A.F:A. visits ... Mickey Ollson's Wildlife World Zoo byJerry Jennings Woodland Hills, California Some of us are satisfied with our While the mammal collection grew, pet bird, deriving infinite joy from its the birds continued to increase. Emu antics and affection for us. Others pens were built, along with mixed find the pleasures of pet bird owner­ species flights of cranes, waterfowl, ship lead to an interest in raising and various species of cracids (curra­ Understanding the Life birds. These people we call avicultur­ sows, guans). Several flights were ists. Some aviculturists acquire mod­ added for jays and it was becoming ofBirds explains: erate collections of birds, while apparent that a small zoo was emerg­ Avian reproduction, Egg & Chick devel­ others establish very large collections ing. It may not have been obvious to opment, Digestion, Feather structure & comprised of many different species. the casual observer that the farm was color, Flight, Nutrition & Avian genetics. These latter aviculturists usually are moving in that direction, but it was to Read cover to cover, or use as a reference looked upon as professional bird Mickey, for it had been his lifelong book. Glossary, full index and original art. breeders. Then there is Mickey dream. Hardbound. Over 300 pages. Ollson! Although Mickey had some walla­ Mickey started raising birds as a bies prior to 1973, the new farm had Patrick G. Coyle Jr. is a breeder-educator who presents useful information in a style small child, when he acquired some the space to dramatically expand. that is interesting and easy to understand. finches, waterfowl, and budgies Initially, the new farm maintained under the encouragement of his par­ duplicate flocks of the species at the $21.95, + $2 shipping in U.S. ents. He liked other animals as well, Glendale location. As the mammal Calif. residents, add 6% tax. especially "zoo types;' and kept collection increased, Mickey began to squirrels and a couple of alligators. As think it was time to go public, which Summit Publications, Dept. W Mickey grew up, his interest in ani­ he decided to do in 1982. During the 11565 Sunset Knolls Rd mals became more intense, and the ensuing two years, construction lakeside, CA 92040 menagerie larger. began and was completed on a variety In 1963 Mickey graduated from of projects that would enhance the Arizona State University with a B.S. character of the collection and make • NEW RELEASE • degree in advertising. He worked a it attractive to the public. A walk­ Spix's Macaw couple years, then began teaching through aviary - the largest of its (Cyanopsitta spoo) junior high school in 1965. That type in the southwest - was opened same year he acquired five acres in along with a gift shop, primate enclo­ Glendale, a northwest suburb of sures, and a walk-in lory feeding Phoenix, and founded Ollson's Rare exhibit - the very first of its kind in Bird Farm. By the early 1970s, the U.S. Mickey had earned an international In 1984, Wildlife World Zoo reputation as an aviculturist with a opened its doors to the public. Today collection ofover 135 species ofbirds the public portion of the zoo occu­ ofwhich he bred over a hundred. pies over thirty-five acres of bird and In 1973 Mickey purchased forty mammal exhibits. The collection has acres in Litchfield Park, next to Luke dramatically expanded since the early Air Force Base and over 25 miles from 1980s. The bird collection is one of the edge of Phoenix. Some of his the largest in numbers of species in friends thought he was crazy to buy the U.S., and probably the largest in so far out, but Mickey knew better, the southwest. and today the city is catching up with There are over thirty species ofpar­ him. rots, including ten species of lories in Originally, the forty acres in litch­ the lory feeding exhibit. Twice daily field Park were an investment and an the public is allowed into the lory expansion of his Rare Bird Farm flight, where they are given pieces of which, by then, was bursting at the apple to feed these lovely residents. seams in Glendale. First, up went the All the birds in this flight are handfed byEricPeake aviaries for pheasants and waterfowl. and tame. They fly down and land on pIintsize 20"x 15", sin: 700 Then came the mammals. Llamas the visitors to eat the apples out of their hands. It is, needless to say, one $6000 includes taxand shipping. were first on the scene, followed in U.S.A. Orderfrom quick order by several species of of the most popular exhibits at Wild­ wallabies walleroos, and the red life World Zoo. Corporate Environments 9200 Glenwood, #104, Overland, KS 66212 kangaroo: Sitatunga antelope and Other bird exhibits include one of zebras were close behind. the largest pheasant collections in the (913) 642-9756 afa WATeRBIRD 59 ,-.£: U. and the second largest collection I eu :5 of currasow , chachalaca , and guans ~ in the world! The crane collection is G ~ al 0 quite large and intere ting. In :3 fact, Mickey has had exceptional suc­ ro (J) ce s breeding the tanley crane (0 er c­ 80 young), and ha don well with «~ c (5 three other specie . If you are into u c ratites, Mickey has five specie ­ ::i o triches emu ,ca owarie, and t 0 ,-s (f) pecie of rhea . Other unu ual birds ~~~~~~~~~~~i.~ .£: include both pecie of seriama ­ ,0.... red-legged and the Burmeister's, the king vulture and Andean condor, and the bru h turkey of the outh Pacific Islands - a curiou pecies that build a large mound of organic mate­ rial in which it buries it egg, letting the heat generated by the decaying material incubate them. The e brush turkey have succes full reared young at Wildlife World. Wildlife World's residentpair ofreticuLatedgiraffes) UpSee Daisy (female) andHigh The mammal collection i equally ociety (male). varied. It consi ts of five species of marsupial fifteen species of pri­ mate ,many pecies of antelope, including the Bei a, cimitar horned, and Arabian oryx. The latter, for­ merly extinct in the wild, has recentl been reintroduced from captive born tock. Wildlife World al 0 has a good representation of camel giraffes, maned wolves, African hunting dog, jaguars and tigers. The tiger recently gave birth to six youngster hich were au pi­ ciously born on exhibit! The crested) red-legged seriama has something to say ifyou get too close to her nest. The sarus crane has alot ofroom to stretch his legs. At Wildlife World) the endangeredEliott'spheasant enjoys a very spacious compound. 60 June / July 1989 Cape Barren goose with young. A couple representatives oflastyearJs crop ofbaby emus. The original gift hop ha been turned into an exhibit - "Waters of the World" - featuring both fresh and alt water fi hes including elec­ tric eels piranha and hark. A new gift shop and admini tration building ere recently completed. Future plans call for the development of the remaining eleven acres of grounds, an educational bird show and a Poly­ nesian t Ie re taurant. While the new bird farm has become Wildlife World Zoo, the emphasi till remains on breeding bird and mammals. If ucce i the Baby proof in the pudding there i plenty ostrich. to how. Wildlife World i one of the most productive zoos in the .5. The number of young bird and mammals reared there annually is inspiring, a model for the kinds of contributions captive propagation can make to con- ration. A Mickey ay, "The mpha i i on conservation. We are te ard of a acred tru t. We main­ tain the e fellow inhabitant of our planet not in capti ity, but in zooti ­ ity here they are in plea ant and comfortable urrounding not unlike their natural state. As with any trust, we work with them for their benefit, knowing they are capable of being reintroduced into their native habitat hen that day comes:' Mickey welcomes members of the AFA to vi it hi zoo thi coming Augu t when the annual AFA Conven­ tion will be held in Phoenix. He will be delight d to arrange a per onal tour for you. The ariety of birds and their attractive facilities will both Upon entering the large walk-in lory aviary - a new experiencefor many - is the encourage and give new insight to thrill ofa beautiful lory alighting on yourhandfor a sampling offood. aviculturists ofall interests.• afa WATCHBIRD 61 OUR 34TH BIRDMART EVERYBODY'S BIRD MART CLASSIFIED RATES $7.50 minimum charge for 4 lines of type (average 7 words per line). Additional charge of 15¢ per word for ad June 25, 1989 running over 28 words. (28 words to include name, address and L.A. County Fairplex Bldg. #4 phone.) All copy to be RECEIVED BY 15th day 6 weeks preceding Pomona, California publication. One inch boxed ad - 58 word maximum - $17.00. 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission: $3, Youths 5-15: $1 The Bird Mart has become the CONGO AFRICAN GREY BABIES. Domestic hand marketplace for buyers and sellers. fed babies from home breeder. Beautiful, tame, healthy birds. Will ship. The Chimney Shop, Littleton, Colorado. EMU BABIES due in May. $350 each or will BIRDS, CAGES· FEEDERS, NESTBOXES Call evenings or weekends, (303) 798-3007. 4(X4) trade for healthy pair of black swans, Princess VITAMINS' SEED· PERCHES· GIFT ITEMS of Wales, turquoisines, scarlet chested or kiwi. a division of MUTATION INDIAN RINGNECK PARAKEETS for Can deliver to the Phoenix convention. Frizz, J.