Greater Vasa ParrotBreeding Survey
by Dave BlynnNorcross, Georgia
WISHLIST
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56 June / July 1993
IntroductionThis article presents anecdotal infor
mation on the known successfulbreedings of the special Greater VasaParrot, Coracopsis vasa. My knowledge of these events is limited andthe numbers too few to consider this adefinitive study of their habits in captivity. I do hope that this informationwill encourage others to experimentwith this unusual species so that wecan preserve the bloodlines nowexisting within North America.
Unique CharacteristicsGreater Vasa Parrots are unique
birds, differing greatly from most otherparrot species. They have long limbs(Silva), unlike any other living species,except for the Lesser Vasa Parrot, Coracopsis nigra. Cloacas extend in bothfemales and males during breedingseason. The skin of both sexes turnsyellow-orange when in breeding condition. The females' beaks grow widerand they also lose their head feathers.Females probably will breed withmore than one male, if available. Theyalso develop a pouch under the lowermandible which fills with a clear fluidwhen feeding young. Their eggs hatchin 17 days and the babies' eyes openin eight days. If conditions are ideal,they will fledge in seven weeks.
ProblemsUnfortunately, they are also marked
by some not-so-unique problems.Their primary home range, Madagascar, is rapidly being deforested andshortly there will be no place for themto survive. Four or five hundred wereimported into the U.S.A. in 1984/85and, probably, 200 or less are stillalive. Only a few dedicated aviculturists are interested in these birds. Theyare not very attractive to the eye andthere is little or no commercial marketfor them as pets. Additional importation is unlikely, due to their low desirability, our new federal law and thedifficulty of exporting from Madagascar.
Limited Timefor Success
Thirty-three babies have hatched inthe USA since 1988, 18 of those fromone pair. The imported adult birdsnow in the USA must all be at leastnine years old or older. While thatmay be old in the wild, one lived incaptivity for 52 years. We should haveat least another five to ten years tolearn how to breed the Greater VasaParrot consistently if we want to savethe bloodlines now residing here. Certainly, all of these imported birds aremature enough to reproduce. Domestically raised babies have shownbreeding characteristics at three yearsof age, although none have yet reproduced in the USA.
Breeding TableI have compiled a table of breedings
showing some characteristics of thesuccessful events. While the tablestrongly suggests what we have to do,please remember that I do not haveinformation on all the unsuccessfulbreeding attempts. It is possible thatmost of the Greater Vasa Parrots, successful and unsuccessful, are set up inmost common breeding conditionsshown in the table. If true, that wouldinvalidate the conclusions I draw fromthe information in the table.
Breeding TableAdditional
InformationAll but one pair were fed a general
parrot diet of seeds, fruits and vegetables. One pair was fed a pelleted dietand fruits and vegetables. Nest boxesreportedly ranged in size from a 15" x15" to a 16" x 24" base, with heightsfrom 24" to 36". "Large cage(s)" are atleast 4' x 4' X 8' in size. "Outdoorcage(s)" were either all outdoor orcombined indoor/outdoor cages."Others nearby" refers to other Greator Lesser Vasa Parrots within sight orhearing distance. "Years bred" showsa single year, inclusive years, or firstyear (further success being unknown).
I
I
cc>-mQ)>coo>
.Deno<5£.a..
This adult hen with young shows a beak greatlywidened, as much as three-eighths ofan inch. Ahen in non-breeding season has a narrower beaksimilar to the cock bird. One can beak-sex thehens when they are ready to breed. Note also thebald head andyellow skin which is typical ofGreater Vasa hens when they are on eggs oryoung.
Breeding Table ConclusionsMost breeding successes were in
large outdoor cages with other vasaparrots nearby or large outdoor cageswith an additional male in the cage.Tony Alexander's pair is a glaringexception to the nIle, since they are ina small outdoor cage with no othervasa parrots in the collection. This pairis perfectly matched, since they arethe only pair that consistently reproduces in the USA.
Continued onpage 58
afa WATCHJ3IRD 57
GREATER VASA (Coracopsis vasa) SUCCESSFUL BREEDINGS TABLE
Attend the' , Big One"AFA Convention '93
Salt Like City, UtahAugust 4 - 8
See special insert for detailed information or call ourPhoenix Office, (602) 484-0931.
Large Small Indoor Outdoor Others Extra YearsYear Place Cage Cage Cage Cage Nearby Males Bred Notes
4x4x8' (Less) or I/O G or L in Cage
1987 GER UNK UNK UNK UNK '87-? 1
1988 SWITZ Yes XXX XXX YesINo '88-? 2
1988 PHIL XXX XXX XXX XXX '88-?
1988 USA XXX XXX '88-92' 3
1988 USA XXX XXX XXX '88 4
1990 UK XXX XXX XXX '90-'92 5
1990 UK XXX XXX XXX '90-? 6
1991 USA XXX XXX XXX '91
1992 USA XXX XXX XXX '92
1992 USA XXX XXX XXX '92
1992 USA XXX XXX XXX '92
1992 SPAlN XXX XXX XXX UNK '92
1993 USA XXX XXX XXX XXX '93 7
TOTAlS 12 1 1 1 11 9 4+?
A '93 Success?I have four Greater Vasa Parrot
cages in one location with one femaleand one to three males in each cage(three of the males are young domestic birds). When the first hen cameinto breeding condition, all of theother birds (except the '92 baby male)also came into breeding condition.One female, with two adult males, laidfour fertile eggs stalting December 31,1992. Three of the eggs pipped in thenest box, but none hatched due tocold weather. My daughter, BetsyPaul, finally pulled them after a wait ofup to four days. She helped themhatch and she began hand feedingfour babies. A second female becameegg-bound. We removed her eggs,but, unfortunately, she died four days
later. A third hen laid two eggs, whichBetsy found on the floor of the cage.This was probably due to the locationof the nest box. I had placed it at thefeeding end of the cage. This cagegrouping, with the extra males andnest boxes at the far end of the cages,shows promise for the future.
Additional BabyInformation Available
Arlene Chandler made extensivenotes on her two babies, one incubator hatched and one parent rearedto the age of four weeks. Betsy Paul ismaking thorough notes on the fourbabies she is feeding. By June '93, Iwill be able to provide copies of theirnotes to people who are hand feedingbabies. These notes will be ten to 15
pages long, so please request themonly if you need the notes for reference while rearing babies.
Lesser VasaBreeding Information
The Lesser Vasa Parrot, Coracopsisnigra is also known as the Black Parrot. I have no Lesser Vasa Parrotbreeding information now. Three USAbreeders say that their birds breedwell in pairs and normally produceevery year. If the information becomesavailable, I will compile a similar tablefor the Lesser Vasa Parrots in thefuture.
Vasa Parrot Stud BooksRegistration of the vasa parrots in
the stud book is free. Your name andaddress will not be part of the studbook. That list is separate and notproVided to other people. While over160 greaters are in the books, less than60 lessers are registered. Your participation may help save these distinctparrots for future generations of aviculturists.
Chart Notes1. Dieter Meyer (then-East Ger
many) has first world breeding. 0
information is available.2. Laid eggs while in group, feltile,
did not hatch, parents too busy beingaggressive. Separated the pair andthey produced chicks.
3. Small outdoor cage inside largewire enclosure. Consistent producers.
4. Infeltile eggs in '89, then the maleescaped and was not recaptured.
5. Infertile eggs in earlier years,added extra males and they now produce yearly.
6. One greater female, two greatermales and one lesser all placed in onecage in '90. Produced the first year.
7. Infertile eggs twice between '85and '89 when only one male with hen.Pair moved to Georgia, placed outsidewith additional male near other vasacages in August '91. Fertile eggs laidand broken in Feb. '91. Chicks produced inJan. '93.
I wish to express my gratitude toJudy Adkins (for Tony Alexander),The Lubee Foundation, Dr. Roger Wilkinson (Chester Zoo, UK), D. Grenville Roles (Tracy Aviary), ArleneChandler, Jim Jackson, Nelson Blackmore and Betsy Paul for their information and observations.•
58 June / July 1993
Avian Trade Shows & SeminarsGold CountryAvicultural Society'.
2ndAnnual Summer Bird MartJune 13. 1993
Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Sonora. CAFor more information. call or write:
Rodney Silva (209) 533-3496,Golden CountryAvicultural SocietyP.O. Box 3692. Sonora. CA 95370
Greater Memphis Bird Club'.9th Annual Sale
June 19 & 20. 1993StateTech. Nabor Auditorium
Memphis, TennesseeAny questions. please call:
Mary Noland (901) 332-7258 (day)and Debbie Thompson(901) 373-6960 (night)
Pomona Bird MartJune 27. 1993
LA County Fairplex Bldg. #4Pomona. California
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Admission: $4. Youths 5-15: $1
Parking $3(use White Ave. parking lot (tram service
from parking lot to Building G)
Tennessee Valley Exotic Bird Club(host c1lJbfor the National Corwention
ofthe AmericanFederation ofAvicultureinAugust, 1994)
invites you to our1stAnnual Fall Exotic Bird Fair
August 21 &22.1993Knoxville Convention Center.
World's Fair ParkFor more information. contact:
Gary Reid (615) 690-0613orJohn Rich (615) 694-7793.
or write to:1VEBC. P.O. Box 51425.Knoxville. 1N 37950-1425
Birds Exotic All Bird Club'sSummer '93 Bird Mart Extravaganza
and Bird SaleAugust 28 & 29. 1993
Washington County FairgroundsHillsboro, Oregon
(Portland area)For information. contact:
Ron Marks. manager19235 SW Pilkington RoadLake Oswego, OR 97035or call (503) 684-3799
CentralAlabamaAvicultural Society'sAnnual Show & Fair
September 4 - 5. 1993Governors House Hotel
2705 E. South Blvd.•Montgomery, Alabama
For information. contact:Charles Reaves (205) 892-2204Lorene Clubb (205) 857-3817
Lisa Goode (205) 279-6829
Northwest Ohio Exotic Bird Club'sFourthAnnual Bird Fair
September 11.1993Saturday only, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Lucas County Rec. Center.Maumee, Ohio
For more information. call:Chris Schwind (419) 693-4956
3240 Stafford Dr.or N.W.O.E.B.C.,P.O. Box 167326.
Oregon. Ohio 43616
Palmetto Cage Bird ClubAnderson. South Carolina
hosts theCarolina Classic Bird Show & Sale
September 11 - 12. 1993ABS. NCS. NFS. SPBE
Judging both daysFor information. call:
Earl Owen (803) 855-3193
Avicultural Society ofPuget SoundBird Show
September 25. 1993Seattle Center Flag Pavilion
For information. contact:Ann Jones (206) 868-7871 orCarla Ritchie (206) 862-3358
Chester County Bird BreedersCombined NCSIACS Bird Show
now includingAmerican Singers and Type Canaries
September 25. 1993Valley Forge Convention Plaza
(Mezzanine levell. 1200 FirstAvenue.King ofPrussia. PA 19406
For details. contact:Lorraine LaBoyne (215) 269-6003
Art Granger (215) 272-2072Dick and Kathy Freas (215) 644-9337
Rose City HookbUl Society's2nd Annual Bird ShowSeptember 26. 1993
Sheraton Inn in Norwich. CTJudges:
Dr. AI Decoteau and others fromAmerican Budgerigar Society.
National Cockatiel Society.and Society ofParrot Breeders
and Exhibitors.For more information. contact:
Art Godfrey. president(203) 889-9988
Avicultural Society ofTucsonpresents its
8th Annual Bird FairOctober 17.1993
Tucson Convention CenterExhibit Hall A
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Free educational seminars. exhibits. rame.
birds. supplies and a bird performance show.For information. call:
Terri Morgan (evenings)(602) 721-4768
Missouri Cage Bird Association'.Annual Bird Show
November 5 &6. 1993Day's Inn
15 Hilltop Village Center.Eureka. MO 63025
Phone (314) 938-5565Contact Dianne Groves. show secty.
12470 SparrowWood Dr.•St. LoUis. MO 63146
(314) 576-4136or Bonnie Reynolds. MCBA secty.
3417 Minnesota Ave..St. Louis. MO 63118
(314) 772-5142
Pomona Bird MartJune 27.1993
(see June 27listlng for info.)
Avian Research AssociationAvian Handfeeding Labstarting in January 1993
and repeated every other monthChaminade University ofHonolulu3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu. HI
For information:Dave DeWald (808) 735-4726
Avian Research AssociationBasic Avian Pet Ownership and Care
starting in February 1993and repeated every other month
Chaminade University ofHonolulu3140WaialaeAve.. Honolulu. HI
For information:Dave DeWald (808) 735-4726
Avian Research AssociationBird Mart &Swap Meet
June 13, 1993Sept. 12,1993 Dec. 12,1993
Chaminade University ofHonolulu3140WaialaeAve.. Honolulu. HI
For information:Dave DeWald (808) 735-4726
Birds Exotic Spring '94 Bird MartExtravaganza &SaleMarch5&6.1994Hillsboro. Oregon
Vendor booths. seminars. trained bird show,bird raffie. handfed babies. breeder & pet birds.
caging & suppliesFor more info, contact:Ron Marks. manager
19235 SW Pilkington RoadLake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 684-3799
Seventh NationalAvicultural Convention ofAustralia
March 11.12.13,14.1994Ringwood Performing Arts
& Convention CentreMelbourne, Australia
For more info. contact:John Hince. publicity officer
7th National Avicultural Convention.Donnybrook. Pipers Creek Rd..
Kyneton. Victoria 3444. Australia
afa WATCHBIRD 59
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