pair was so much smaller than the other Lear's in her parents' care, and she likened it to a Spix Macaw. Re~appraised After some time I went to visit The Indigo Macaw Harry and Pat and view the new pair of Lear's. The birds were well and A smaller bird or a mystery solved? seemed to have coped with their recent transfer. Their feather quality (Anodorhynchus lead) was dry and the male had been pluck­ ing an area ofhis breast feathers. The by Robin Pickering andJoe Cuddy female, however, seems to have per­ Durham, England manent damage to the wing tips that results in an almost total lack of pri­ mary feathers. As close friends ofworld renowned imported via Lisbon, Portugal and However, the most outstanding aviculturists Harry and Pat Sissen, Joe transferred to Basle Zoo, Switzerland feature of the pair was the small size and I often visit them to discuss vari­ on the 11th July 1975. There they of the female. We all agreed that the ous avicultural and ornithological joined another Lear's that had been marked difference in size was far matters. in Basle since 1955. After the pair's more than the usual slight size dis­ For some time now we have all arrival, the spare bird was transferred crepancy that may occur between taken a keen interest in Harry's to Walsrode, Germany to pair with the sexes. When viewed from the efforts to bring together the last another single bird in their care. front it was noticeable that the remaining captive Lear's Macaws in a Meanwhile in Basle, the new pair female was a blue-green color and did serious attempt to establish a suc­ produced a broken egg in 1976, in indeed appear to have reduced mela­ cessful breeding program. 1977 a single egg was laid, and in nin in the mandible. Harry also com­ At the present time, Harry and Pat's 1978 two eggs were laid but unfor­ mented that the male had much efforts represent the only positive tunately all the eggs were infertile. more blue in the breast and he attempt in Europe to save this macaw Alas, in 1978 the original male died described the color of the hen's from oblivion. It was therefore amid from liver disease and the carcass dis­ breast and abdomen as sea-green. I great excitement that the two posed of. However, in Walsrode, summed up the female's general "Lear's" Macaws arrived from Mul­ their pair had been non-productive appearance as a smaller, paler blue hous Zoo in France to join the pro­ and in the event ofthe male's death it bird. gram in February this year. Roland was agreed to return the original After returning home I replayed the Wirth of IeBP had initiated their bird. In this new pair bond, no home video recording made of the move by suggesting to Dr. J. Lernould further eggs were produced and in pair, and again there was the marked of Mulhouse Zoo that results might 1982 the original Lear's died. difference. Only then did I begin to be achieved if the pair was placed Autopsy showed that this bird had speculate that the bird seemed to into Harry's care in England. Further also been a female and this carcass represent Anodorhynchus glaucus. I dialogue between Dr. Lernould and was also disposed of. Following this, cross referenced many books, docu­ Harry led to the decision to organize the female was then paired to a spare ments and reviewed my video tape of their transfer to England. It is regret­ Hyacinth Macaw and it appears that eight individual captive Lear's made table that others holding Lear's this situation remained until 1987 over the last five years. Out of the Macaws do not have the same insight when negotiations were made to pair eight birds on video, this one female as Roland and John, if perhaps all the female to another male Lear's was the''odd one out:' Her small size owners cooperated and sent non­ that had been kept in Paris Zoo, and blue-green colour did seem to fit breeding stock into the one program France. The male's records show that the descriptions of the Glaucous then positive results might be he was "born" in 1967, although Macaw. achieved more quickly. there are no available details of a cap­ The following day I calledJoe and Prior to their arrival, Joe had called tive breeding at that time. It was told him about the pair and asked for me and indicated that he had seen an agreed that both birds would be his opinion. Joe lost no time in flying old photograph of this pair of Lear's transferred to Mulhouse Zoo, France north for an urgent exchange of and was suspicious that one, indeed, and the male arrived on the 16th views. We drove straight to Harry may be a Glaucous Macaw. However, March 1987 with the female follow­ and Pat's and asked once again to he believed that the suspect bird was ing on the 30th of July that same view the Lear's and prepared to dis­ the male and that it had originated in year. Unfortunately, although the cuss the possibility further. Belgium. I knew that this bird had pair is compatible, no further breed­ Her fine features, paler color and been sent some time previously back ing activity has occurred since they different bill color and structure were to Brazil and had since died. In the were paired. undeniable to us all. Harry also felt light of this information, Joe aborted In due course their export to Eng­ that the female appeared to be "the his plan to view the birds in France. land was arranged and the pair odd bird out:' This bird incidentally Details of the female's history arrived at Heathrow on 25th Febru­ also has wing damage to the primary have been made available from Dr. ary 1992. They were collected by feathers typical of a bird trapped in Lernould and Mr. Tony Pittman after Harry and transferred to their quaran­ southern Brazil or Paraguay. At this his communications with Basle Zoo. tine, to be cared for by Harry's daugh­ point, we were all pointing out that It appears that the female was origi­ ter Yvonne Scales. Indeed, her first the features of the female were not nally one of a pair that were impression was that the hen of this typical ofA. learl but it was Joe who 14 August/ September 1992 had the conviction of his views to detail and compare these to some of openly declare that the female repre­ the known information for A. glau­ sented the Glaucous Macaw! cus. It must be appreciated that at Another person who also felt that the present time it is impossible to this bird could, indeed, represent A. obtain accurate information regard­ glaucus was Dr. J. Lernould himself ing dimensions and weight as this when he first saw the bird. A photo­ would· induce too much stress. graph was given to Roland Wirth and Harry's highest priority is that this We this was submitted to the museum in pair of Anodorhynchus must be Vienna; however, their conclusion given conditions and management Buy from the photograph was that this that will prOVide the best chance of Birds bird was an unusual Lear's (pers. breeding. For the present time their comm). reproduction must take a higher pri­ • This could prove to be an avicul­ ority over the scientific interest. tural sensation not equalled since the First we can look at the size of the We discovery of the Kawalls Amazon female, as stated she is significantly Sell which had long since been classified smaller than her mate and in compar­ by experts as a Mercenary Amazon. ison to three other captive females I Birds ~ This case of mistaken identity has have seen. We would estimate that occurred time and time again. she is at least Scm (2 inches) smaller Complete Bird Supplies In 1989, I visited Tring and exam­ than her mate and considering this ined the skins of all three species of pro rata she appears a much smaller 8990 Cerritos Ave. Anodorhynchus. Visual and photo­ bird. As pointed out, her small size Anaheim, CA 92804 graphic evidence concurred with the gave Harry's daughter the impression (714) 527-3387 findings of George Smith and the of a Spix Macaw. Despite her small (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of July) illustrations of Jenevora Searight. size, she does not give the impres­ 12200 Magnolia Ave. Though in discussion with Harry we sion of a stunted bird. In her work on Riverside, CA 92503 both agreed that on the evidence of stunted birds, Joanne Abramson (714) 278-0878 the skin held at Tring that the Glau­ found that a classic, mature, stunted (closed for vacation, first 2 weeks of August) cous Macaw was a dilute mutation of bird appears with a huge head and the Lear's Macaw. This reasoning, feet draWing attention away from the OPEN 9 TO 5 DAILY however, seems to be flawed as we small body. She has also found that Closed Sun., Mon. & holidays were not taking into account other these birds are most likely to be documented evidence and illustra­ immunologically weakened and may tions ofboth Leari and Glaucus. suffer from damaged and poorly Meanwhile, over the previous developed internal organs with, per­ twelve years, Joe's research had haps in some cases, reduced repro­ taken him to several of the world's ductive capabilities. The female in skin collections including the skin Harry's care does not appear to fall held at Tring and also those held in into this category, her head appears Vienna, (a single badly prepared skin in proportion to the rest of her body with no head) and in the United and her advanced age would seem to ~ States Natural History Museum in refute any idea that she is prone to Washington where he saw six skins. disease. Also surgical sexing last year 'LORIIDAE He noted that of the eight skins he revealed her to be in breeding condi­ PRODUCTION has examined internationally, the tion and no abnormal adjacent organs NETWORK specimen held at Tring seems much were noted. Also as pointed out, this offers: paler than the remaining seven and it female has laid eggs so her reprOdUC­ does not follow the illustrations of tive capabilities appear intact. "Lories Delight" Cooper in "Parrots of the World" Forshaw, after examining nine - a natural diet for lories, may be fed and that of Elizabeth Butterworth. skins ofA. glaucus held at the United dry, used as a nectar or as a hand Indeed, the remaining skins viewed States National Museum, Washington feeding formula. all depict a smaller bird not identical and seven skins ofA. leari held at the (Free Sample) in size to Leari. It would appear that American Museum of Natural His­ ****** the bird present in Harry's care is tory, New York states the length ofA. Lories - Handfed young and adults. very similar to those seven skins. glaucus to be 72 cm (28.35 inches) Further research by Joe is proposed and that of A. leari to be 75 cm ****** in ew York at the Tatural History (29.53 inches), a 3 cm (1.18 inches) "Lories and Lorikeets in Aviculture" Museum where other skins are held. difference. In "A Monograph of book of up-to-date information on So here we now have a liVing bird Endangered Parrots;' Tony Silva also keeping and breeding lories­ that seems to fit the known descrip­ agrees with these measurements. $49.95 plus $3.00 SIH. tions of the Glaucous Macaw and that Perhaps though the research done by John Vanderhoof can be directly compared to its clos­ George Smith of England to be pre­ est relative, the Lear's Macaw. Per­ sented in his proposed book pro­ P.O. Box 575, Woodlake, CA 93286 haps at this point it would be wise to vides even greater insight. In his (209) 564-3610 examine its distinct features in more research material for A. glaucus five afa WATCHmRD 15 measurements for length are given the color as sea-green and the color fruits, seeds and palm drupes. Later it which vary from 56 cm (25.98 extends into the head as a grey slate states that the Glaucous with such a inches) (Azara) to 74 cm (29.13 green with a pale greyish-brown bill would find it impossible to bene­ inches) (Salvadori 1891) with an throat. However, from the mantle to fit from harder shelled fruits and it average of 70 cm (27.56 inches). the tail and over the wings to the evolved to feed on softer fruits and George also states that those familiar secondaries she is similar in colora­ foods. It was interesting that due to with the living bird (Souance et al. tion to the male Lear's. Her bill is its environment, Joe had suggested 1857) found A. leari to lie in size dark grey and appears lighter than that the bird had adapted to a more between the Hyacinth Macaw (A. her mate's with a hom colored stripe frugivorous diet. The habitat is hyacinthinus) and the Glaucous on the front edge ofthe upper mandi­ described to be palm groves and for­ Macaw. The ornithologist Voous in ble; the feet are also grey. The semi­ est while Ridgley (1981) notes it to 1965 concluded that he felt that A. circular area ofskin around the lower be subtropical forest to which must leari was perhaps a hybrid in origin mandible is a white-yellow color, the be added pantanal. Some areas of between the other two species of male's being a more primrose yellow. habitat are subjected to flooding and Anodorhynchus and that leari was a Indeed, in personal communication others are swamp regions. wonderful intermediate between with Elizabeth Butterworth she A final note is that this female lacks the two for size and color. stated that while examining the skins primary feathers. Joe has suggested Taking into account the above of Leari and Glaucus she too noted that he has found that birds trapped information, it seems that this female the lighter color of the skin in Glau­ in Paraguay often exhibit wing dam­ is much more typical ofA. glaucus cus. age of this nature resulting in perma­ than A. leari in size. In fact if a Hya­ The third area of physical differ­ nent damage to the primaries' folli­ cinth Macaw was to be placed with ence between the two birds is that of cles. Although not conclusive, this this pair of "Lear's;' the result would the bill. As Joe pointed out, the can give us valuable clues into know­ be apparent even to the most casual female's upper mandible is more ing the area in which this bird was observer. The male Lear's would lie slender and elongated. The lower trapped, indeed the range of the in size between the two and also mandible projects in an almost hori­ Glaucous did extend into this region. appear as an intermediate between a zontal like fashion, which overall So it appears that here in this pair Hyacinth and his mate. gives the impression of a bill with a of Lear's may be the answer to a rid­ Next we would like to direct atten­ reduced biting power compared dle that has perplexed many avicul­ tion to the color of this bird. She is with the male Lear's. A bird very simi­ turists for most of this century. Cer­ without doubt, a lighter color than lar in appearance to this hen is illus­ tainly the bird fits with the descrip­ her mate and the other six individual trated in the' 'World of Macaws" by tions given for the Glaucous Macaw Lear's I have observed. However, she Dieter Hoppe on page 53. Here the but no doubt great debate will fol­ is not of such a light color as author also states that the photogra­ low, some will agree and some not. depicted in the illustration by J. pher identified the bird as A. leari Perhaps DNA testing may be the Searight, though perhaps this may be but he too suggests the coloration is answer? However, while people con­ due to the color reproduction and suggestive ofGlaucous, but he makes tinue to debate and search for this that the illustration shows sunlight no reference to the bird's elongated legendary macaw, one issue must on the birds depicted. The bird is upper mandible. An important ques­ take priority above others and that is more close in coloration to the illus­ tion may now be, where was this bird that the Lear's Macaw is on the brink tration ofWilliam Cooper in "Parrots photographed and is it still alive? It of oblivion. Its captive numbers are ofthe World" and also that of Leari may prove vital to the breeding pro­ critically low and most of the cap­ and Glaucous study as depicted by gram. Once more in George Smith's tives are of an advanced age. In the Elizabeth Butterworth. In fact, the research we found reference to this wild its status is critical and uncer­ head study by Butterworth of Glau­ slight difference in the bill structure. tain; ifthe species is to be saved then cus is the closest comparison of all. In the accounts by Azara it is stated we must act now. Her breast and abdomen are a slate that A. glaucus had little strength to blue-green. Harry himself describes the jaws and they were restricted to References Abramson, Joanne, The Stunted Parrot, AFA Watchbird, August 1990. Forshaw, Joseph, Parrots ofthe World, third edition 1989, Blandford. Hoppe, Dieter, The World ofMacaws, 1985, TFH Publications. 2·1 Peanut Toy -the 2day peanut stick Low, Rosemary, Endangered Parl'Ots, 1984, Blandford. & Low, Rosemary, Macaws, A Complete Guide, 100%) natural spicy, for all pet parrots. 1990, Merehurst Ltd. Ridgely, Robert, Current Distribution and For $1.50 you really get your money's worth. Status ofMainland Neotropical Parrots, Conservation ofNew World Parrots, 1980, 12 peanut sticks for $18.00 plus 2 free toys! SmithsonianjICBP. Sick, Helmut, The Lear's Macaw, Terre Sauvage, No. 39, April 1990. Send check to: HD PET PRODUCTS Silva, Tony, A Monograph of Endangered Parrots, 1989, Silvio Mattacchione and Co. 9805 NW 80th Ave., #13U, Hialeah Gardens, FL 33016 Smith, George, The Lesser llyacinthine (Florida residents add 6-1/2% sales tax) Macaw, 1990, Extract from forthcoming handbook.• it, 16 August / September 1992 l