A few weeks ago, Paul Andrew from Taronga Zoo asked about migratory behaviour
in captive
migratory birds. I have been waiting for the professional ornithologists on
the list to
respond but have not seen any responses! Maybe you all responded direct to
Paul,
without a copy to the list. Or maybe not.
Anyway, I recalled a fine discussion of this topic in what is for me the bible
of
ornithology, Frank B. Gill, Ornithology, 2nd edition, Freeman, New York, 1994.
Chapter
13 is concerned with 'navigation'. It describes the landmark studies of how
captive
birds change their behaviour during the migratory period, orienting themselves
in the
direction of migration, provided only that they have environmental information
enabling
them to do so. Literature sources are cited. Fascinating stuff.
I'd be interested to hear what migratory behaviour the Taronga birds show in
captivity,
and how this fits with the observations mentioned in the literature.
David McDonald
wrote:
>
> Most of the long distance migrants held at Taronga Zoo are birds handed in
> injured and not suitable for release. However, we do have some short haul
> species in the collection that might be rehabilitated and released and we
> have some migrant species on the Plan that we would add if they were handed
> in: eg Dicrurus bracteatus Drongo is a member of a Family we would like to
> represent and part of the local fauna we would like to interpret.
> We have not noticed any behavioural changes in migrant species in the
> relevant migration periods. However, we are now logging activities formally
> and are looking for publications documenting similar observations. A cursory
> search turned up very little. We are already looking at obvious parameters
> like changes in weight, patterns of moult etc, but would be grateful for
> advice of any publication relevant to more subtle physiological changes,
> behavioural changes etc. and the possible ramifications to the welfare of
> migrant species held in captivity.
> Thanks
> Paul
> Paul Andrew
> Curator
> Taronga Zoo
> PO Box 20
> Mosman
> NSW 2088
> Australia
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David McDonald Voice: +61-6-231 8904 (home)
PO Box 1355 Voice: +61-6-260 9231 (work)
WODEN ACT 2606 Facsimile: +61-6-260 9201 (work)
AUSTRALIA E-mail: (home)
E-mail: (work)
"Things are more like they used to be than they were before"
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