Successful Breeding ofthe Long,tailed Cissa at the Houston Zoo (Cissa chinensis) by L. C. Shelton, Curator of Birds Houston, Texas Among the 100 or a species pres­ ently a signed to the family Corvidae (Austin, 1961) occur orne of the world' rna t familiar birds uch as The Long-tailed Cissa's (Cissa chinensis) green plumage is dependent upon an the rook and common jay of Eurasia adequate amount ofcartenoids in their diet. Ifthis is lacking) the bird's color changes and the American crow and blue jay to light blue in captivity. of orth America. Many of the cor id specie are also highly desirable zoo­ logical and avicultural subjects black, red-orange beak and legs, Far East in a period when avicultural becau e of their beauty of plumage, graceful graduated tail and typically knowledge was still in its stone age, graceful hape and bold, active corvid curiosity which keeps it on the species also obviously has other behavior. ear the top of this cate­ the move in an aviary. If the bird rates corvid characteristics - namely, gory is Cissa chinensisJ and whether a ten on those characteristic , it must hardiness and adaptability. If the popularly called Long-tailed Ci a, be a igned a much 10 er rating for specimens reaching the London Zoo Green Magpie or Green Hunting Ci a its voice which is unmusical and were not already blue upon arrival, (Goodwin, 1976), this specie has har h, but certainly not a unpleasant the green in their plumage undoubt­ great appeal as a result of it ilken, or a persistent as the oices of many edly later changed to light blue, for bright green plumage with di tincti e p ittacines. One must also remember the cissa's green plumage is depen­ marking of che tnut-red, white and ci as are corvids, and this translates dent upon an adequate amount of into aggression toward similar-sized cartenoids in the diet and this was not or maIler birds and the trait of fully understood until more recent THE SCARLET ACAW, INC. robbing other nests of eggs and times. Even Jean Delacour (1936) .. IRDS ARE OUR 0 LY BUSt ESS" • HAND FED BABIES. BREEDERS· TAU<ERS young. Obviously not the ideal candi­ simply states that "the colour is light • SUPPlIES • UTERATVRE • SEEDS • BOARDING • CUPP1NG • TRIMMING date for a mixed-species aviary or green which, in captivity, changes to • MONTHLY PERIOOtCALS WHOlESAlE • PROMOT1ONAL LEA$NG RETAIL exhibit, the Long-tailed Cissa has so blue:' I can personally remember • PARTY RENTALS· PETTING zoo DOMESTlC TUE·SAT 1().6 SUN 12-4 IMPORTED many po itive attributes that no one dealers' price lists immediately after 10001 westheimer. Suim 288012870 7131266-4956 Carilion Ceo"', Houston. TX n042 hould resent having to give the World War II when live animals were species its own space in a zoo or still shipped by sea transport listing private avicultural collection. the species as "blue hunting ci sas ~' 1J.. NI MAL Mary Alta Wood Obviously its attractivene s was a The time the birds had pent on WE • Sfl Animal Intensive Care Units for babies - handfeeding factor in the species' reaching the cartenoid-poor diet in trappers' injured· ill London Zoo as early as 1861 (Rutgers facilities and on the long sea voyage 3179 Hamner Avenue, Suite 5 and orris, 1977). Since its arrival had been long enough to tran form TilE STANOAROS Norco, California 91760 CARE PRODUC~ (714) 371-2465 FAX (714) 737-8967 there meant the species underwent a them from green to blue. long and slow sea journey from the The Long-tailed Cissa ranges from 8 October / November 1989 Jumna Valley of the lower Indian the Long-tailed Cissa evidently had ing and laying of eggs did occur in Himalayas eastward to northern Laos never been successfully raised in cap­ this exhibit, all eggs produced here and south China and southward to tivity in orth America until two ended up by being broken. In the Malaysia, Sumatra and northwest chicks fledged on May 10, 1988 at the hope of getting better results than in Bornea (King and Dickinson, 1975). Houston Zoo. Interestingly enough, the exhibit, the birds were moved to Goodwin (1976) divides the species although there have been a number of an off-exhibit propagation facility, into four confusingly similar subspe­ importations of the species in the last but the extreme aggression of the cies over this area. Without access to five years, both members of the zoo's male there toward the female necessi­ museum skins or exact knowledge of breeding pair were quite mature by tated the separation of the birds. the trapping location, assignment of avian standards, especially the male From 1982 to 1986 the present breed­ the birds which have arrived in the which is a known 16-plus years of ing female was mated to a different nited States to a specific subspecies age! Former Houston zoo Curator of male, and during this period several is almost impossible since there are Birds, Robert Berry, says of the male, clutches were laid. One chick was intergrades. Although the Short-tailed "It was one of those single goodies I actually hatched, but soon disap­ Cissa or Green Magpie (Cissa thalas­ inherited when I joined the zoo ­ peared, undoubtedly from canni­ sina) is also imported, it does not even then it was an adult - and it was balism on the part of one of the have the distinct wing markings of years before I could obtain a mate for parents. From 1984 on, all eggs the Long-tailed and is easily identified it:' In comparison with the male, the which were laid by this pair were as a separate species. ISIS (1987) listed breeding female was a mere eight­ infertile. In 1986 the development of ten (5.5) chinensis in five zoos (which plus years at the time of breeding, severe cataracts in the male forced his did not include five (2.3) at the having been obtained as an adult euthanasia, and the present breeding Houston Zoo) and listed eight (1.3.4) import in July 1981 from Aves pair was established in an off-exhibit thalassina in three zoos. From International. outdoor aviary. personal knowledge I know that a Both breeders had also been paired The dimensions of this aviary were number of specimens of both speci~s with other mates, proving once again 12' long by 5' wide by 8' high. Of since 1987 have been added to both that one cannot just put two birds of metal frame construction, the aviary zoo and private avicultural col­ the opposite sex together and expect was covered in 1" by 1/2" welded lections. a success. Once a mate was obtained wire and had a fine gravel substrate Despite its long history as an for the old male, he and his mate had upon natural earth. For protection avicultural subject and the great been placed in an exhibit in the zoo's from the elements, one yard of the advances in aviculture since 1861, Tropical Bird House. Although nest- flight was covered with solid roofing, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE PET BOWL The Last BOWL You Will Have To Buy *Stainless Steel Construction *Easy To Clean *Lock Down (for the problem pets who dump their food and water) *Available in Different Sizes RETAIL PRICES* 10 OZ STAINLESS STEEL BAND TYPE BOWL $ 12.00 EA. 20 OZ STAINLESS STEEL BAND TYPE BOWL $15.00 EA. 20 OZ STAINLESS STEEL LOCK DOWN BOWL $ 20.00 EA. 30 OZ STAINLESS STEEL LOCK DOWN BOWL $ 22.00 EA. FOB WHARTON, TEXAS MASTERCARD & VISA ACCEPTED 'WHOLESALE PRICES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Winterrowd Manufacturing 608 Pecan Valley Rd. Wharton, Texas 77488 Phone (409) 532-2740 or (409) 532-3439 afa WATCHEIRD 9 and bamboo screening was placed nesting sites, it was decided to make around the sides, back and keeper her nest choice as disaster-proof as entry door to give the birds greater possible in 1988. A cloth was tightly privacy. The rear of the flight was affixed over the soil substrate in the 1989 COMMITTEES planted with 8' bamboo, and natural basket to prevent a fatal recurrence of branches of approximately 3/4" soil ingestion by chicks in the nest. AVIAN RESEARCH diameter were wired into place at var­ With one potential problem hope­ Dr. Susan Clubb (305) 226-6778 ious locations for perching, and sited fully solved, another very real AVIAN TRANSPORTATION to encourage flight exercise by the problem to successful breeding now Clifton Witt (301) 589-1262 birds. Although an "outdoor" flight, appeared - destruction of eggs by AVYAWARDS this aviary, like the others in the zoo's the male. This observation is from the Dale Thompson (805) 252-4871 off-exhibit propagation facility, has notes of Bird Keeper Judy Kinsman: CALIFORNIA LIAISON flexibility in cooling and heating in "Male made trips to nest every few Laurella Desborough (415) 372-6174 extremes of weather. Shade cloth and seconds, finally staying. Female sat, CITES a circulating fan are used for cooling trying to keep male from getting at Lee Phillips (301) 798-1353 during Houston's long and intense freshly laid egg. Male continued prob­ CLUB PROMOTION hot season, and during periods of ing, then pulled at female's wings and cold, the flights can be covered in tail. As I was about to enter flight, CONSERVATION heavy, fabric-woven polyethylene male got the egg, carting it around Jack Clinton-Eitniear (512) 828-5306 (Griffolyn) with heat provided by a until female flew to same perch and MEETS & CONVENTIONS gas-powered forced-air heater.