Gorilla. Spix s and Lear s Macaws. Projects acquire protected areas. Videoconferences and the Year of the. Conservation of. Nº 92 - March 2009

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1 The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación Nº 92 - March 2009 Conservation of Spix s and Lear s Macaws Projects acquire protected areas Videoconferences and the Year of the Gorilla

2 Cyanopsitta is printed using environment friendly, recycled, woodfree coated paper: Symbol Freelife Satin, FEDRIGONI Index Nº. 92-March-2009 IUCN The World Conservation Union Message from the founder.2 Video-conferences Bio-acoustics... 4 LP/SP News LPF News News of the Parrot collection.13 Projects up-date LPF Practical tips Cover photo: Lear s Macaws (Anodorhynchus leari) (Adriano Gambarini) Editorial Office: Loro Parque S.A Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife, Islas Canarias. España Tel.: Fax: loroparque@loroparque.com lpf@loroparque-fundacion.org Editorial Consultant: Rosemary Low Editorial committee: Javier Almunia, Nicole Hategan, Avelia González, Wolfgang Kiessling, Matthias Reinschmidt, David Waugh and Rafael Zamora. Visit our websites: Membership: Become a member of Loro Parque Fundación to support us in our activities. You will then receive our trimestral newsletter Cyanopsitta, as well as a supporter s card permitting free entry to Loro Parque during the validity of your membership and a visit to our breeding centre. The current annual membership fees are: Adults...100,00 Children...50,00 Life member ,00 Please send us your membership subscription by mail, fax or , or call us, and we will sign you up immediately. Bank Account: BBVA, Puerto de la Cruz Account: IBAN:...ES BIC:... BBVAESMM Legal deposit: TF-1643/2003 The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación Message from the Founder As every good teacher knows, people will learn much better if the subject is made interesting. Since its beginning Loro Parque has recognised and applied this principle, making the natural world come alive for its visitors, so that each one leaves after a great day of entertainment, and with a better understanding of nature. This philosophy and practice has been continued and improved by the Loro Parque Fundación, not only within the boundaries of Loro Parque, but also in the schools and other centres in Tenerife and the other Canary Islands. Now with the innovative use of the communications technology available today, the Fundación is more and more extending the boundaries. The videoconferences that you will read about in this edition of the magazine carry the images of the living world of Loro Parque directly into the classrooms of schools throughout Spain and beyond. Thus, the schools and other centres in Spain, Europe, and in fact anywhere else in the world that has the technology available, can benefit from our educational programmes, and without doubt the great interest in the living animals makes the learning experience very successful. One of the important educational topics in the videoconferences and in the park is the conservation of gorillas. By making this big effort, Loro Parque and the Fundación are contributing to the Year of the Gorilla, the campaign in 2009 to try to ensure that the planet does not lose these magnifi cent animals, so closely related to humans. To tell the truth, Loro Parque has been making this effort ever since 1992 when, as a commitment to the European Breeding Programme (EEP) for this species, it started the fi rst bachelor group which has lasted for so many years with so many members. The other topics are important too. People like to know that we help in the rescue and recovery of turtles which so often these days have accidents in the oceans due to the dangerous garbage that mankind is throwing away every day. Perhaps with the excellent results of the pioneering research on the bioacoustics of whales that we are supporting, we will have another tool in our hands for the conservation of marine animals. Another excellent tool described in these pages relates to the feeding of very small, recently hatched parrot chicks. This is just one example of the many novel techniques that our team of biologists is continually applying, to ensure the best possible health care for the parrots. You can be sure that this highest level of attention will also apply to the new male Spix s Macaw recently arrived from Brazil, a bird of great importance. Now with the possibility to have three breeding pairs, we very much hope to increase our contribution to the recovery of this most threatened species of all. 2 Wolfgang Kiessling President, Loro Parque Fundación

3 Saving wildlife and habitats Videoconferences: environmental education at the speed of light Staying immersed in the ocean, on Thursdays the videoconferences are dedicated to the undisputed champions of Loro Parque, the orcas. This is a completely novel activity that has never before been attempted. It also takes advantage of the training being carried out, that makes possible a much closer view that the schools will have of th4e care of these enormous marine mammals. The activity also contemplates the participation of one of the trainers to respond to the questions of the schools that are connected. Following the success of the first virtual workshop about gorillas (LPF News), during the month of March the Education Department of Loro Parque Fundación has put into operation a weekly programme of videoconferences from Loro Parque. This programme includes specific activities that are being done to celebrate different international days (of the sea, of the environment, of the turtles, etc.). Thus, from now on many more activities will be offered, which will make easier the access that the schools from all over Spain have to the educational resources of Loro Parque. The programme of videoconferences will be on a weekly basis, beginning every Monday still with an activity about the Year of the Gorilla. This will offer information about the biology and ecology of the species, the environmental problems that it faces, the decline that its wild populations have suffered, and the efforts being made by zoos to make sure that it does not disappear. Especially there will be discussion about the bachelor group that Loro Parque established in a pioneering way in 1992, showing the management of this group, the environmental enrichment activities, etc. The week ends with activities dedicated to one of the most charismatic inhabitants, the dolphins. The first part consists of a direct presentation of the medical training, where the participants can see how the training of the animals is used to improve their welfare, and the management of the group. The students can view how the animals are weighed, and how they are trained to receive an echograph, to be hydrated and to have blood and urine samples taken. Following the training, one of the dolphin trainers answers questions arriving by Chat from the schools that are connected and, to complete the activity, they can see the dolphin show directly. Tuesday will be the day dedicated to marine turtles, making a connection from the aquarium installations to talk about the importance of the work being carried out by the Wild Fauna Rescue centres of the Island Governments, and to show the turtles in real life by means of an under-water webcam. At the end of each activity the schools that are connected will be able to compete against each other using a computer game with educational content about the environmental problems of turtles in the oceans and the need to protect these animals. On Wednesdays, and still in the aquarium, videoconferences will be made about sharks. This activity, carried out for the first time in 2008 to celebrate the European Week of the Shark, had an enormous impact and is focused on busting the myths and negative image of sharks, and thus the underline the endangered status that their populations are facing. Despite the fact that in our western culture we consume practically no products from shark fishing, Las Palmas in Gran Canaria is the European port with the highest number of un-loadings of shark fins. This fact serves as an element to promote awareness about the global importance of shark fishing, and of the need to act to bring about a more effective control over it. 3

4 The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación Each day, after carrying out the principal activity, connections to the teachers, virtual visits and activities specifically about environmental enrichment are also programmed. With this current educational offer the capacity for participation in the videoconferences is increased to reach up to 50 schools per week, involving some 1,750 per year (potentially arriving at more than 60,000 students per year). The content of the videoconferences will be adapted to the different levels of compulsory education (from 3 to18 years), thereby increasing the range of students that will be able to receive these activities. All the activities are provided free, thanks to the partnership of our sponsor CEPSA, that again for another year has put its confidence in the educational work of the Loro Parque Fundación by financing the activities og the Aula del Mar (Classroom of the Sea). The current programming of the videoconferences goes until the month of June, coinciding with the end of the school year However, already the work is taking place on the content of videoconferences about other animals in Loro Parque (especially the parrots) to reveal in the next course. Bioacoustics: listening to whales The project about the bioacoustics of cetaceans, that started in 2005 through the signing of an agreement of collaboration with the University of La Laguna, is advancing at a very good rate. The main objective of this research is the development of computer science tools that can serve researchers of cetaceans worldwide to process in a much more simple form all the data gathered in their field research. In the past year the development was concluded of the system for automatic detection of sounds, based on the detection of sound energy, with a detection effectiveness of around 80%, which represents an enormous advance with respect to the detectors used until now. The research team of the University of La Laguna implemented the detector in the recording system of Orca Ocean, so that ever since the system does not need a continuous recording, but records only the events detected by the automatic detector. This has allowed to a great extent the reduction of necessary storage space, and in this way increases the capacity of the system for information storage. Another characteristic of this automatic detector, which goes far beyond others developed to date, is that it is able to process the signal in real time. That s to say, it is not necessary to record the sound to process it later, because the system immediately detects, separates and stores the parts that contain the vocalizations of orcas. These two characteristics make the automatic detector developed by the University of La Laguna researchers, within the project financed by Loro Parque Fundación, an ideal tool to be included in independent devices that automatically detect sounds in the sea, opening-up an enormous field of practical applications in the conservation of cetaceans. 4

5 Saving wildlife and habitats During the second trimester of 2009 the activities of the project are centred on the development of an automatic system of classification of events, so that each one of the vocalizations characteristic of orcas can be stored and classified, allowing a rapid interpretation of information related to its use in general. In this way, the researchers will be have available a great quantity of the sounds that the cetaceans emit, ordered and classified automatically in a database according to their characteristics. In order to be able to develop this automatic classifier of sounds it is necessary to carry out a human classification of a great number of vocalizations (around 500) with which to be able to test and calibrate software. In order to carry out this classification between the months of February and May we have a biologist from the University of Hamburg who is carrying out her diploma thesis. Another one of the objectives of the project this year is to try to extract the physical characteristics of the animals from the acoustic signals recorded by the system. In theory, from the analysis of a sound emitted by an animal it should be possible to arrive at a calculation of its size, offering an enormous amount of additional information to the vocalizations recorded by the field researchers of undetermined animals. Nevertheless, it is necessary to establish previously how the sound received in the recording systems has been distorted by the water, the position of the vocalizing animal with respect to the hydrophone, etc. An explanation of all these questions will be attempted by means of several experiments that are being carried out at the moment in the facilities of Orca Ocean. These are dealing with the four orcas maintained in Loro Parque, which emit different vocalizations in different positions and at different distances. Simultaneously, the exact position of the animals will be recorded on video, and later all the recorded bioacoustic information will be evaluated, taking into consideration the possible distortions that appear in the signal. The cetaceans have an enormous ability to send acoustic signals of high frequency in directional form, being the reason why small variations in the position of the animal that emits the sound can give as a result considerable variations in the structure of frequencies received by the hydrophone. The results of this investigation are to date enormously promising, and could be translated into the creation of automatic detection systems that, placed in coastal buoys, help to collect data on the abundance of species of cetaceans, positions, structure of populations, etc. Given the complexity of obtaining this type of information by the present systems, the benefits that the conservation of cetaceans could have would be enormous. There is no doubt that this project promises interesting advances in the future, and we will continue to inform about them as they become reality. Computerised profile of orca vocalisation Duration of orca vocalisations over the 24 hour period Number of orca vocalisations over the 24 hour period 5

6 LP/SP NEWS 2009: Year of the Gorilla The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación The UNEP Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have joined hands to declare 2009 the Year of the Gorilla (YoG). Being respectively a member of WAZA and a Friend of CMS, Loro Parque and Loro Parque Fundación are joining in with this important initiative for the conservation of this threatened and magnificent species. Loro Parque has maintained a bachelor group of Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) since 1992, effectively helping to imitate what happens naturally in the wild population. Worldwide it is the bachelor group with the highest number of individuals sustained in captivity over this period of time. The Loro Parque group is part of the EEP, the European region cooperatively managed ex situ gorilla breeding programme. A conservation goal of the programme is to manage scientifically this precious population of zoo gorillas so that the individual animals needs can be met and to guarantee that the population will persist well into the future. In Loro Parque, a vital role of our gorilla group is to educate the visiting public about the need to conserve gorillas in the wild, and the Loro Parque Fundación has a programme of educational events planned for the year. The LPF is also supporting a project in Cameroon intended to result in better protection of forests of the type where gorillas are living. Eight Gentoo Penguins are born in Loro Parque Loro Parque is celebrating the south polar summer with more birds, in this case 8 Gentoo penguin chicks that have recently hatched and are growing day by day close to their parents and carers. Weighing between 5 and 6 kg, very soon they will be joining the grand penguin family, maintained since 1998 in Loro Parque, the most distinguished and recognised zoo park of Spain. This species of Antarctic penguin is easily identifiable by its white patch in the high part of the head behind the eyes. The young birds have the back grey, the forehead white and are quickest under water. At the same time, the chicks are being taken care of by their parents who alternate to accompany them while they eat herring and capelin, gain weight and change their plumage. The sex is still not known because it is necessary to wait until they are a little more mature before this can be determined, by means of DNA analysis, since they cannot be told apart by appearance. Also, the caretakers provide all the necessary care and affection to them so that they continue their breeding. With these new chicks, now there are several that, under the meticulous care of their keepers, have been born with great success in Loro Parque in this polar summer. It is important to mention that these chicks, which in the wild would be near the South Pole, demand a special care and much dedication to grow and develop in optimal conditions, in the same way as to get them to breed. For this reason, in the facilities of Planet Penguin these marine birds enjoy the appropriate conditions to produce their young, since the ice, the snow and the cold are guaranteed with the maximum quality. Not only is the temperature important for the penguins, but also the 12 tons of snow that daily fall into the enclosure, and above all the maintaining of the light cycle that exists in the Antarctic. Most of the penguins arrived from the Antarctic, still as eggs and after a long and expensive expedition. They were born in the Planet Penguin enclosure that Loro Parque successfully created for them, and which has become the world s greatest penguinarium, with more than 200 individuals in total between all the species that it holds. In this expedition, experts from different parts from the world participated at each step, to accompany and take care of these small and delicate birds that at the moment are suffering the consequences of global warming. On the matter, it should be emphasized that the last United Nations Summit, celebrated in Bali, has made a world-wide call to protect to four species of penguins that, as a result of the climate change, are undergoing a reduction in number, of 40%, worldwide 6

7 Saving wildlife and habitats LP/SP NEWS Loro Parque transfers Safo the lioness to the Karlsruhe Zoo to make a family Loro Parque has organized the transfer of the Safo the lioness to a zoo in Germany, after having lived 11 years in the facilities on the breeding reserve of the Loro Parque Fundación located in Puerto de la Cruz. This mammal, the second largest feline of the world after the tiger, has lived in an ample enclosure accompanying an old male of the same species over several years, in the facilities that the Loro Parque Fundación owns as a breeding centre. companion in the Karlsruhe Zoo) also makes reference to Greek mythology, since he was king of Sparta and who married Helena of Troy, giving rise to the famous war. Menelao was one of Greeks that hid in the Trojan horse, that brought the war to an end. The transfer of Safo was done in an airplane of the company Air Berlin, while the keepers took care of her welfare and a Loro Parque Fundación biologist accompanied her during the journey to arrive in Nüremberg. There she was collected by the staff of the Karlsruhe Zoo and transported to her new home, next to another younger male of the same species called Menelao, and with hopes that they can breed in the future. Safo the lioness belongs to the species Panthera leo, that usually lives in Africa and in some zones of India. Peculiarly the name Safo was one of a Greek poetess who lived in the Lesbos Island in 590 B.C and the name Menelao (its new Creative Face-painting in Loro Parque Loro Parque has opened its free face-painting workshop in the children s section of Kinderlandia. This is the place where children as well as adults can have fun with the various appealing styles and shapes that Alegría the happiness fairy will on their faces. The workshop opens daily from now on and is extended during the carnival week for all those who want to be well prepared for the carnival festivity. Butterflies, rabbits, cats, tigers, super-heroes as well as jaguars are just some of the kid s favourite painting themes that our fairy paints on their hands and faces. This event is taking place with other attractions and games which are happening in Kinderlandia, to the delight of the little ones, also for their parents who can enjoy a walk through the Loro Parque or have the chance to try out the only family rollercoaster in the Canary Islands. The Loro Parque trainers visit the children of the HUC The Loro Parque team of trainers visited the children of the paediatric ward of the University Hospital of the Canary Islands and made a live videoconference with the dolphinarium of the most beautiful environmental park of the Canary Islands, which celebrated its 36th anniversary on the 17th of December Eight trainers and caretakers of dolphins, orcas, sealions, parrots, and the aquarium arrived at the hospital by orca car to greet the admitted children, to take small gifts to them and to share the morning with games and play activities. Present in the encounter were the president of Loro Parque, Wolfgang Kiessling and the director of nursing, Jorge Acosta Day, who, together with more than 50 people of the medical team, nurses, parents and children enjoyed the visit and exchanged smiles. In addition to the visit of the trainers, a virtual educational activity was undertaken through which the children could enjoy the show of dolphins live, with a special connection 7

8 LP/SP NEWS to Loro Parque. Also, the educators of the Loro Parque Fundación carried out a video conference with the veterinarians in the dolphinarium, in which the children were able to see on-screen and online some medical training with these intelligent marine mammals. The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación This activity was framed within the week of the anniversary that Loro Parque wanted to share with the entire Canarian population, after 36 years of growing together. For this reason, it had decided to bring the park closer and reveal its secrets the children of the paediatric ward, as well as to give them a smile at Christmas time. The Exeter Cathedral choir inaugurates the Loro Parque Christmas campaign Loro Parque began its Christmas campaign with the visit of 38 singing children and adults of the choir of Exeter Cathedral in Great Britain, who delighted all the visitors with their Christmas carols, before starring in the Loyal Theatre of La Laguna. With its prodigious voices the choir surprised all the visitors and mass media who attended presentation of the Christmas activities, which were carried out in the facilities of the park during these Christmas dates. Also, Father Christmas began to receive letters from the children and to distribute to sweets and surprises for all. Loro Parque celebrates the carnival of Dusseldorf and Renania On the 27th of February, Loro Parque celebrated the carnival of Dusseldorf and Renania together with more than 80 people of the celebrations committee, that came especially to Tenerife with the Mayor of Düsseldorf, Bilk Elbers, the queen and her ladies of honour to enjoy these celebrations in Puerto de la Cruz, as they have been doing for more than 15 years. The carnival group was accompanied by the President of Loro Parque, Wolfgang Kiessling as well as the Councillor for Tourism of Puerto de la Cruz, María Jesús Ferrer; the Councillor for Celebrations, José Serrano and other personalities. The 80 members of the German carnival committee visited within the framework of the programme of twinning with Puerto de la Cruz, to promote and share this festive custom with all the Canary Islands. Furthermore, they went through the park dressed in the complete typical costumes of brightness and colour, with instruments and medals, and at the same time they joked, surprised and took photos with the visitors in the park, while strolling between the exhibitions and the various shows. In this special visit, all the celebrations committee members participated in an encounter with the children of the Matilde Kings children s home who were invited by Loro Parque and came dressed as Meerkats. 8

9 Saving wildlife and habitats Siam Park opens an official school for life-guards LP/SP NEWS Siam Park has opened the period for applications for its first life-guard classes. The courses will take place in March within the recently opened theme park. The course programme imparts knowledge in First Aid and lifesaving in swimming pools and water parks, and includes all aspects related with accident prevention in the water as well as how to deal with emergencies. The school will open in the afternoons and the participants will achieve the necessary qualifications to successfully face emergency situations. Also the students gain the official title of the ESSCAN, School for Health and social Services of the Canary Islands, which allows them to work in swimming pools, theme parks, hotels, campgrounds, neighbourhood communities and sport clubs on a national level. The course will prepare the students during the 100 hours of theory and practice. Topics will include: the role of the life-guard in preventing accidents, vital and non-vital emergencies, cardio-respiratory resuscitation, handling injuries, the most frequent water accidents, rescue and treatment of victims of drowning and other injuries. The number of participants is restricted and the students will also benefit from the job market which this education and the 20 practical classes afterwards are offering them. For the person in charge of training in the Lifeguard School, of Siam Park, Mariano Alarcón, who has more than 10 years of experience in this area, the school is a response to the social need and the strong demand for life-guards in the Canary Islands. Additionally we want to enable many young people to feel capable of saving lives in their places of work. The course is full of practical examples which are necessary for future life-guards but often are difficult to find in other courses of this type, and are vital for those who will be future lifeguards this coming summer The requirements to participate in these classes are: to be at least 16 years of age and to have achieved the minimum of school education (E.S.O). Persons interested can get in contact via or telephone: ecuela@siampark.net or More information at The LPF logo evolves Since its inception, the Loro Parque Fundación has used in its logo a pair of Spix s Macaws, the survival and recovery of this species being symbolic for the conservation of all species of parrots. This pair of Spix s Macaws is from the original artwork of Eric Peake, used with his generous permission. Time has passed, and we have decided to modernise the logo, still with the pair of Spìx s Macaws, but with design changes to make it more universally recognisable. Also, the birds now have the sun in the background, and naturally the LPF will continue the fight to make sure that the sun never sets for this species. 9

10 LPF NEWS The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación The Loro Parque Fundación organises for Spanish schools a virtual workshop on gorillas Recently with the help of Cepsa and Caja Mediterránea, the Loro Parque Foundation organized a virtual workshop about gorillas for elementary school children in Spain. With this virtual video conference, in which approximately 1500 took part, the cycle of activities of the Loro Parque Foundation for the International Year of the Gorilla 2009 started. The aim of the activities is to raise and reinforce the public`s awareness about these primates, which are in danger of extinction. The video conference was carried out by educators and biologists in the Aula del Mar in Loro Parque. The children of different schools in Spain were able to ask questions about the animals and about the necessity to protect them. For example they asked how they live, what they eat, how they behave, their place in the world and why they are so vulnerable. These questions were answered immediately and highlighted with practical examples. The video conferences took place from January 27th to February 05th (in the morning and afternoon) in the Aula del Mar. To promote these learning activities this space is being provided by the Loro Parque Foundation free of charge. The aim of these events is to educate and the raise the awareness of the children in all regions of Spain towards animals, their care and their current needs. Also the novelty of this activity is that the various schools that connect to the digital system Nautilus, which has been developed especially for these educational activities, can learn to play two video games and thereby distinguish the gorillas by their noses or fingerprints. 28 schools from different regions were registered, amongst them being Valencia, Lanzarote, Barcelona, Albacete and Asturias. More participating schools are expected for the following virtual activities the Loro Parque Foundation is putting into practice this year. Specifically there will be an activity about marine turtles in March and another one about dolphins in April. This initiative is among the different learning activities the Loro Parque Foundation is implementing this school year and, needless to say, all learning materials for the kids are being provided free of charge. Dutch breeder enjoys our parrots On Thursday and Friday, 12 and13 February, the renowned Dutch parrot breeder Mr Herman Tiggelaven visited for the first time Loro Parque and the breeding centre of the Loro Parque Fundación. A member of the uro-parrot club and other bird societies, Mr Tiggelaven is well-known for his breeding of parakeets, and of mutations, especially of the genus Neophema. He has suffered from serious illness, and therefore with the support of his wife, son and daughterin-law he was able to fulfil his wish to make the visit. 10 Mr.Tiggelaven (3 rd from left) with family, and Matthias Reinschmidt and David Waugh

11 Saving wildlife and habitats LPF NEWS Carmen Cólogan works on an orca sculpture with a Fuerteventura school for Expo-Orca At least 22 children from the school Ampuyenta, situated in the community of Puerto del Rosario in Fuerteventura, worked artistically on an orca sculpture with the collaboration and counsel of the recognized Canarian artist Carmen Cólogan for the project Expo-Orca, which was initiated by the Loro Parque Foundation. The students, between 3 and 12 years old, are all members of a recycling association. They all participated in a very active way at this workshop to embellish the orca sculpture and to take part in the plan to raise awareness about whales, organised by the Loro Parque Foundation. This educational collective is known for its initiative, started by family members and affiliated to the school community, and has developed a project to recycle paper and to make with it Christmas cards, folders and other cards. In reference to this aspect, Carmen Cólogan decided to take part in this project. This painter, recognized at national level, distinguishes herself by her clean and refined technology. For this occasion she, in collaboration with the school Ampuyenta, has used a postmodern design with lots of colours and happiness, exactly like the little ones showed during the whole process. In this project to raise awareness about orcas, a dozen famous Canarian painters and 8 social collectives of the island are participating. Altogether they will be participating in creating 20 sculptures with different designs, materials and technical aesthetics, to later display them in different municipalities of the Canary Islands. Psitacultura- Aviornis Congress 2009 The past month of January an encounter took place in Spain that each time has more repercussion in the world of birds in this country. Two excellent organizations of Spanish aviculture were united for the first time. The well-known Aviornis, that on the occasion of its annual assembly always summons a number of interesting speakers, and Psitacultura that for the sixth time has brought together an important number of parrot enthusiasts, on this occasion not only of Spain but also other countries. our biologist Rafael Zamora Padrón, who on this occasion offered a presentation about the types of nests and the form in which to use them in current aviculture. Loro Parque Fundación energetically supports this type of encounter that notably favour the development of aviculture. This year were assembled speakers such as Simon Jensen (Walsrode) of Germany, Seth Marteens (Aviornis Belgium), William Vanbeginne (ABAP) and Luuc van Havere (Ibisring) of Belgium, Lorenzo Crosta (Cl.V. Valcurone) and Giani Ravazzi (ornothologist) of Italy, Jose Ignacio Pardo (Zoo Santillana), Josep Bertran and Carles Verges (Vilamazonia), Mar Ozcariz (breeder) and Teresa Masuet and Xavier Viader (Psittacus catalonia) of Spain. As in previous occasions of both meetings, Loro Parque Fundación was represented by LPF represented at Workshop on Neglected Virus Infections At the invitation of virologist Prof. Dr. Hermann Müller of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany, Loro Parque Fundación was represented at a workshop on neglected virus infections, held at the university on the 15th of January. Jointly organised with the Faculty of Medicine, the workshop had a particular focus on avian circovirus and polyomavirus, as well as porcine parvovirus, infections. LPF veterinarian Heinrich Müller attended the workshop to contribute to the scientific discussions on the epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention of these diseases. He also gave a presentation on the significance of these diseases from practitioner s point of view in the health management of the LPF parrot collection. In addition to researchers and practitioners, several representatives from vaccine producing companies participated. 11

12 LPF NEWS More protection for the Yellow-eared Parrot The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación With the support of Loro Parque Fundación and American Bird Conservancy, ProAves has established a second permanent ecological easement in Colombia, benefiting the Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis). An ecological easement is a legal agreement by which the owner of land plans the type and intensity of future use with the objective to preserve the natural attributes. The easement was created beside the existing Yellow-eared Parrot Bird Reserve in Riosucio, Department of Caldas, and the farm involved is called La Antioqueña. The Antioqueña is a 420 hecatres farm situated at meters elevation and located in the humid montane forest life-zone. It includes 280 ha of forest and 150 ha of pasturelands for cattle. This area represents a critical site for the Yellow-eared Parrot for reproduction and feeding due to the presence of the Quindío Wax palm (Ceroxylon quinidiuense) and other key foraging trees. for nature with their children. With their help, ProAves will implement direct conservation actions including silvopasture, forest fragment protection and Wax palm reforestation. Protecting the area is vital to counteract the many threats present in the municipality of Riosucio due to the lack of adequate conservation programmes, poor land use and pressures from illegal logging and charcoal production. The farm owners are Julia Amparo Velásquez Mejía and Gildardo Alzate Gómez, a couple of veterinary doctors devoted to conservation since they bought this land twenty years ago, with the aim of having a place to teach and share their love Parent s Associations of various schools meet in Loro Parque In March at least 50 representatives of different Parent s Associations from various schools of Tenerife and Gran Canaria met in Loro Parque to learn about the teaching offer and the environmental education activities that the Loro Parque Fundación freely makes available to the scholastic community. In the encounter, that also involved the collaboration of Fred Olsen Ferries and the Education Department of the City Council of Puerto de la Cruz, the importance was high-lighted of the interactive education activities that the Loro Parque Fundación is carrying out, as well as the online videoconferences through the Nautilus programme. Recent support from bird-lovers 12 We were delighted by little Jenny Zabel from Dresden, Germany. Together with her elementary school class she started a fund-raising effort for threatened parrot species. While visiting Loro Parque with her parents she contributed a cheque of 45 euros to the Loro Parque Fundación. It is wonderful that children of her age are already supporting the conservation of threatened species, and this should be motivation for us adults to participate actively. This has been the case recently with 5,000 euros from Prof. Dr. Klaus Murmann and Dr. Hannelore Murmann, and also some bird clubs, including donations of 400 euros from Westerwälder- Vogelfreunde Wirges e.v., 1,000 euros from Verien für Vogelfreunde Kevelaer und Umgebung. One hundred members of the Verein für Ziergeflügel und Exoten (VZE) made a visit to Loro Parque. Each one paid the membership of the LPF, which also received an additional 590 euros from the group. We express our sincere thanks for these and all other support received.

13 Saving wildlife and habitats LPF News from the parrot collection Dcember 2008: An intensive preparation over several years, undertaken mainly by our biologist Rafael Zamora, was required for the latest happy events in Loro Parque. Three new parrot species for the LPF collection arrived from Mexico. Two of them are acquired for the first time ever by a European zoo and are therefore significant importations. Thus, a small group of each of the Maroon-fronted Parrot (Rhynchopsitta terrisi), Gustav s Parakeet (Brotogeris cyanoptera gustavi), and White-headed Parrot (Pionus seniloides) were imported. In all cases the specimens concerned are offspring from successful reproduction in a breeding centre in Mexico. The Maroonfronted Parrot is one of the endangered parrot species of Mexico, whose wild population is less than a thousand birds, and for which necessarily a genetic reserve has to be build up in captivity. Compared to the related Thick-billed Parrot (R. pachyrhyncha) (38 cm), the terrisi are a bit bigger (42cm), with the forehead coloured maroon. It was only in 1947 that this parrot species was described (by Moore), first as a subspecies of the Thick-billed Parrot. Today the consensus among most taxonomists is that it is a separate species. Until now Gustav s Parakeets have not been known in Europe at all. They are distinguish in their colouring clearly from their nominate form, the Cobalt-winged Parakeet (B. cyanoptera) by the yellow bend and edge of the wing, which is reminiscent of the pattern of the Yellow-winged Amazon (Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx). With this first importation of yet another interesting form, the number of Brotogeris species and subspecies kept by LPF increases to ten. The White-headed Parrot has always been one of the rarities in European birdkeeping. Nowadays just a few birds are held in Europe, and it seems to be unlikely to be able to build up a breeding population which is able to maintain itself. For this reason the importation of birds bred in Mexico is an important step to refresh blood for the long term conservation in captivity of this interesting parrot species. With the White-headed Parrots there are now eight different Pionus held by LPF. The LPF will try to build up a self-sustaining breeding population of each of the three new parrot species. At the end of November the Spix s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) male (studbook number 44, property of the Government of Brazil) was brought back from the ACTP, Berlin. He was transferred at the beginning of 2007 to the ACTP to reproduce with another female. However, the pairing with the LPF female was demonstrated as genetically more favourable, and therefore a re-exchange was agreed. By order of the Institute Chico Mendes of Biodiversity Conservation (Government of Brazil), the Curator of LPF Dr. Matthias Reinschmidt travelled to Berlin to receive the Spix s Macaw male. After a six week quarantine period, at the beginning of 2009 the bird will be put together with his previous female. At present the majority of our parrot species are not in breeding conditions, but there are always a few that produce some young in the winter. This winter the very small lorikeet species like the Plum-faced Lorikeet (Oreopsittacus arfaki) and the Red-fronted Lorikeet (Charmosyna rubronotata) have some chicks in the nest which they are rearing by themselves. Rhynchopsitta terrisi Pionus seniloides A group of 21 clients of the Höchstadt Savings Bank came to visit Loro Parque. On this occasion the guide and marketing director of the Savings Bank, Christiane Laaser, handed over a 13

14 The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación cheque for 500 to the Loro Parque Fundación to support the Spix s Macaw Conservation Programme. The city of Höchstadt is in a cultural sense very much associated with the name Spix, because the naturalist and discoverer of the Spix Macaws, Baptist Ritter von Spix, was born there and is the most famous son of the city. Even its own museum, the Spix Museum, is dedicated to him. A donor campaign for the benefit of the LPF was privately initiated by the pool attendant Matthias Heinrich from Achern. During the open-air swimming pool season he set-up a small information kiosk about the work of the LPF and the conservation of parrots. Aided by a Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis) he collected in his donation box 130 for endangered parrots. The LPF thanks him very much for such a worthwhile activity in the name of endangered parrots, and is grateful for all other donations received. January 2009: The planned opening of the new, over 1000 m² huge, walk-through free-flight aviary in Loro Parque, originally for December 2008, is delayed by a few months. The reason for the delay is that the erection of scaffolding, which is needed to hold the wire netting, is taking longer than expected. Nevertheless the preparations are being operated at full speed and the first new birds have already arrived. Primarily loris and other parrot species, complemented with other birds from the Australian- Asian area will live in the new aviary. We have already received birds from the zoo of Cologne and the Burgers Zoo in Arnheim. For example there are Emerald Doves (Chalcophaps indica), Victoria Crowned Pigeons (Goura cristata victoria), Luzon Bleeding-hearts (Gallicolumba luzonica), Pied Imperial pigeons (Ducula bicolor), Masked Lapwings (Vanellus miles), Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), Golden Pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus), Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata) and Bali Starlings (Leucopsar rothschildi). Some additional bird species are expected to arrive before the final opening. At present the newcomers are in quarantine, and after they have fully completed all health checks they will initially get used to one another and then be moved to the new free-flight aviary. Goura cristata victoria Finally, after exactly two years of separation, our Spix s Macaw breeding pair was united again on the 2nd of January. Four healthy young birds hatched from the eggs of this pair between 2004 and Now everybody involved hopes that the new old couple will resume where it left off two years ago, namely with breeding to make their own, important contribution for the conservation of this species extinct in the wild. Chalcophaps indica Leucopsar rothschildi Among the first parrot species which started breeding this year, are two pairs of Black cockatoos. On one side a pair of Palm Cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) is incubating it s single egg, and on the other side a pair of our Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus) is again sitting on an egg. The youngster of this species, hatched out a few months ago and raised by hand in our baby station, is now able to perch in its cage. It is not completely independent but it has started to take the first solid food by itself. The raising of a Yellow-tailed Black cockatoo was the first to happen at Loro Parque, and now we hope that the new egg-laying will bring another youngster so that the first one need not be alone. February 2009: Slowly the breeding season is starting. Many lories have already laid their eggs and are currently brooding them. Currently with its own parents, a young Palm Cockatoo is developing well. This is the first time after a couple of years that a chick of this species is being raised by its parents 14

15 Saving wildlife and habitats at Loro Parque. The remarkable aspect is that both adults were raised by hand. While the male is already 12 years old, the female was raised by hand in 2004 by the Curator. She was the very first hand-raised Palm Cockatoo. Now, almost 5 years later the female is giving thanks in the most splendid way imaginable by raising her chick herself. Now the youngster is seven weeks old and the first black feathers are growing. Palm Cockatoos belong to the kind of parrot species whose development takes the longest. This breeding success is once again evidence that hand raised parrots definitely are able to raise their chicks independently. Keas (Nestor notabilis) also belong to the early breeders, normally starting to breed in December and during the month of January the first chicks hatch. We removed the first clutch of eggs from our breeding pair, which has been successful over the years, to incubate the eggs artificially, and three healthy chicks are developing in the Baby Station. Now the pair is sitting on a second clutch, which we are leaving with the parents for natural rearing of the chicks. A second pair, who laid the first time this year, has three fertile eggs and a third pair is very keen on visiting the nesting box, and we are expecting the first eggs very soon. The preparations for the VII International Parrot Congress at Tenerife have begun. To ensure an early planning for all those who are interested, the specific dates can be announced now. On the 22nd of September 2010 all participants will be welcomed with a cocktail in the Hotel Botanico, Puerto de la Cruz. The 23rd, 24th and 25th of September 2010 will be the days of congress, which will end with a big Gala Dinner. The staff of Loro Parque and LPF will again prepare various surprises to lead to success the event, which takes place only every 4 years. The Congress is targeted at a broad audience, from parrot-lovers and parrot breeders to veterinarians and field biologists, all of them in some form involved with parrots. In the last Congress in 2006, 900 participants from 44 different nations all over the world were registered. Because of this, all lectures are translated simultaneously into German, English, French and Spanish. Shortly the coordinators of the different countries will be provided with all the necessary information and materials to be able to receive the registrations. For the first time there will exist a direct possibility to register online. Please visit to find this possibility in due course. Chrysolophus pictus Calyptorhynchus funereus with Kirstin Oberhäuser (vet) Aix galericulata Nestor notabilis 15

16 PROJECTS UP-DATE The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación Advances for the conservation of the Spix s and Lear s Macaws The Spix s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii and the Lear s Macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) are two of the most threatened species of birds in the world, and since the late 1980 s Loro Parque and the Loro Parque Fundación (LPF) have been involved in the effort to bring about their recovery. The Spix s Macaw, last seen in the wild in the year 2000, can only be recovered through the coordinated breeding programme and subsequent release into its natural habitat in the north-east of Brazil. The conservation programmes for the two species (Spix s Macaw Working Group and Lear s Macaw Conservation Committee) are coordinated by the Brazilian Government agency, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). In March 2009, ICMBio convened an international meeting in the Sao Paulo Zoo, one of the holders of both species, to review progress of the conservation efforts, and to update the action plans. Up to 39 participants attended the week of meetings, and seven institutions holding one or both species were represented, the LPF by its director, David Waugh, and one institution, the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) of Qatar, by video-conference. Governmental and non-governmental organisations involved with field efforts also participated. The week began with a workshop on captive management of the two species. Except for a male Spix s Macaw on loan from the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots, Berlin, all the individuals of both species maintained by LPF are property of the Brazilian Government. Lear s Macaw adult eating Syagrus fruits In the workshop LPF informed about its facilities and management of the Lear s Macaw, and the good results of the breeding of seven young in the last two years. In its breeding centre in Tenerife, in the aviaries of this species LPF has constructed artificial rocks that, in combination with a specific diet, have stimulated the reproduction of the two pairs. In the wild, the species specialises in eating the fruits of the Licuri palm (Syagrus coronata), and LPF incorporates into the daily diet the fruits of another species of Syagrus maintained in Loro Parque. Furthermore, LPF has constructed a isolated centre within the general centre, appropriate to maintain A. leari. Now LPF is waiting to receive two additional mature females, property of the Brazilian Government, to increase the breeding opportunities. As LPF is the coordinator of the international studbook for the Lear s Macaw, it presented the current situation of the captive population and the recommendations to form new pairs. The total population is 56 birds (21 males, 29 females, 6 unknown sex) in nine institutions, and as 44 are from the wild (confiscated by the relevant authorities) the genetic situation is very favourable. The recommendations incorporate the new results of genetic analysis undertaken by Dr Cristina Miyaki of the University of Sao Paulo. Another institution, AWWP, has bred five chicks since 2006, and the other holders are improving their facilities and various aspects of the management to make breeding more possible. It was reported that the Governments of Brazil and the UK are at the point to sign the transfer of ownership of the three specimens that will continue to be held at Harewood Hall, England. Also reported were more confiscations of living specimens but that, due to the better protection of the species, the frequency and quantity have declined. The Spix s Macaw pair in the centre of LPF 16

17 Saving wildlife and habitats committee received favourably a proposal by LPF to have in Loro Parque an exhibit of young Lear s Macaws, with the objective to contribute even more to its conservation. With reference to the Spix s Macaw, LPF presented about the breeding of four chicks in recent years and the major investment to construct a new separate centre exclusively dedicated to the breeding C. spixii in ideal conditions. In the facility there are now two pairs showing breeding behaviour, and three more young females to form pairs within the population. Following the meetings, David Waugh returned with another male from the Lymington Foundation to pair with a female in the LPF facility. This male, which has already bred in Brazil, is a founder and of high genetic importance. As coordinator of the international studbook, AWWP has informed that now the coordinated population has a total de 66 individuals. It has been decided not to include in the studbook any specimen in Switzerland, because currently they are not accessible for coordinated management, but the door remains open for future collaborations. ACTP bred the only chick (female) in 2008, but 2009 has begun with three chicks from a pair in AWWP, that in March has another pair with eggs. Dr Cristina Miyaki presented a proposal for the Spix s Macaw to be included in the Frozen Ark programme. The collection and storage of sufficient samples of each individual of C. spixii has been recommended for future use, above all if the cloning of birds becomes possible. It seems that the Frozen Ark programme offers good possibilities to maintain the samples. The possibility to put birds on exhibit, to make people aware and to raise funds for the recovery of the species,was debated. As the situation of the species is still precarious it was agreed to leave the subject for an opportune moment in the future. PROJECTS UP-DATE Three young female Spix s Macaw in the new centre In the following days the field projects were dealt with, starting with the activities related to the Lear s Macaw in the north of Bahía. LPF continues its funding of activities undertaken by the NGOs Proaves and Biodiversitas Foundation, and the government body CEMAVE (that researches birds). The activities related to local community awareness in Jeremoabo were presented, this community being close to Serra Branca, one of the two most important sites for the species by reason of the tall cliffs used by the macaws for roosting and nesting. Additional schools and community groups programme, it continues with the development of alternative livelihoods to avoid conflicts with the Lear s Macaws, and promotes craftwork based on the use of Licuri palms and another local plant of the same family as sisal. From this year, the project management has passed from Proaves to SAVE Brasil, the national entity of BirdLife International. CEMAVE gave information about the censuses of the wild population, now with a minimum of 962 birds, and the habitat. Due to the sustained increase in the population, BirdLife International and the IUCN have lowered the threat category of the Lear s Macaw from Critically Endangered to Endangered good news indeed. CEMAVE is the entity responsible for evaluating the levels of damage made by the macaws to the maize crops, and a programme exists, that includes Parrots International and the Lymington Foundation, to compensate with quantities of maize the poor farmers who have suffered losses to their crops by attacks from the macaws. About the other important site, the Biodiversitas Foundation explained the recent expansion of the area of land under Wild Lear s Macaws (Adriano Gambarini) New male for LPF 17

18 PROJECTS UP-DATE protection and incorporated into the Canudos Biological Station. Biodiversitas is improving the infrastructure and the fences to exclude livestock from the reserve. In relation to research, Érica Pacífico of the University of Sao Paulo presented the preliminary results of her study of the macaw nests. It seems that an increasing problem is the occupation of cavities by colonies of aggressive bees. Kilma Manso of the organisation ECO gave a presentation about the studies of the plants that provide food for the Lear s Macaws. Although the Licuri fruits have a great importance for the macaws, they eat fruits and seeds of other plants. However, the effect of extensive livestock grazing is the reduction of these other plants in the habitat, to the extent that one, the baraúna tree, is in danger of extinction. As the poor people sell the Licuri fruits in the markets, they protect them from the macaws by placing a bag over each bunch of fruits. Between April and August is the period with the least food available, and now there is a focus on selectively propagating more of the few plants that have fruits in this period. With reference to the region where the Spix s Macaw used to occur, and where it is hoped its future reintroduction will take place, some field activities are maintained to sustain the involvement of the local community in the recovery of the species. LPF funded the second restoration of the Raul Coelho Theatre in the town of Curaçá, and other entities support the Spix s Macaw School where the facilities have been improved, and where night classes have been established for adults of the area that cannot read. Land (two farms) has been acquired, to be available to the recovery project, with a combined area of ha, and where the last wild male occurred. In the management of the land, the priority is the exclusion of livestock so that the habitat can begin to recover. The meeting also planned an economic method (use of a Geographical Information System- GIS) for the identification of whatever vestige of good habitat still in the region. Furthermore, there was a debate about the timing to re-start the full field programme. As this will depend on the availability of specimens for release, it was agreed to wait and to evaluate the recruitment to the captive population during the next 12 to 18 months, and absolutely everybody hopes that many chicks will be produced. Adriano Gambarini, who has generously allowed us to use his photos in the magazine, has been a professional photographer and writer since His work, especially on landscapes, biodiversity, wildlife and local culture, is published internationally including in National Geographic and for the Discovery Channel. Discover more at The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación Hammock made by craft-workers of the Lear s Macaw region Craft-worker making a basket from Licuri palm leaves The restored Raul Coelho Theatre in Curacá 18

19 Saving wildlife and habitats A reserve is established to protect Fuertes s Parrot Fundación ProAves LPF has established a natural reserve of 607 hectares, that constitutes the first protected area for endemic and critically endangered Fuertes s Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi). The species, whose population is estimated to be only 160 individuals, is restricted to a small area of the Central Andes of Colombia and it is seen very affected by deforestation. It was rediscovered by the President of Fundación ProAves, Alonso Quevedo who, thanks to Loro Parque Fundación, found a flock of 14 Fuertes s Parrots, confirming the survival of a species that had been seen for the last time in The reserve, located in the Department of Quindío, is characterized by its spectacular landscape of montane forests and paramo, and is located in centre of the distribution of the species, an area recognized for being crucial to the species by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE). PROJECTS UP-DATE at metres amsl. The temperature varies from 6 to 15 C and the area is often enveloped in dense clouds that promote the epiphytes on which the Fuertes s Parrot feeds. The reserve is establisehd also with the support of the American Bird Conservancy, IUCN Netherlands/SPN, and the Netherlands Postcode Lottery. It consolidates a zone of more than 2,000 hectares with the municipality of Génova, an area managed by ProAves. A strategic corridor of high altitude forest has been established to help to the survival of the Fuertes s Parrot. The area is also very important for the Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) (Vulnerable), and the endemic Rufous-fronted Parakeet (Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons) (Endangered). The reserve is located on the western flank of the Central Andes, an hour and a half from the population of Génova, Hapalopsittaca fuertesi Parakeets in New Caledonia: a case of cooperative breeding amidst the rats The Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus) and New Caledonian Parakeet (Cyanoramphus saisseti) are endemic to the mainland of New Caledonia, being classified as endangered and near-threatened respectively. Habitat loss and alien introduced species, especially mammals, are likely to be important threats, and therefore the Loro Parque Fundación with other donors support a project by Dr Jörn Theuerkauf of the Polish Museum and Institute of Zoology and Sophie Rouys of Conservation Research New Caledonia to research these species. The project aims to provide the data necessary for the effective conservation of these parakeets in their native habitat. Parrot researcher with equipment to monitor the nests A recent summary of findings over seven breeding seasons shows a clear trend that the parakeets breed less in wet years (La Niña), while they have two consecutive clutches in dry years (El Niño). The abundance of parakeets and mammals at 34 sites in rain-forest throughout New Caledonia has been estimated. With the accumulation of data, it becomes clearer that there is a threshold of Black rat (Rattus rattus) density above which parakeets become rarer or disappear. After many thousands of hours of video-recording, predation by rats of eggs and chicks in the nest was recorded. Furthermore, the survival rate of fledged chicks is very low. By identifying 87 species of plants in the diet of New Caledonian Parakeets and 88 for Horned Parakeets, the researchers have shown that there is little overlap in what they eat. But there is more to discover, and a recently radio-tracked young Horned Parakeet has revealed yet more plants to add to the diet list. Also, the project has observational and genetic evidence that The main sites in New Caledonia for the research 19

20 PROJECTS UP-DATE New Caledonian Parakeets are cooperative breeders, i.e. in addition to a breeding pair, other parakeets are involved in the breeding attempt, and also that Horned Parakeets share nests. This evidence has just been published the research team (Theuerkauf et al., 2009*). As the researchers explain, within the parrot family only 5% of species are known to be cooperative breeders. In New Caledonia, the breeding biology of the endemic Uvea Parakeet (Eunymphicus uvaeensis) has been studied and this species is not a cooperative breeder. The endemic subspecies of the Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus deplanchii) has not been studied but subspecies from Vanuatu and Australia are not cooperative breeders. However, the recent studies of Horned Parakeets and New Caledonian Parakeets demonstrate a different reproductive strategy. Jörn, Sophie and colleagues found three nests (in tree cavities) of New Caledonian Parakeets, and eleven nests of Horned Parakeets (five in tree cavities and six on the ground in hollows between rocks). Infrared cameras and microphones with amplifiers were installed in two nests of each species, where they remained continuously recording images. To assess the contribution of males in providing food, the team counted the number of times that a male fed the female or the chicks. Male and female New Caledonian Parakeets were distinguished by their size and behaviour (e.g. copulation attempts and vocalisation). Also, each individual had a unique way of climbing down to the bottom of the nest cavity and could therefore be recognised individually on most occasions. These identifications were confirmed when the birds were moulting and each had different bare patches. Not being able to install cameras on all nests, the research team used binoculars to observe parakeets at some nests, and checked inside the nests weekly. They documented a total of 11 breeding attempts in three nests for New Caledonian Parakeets and 17 breeding attempts in 11 nests for Horned Parakeets. Of these, they video-monitored 10 breeding attempts of New Caledonian Parakeets and two breeding attempts of Horned Parakeets, and directly observed four other breeding attempts of the latter species. They also put small (3% of body weight) radio-transmitters on chicks ready to fledge, to locate them post-fledging and directly observe their behaviour that of their parents. The researchers also collected feathers of 11 New Caledonian Parakeet chicks for genetic analyses to determine parentage. On average, for the New Caledonian Parakeet the clutch size was 3.6, number of chicks hatched was 2.5 (69.4% hatching) and number of chicks fledged was 2.1 (58.3% fledging). In the Horned Parakeet these figures were respectively 3.4, 2.8 (82.4%) and 1.9 (55.9%). In the first New Caledonian Parakeet nest there were always the three same adults present: one female, which was preparing the nest, laying and incubating eggs and two males (a large and a small) which contributed about equally to feed the female and the chicks. In the second C.saisseti nest a third, intermediate sized individual fed the female and regularly entered the nest. From the genetic analysis, in both New Caledonian Parakeet nests the most likely number of parents was one mother and two fathers. During radio-tracking, it was observed that all three adults contributed to feeding the fledglings. Interestingly, inside one C.saisseti nest the researchers recorded the large male guarding the female against copulation attempts The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación A young Horned Parakeet with a radio-transmitter Feral cats also pose a threat to the parakeets New Caledonian Parakeet at the nest entrance A camera to monitor nest activity 20

21 Saving wildlife and habitats by the smaller male. The large male stopped guarding the female in the nest after the last chick of the first clutch had fledged, and the female had laid the third of five eggs of the following clutch (the female started laying when the four nestlings of the first clutch were still inside the nest), and the small male was still present. Chicks hatched during the mate-guarding period and those of the following breeding attempt had different genetic fathers. PROJECTS UP-DATE Forest habitat of the parakeet species From the nest-monitoring and radio-tracking of Horned Parakeets, there was no sign of feeding helpers. However, five eggs were found in a nest after two pairs had both regularly visited the cavity, and one time the two females were sharing the nest. The maximum clutch size in the other 15 Horned Parakeet breeding attempts was four eggs, and it is unlikely that five eggs were laid by only one female. There was always only one female in the nest during incubation and chick-rearing but it is not possible to say whether both females took turns in the nest or if just one female took care of the eggs and chicks. Based on differences in behaviour of the two pairs, the researchers believe that both pairs continued to attend the nest, but not at the same time. These observations have interesting implications for the conservation of these species in the wild, and also how they might be maintained in captivity. *Theuerkauf, J., Rouys, S., Mériot, J.M., Gula, R. and Kuehn, R. (2009) Cooperative breeding, mate guarding, and nest sharing in two parrot species of New Caledonia. Journal of Ornithology Online First. Horned Parakeet feeding on papaya Adult New Caledonian Parakeet Black rat entering a nest at night Loro Parque Fundación practical tips Teated syringe squirt feeding In the hand-rearing of parrots nowadays, in the feeding of chicks syringes of different sizes are used to deliver the liquid food (formula) directly into the beak. Depending on the size of the chick, different sizes of syringe are used to deliver, or squirt, the food. The usual syringe sizes are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ml. Notably at the beginning for the first feedings, the recently hatched parrot needs especially small syringes. Therefore, between 1 and 5 ml syringes are normally used for these first feedings. In the Baby Station of Loro Parque, feeding by means of syringe has been proven to give a more precise measure of 21

22 The Newsletter of Loro Parque Fundación the food, and specifically with a special teat, or teat cannula, at the end of the syringe. After filling the syringe with formula, this teat is simply placed on the end, and thus the delivery of food is well controlled and permits the feeding of the chick sufficiently slowly so as to avoid delivering too much food into the beak all at once. Another advantage of a plastic teated syringe is the narrow end that has no sharp edges. In very small chicks with a weight below 2 g, in most cases the beak is so small that the end of a 1 ml syringe does not fit into the beak, and there can be difficulties to feed the chick. The end of a teated syringe is so narrow that it fits into the beak of even the smallest chicks, making feeding easier and safer. After use, the teated syringes are washed and disinfected, and with care can be used for many days. If outside of the breeding season, a maintenance mixture is provided, but during the breeding season it has to be changed to a breeding mixture, due to its higher protein content which helps the breeding production. Also in giving fruits and vegetables, changes throughout the year should be initiated, which means providing those offered by the different seasons. In this way a variety of foods is provided automatically. Given that in the winter season apples, pears and carrots can be supplied, in the Spring and Summer months other kinds of fruits and vegetables, like bananas, papayas, grapes, cherries, oranges, mandarins, melons, peppers, courgettes, cucumbers and others can be on the menu. In this way, parrots will have a healthy and varied diet, and they do not have to eat the same every day. The syringe with teat or teat cannula derives from use in veterinary medicine for the treatment of the teats on the cow s udder, and for this reason is normally available to veterinarians. However, over many years these teated syringes have been well-proven in daily practical use in the feeding of tiny parrot chicks in the Baby Station, and therefore are entirely recommended. Seasonal change in food Let s take a look at nature. Independent of the distribution of parrots, whether in the tropics, subtropics or even temperate regions of the southern hemisphere, during the course of the year they have available a varying food-supply. The majority of food plants have their own season of the year when they flower and produce fruits. Only a minority of plants have food available during the whole year in sufficient quantity for wild birds. Thus, the feeding of parrots is adapted to the rhythm of the year. Depending on the season, they seek flowers, fruits, seeds or other parts to eat. What does the feeding in captivity look like? Question yourself objectively! In most cases the answer is: The same seed mixture will be used throughout the year, and apples are what the birds like to eat most, and that s the reason why I give them during the whole year. Is this variety? Naturally, parrots like to eat the same seed mixture and apples, but during the whole year, 365 days the same? Does this have to be? People also like to eat steak and French fries with green salad, and can eat them three days in a row, but after that they have to eat something else. For sure this is not the best example, but it serves to demonstrate the situation of how we feed our parrots. So the conclusion: there has to be variation! How can variety be introduced into the feeding of parrots? We can first take a look at the seed mixture. This can be given during the whole year as a basic mixture, but at least in Spring and Summer during the breeding season a part of the basic mix should be substituted with a soaked or cooked food mixture, being much softer and easier to digest. It stimulates breeding condition, and parrot breeders like to provide it for the young birds. Also, if pet parrots are kept without the intention to breed them, this softer food is well accepted by them. 22 If instead of a seed mixture a pellet mixture is given, the change in breeding season has to be taken into consideration.

23 Saving wildlife and habitats Sponsors and donors of Loro Parque Fundación Loro Parque is the Foundation s principal sponsor. Therefore, the financial support provided by our sponsors, members and donors can be dedicated 100% to the wide range of parrot and biodiversity conservation activities of Loro Parque Fundación. Bärbel & Klaus Binder, Brotogeris Society International, Fandango, Fontasol, Garjor, Global Sistemas Integrales S.L., Lero Minusval S.L., Simone Armbrüster-Röver, Caroline Simmons, Cavas Catalanas, Cumba, Dialte, Emerencio e Hijos, Frutas Cruz Santa, Luis y Guillén Carpinteria Metálica, Malinda Chouinard, Mark Hagen, Papageienfreunde Nord e.v., Reynolds Polymer, Netzing Solutions AG, Rohersa, Tilla Ganz, Vogelfreunde Achern e. V., Vogelfreunde Höchstadt e.v. Our thanks to all our sponsors, donors and other supporters 23

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