1 Crested Guineafowl SSP Maureen Cleary Ardaiolo, Denver Zoo Meardaiolo@denverzoo.org Program Updates Newsletter, January 2018 Crested guineafowl are a small species of gamebird that live in the grasslands and forests of Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a newer program and had its first planning meeting November 2016. Currently there are 61.44.6 individuals at 23 institutions. These birds make great additions to exhibits because they can be housed in pairs, or as larger flocks, including single sex groups. The AZA sustainability report link below contains exhibiting information including a long list of species they are compatable with. Crested guineafowl have Photo Credit: Mike Owyang, Sacramento recently been identified as consisting of 3 different species, the program leader will continue to contact zoos to identify which species institutions are housing. The most common species in AZA zoos appear to be Eastern crested guineafowl, seen in the picture below. The SSP is also in need of some good guineafowl pictures, please send in your best to be used for upcoming publications or reports. If you are interested in housing this species, please contact the program leader! There are a few males needing homes. https://ams.aza.org/eweb/temp/azaanimalprogramreport netforumaza_088625af-3eca-4448- a940-5ba91704d7f412312017.pdf Palawan Peacock Pheasant Mollie Coym, Houston Zoo Are you looking for a small, attractive, tropical Asian pheasant that mixes well with other birds, can link well with conservation messaging, and has a stunning breeding display? The Palawan Peacock Pheasant may fit the Photo provided by Molly Coym bill! The Palawan Peacock Pheasants are a sexually dimorphic, charismatic species. The males are colorful, very active, and display to females regularly. This is a relatively small pheasant species with a similar display to larger peafowl species, so they are great exhibit animals for smaller areas.the population is currently male heavy, with the population at 34.26. A Breeding and Transfer plan was completed in October 2015. Since that plan was completed, Palawans have been added to the collections at 3 additional institutions and the population size has remained stable. In order to expand this population, the SSP is looking for new institutions to participate in the program. A new Breeding and Transfer plan will be done in January 2018, so now is the time to think about adding these to your collection. If anyone is interested in housing the Palawan Peacock Pheasant, please contact Mollie Coym at mcoym@houstonzoo.org for more information. 1
2 Program Updates Edwards s Pheasant SSP Sarah Patterson St. Augustine Alligator Farm Through the work of the Galliformes TAG, the AZA Edwards s Pheasant population has seen growth from 11 individuals at five institutions in 2011, to currently 51 individuals in 17 institutions. The increase in individuals and holding institutions, along with the recent publication of a regional studbook, resulted in the North American Edwards s Pheasant population to become an official Yellow SSP in May!! The first draft of the breeding and transfer plan has been completed with 12 pairs being recommended to breed. Although most likely extinct in the wild, this species is seeing a worldwide increase due to cooperative conservation efforts. A collective effort is underway to establish a breeding center in Vietnam spearheaded by Hanoi Zoo and Viet Nature. To continue the growth of the AZA population, more institutional holders are needed. Besides being a great addition to mixed species exhibits, the Edwards s Pheasants allow for great conservation messaging on one of the many benefits of zoos. In December 2016, Edwards s Pheasants were featured by National Geographic s Photo Ark as one of 13 species no longer found in the wild that we can save together. For more information, please contact Sarah Patterson spatterson@alligatorfarm.com Green Junglefowl Chris Holmes Houston Zoo The Green Junglefowl Gallus varius is a Galliformes that has been plagued by the boom and bust population trend in AZA institutions. This unique species, although currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, only ranges on a few Indonesian Islands and it is valued in the songbird trade. Male Green Junglefowl are bred with domestic chicken hens resulting in hybrid male offspring called Ayam Bekisar. They are valued for singing or crowing competitions that have increased in popularity. The island habitat of this species is shared by some of the most endangered bird species in the world. The EAZA Silent Forest Campaign and most recently Sunny Neslon s article in the November issue of the AZA Connect feature more information on this region, and the cultural practices that once were sustainable but now have led to a rapid and extreme pop- Photo provided by Chris Holmes 2
3 Photo provided by Chris Holmes ulation decreases and near extinction in some species. Although currently the trade in this species is thought to be limited it does cause some concern that this species could be more at risk of endangerment than previously thought. Of the four species of Junglefowl the Green Junglefowl is the most unique in its wild habits and in its coloration. In the 2011 Galliformes RCP this species was recommended to be a managed population but with the yearly evaluation of the species under the TAG the population of this species had dropped considerably and on closer inspection the actual founder base is mostly unknown. The TAG voted to recommend this species is a non-managed species. The TAG is still encouraging this species to be housed in AZA institutions but for now intensive management is not warranted. A few of the islands where this species range are also inhabited by the Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis and the Island of Flores once boosted a unique population of humanoids that is still perplexing science Homo floresiensis or Flores Man. A few institutions have recently advertised surplus on the AIG list serve. If you are interested in this species or would like further information please contact me directly. Here is a list of recommended AZA species that the Green Junglefowl shares it range with. This species can help you illustrate the story further of biome themed exhibits. This list is only shown so that connections can be made not a mixed species exhibit guide. 3
4 Species Spotlight Cabot s Tragopan Chuck Cerbini Toledo Zoo The Cabot s Tragopan (Tragopan caboti) Photo by Eric Kowalczyk is a medium-sized pheasant endemic to the mountain forests of southeastern China and one of five species of Tragopan, or horned pheasant - a name that refers to the set of fleshy horns that emerge during the courtship displays of the males. The genus Tragopan also references these brightly-colored ornaments, compounding the Greek word tragos, meaning goat, and Pan, the Greek god of the wild who possesses the hindquarters and horns of a goat. The specific name of the Cabot s Tragopan commemorates Dr. Samuel Cabot III of Boston, Massachusetts, who owned the specimen after which English ornithologist John Gould first described the species in 1857. Two subspecies of the Cabot s Tragopan are currently recognized, with the more recently described T. c. guangxiensis occurring in the western part of the species range (northeast Guangxi) and the nominate T. c. caboti in the eastern part (Guangdong to Zhejiang). Cabot s Tragopans are primarily vegetarian, foraging for leaves, nuts, and seeds in the early morning and late afternoon. The species has an apparently strong association with the broadleaf evergreen Daphniphyllum macropodum, the deep green leaves of which are readily taken by this pheasant. Cabot s Tragopans also ingest various invertebrates in their native range. In captivity, this species is maintained well on a pelleted pheasant diet supplemented with chopped fruits, vegetables, and assorted greens. Mazuri Gamebird Maintenance and Breeder pellets, fed seasonally, serve as good bases for a complete diet. Invertebrates such as mealworms and crickets may also be offered. The Cabot s Tragopan is considered monogamous although males may mate with additional females after incubation of the original clutch begins. In captivity, this species is best kept as a breeding pair. A breeding pair will typically live harmoniously throughout the year, but the behavior of the male should be observed closely during introductions and breeding season. Courtship in this species begins in February with breeding season commencing in March and extending through May. The spectacular display of the male is one of the most impressive in the bird world. Typically starting behind a piece of deadfall or a rock, the male Cabot s Tragopan bobs his head repeatedly as the pair of fleshy bright blue horns above the eyes are engorged and re- 4
5 vealed. The bright blue, red, and orange patterned bib is simultaneously unfolded over the breast. The bird then beats his wings and after fanning his tail, rears his body upward quickly. Like all tragopans, the Cabot s Tragopan is highly arboreal and females nest up to thirty feet off the ground in large trees. In a captive environment, Cabot s Tragopan hens will nest in a simple open-topped ply wood box measuring 18 x 18 x 12 lined with shavings and pine straw. The nesting basket or box should be installed off the ground in an elevated location with limited disturbance. Females lay between two and five eggs and incubate them for 28 days. Cabot s Tragopan hens are typically capable sitters and can be adept mothers in the appropriate environment. The slow-growing chicks hatch well-feathered and are capable of flying within the first several days of life. Hand-rearing of this species is also straightforward. Male Cabot s Tragopans show adult color and reach sexual maturity in their second year. The Cabot s Tragopan is considered Vulnerable by the IUCN due mostly to logging and sweeping destruction and encroachment of its habitat for agricultural purposes, while illegal hunting for food is also a threat. Currently, the global population, estimated to be below 10,000 individuals and possibly even less than 5,000, is regarded as declining throughout the bird s range. The species is protected nationally in China and is listed in CITES Appendix 1, which affects the international trading of this pheasant. Domestically, the Cabot s Tragopan is also listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, so both buyer and seller must maintain the proper USFWS Captive-bred Wildlife permit with this species listed if individuals are to be sold or traded between state lines within the United States. The Cabot s Tragopan has been the subject of monitoring programs and conservation research in China since Photo by Chuck Cerbini the late 1980s. Work has included radio-tagging and tracking birds, providing artificial nesting sites, and reintroduction of captive-bred birds in the Taoyuandong National Nature Reserve. Currently, the AZA population of Cabot s Tragopan is 32 birds (15.17) at 15 institutions. Several of these institutions have been successful in propagating the species over the past few years and it is hoped that with continued and expanded success, this pheasant will become an established program in zoos. The Cabot s Tragopan is an overall hardy pheasant that can withstand harsh weather if given dry protected roosting sites and shaded areas. Exhibits should include ample cover, which is easily accomplished with grasses, bamboos, and evergreen shrubs and trees. Despite historic infertility issues in breeding birds, Cabot s Tragopans can be long-lived and will breed readily if kept properly. Individual birds, as in other tragopan species, are known for taming to the point that favored food items are taken from the hands of their caretakers. 5
6 References Howman, K. 1991. Pheasants of the World: Their Breeding and Management. Hancock House Publishers, Surrey, B.C. Canada. Beebe, W. 1990. A Monograph of the Pheasants. Reprint. Originally published: London: Witherby, 1918-1922, Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, NY. Johnsgard, P. A. 1999. The Pheasant of the World: Biology and Natural History. 2 nd ed., Smithsonian Press, Washington D.C. Delacour, J. 1978. Pheasants: Their Care and Breeding. T.F.H. Publishing, Neptune, NJ. Wayre, P. 1969. A Guide to the Pheasants of the World. Hamlyn Publishing, London, U.K. Madge, S., McGowan, P. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. McGowan, P.J.K. & Kirwan, G.M. (2018). Cabot's Tragopan (Tragopan caboti). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53480 on 5 January 2018). Photo by Gwen Harris Why did the guineafowl cross the road? To prove he wasn t chicken!!! 6
7 Gallinformed Kelly Pardy Houston Zoo Earlier this year, the AZA Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi) population underwent its first breeding and transfer plan in nearly 10 years, with the last publication being the 2007 Population Management Plan. This most recent publication also marked the populations change from a Red SSP to a Yellow SSP designation. Since the publication of the 2017 Breeding and Transfer Plan, four recommended breeding pairs have produced offspring, all of which being first time parents. Adding 8 new breeders to the captive population has been a big step in its management. Disparity between age classes, with only a few successfully breeding individuals, was a concern for the future of the population. However, with new pairs set up in the population, and increased recruitment from younger age classes, the AZA population is set up for success in the upcoming years. Although the population has continued to grow, one Photo provided by Kelly Pardy potential barrier in the management of P. pauxi relates to recommended rearing techniques. Behavioral issues have been observed in hand-raised individuals in the past, so minimizing the number of hand-raised birds will make breeding and transfer recommendations easier in the future. Current management strategies include an emphasis on parent-raising or foster-raising offspring. However, older birds who have not bred (and/or may be on the edge of being post-reproductive) would be suitable candidates for hand-raising offspring in order to preserve their genetics in future generations. Despite the unique challenges presented by hand-raised birds, several institutions have setups capable of dealing with problematic individuals. One such institution is Houston Zoo, Inc. (HZI). HZI has a large bird collection with plenty of off-exhibit space capable of housing multiple pairs of curassows. These off-exhibit enclosures allow recommended breeding pairs to be kept side-by-side, which allows the birds to have physical access to each other during monitored reproductive introductions. These introductions are done throughout the breeding season to maximize reproductive success. Social introductions may also occur throughout the non-breeding season to help strengthen/reinforce pair-bonds between birds. HZI s breeding pair of P. pauxi had been together for several years at their previous Photo provided by Kelly Pardy 7
8 institution, but have been housed separately for nearly two years since arriving at HZI. The male (Studbook Number 137) is a hand-raised bird that, when housed with the hen (Studbook Number 148), had exhibited aggression up to the point of causing injuries. Once both birds were transferred into side-by-side enclosures, HZI began providing introductions throughout the year, primarily during the breeding season. The hen had not appeared very keen on the male after first arriving in Houston, but has become more receptive towards him during this past breeding season. Keepers were able to record consistent copulation within the few days before the start of each clutch and during the interval between each egg laid. This has been the hen s first consistent year of egg-laying (7 clutches) and fertility has been proven to be successful throughout the breeding season. Three chicks successfully hatched out before keepers began pulling eggs from later clutches. The reproductive success of HZI s hen has been a big step, but she has shown no interest in the incubation process. Due to this uninterest, or lack of experience, the first several clutches were given to broody domestic chickens for foster-incubation and foster-rearing. Two domestic chickens successfully hatched out 3 P. pauxi chicks, with 2 of them surviving past the first few weeks of life. Both surviving chicks continued to live with their foster-mothers for about the first 3 months after hatch, before removing the domestic chickens from their enclosures. This method has proven successful in minimizing imprinting in the past, but future breeding efforts with Houston s P. pauxi will focus on attempts to parent-raise offspring. HZI has never successfully parentraised P. pauxi, but is working towards creating situations conducive to these ideal scenarios. HZI has been working with P. pauxi since 1970, with its first institutional hatch occurring in June of 1987. Since that time, HZI has gone on to hatch 37 (16.19.2) individuals, including the three birds from 2017. The hatches from 2017 are the first for P. pauxi at HZI since August of 2009. HZI currently houses 16 curassows in total (Blue-billed, Wattled, and Helmeted) and has had a long history of breeding all three AZA-managed curassow species. It is just one of many institutions dedicated to working with these birds long-term. The AZA P. pauxi population continues to expand with the help of nearly 20 institutions (and growing). Any institution interested in housing any of the three AZA-managed species of curassow, please contact any of the program leaders for more information. Photo provided by Kelly Pardy Photo provided by Kelly Pardy 8
9 Curassow Introductions at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Heather Anderson We are very excited to share that we have a new and successfully introduced pair of blue-billed curassows at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Our pair is comprised of an 8 year old male (Albert) and a 20 month old female (Jackie). Our male had been previously paired with a much older female in a mixed species exhibit and had never been observed copulating nor even showing any courtship behaviors. Therefore they never produced eggs/chicks. After the older female passed away we requested a female to pair with our male. Because of the blue-billed curassows low numbers we literally had to wait until one was born. Our wait was over in April 2016 with the hatching of Jackie! She came to the National Zoo from White Oak Conservation Center, Florida in September 2016. Since she was too young and small to start introductions, we put the two birds in adjacent outdoor enclosures so that they could see and hear each other. They remained in adjacent Photo taken by Heather Anderson shortly after introductions in October 2017 exhibits for one year before direct introductions were made. A colleague and I were fortunate enough to visit White Oak before the introduction of our pair to gain as much knowledge of their courtship behaviors as possible before proceeding on this endeavor. The keepers at White Oak were wonderful and obviously share our love of the blue-billed curassows! Throughout the past year we observed many positive behaviors between the two birds. These behaviors seemed to indicate an interest in each other and were in no way aggressive. For example, Albert started booming almost immediately upon Jackie s placement next door and continued to do so until they were introduced. Jackie would also frequently preen with her back to Albert up close to the fence. Albert would fly up to a perch and back down to the ground repetitively while making a whistling vocalization, seemingly trying to get Jackie s attention. In the mornings, I started to notice that their fecal piles were next to each other on opposite sides of the fence which showed me that they roosted as close to each other as possible for most of the night. I also witnessed Albert picking up food items as well as feathers and small rocks and taking them over to the fence where Jackie was. Although she could not take it from him through the fence, she did respond to his whistles by coming over to him. We tried to capitalize on the natural attraction they had by feeding them in pans on the ground on opposite sides of the fence so that they shared that experience with each other prior to being introduced. And so the day came for the much anticipated introduction. We opened the gate between the two enclosures and waited. Albert came over to Jackie s side and just walked around the enclosure. He went over to her food pan and to her pool. Jackie did the same on Albert s side. They both seemed to walk the perimeter of the other s exhibit. Finally they both were on Jackie s side when Albert went to Jackie s food pan to eat, but instead called to Jackie with the food item in his mouth and she took it from him immediately! Success! 9
10 This is a magnificent species with unique vocalizations and a storied past in the mountains of Colombia. They deserve to be studied and saved for future posterity. Hopefully we can play a part in their survival and increasing the understanding of their behaviors. As our pair of bluebilled curassow continue to strengthen their bond we eagerly wait for breeding season to begin! Photo taken by Heather Anderson Jackie 2017 Photo taken by Heather Anderson Albert 2017 Using Camera Traps and Training for New Cabot s Tragopans Maureen Cleary Ardaiolo, Denver Zoo Meardaiolo@denverzoo.org Denver Zoo acquired a new pair of Cabot s Tragopans in July 2017. This was a very nervous pair, so when keepers were servicing them during their quarantine period, they would hide, or flush into the air. They also ate very little during this time. Once out of quarantine, the birds were moved to our Avian Propagation Center and housed in a 4 x10 indoor stall and had a heavily planted, 10 x28 outside yard. In their new enclosure, their behavior was very similar to their behavior in quarantine. They remained fearful of staff and it became challenging to observe their calm behavior and even more difficult to determine how well they were eating. In an effort to make them more comfortable around staff, we planned to be hands off, to allow the birds to acclimate to their new surroundings at their own pace. We did this by always allowing the tragopans to have choice of their two enclosures. In allowing the birds this choice, they have best opportunities to be able to experience the Photo provided by Maureen Cleary Ardaiolo 10
11 sights and sounds of our prop center, adjust to neighboring birds, and have ample outdoor privacy. Since Denver can experience cold nights, 24 access was an appropriate option because Tragopans are a cold tolerant species. We installed a Reconyx Hyperfire camera trap to observe the tragopans without being nearby. This camera trap takes pictures using a motion sensor and has night vision capabilities. Staff set up the camera trap and gave the birds space. After a few days of observations, we were able to see their favorite perching spots, identify their food preferences and note the time of day they preferred to eat. Being hand s off helped the birds acclimate to their new surroundings with little disturbance from keepers. After a few weeks, keepers began to slowly vary the time food was offered and move the food bowls closer to the indoor holding. The camera trap helped to confirm the tragopans continued to eat after each approximation. After a few short months, the birds began entering the indoor holding stall for their morning diet, and continued to stay inside while staff was nearby. Even though night temperatures were dropping, we continued to allow the birds to have enclosure choice. Presently, staff finds the birds perched inside at AM checks, the birds wait inside patiently while staff distributes diets, and often come in on their own to investigate staff activity in the building. Attached is a picture of the birds eating their food while the shift door is closed behind them. Breeding and studying the critically endangered Edwards s pheasant at Paignton Zoo, United Kingdom. Joseph D Souza, Andrew Bowkett and Peter Smallbones Edwards s pheasant (Lophura edwardsi) is a Critically Endangered species from Vietnam, which has not been seen in the wild since 2000. Very little research has been published on this species and nothing is known about its behaviour in the wild. Fortunately, there is a substantial population in captivity descended from birds imported to Europe in the 1920s. In response to the situation in the wild, Viet Nature (BirdLife in Vietnam) established the Vietnam Edwards s Pheasant Working Group in 2014. In the following year, the group published a 5-year action plan (2015-2020) with the vision of a self-sustaining wild population of L. edwardsi by 2030. To achieve this vision, the plan recommends establishing a captive breeding programme in Vietnam to provide birds for research and reintroduction. With previous experience of the species, and ongoing support for conservation projects in Vietnam, Paignton Zoo received two 2-year old males and two 1-year old females from private collections in August 2015 on the recommendation of the international studbook. The young pheasants were paired in separate enclosures not on view to the public. The aviaries were of identical size and similar design - an outdoor area (5.3 x 3 m) consisting of live trees, water trays, suspended perches and additional Leylandii branches placed in the corners of the aviary to provide extra 11
12 cover; a walkway (0.85 x 3 m); and an indoor area (1.3 x 3 m) also with perches, branches and feed bowls. A sand substrate was used in both the outdoor and indoor areas. The birds were fed once a day with our basic seed mix supplemented several times a week with lettuce and a mixture of fruit and Universal Pate (Witte Molen) a soft food for birds. To increase protein and encourage reproduction, Red Band (Haiths) - a Pigeon conditioner, was added to the seed mix just before and throughout the breeding season. When chicks hatched, they received mealworms three times a day as well as Chick Crumb (Fancy Feed Company). During their first breeding season both pairs produced fertile clutches (eggs candled by staff), however incubation of eggs was quite poor with both females observed to leave their nests frequently. One egg hatched in June 2016 and the parents successfully raised the female chick. In the 2017 breeding season, both pairs produced fertile eggs and the females sat a lot tighter. One pair failed to hatch eggs for a second season while the other hatched five chicks, four of which were successfully raised to independence (3 males and 1 female). The behaviour of the pheasants was studied during both breeding seasons and compared to non-breeding periods. Observations were per- Photo provided by Peter Smallbones formed remotely using security cameras which recorded 1 hour per day on a randomised schedule during daylight hours. State behaviours and proximity of individuals to each other were recorded every minute while specific behaviours associated with courtship and reproduction were recorded continuously. Results indicate a difference in behaviour between seasons and between males and females. When the data were pooled for all the birds, time spent in locomotion was higher in the breeding seasons with a corresponding decrease in sitting. There was no difference between seasons in time spent foraging, standing or preening. When the data were compared between individuals, males were found to spend more time in locomotion than females while females spent more time foraging. In both years, proximity of the female to the chicks declined during the first month as the chicks became more independent (20% of time spent more than 1 meter from female by 30 days old). Wing-whirring Photo provided by Peter Smallbones Three specific behaviours appeared to be associated with courtship. The most frequent was the rapid opening of wings, which has been described as wing-whirring in related pheasant species. We also observed the males approach the females side-on while bobbing their heads and holding their tails out straight. To the best of our knowledge, this lateral display has not been described for Edwards s 12
13 pheasant previously. The lateral display was sometimes, but not always, followed by the third behaviour in which the male charged at the female and attempting to mount her. The lateral display and charging were rare events only captured on film on a few occasions. In contrast, wing-whirring was relatively frequent and occurred at higher frequencies during both breeding seasons (up to 20 times per hour) compared to the non-breeding seasons, providing a potential indicator for the onset of breeding. With the goal of the action plan being a sustainable wild population of Edwards s pheasants by 2030, we hope our research will assist those working with this species in Vietnam. To this end, we have created a website to share our results, including behaviour- Photos provided by Peter Smallbones Scale Training Edwards s pheasants (Lophura edswardi): A Success Story Erin Watts, Sarah Doherty, Susan Petrunio Memphis Zoo The Edwards s pheasant is an intelligent member of the order Galliformes, but very little is known about their behavior in the wild. Because they are critically endangered and elusive, ethology is solely noted within captivity. Much is still undocumented about these birds in the wild, including factors such as their normal behavior, diet and average weights. The Edwards s pheasant is a yellow SSP and currently has 51 (24.27) birds in 18 AZA institutions. Memphis Zoo s 1.1 Edwards s pheasants came from Tampa s Lowry Park Zoo and Zoo Miami respectively. They are both two years old and arrived in July 2017. Our birds spend most of their time on the ground under a tall bush in the exhibit and typically sit together. But during cold weather, they will roost up in a large tree in their exhibit. This is different than the other pheasants found in the CHINA section, such as Temminck s tragopans and golden pheasants, who spend most of their time in trees or on high perching. Because this pair was new to each other and the zoo, and because we were heading into winter, it was important for keepers to be able to monitor their weights as an indicator of overall health. For CHINA s 2017 fall internship, one of the projects was to scale train the Edwards s 13
14 pheasants. The birds were trained in the morning before they received their AM diet so we could ensure they were motivated. Next, the trainer introduced a bridge (in this case, a clicker) with a high-value item (which turned out to be waxworms.) By the second week, the pheasants understood the bridge, so the decision was made to take the next step -- stationing. Station boards were cut and painted. The male was assigned a black board and the female was designated to a brown board. The boards were laid flat on the grass and the birds were then cued to their respective stations. The visual cue was a finger point and the verbal cue was station. Several days passed, but eventually both pheasants began to step onto the boards. At first, the birds were rewarded for just putting a foot on the board. Over the course of two weeks, the criteria was refined until the birds were only rewarded for standing with both feet on the board and remaining still. By the fourth week, both birds were successfully station trained. Initially, the trainer did have problems with the pheasants standing on their own station and stealing rewards from the other. A clump of grass in the exhibit was used as visual barrierthis served to prevent competition. From then on, they consistently stayed on their own boards. The last step to the training plan was to introduce the scale. The scale was placed on the grass with the board on top. The cue was given and the male pheasant stepped fully on the scale. The female then followed onto the scale after the male stepped off. They were both heavily rewarded with waxworms. Both of the pheasants weights were successfully recorded. The training continued for two weeks before the internship ended, but CHINA keepers have continued the scale sessions. Because of this training, Memphis Zoo is now able to measure our Edwards s pheasants weights in a stress-free manner. It is our hope that the information we gather and the training program we will expand can be used to aid the SSP in future work and help the population of Edwards s pheasants overall. 14
15 Galliformes TAG Recommended Common name Malay great argus pheasant Edwards's pheasant Attwater's prairie chicken Blue-billed curassow Northern helmeted curassow Wattled curassow Crested guineafowl Vulturine guineafowl Congo peafowl Palawan peacock pheasant Cabot's tragopan Crested wood patridge Scientific name Argisianus argus Lophura edwardsi Tympanuchus cupido attwateri Crax alberti Pauxi pauxi Crax globulosa Guttera pucherani Acryllium vulturinum Afropavo congensis Polyplectron emphanum Tragopan caboti Rollulus rouloul The updated Galliformes TAG regional collection plan will be updated later this year 15
16 A big THANK YOU to everyone that contributed to the second edition of the Galliformes TAG newsletter Please send your thoughts, comments, suggestions and ideas for future articles to Katie Vyas (KVyas@denverzoo.org) TAG Chair: Chris Holmes (cholmes@houstonzoo.org) TAG Vice-Chair: Gen Anderson (GAnderson@alligatorfarm.com) TAG Secretary: Katie Vyas (KVyas@denverzoo.org) Steering Committee Members Peter Bibeault Joe DeGraauw Terry Lincoln Julie Lindenmayer Josef Lindholm Shawn Pederson Dave Rimlinger Photo provided by Chris Holmes 16