as yet bred since I only received them in the winter of 1988-89. , A Review Pallas are bizarre little (10 ounces), inhabiting the region from by Etienne Dierick the Caspian Sea to eastern Mongolia, Lokeren, Belgium from which they make sporadic erup­ tions into western Europe as far as Spain and Faroe Islands. Their habi­ This article will be primarily black and white help them melt into tat's extremely hostile climate has directed toward the Pallas Sand­ their semi-desert surroundings. Their caused them to undergo several evo­ grouse, paradoxus. How­ short legs are feathered to the toes as lutionary adaptions such as thick ever, since sandgrouse are a rather in the true grouse. They are incapable abdominal skin, very short legs, small obscure family, it might prove fruitful ofperching since the hind toe is vesti­ rabbit-like feet and one of the most to review the family as a whole. gal in 14 and absent in the efficient high speed wings found in The family Pteroclidae contains remaining two Syrrhaptes. the kingdom. two genera and sixteen species of Because of their extremely rapid The Pallas are kept in a covered, pigeon-sized birds which inhabit the flight and distinctive appearance unheated enclosure, each pair having arid regions of Africa, Asia, Europe resulting from their short, deep an area measuring six feet by 16 feet. and the Middle East. It is generally bodies and long, pointed wings, they The Yellow-throated are kept in simi­ included in the Co/umbi­ cannot be confused with any other lar sized pens, though heated to main­ formes, pigeons. However, recently bird in flight. So swift is their flight, tain a minimum of 45 OF. It is particu­ some authorities placed them in experienced observers state hunting larly important to keep the Pallas dry Charadiiformes, shorebirds, while falcons are incapable of catching at all times. The pen floors are mostly others give them ordinal rank. The them in level flight. sand covered with some dirt for dust consists of 14 species The usual clutch of three eliptically bathing and designed to allow the while Syrrhaptes has two members shaped eggs vary from buff to brown birds some sun each day. which are found in the cold deserts of with blotches of yellowish-brown to Sandgrouse food requirements are Asia. reddish and underlying grey. The pre­ both simple and inexpensive, consist­ Sandgrouse are compact, stocky, cocial young hatch covered with ing ofgame bird crumbles and the fol­ terrestrial birds with pigeon-like down and are able to feed themselves lowing seeds: milo, canary, flax, heads. The greys and browns crypti­ soon after leaving the nest. mung beans and safflower seeds. It is cally dappled with orange, chestnut, Their food consists of seeds and desirable to give them green food. greens, especially of chenopods and Crushed oyster shells should always legumes. be available to them since their diet is Historically, sandgrouse have not low in calcium. been well known to aviculturists; Pallas' courtship begins in early thus relatively few captive breeding March at which time the males attempts have been made or were suc­ become quite amorous, pursuing the Eclectus cessful. Probably the first to raise females after the manner of mallards. sandgrouse was the Danish breeder The female's invitation to copulate is Winge who, in 1892, reared the Pallas a submissive sitting posture with the Sandgrouse. Shortly after, the English head held low and slightly stretched Parrots aviculturists Meade-Waldo and San foward. Quintin bred the White-bellied, P. Egg laying commences in late a/chatta, Black-bellied, P. orientalis, March or early April, depending to a -Grand and Chestnut-bellied, P. exustus, large extent on the temperature. The Sandgrouse. In the 1960s, Dr. Frisch female lays every other day in the -Vosmaeri of West Germany again raised the evening at between five and six White-bellied Sandgrouse, while Dr. o'clock. The male is always very near -Red sided Grummt of the East Berlin Zoo; Hans during the laying process. When one Assink, Rotterdam Zoo; and the enters a pair's pen, the male will posi­ Dutch breeder De Vries, all·raised the • Young. weaned. unrelated pairs tion himself between the intruder Pallas Sandgrouse. It is to be sadly and the hen, as ifto protect her. In the • Occasional older pairs noted that, as far as is known, all wild, it is normal for the female to sit and singles Pallas in private breeders' and west­ during the day and the male through ern zoo collections are progeny from • Will buyand trade the night. Because Pallas are the same importation. The last new extremely high-strung birds, they For price list and availability: species to be bred was the Yellow­ refuse to sit on their eggs. It would throated, P. gutteralis, by Mr. L. seem such nervous birds refuse to lay. call (415) 372-6174 Grueber in 1985. However, my birds have laid as many or send SASE to: Presently I am working with as four clutches during the breeding Yellow-throated and Pallas Sand­ season, which extends into earlyJuly. Laurella Desborough grouse. The latter I have bred success­ In the wild, the normal is two P.O. Box273112 fully since 1983 from stock I received clutches per season. The eggs are Concord. California 94527 from the previously mentioned De picked up as soon as a clutch of three Vries. The Yellow-throated have not is completed and placed in a still-air 22 October /November 1990 incubator with temperature main­ tained between 102 ° and 103 OF with a humidity of 55%. The eggs are turned at least twice a day. The normal hatching period is 25 days. It should be noted that I have much better hatching results with a still-air incubator as opposed to a forced-air incubator. It may be that sandgrouse eggs require a temperature gradient. After the chicks are dry, they are placed in a brooder at 99 OF. In the interest of sanitation and their unique foot structure, paper towels are spread over the floor. Some people who have bred sandgrouse have indi­ cated sandgrouse chicks are slow to start eating and require teachers such as quail. I have found my Pallas start eating immediately if small seeds are spread over the floor of the brooder. In the wild, the male brings water to the chicks in his belly feathers. Because of this trait, care must be taken to ensure the chicks are given water until it is certain they drink on their own. Some breeders use pipettes or soaked cotton swabs to give the birds water. I stick their bills into the water and make certain they swallow the water. I continue this for three or four days, or until they are able to drink on their own. They remain in the brooder for at least five weeks or until such time I feel they are strong enough to be outside. In summary, I feel the following conditions should be met if one is to breed sandgrouse: 1. The aviary must contain at least any award-winning birds have been raised one area that is always dry; on a diet of Kellogg foods and supplements, 2. If possible, their enclosure Mincluding Kellogg's Handfeeding Diet. should contain some plant material for green food and pri­ Your chicks can be winners, too! Kellogg's vacy; Handfeeding Diet produces strong, healthy chicks. 3. Their aviary should be located Blended by Kellogg, this easy-to-mix, no-cook and arranged to receive maxi­ formula is nutritionally complete. And, our mum sunlight; Handfeeding Diet contains only the highest-quality 4. The primary feathers of at least raw ingredients available. one wing must be clipped to avoid serious injury; Look for Kellogg's Handfeeding Diet and complete 5. The aviary should be clean since line of bird foods and supplements where you shop, sandgrouse may be susceptible or write to Kellogg for the name of the distributor to intestinal or fungal infection nearest you. because they are not exposed to these conditions in their native - environment; --- 6. They should not be over­ Kellogg--Inc. crowded; p.o. Box 684 7. The aviary should be large Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 enough to allow the birds to obtain a degree of privacy and should contain a dirt area with K ~ for KellOlJg ... the choice of champions .. small rocks spread throughout in which the birds may take dust baths.• afa WATCHBIRD 23