years these birds because it is far from it), and is great­ have not been on public display but ly influenced by the diet, especially are accommodated in one of our the quality of the food provided. Also, adult birds would have to be conditioned offexhibition breeding areas. One to consume suitable diets, containing ade­ pair of O.g.a1lJelbilis managed to quate nutrition. Avoid diets that are successfully hatch and rear a chick too oily and fattening in order to pre­ during the early part of the 1994 vent obesity. Suitable protein rich foods breeding season. Some of the notes must be introduced at the onset of recorded are given as follows; rearing chicks, to ensure success. Never The breeding cage is situated in provide a monotonous diet consisting an off exhibit area which is not acces­ of .one kind of food item, always pro­ sible to members of the visiting vide variety; also, do not forget the public. The breeding cage measures sensitive nature and requirements of 2.93 m. (10 ft.) in length, 1.00 m. (3 these fig parrots, which are very prone ft.) in width and 2.36 m. (8 ft.) in to stress. Keep in mind, too, that this height. One end of the cage is species and other members of it genus covered and has solid walls, while the and of the genus Psittaculirostris require middle and far end of the cage is of higher levels of vitamin K and pos ibly a more open wire framework design. A neu ~y fledged chick ofthe Orange­ dietary zinc for successful maintenance The birds do have visibility into the breasted Fig Parrot Oppopsitta guliebniteri and reproduction in captivity. -+ adjoining cages, but the pair of at Lora Parque, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

afa WATCHBIRD 61