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Newsletter from Weltvogelpark Walsrode - 2010 Nr. 5 / Part 2
Little jewels – Azure-headed Tanagers hatch at Weltvogelpark Walsrode
The breeding of Tanagers is a relative rare occurrence and these birds are becoming more and more uncommon in aviculture. However the main reason for the scarceness of good breeding results probably lies in the attention to the birds needs. Far too often Tanagers are kept in mixed species groups where they amaze with their colors and cause little quarrels with other birds. Tanagers however do best when they are on their own, kept in pairs or with other bird groups that do not cause disturbance.
The Azure-headed Tanager (Tangara cyanicollis) has been kept at the Weltvogelpark Walsrode regularly since the beginning of the park. They have mostly been kept in the Paradise hall in pairs or in small groups, either in aviaries or in the large tropical free-flight section. Frequently they have been kept in the company of other Tanager species such as the Golden, Paradise and Masked Tanagers. In 1994 and 2001 this species was also bred at the park but this success has been comparatively rare over the years also here at Walsrode.
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Male Azure-headed Tanager.
(Photo: João Marco Rosa)
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Juvenile Azure-headed Tanager sits immobile and awaits
its parents. (Photo: Simon Bruslund Jensen).
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In the wild the Azure-headed – or Blue-necked Tanager as it is also called is one of the few Tanager species that has been studied in some detail. They have a fairly large distribution in western and central South-America. Principally they are found in open scrubland and forest edges but they have also adapted well to secondary habitat and are frequently found in gardens. They are fairly abundant within their habitat and are currently not under threat. They most frequently live in pairs but also single birds or family groups are encountered. During feeding in a fruiting tree they may well gather with other species for a short while. Observations suggest that they are mainly fruit-eaters but stomach content reveals that they also consume considerable amounts of insects, in particularly caterpillars. Most reliable data on their breeding biology origin from captive birds and according to literature they usually lay two eggs, incubates around 15 days and the chicks stays in the nest for another 20 days. After fledging the parents will continue to feed the young for another 3 weeks.
Only a few zoos keep small Tanager species although, thanks to their vivid colors, they are very popular with both the general public as well as specialized visitors. A growing interest has been shown by some zoos as in the past years smaller passerines are becoming less and less available. Currently Azure-headed Tanagers are only breed sporadically in a few zoos and some private breeders. Still the numbers are far from being sufficient to build up a sustainable population.
Once our current pair had been established of an older male and a very young captive bred female in 2009 they were given an aviary on their own, for the first year the birds did not show any signs of reproduction efforts. As it is typical for tanagers it was very difficult to determine the quality of the pair bonding as tanagers show very little obvious signs of affection, such as preening. The two however did enduringly keep in touch with each other through subtle contact-calls which kept our hopes up that the pair would indeed be suitable breeders.
In the following year the pair was moved to an aviary in the Paradise Hall. Here they shared their ten square meter indoor accommodation with a pair of Pink-headed Fruit-doves (Ptilinopus porphyreus) and a pair of Harlequin Quails (Coturnix delegorguei). Only a few weeks after their transfer the pair started nest-building together in early April. During this period the male occasionally showed some display, in particular lowering his wings and arching his back showing off his colors to the female for a few seconds at the time, his song was however not particular conspicuous and barely noted. Apart from this the pair displayed little attention to each other; at best they could occasionally be seen to follow each other around in the aviary.
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Two weeks after fledging the young Azure-headed Tanager actively pursues its parents for food. (Photo: João Marco Rosa).
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The nest was placed in an open bamboo nesting basket with a diameter of 12 centimeters, located in a small fig tree around ½ a meter above the ground-level of the aviary. The material used consisted mainly of different plant-fibers, including coconut fibers and fine aerial roots of the figs. They also used small amounts of mammal hairs and moss. Only the female were observed to be incubating and she scarcely left the nest. The pair were vary around the nesting tree and went through a patient detour thus not to reveal the location of the nest. Two eggs were laid and after 14 days of incubation the parents could be observed to be more nervous than normal. A few days later the begging sound revealed the presence of chicks. After approximately two weeks of nestling time the male started to carry nesting material around, apparently looking for another nesting site. Just short of three weeks after hatching the 2 chicks fledged staying on the ground for the first day. At his point the Fruit-doves sharing the aviary suddenly and surprisingly became aggressive towards the newly fledged Tanager chicks in such a way that they had to be removed, unfortunately one of the chicks succumbed to the related stress. Within a few days the remaining chick was perching in the open mostly waiting in a certain location to be fed. A week later the chick actively pursued the nearest parent begging for food. During the nestling period both parents fed the chicks and were them self offered fresh food by the keepers, initially 6 times a day and two weeks later 4 times a day. After fledging the male were feeding the chick slightly more frequently than the female. They were in this period offered fresh food three times a day. After a few weeks the pair showed renewed interest in the previous nesting site and refurnished their nest a little before starting the second clutch. Again two eggs were laid and hatched. The chick from the first clutch were shortly after no longer fed by the parents and were removed from the aviary well over 4 weeks after fledging. Between clutches there was exactly 56 days.
The main diet consisted of various fruits, in particular banana and papaya being favored. A pelleted hill mynah diet from the company Versele Laga soaked in fruit juices was readily taken and also fed to the young. They are also given a high quality dried insect food that is mixed with small amounts of grounded beef heart and meat from day old chickens as well as fine grind carrots. Primary live-food is freshly shed Mealworms that are still soft and easily digestible. Water seems to be particular important to the birds as they are frequently observed drinking or bathing, often from wet leaves.
Simon Bruslund Jensen & Kerstin Kirchhöffel
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