moved it around and stepped on it, First U.S. Breeding of apparently uncertain of what to do with it. Due to this lack of proper parental care, each egg was removed as it was laid and artificially incu­ Goliath bated. The first chick died in the shell but the next four hatched success­ ( goliath) fully. Three of these chicks were successfully hand-reared to inde­ by Celia K. Falzone pendence. A fourth chick suffered Dallas, Texas fractures of both its legs and was eventually euthanized when it failed The goliath (Ardea goliath) overhanging water, on the ground to respond to treatment. is a little known species which is (usually among the reeds), and on In February 1988 the trio began uncommon in captivity. No support­ low bushes. The nest consists of a nesting again. At this time the three ing publications have been located platform of sticks and reeds 1 to were in nearly complete adult but inquiries have led to the confir­ 1-1/2 m in diameter and is built by plumage and their nest building mation of captive propagation in two both sexes. A clutch of two to four strategy had matured. A well defined countries. The Amsterdam Zoo kept a pale blue eggs is laid at two or three nest was built using sticks for the pair earlier this century which laid day intervals. Incubation is by both main structure and grasses for the multiple clutches annually for several adults and lasts 29 days. The chicks lining. Some of the eggs were de­ years, producing many offspring. hatch at staggered intervals and are stroyed before keepers were able to More recently the species has been covered by long white down. remove them. Apparently, both propagated at the Larvon The Dallas Zoo acquired two females were in breeding condition Gardens in Zimbabwe (CF Freiheit: female and one male wild-caught sub­ and it was believed the destruction of pers. comm.). The Dallas Zoo and the adult birds in May 1986. The three the eggs was due to nest site competi­ San Diego Wild Park are the birds were housed together outdoors tion. For this reason, one female was only two U.S. institutions currently in a covered enclosure which was removed from the enclosure for the holding the species with a total of moderately planted with grass and remainder ofthe egg laying cycle. two male and six female wild caught bushes. Their diet consisted of smelt, It is known that copulations individuals. The first U.S. captive mice, and Nebraska brand bird ofprey occurred with each hen. Additionally, breeding was accomplished at the meat. Free access to a heated shelter the total number of eggs laid and the Dallas Zoo in 1987 with the produc­ was allowed during much of the behavior of the two females indicates tion of one male and two female off­ winter; however, they were locked a possibility that both had been spring. In 1988, two more offspring indoors during freezing weather. In laying. Following the removal of one were producedin Dallas where a total January 1987, they began what female, two more eggs were laid in of two male, four female and two appeared to be confused and erratic the nest and left undisturbed. The unknowns now reside. nest building behavior. The birds parents shared incubation and suc­ Largest of the ardeids, the goliath began constructing multiple nests at cessfully hatched one egg. The heron measures 1.5 m tall and weighs various locations in the exhibit. second egg failed to hatch and exami- 4 to 4.5 kg as an adult. The sexes are Before a nest was complete, it would alike with slate grey and chestnut be dismantled and the sticks from it plumage. The head, face and hind and used to begin a new nest. Often two Deadline Schedule side of the neck are chestnut with a or more nests would be worked on at bushy crest on the crown. The chin, the same time by all three birds. Feb/Mar '91 Featuring COCKATIELS throat, foreneck and upper breast are Behavioral interactions among the Dec. 1 - editorial copy white, with the latter two streaked trio appeared equal; no pair bonding Dec. 15- displayADS black. The lower breast, belly and was observed. thighs are a dark chestnut. The lores Egg laying commenced in May. The Apr/May'91 Feb. 1 - editorial copy and orbital area are yellow tinged three birds were not yet in adult Feb. 15- displayADS with green. The eye is bright yellow plumage although the male and one and the legs, feet, and bill are black. female had begun to molt. Nest build­ June / July '91 The immature bird is similar to the ing had continued erratically with no FeaturingMACAWS adults but paler. The upper parts are April 1 - editorial copy one nest or location selected. The April 15- displayADS browner and the lower breast and birds vigorously defended their nest belly are buff white with indistinct sites which was contrary to observa­ Aug / Sept '91 black streaking. The upper mandible tions of birds in the wild (Mock). June 1 - editorial copy June 15-displayADS is black and the lower horn colored. Despite the large amount of nest Ardea goliath is a frequent, some­ building activity, the eggs were not Oct/Nov'91 times common, resident of most of laid in any of the partially con­ FeaturingSOFTBILLS Africa south of the Sahara. It prefers structed nests. The first egg was Aug. 1 - editorial copy the shallow shores of freshwater found broken, perhaps an aCcident, Aug. 15- displayADS lakes, marshes, rivers, estuaries and and the birds did not take care of the Dec '91 / Jan '92 coastal areas (Hancock & Kushlan). next egg. Although all three birds Oct. 1 - editorial copy Solitary nests can be found on trees defended the egg, they frequently Oct. 15- displayADS

afa WATCHBIRD 59 Q) c o N a3 LL ~ .5'Q

Thefirst chicks hatched in 198 on day 4 (left) and day 0 (right). They ate voraciously a few hours after hatching.

By 21 days, feathers are eruptingfrom theirsheaths and the eyes have changedfrom white to yellow.

The female regurgitates smelt which the 21-day-old nestling can now eat whole. nation revealed a small puncture in This early success marks the begin­ the shell and a nearly full-term ning of a captive propagation pro­ embryo. The surviving chick wa gram for this species at the Dallas reared by the parents without inci­ Zoo. Growth data has been collected dent on a diet of vitamin supple­ from all of the hand-reared chicks. mented smelt which was regurgitated Data collection of this nature will directly onto the nest floor. Another continue and our research is being chick was hand-reared after hatching expanded to include behavioral from an egg which was laid prior to studies of this little known ardeid the second female's removal from the species. exhibit. Although it was not possible to weigh the parent-reared chick, it References was very apparent that it grew faster 1. Hancock Jame and James Kushlan. 1984. than the hand-reared chick. The The Herons Handbook. Harper and Row, ewYork. hand-reared chick was given a diet 2. Mock, Douglas W. and Karilyn C. Mock. simulating that which was provided 1980. Feeding behaviour and ecology of the A 28-day-oldheron stands and walks clumsily, for the adults. Goliath Heron. The Auk 97:433-448. frequently stepping on its long toes. 60 December / January 1991 Q) c 2 ro LL ~ .~ Q5 o E C/) o (5 ..c CL

The 34-day-old chick has left the nest but is still dependent .The female performs a stretch display which culminates in this upon itsparents. bow aspart ofa greeting ceremony when she relieves her mate at the nest.• Conservation Grants Awarded in 1990 The following small grants were awarded during 1990:

Natural History of the Plate-billed Toucan, researcher William Beltran, $1,000 Bird Conservation in Grenada, researcher David E. Blockstein, $1,000 Evolutionary History of the Genus Tragopan (pheasant), researcher Kamal Islam, $1$1,000 Educational Materials for the Lesser Antilles, The Center for Tropical Bird Conservation (RARE), $1,900 The atural History and Ecology of the Yellow-Iored Amazon Parrot, researcher Paul Wood, $2,000 Food Habits of the Scarlet Macaw, researcher Mark Kainer, $2,000 Small grant to offset cost of the pro­ ceedings for the First Workshop on the Conservation of Macaws in Mesoamerica, $2,100 Total awarded, $11,000 We would like to thank all those members who donated to the AFA Conservation Fund during 1989-90 Plate-billed Toucan feeding upon a snail in Colombia, South America. Research as

and to those individuals who served to this species J ecology was tnadepossible due, inpart, to a smallgrantfrom the AFA on the small grants review board.•. Conservation Fund.

afa WATeRBIRD 61