Tawny Frogmouth
Sitting peacefully in their carers palm the birth of these rare baby birds could prove to be defining moment for their dwindling species. Weighing just over 100 grams each, Hoover and Sawyer are the latest additions to the Tawny Frogmouth population at Busch Gardens in SeaWorld, Orlando. Born in late January their arrival has delighted carers as Tawny Frogmouth bird populations have been in decline in north America and have proved exceptionally difficult to breed in captivity. Working with a Population Management Program (PMP) through the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA), Sea Wold have to looked to address the problem. "As SeaWorld in Orlando had done well with the species in the past, the decision was made last year through the PMP to concentrate a number of birds in Orlando to try to jump start the population," explains Sherry Branch, Curator Of Birds at SeaWorld. "We set up four pair of frogmouths for breeding and they started breeding right away. "Since last spring we have already hatched and raised six birds with all of the pairs already laying eggs and we now have a fifth pair together laying eggs as well." The birds, who will weigh around 650 grams when fully grown, are kept in a special enclosure and regularly fed by staff. "They live in a temperature controlled unit while they are young so that they can be kept warm and are taken home at night by the staff and fed every three to four hours," explains Sherry. "From the brooder unit they go to a special container on a heating pad and then finally to ambient temperature. "The adults eat a variety of insects and baby mice. We feed the young on minced and chopped pinkie mice when they are very small and then whole pinky mice as they get larger." Often mistaken for owls, these unique birds are part of the nightjar, nighthawks, and whippoorwill family. Unlike other birds that fly at night catching insects, tawny frogmouths remain very still, waiting for prey. The insect or spider, fooled by the frogmouth`s colouring, is quickly manoeuvred by the whisker-like feathers above their beak and eaten. With their breeding program now starting to bear fruit, Sherry hopes Hoover and Sawyer, whose sex can not yet be determined because of their age, will be able to part of the breeding program for the next generation of Tawny Frogmouth`s in northern America. "They will be sent to other zoos for exhibit and to be paired up for breeding when they are grown," says Sherry. "Our long term hope is to restore the population and then maintain the numbers for the future." ENDS
Rubrik |
animal.press / Natur-und Pet Archiv / Vögel / Weitere Wildvögel |
Dok. Autor |
|
Dokument ID |
54139 |
Eigenschaften |
26KB , DOC |
Copyright |
Kein Model Release; |
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podargus strigoides,
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