Birds of Paradise at Chester Zoo [current taxonomy after Handbook of the Birds of the World]
Loria's Bird of Paradise (Cnemophilus loriae) 1965
now known as the Velvet Satinbird.
Ribbon-tailed Bird of Paradise (Astrapia mayeri) 1965-1968
Eastern Princess Stephanie's Bird of Paradise (Astrapia stephaniae stephaniae) 1965-1968
Central Lawes' Bird of Paradise (Parotia lawesii lawesii) 1965-1971
Queen Carola's Bird of Paradise (Parotia carolae) 1965-1968
Western Superb Bird of Paradise (Lophorina superba feminina) 1965-1973
Southern Meyer's Sickle-billed Bird of Paradise (Epimachus meyeri meyeri) 1965-1973
Eastern Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus hunsteini) 1965-1971
Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) 1973-1975
Southern Red-plumed Bird of Paradise (Paradisea raggiana salvadori) 1965-1973
Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra) 1972-1976; 1999-still in the zoo
Western Blue Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rudolphi margaritae) 1965-1968
Two consignments were received in the 1960s.
1965
Loria's
Princess Stephanie's
Red-plumed
Queen Carola's Six-plumed
Ribbon-tailed
Superb
Blue
6 Green Tree Pythons and 4 New Guinea Victoria Crowned Pigeons were included in the import.
1966
Magnificent
Ribbon-tailed
Lawes' Six-plumed
Queen Carola's Six-plumed
blue
Red-plumed
Meyer's Sickle-billed
These were accompanied by Mr D.Bush of Taronga, as referred to in the post by SMR. Unfortunately I don't know the numbers of each sppecies received at Chester.
The Superb Birds of Paradise bred in 1968, two hatched and one reared. This was a first recorded captive breeding.
The Sickle-billed Birds of Paradise showed signs of breeding in 1970.
During the night of 14/15 February 1971 a former Chester keeper broke into the zoo and stole 9 birds.
1.1 Meyer's Sickle-billed Bird of Paradise
1.1 Magnificent Bird of Paradise
1.1 Barraband Parakeet
1.1 Crimson-winged Parakeet
1 Golden Conure.
These were destined for a private collector, but sadly when the culprit was aprehended only the Barrabands and the conure were still alive.
I can remember seeing the Wilson's Birds of Paradise in 1973 and the original pair of Red Birds of Paradise in 1976.
The last remaining Sickle-billed and Red Birds of Paradise were exported to Rotterdam in 1971. The last remaining Lawes' Bird of Paradise was sent to East Berlin in 1972, Chester received 0.1 Sumatran Orang Utan Ramona in exchange.
The surviving female Wilson's was exchanged for a female Red with Rotterdam Zoo in 1975.
London also received a substantial import of Birds of Paradise in the mid 1960s and achieved a world first breeding of the Princess Stephanie's Astrapia in 1968.
Incidentally I have a memory of seeing a male Greater Bird of Paradise at winged World in 1975. The problem is I cannot find any record of any ever being kept there - yet I am sure I photographed him, but did not keep the slide as it was such a poor photo.
Loria's Bird of Paradise (Cnemophilus loriae) 1965
now known as the Velvet Satinbird.
Ribbon-tailed Bird of Paradise (Astrapia mayeri) 1965-1968
Eastern Princess Stephanie's Bird of Paradise (Astrapia stephaniae stephaniae) 1965-1968
Central Lawes' Bird of Paradise (Parotia lawesii lawesii) 1965-1971
Queen Carola's Bird of Paradise (Parotia carolae) 1965-1968
Western Superb Bird of Paradise (Lophorina superba feminina) 1965-1973
Southern Meyer's Sickle-billed Bird of Paradise (Epimachus meyeri meyeri) 1965-1973
Eastern Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus hunsteini) 1965-1971
Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) 1973-1975
Southern Red-plumed Bird of Paradise (Paradisea raggiana salvadori) 1965-1973
Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra) 1972-1976; 1999-still in the zoo
Western Blue Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rudolphi margaritae) 1965-1968
Two consignments were received in the 1960s.
1965
Loria's
Princess Stephanie's
Red-plumed
Queen Carola's Six-plumed
Ribbon-tailed
Superb
Blue
6 Green Tree Pythons and 4 New Guinea Victoria Crowned Pigeons were included in the import.
1966
Magnificent
Ribbon-tailed
Lawes' Six-plumed
Queen Carola's Six-plumed
blue
Red-plumed
Meyer's Sickle-billed
These were accompanied by Mr D.Bush of Taronga, as referred to in the post by SMR. Unfortunately I don't know the numbers of each sppecies received at Chester.
The Superb Birds of Paradise bred in 1968, two hatched and one reared. This was a first recorded captive breeding.
The Sickle-billed Birds of Paradise showed signs of breeding in 1970.
During the night of 14/15 February 1971 a former Chester keeper broke into the zoo and stole 9 birds.
1.1 Meyer's Sickle-billed Bird of Paradise
1.1 Magnificent Bird of Paradise
1.1 Barraband Parakeet
1.1 Crimson-winged Parakeet
1 Golden Conure.
These were destined for a private collector, but sadly when the culprit was aprehended only the Barrabands and the conure were still alive.
I can remember seeing the Wilson's Birds of Paradise in 1973 and the original pair of Red Birds of Paradise in 1976.
The last remaining Sickle-billed and Red Birds of Paradise were exported to Rotterdam in 1971. The last remaining Lawes' Bird of Paradise was sent to East Berlin in 1972, Chester received 0.1 Sumatran Orang Utan Ramona in exchange.
The surviving female Wilson's was exchanged for a female Red with Rotterdam Zoo in 1975.
London also received a substantial import of Birds of Paradise in the mid 1960s and achieved a world first breeding of the Princess Stephanie's Astrapia in 1968.
Incidentally I have a memory of seeing a male Greater Bird of Paradise at winged World in 1975. The problem is I cannot find any record of any ever being kept there - yet I am sure I photographed him, but did not keep the slide as it was such a poor photo.
