Prague Zoo Praha Bowerbirds

C

cockroach

Well-Known Member
Hi,
I was just looking at some of my photos from Berlin Zoo and saw the one of White-eared Catbird. There are only few species and zoological gardens in Europe with this extraordinary birds from Ptilonorhynchidae family. As I have read, catbirds are monogamous, but bowebirds are that famous polygynous birds with males building bowers. According to zootierliste I can see bowebirds only in Prague and Cologne.
As I live in Prague I have a good chance to see them.... but I have realized I did not notice them in Prague zoo. :(Could you help in which part of the zoo could I find them? Are they somewhere in the bird cages near Elephanthouse? :confused:
I would like to also know if the Prague zoo breed them? And which month is the breeding time of these birds in Europe? Do the males build their bower also in zoo? Is it chance to see any of the bower?

Thanks
 
If you mean Bowerbird "Chlamydera cerviniventris" - there is only one male at Prague, in one of these old aviaries near Elephanthouse, together with Pheasant Pigeons. It has its own sign so its easy to find. I don´t think Prague ever bred this species (at least I haven´t heard about it) and I never saw any bower beeing built by him.
 
Yes I meant this one species. Thank you for all the informations....which are a little sad I think. I would like to see more bowebirds in European zoos. Did Prague zoo keep more bowebirds in the past? And is keeping and breeding of bowebirds in captivity hard in general?
 
I think there were some other bowerbird species held in the past, especially because the former director prof. Veselovsky was really interested in this bird group and done some scientific research on them. But I have no facts in hand about former holdings.
There are now two females of Spotted catbird held off-show.
 
Just came accros this thread by co-incindense,so that's why the late reaction !
Bowerbirds are indeed rarely kept in Europe and even rarer ar breeding-results !
I've taken care for 2 species, the Satin Bowerbird at Walsrode during 1986-1989. This was a very old male and if I remember right, the last of it's species in Europe.
The second was the Fawn-breasted Bowerbird - the same species as in Prague - from which I took care for one male at Parc Paradisio in Belgium during 1994-1996. It was kept free in the tropical house and build 'bowers' on several occasions - in this species these are very simple bowers.
 
By the way, I forgot to mention that Al Wabra in Quatar is working succesfully with the Golden Bowerbird and that they have bred it succesfully !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top