Birds of Paradise..?
- Thread starter NZ Jeremy
- Start date
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
There are a number of reasons:
The birds are so difficult to keep (The problems with their diet and iron storage have killed a considerable amount of BoPs;e.g. Cologne)
The birds are very difficult to breed (That's why there are not many outside their home ranges-well apart from the raggiana, lesser and Red BoPs)
The birds are very specialised to a tropical climate, and for some zoos this can be hard to recreate, although I think that this factor is the least important. Zoos can simply build a greenhouse!
I wish that there were large sustainable captive populations of all BoPs outside of Asia, but I don't think that's going to Happen...
The birds are so difficult to keep (The problems with their diet and iron storage have killed a considerable amount of BoPs;e.g. Cologne)
The birds are very difficult to breed (That's why there are not many outside their home ranges-well apart from the raggiana, lesser and Red BoPs)
The birds are very specialised to a tropical climate, and for some zoos this can be hard to recreate, although I think that this factor is the least important. Zoos can simply build a greenhouse!
I wish that there were large sustainable captive populations of all BoPs outside of Asia, but I don't think that's going to Happen...
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
At least as interesting as the BoP, at least in my opinion: the Bowerbirds. Australian members might smile at me mentioning these birds, but so far, I have seen them only in Cologne, Berlin and Dvur Kralove. Does anyone know more zoo husbandries and if so, which species?
And when talking about PNG birds: does anyone know an institution keeping pitohuis, especially the famous Hooded Pitohui? I heard rumours about Jurong keeping them once, but haven't been able to find out anything concrete so far.
@Ara: In regard to Touracos-yes.
And when talking about PNG birds: does anyone know an institution keeping pitohuis, especially the famous Hooded Pitohui? I heard rumours about Jurong keeping them once, but haven't been able to find out anything concrete so far.
@Ara: In regard to Touracos-yes.
Last edited:
re pitohuis, here are two links, the first from 2001 mentioning wanting to bring some pairs to Washington's National Zoo, and the second from 2006 mentioning seeing them at the zoo. That's all I could find.
J. Dumbacher's Home Page
National Zoo Field Trip Report
J. Dumbacher's Home Page
National Zoo Field Trip Report
I think all the Spotted catbirds in Dvur Kralove are already just a history. But there is still a lone male of Fawn-breasted bowerbird in Prague (he moves every few months, last weekend I spotted him in the second cage in the pheasantry, beeing mixed with nesting Tawny frogmouths, Pied imperial pigeons and a spare Western crowned pigeon).
Sun Wukong
Well-Known Member
@Chlidonias: Thanks for the data. Unfortunately, their current HP doesn't list the species...
@Jana: Thanks for reminding me; there's indeed one specimen in Prague.
To the Australian users: how difficult do You think it would be for Non-Australian zoos or private people to get f.e. Satin Bowerbirds?
@Jana: Thanks for reminding me; there's indeed one specimen in Prague.
To the Australian users: how difficult do You think it would be for Non-Australian zoos or private people to get f.e. Satin Bowerbirds?
Australian wildlife can only be exported to approved zoos so it would be impossible for private people to legally obtain anything out of Australia. On the other hand I don't think that it would be TOO difficult for a foreign zoo to get satin bowerbirds so long as they went about it the right way.