Breeding - Birds

We managed 10 first breedings – glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), marbel teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), great argus (Argusianus argus), white-bellied go-away bird (Corythaixoides leucogaster), red-tailed laughingthrush (Garrulax milnei), rufous-fronted laughingthrush (Garrulax rufifrons), Sunda laughingthrush (Garrulax palliatus), bearded tit (Panurus biarmicus), yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), Saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola).

Altogether we managed to breed up to independence 246 young birds at 64 species of birds (last year 225 young ones at 59 species), so we managed to overcome the excellent result of last year. 

The departures and arrivals of birds decreased to a common level, the new species just substituted for the lost species and the lower number of new species enabled us to devote more time to the already bred species. In total the structure of the species got enlarged by 14 species: 1x return from deposit, 9x new species for the newest expositions, 5x innovation of the structure of the species, 2x arrivals of handicapped birds from the wild. We lost 16 species in total (9x died out, 7x departure of the last individuals), 3 newly obtained species were not accepted in their expositions permanently.

 Altogether we imported 149 individual birds, 169 individuals left the zoo. All the domestic and mutative forms as well as African collared dove are not included in the evaluation. In the list of the departed birds there are not the birds that were in our quarantine for other zoos, those that were set free and those that fell prey to vermin.

At the Australian cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius) just as the previous year, the female laid only one egg and it was taken away in time but unfortunately it died away shortly before the hatching.

The group of Humboldt’s penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) nested early in the autumn and by the end of the year 8 young ones hatched.  The European population is quite strong and still increasing so we put away most of the eggs again.

New among the expositional species are the representatives of grebes, our first little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) lived for several weeks in the pavilion of Sichuan but then it unfortunately drowned. Maybe that the young great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) that had been saved from the mud in the sluiced pond Kalo in Hostivice is waiting to be placed into an exposition. The state of its plumage and physical condition are not sufficient to set the bird free and so it is still in the rear spaces.

At pelicans the result of the previous year was repeated; crested pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) brought up two young ones in the outside exposition, while the third one was killed by a stray fox, white pelicans (P. onocrotalus) only pretended nesting but there was no load.

In the group of wading birds the total results correspond with the structure of the species. At marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) the breeding male still suffers from minor health problems and a harmonious pair was not formed and the female did not lay any eggs. The female of black stork (Ciconia nigra) divided the load into two separated periods for unknown reasons and there was an incompatible difference of 16 days between the hatched young ones. The enormous effort of the breeders led to the fact that both of them were brought up naturally under their parents. Apart from that a young stork from the zoo in Děčín was brought up under the same parents as the heating collapsed there right before the hatching. Nevertheless, the result is much pleasing as both our young birds migrated to the South in September (the older one was later located when migrating through Bavaria) and the young bird from Děčín has been kept for further breeding. In the pavilion of water birds, Abdim's storks (Ciconia abdimii) nested again but in the changed nesting group they did not bring up any of the 4 hatched young ones. At the spoonbills both species were successful as the white spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) this time nested right next to the viewpoint and 3 couples brought up altogether 8 young ones. Roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja) brought up the record 3 young ones from one nesting, but all of them are males. Compared to the previous year the result was worse at the white ibises (Eudocimus albus) and scarlet ibises (E. ruber) as only one scarlet grew up to adulthood. In the group of waldrapp ibises (Geronticus eremita) 4 pairs nested but they brought up only one young bird. The result is still promising as the pairs are inexperienced. From our experience we know that the ability to bring up a chick successfully is at this sociable species much more a matter of continual learning rather than inherent aptitude. In the flock of glossy ibises (Plegadis falcinellus) 3 pairs nested with the result of 8 young birds – it is a great success as it is the first breeding in the Prague zoo. The maturing pair of Hadeda ibises (Hagedashia hagedash) that was supposed to be only the accessory in the commonwealth in the aviary under the rock unexpectedly nested in the winter resort. Despite the fact that both of them had been bred artificially, they took care of the eggs and then the young birds beyond expectations. However, none of the young birds grew up to adulthood due to the repeated microbial infections. Traditionally successful were the boat-billed herons (Cochlearius c. cochlearius), 10 young birds were a record and we even did not hatch all of the eggs. The free colony of black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) is still self-sufficient and about 20 young birds flew away, only two members of the basic flock stayed here till the winter. We could not yet exhibit the African shoebills (Balaeniceps rex) much expected by the visitors. Just before the end of the construction of their new object it turned out that the outside aviary is at this place incompatible with the whole urbanistic plan of the area. We believe that the birds will get a new home at the beginning of summer season in 2007.

Due to the construction of a new dormitory at the original exposition of flamingos we had to keep the birds elsewhere. The new exposition of the Water World served this purpose and for the first and the last time in the past twelve years all the three species of flamingos were together in one range. The nesting season was not much influenced and rather positively as it was the most successful in the history of the breeding and we had 25 bred young birds. We did not loose any birds due to vermin and so at the end of the year we could count the increase of 10 greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus), 1 Cuban greater flamingo (Ph. ruber) and 13 Chilean flamingos (Ph. chilensis). The flamingos do not enjoy any transports or additions very much as it is in general quite difficult to transport them. This year we managed to refresh the group of Chilean flamingos by two non-related males form the zoo in Bojnice as an exchange for our two females. What is remarkable is the fact that one of the males nested in the very same season successfully and brought up a young bird.  This is exceptional at flamingos as it mostly takes a long time before they get used to a new environment and it is generally recommended not to move them in the nesting season. The only hybrid of a mixed pair (Cuban x greater flamingo) was an unwanted consequence of keeping all the species in one range but it is an acceptable tax for the total positive result. Towards the end of the year we moved the greater flamingos to a new dormitory and here they will be kept in one-species exposition. At this species we also refreshed the breed by an exchange of 5 birds with the zoo Ohrada.

In the group of Anseriformes birds red-breasted geese (Branta ruficollis) repeated the natural breeding, already 3 pairs nested in the “Lagoon” but there was only one independent young bird. Among the other species, the pair of Cape barren geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) bred four young ones and the breeding of 2 marbel teals (Marmaronetta angustirostris) can be hardly called a success. All the breedings took place under the parents using the same technique as in the past years, i.e. manipulation with the eggs as well as with the young birds. The problems with the predators were even worse this year.

Among the shorebirds we renewed the breeding of stone curlews (Burhinus oedicnemus) and as a novelty we have the group of wattled lapwings (Vanellus senegallus), both in the aviary under the rock.

If it was not for the unfortunate event when the fox carried away a half-bred young Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus) from the big aviary we could count this year among the most successful. One young bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) set free in the Alpes, the breeding of yet another Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), 2 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – first after the flood and the new expositional aviary for Steller’s eagles (Haliaeetus pelagicus) are the very pleasant results of the past year. However, Eurasian black vultures are still the species that demands very special conditions and we still miss the aviaries swept away by the flood.

In the group of owls great grey owls (Strix nebulosa) repeated the success of the last year and hatched 4 young ones, all of them males again. The second pair did not nest.  The old pair of Ural owls (Strix uralensis liturata) well adapted to the new environment nested and most probably more young birds were hatched than the one that grew up. As a novelty we obtained a pair of South European Ural owls (Strix uralensis macroura) from the zoo in Bojnice and zoo Ohrada.  By breeding them we would like to help the reintroduction project of these birds that is taking place in Šumava. The birds are kept in the rear spaces out of the sight of the visitors. The two young hawk owls (Surnia ulula) and part of the unfertilised eggs in the third season in a row suggests the question of incompatible parents rather than problems with the new aviary. At the common barn owls (Tyto alba) we are prepared to set the first individuals free in the area of Troja, just as at the little owls (Athene noctua). Both species were successful in the zoo and they had 10 and 15 bred young owls. After several years we renewed the breed of Eurasian pygmy owls (Glaucidium passerinum) and they bred 6 young ones.

The tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) did not nest again and we diminished the group of the redundant male who formed a pair in the zoo in Olomouc.

In the pheasantry we managed to breed a pair of crested wood-partridges (Rollulus rouloul). We were also pleased by the pair of Malaysian peacock pheasants (Polyplectron malacense) as they naturally bred a female that we will keep for further breeding. The most important is the historically first young great argus (Argusianus argus).

In the aviary under the rock vulturine Guinea fowls (Acryllium vulturinum) nested again and as this year the aviary was free of wild brown rats we let the nesting take place naturally till the hatching. Then it turned out that for the little chicks the neighbours in the aviary are too dangerous. Several chicks disappeared during the first night and we had to separate the pair with the chicks for several weeks to a special dormitory. After the young ones had grown up we returned them to the aviary and from summer till winter we could see the whole family spending their time right at the visitors’ path. The most significant loss among the gallinaceous birds was the death of male black fronted piping-guan (Aburria jacutinga) that happened right at the time when we were preparing its transport to the breeding station in Belgium.

The group of cranes got enlarged in the course of the year by an old-new species of common crane (Grus grus) as one male returned from a breeding exchange. At this species we would like to form a new perspective breeding pair in the future. All the other species had loads of unfertilised eggs. At the red-legged seriemas (Cariama cristata) we imported a young female of that year for the widowed male. The male still takes her rather for a young animal rather than a potential partner, brings food to her and we expect the first attempts at nesting no sooner than in 2 – 3 years. At the barred buttonquails (Turnix suscitator), the pair nested repeatedly in the Sichuan pavilion, however, we managed to keep the little ones alive at the third attempt when we moved them with the male to the rear spaces.

Similarly to the last years the breedings were numerous in the group of Columbiformes birds. Among the most interesting, I name 1 Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) and 1 black-naped fruit dove (Ptilinopus melanoptila). Again we reached the natural breeding of 1 Western ground pigeon (Goura cristata). In the aviary of waldrapps, rock pigeons (Columba livia) nested successfully and spotted doves (Streptopelia chinensis) and red-collared doves (Streptopelia tranquebarica) in the Sichuan pavilion. Again we did not manage to finish the breeding of pheasant pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis). In the aviary Wilderness around us stock doves (Columba oenas) nested repeatedly.

In the group of nectar-eating parrots we registered loads at all the species where we formed pairs. At the smallest vernal hanging parrots (Loriculus vernalis) more young females laid their eggs but most of them remained unfertilised. In order to refresh the breed we imported a young male from a private breeder in the Netherlands and now we are waiting for him to mature. From our experience we know that even this small species starts reproduction at the age of 2 years the soonest. At that time the whole group of the lori parrots will be moved to a new exposition in the top part of the garden to the spot where the marten trail used to be.

Among the real lori parrots the most successful were black-capped loris (Lorius lory lory) with 5 young ones and brown loris (Chalcopsitta duivenbodei) with two. At the purple-naped loris (Lorius domicella) we registered only unfertilised eggs from one pair. The breeding was not successful at rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus). At fig parrots (Psittaculirostris) the original female of large fig-parrot (Ps. desmarestii) is getting towards the oldest possible age and she laid unfertilised eggs, as her partner is too young. We bred the two young white cockatoos (Cacatua alba) artificially as the male died of a foreign body (swallowed piece of wire) just at the time of their hatching; we prepared a new aviary for the newly formed couple in the rear spaces as there is not enough peace for nesting in the group of big macaw parrots where they used to stay.

In the group of Bucerotiformes birds, African ground hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri) did not do well as the almost adult young bird swallowed a piece of plastic at the age of half a year and died. Blue-winged kookaburras

(Dacelo leachi) confirmed that the parent pair added by helpers from the ranks of own young ones is a well functioning unit and in the large group of 6 individuals hatched two little ones. The other species did not lay any eggs – great Indian hornbill (Buceros indicus), rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) or common roller (Coracias garrulus).

In the flock of speckled mousebirds (Colius striatus) the antagonistic relationships continued and the group diminished to mere 3 individuals and contrastingly to the previous year none of the little ones grew up. The last individual of the other bred species blue-naped mousebird (Urocolius macrourus) travelled to the zoo in Pilsen.

The expectation of natural breeding of greater yellownapes (Picus flavinucha mystacalis) did not come true. The yellownapes nested once only and the egg did not hatch.

In the group of singing birds that became the largest bred family in the last few years, we managed the breedings of almost all the target species. The most pleasing is the breakthrough at the laughingthrushes. Out of the seven bred species, five reproduced. The regularly nesting black-throated laughingthrush (Garrulax chinensis) this time hatched 4 little ones from one load. It is an unexpected exception for the species where the two little ones were a rule and there was even a fifth unfertilised egg. European unique breeding is the 4 little ones hatched form one nest of Omei Shan liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis). The European first breeding is the little one of Sunda laughingthrush (Garrulax palliatus), closer to that is rufous-fronted laughingthrush (Garrulax rufifrons) as it reproduced once only in Tierpark Berlin. The first Czech breeding is the three little red-tailed laughingthrushes (Garrulax milnei). A couple of black headed sibias (Heterophasia desgodinsi) in the Sichuan pavilion is still waiting for the breeding as the three nesting attempts were not successful. We divided bearded tits (Panurus biarmicus) into two groups for the season; the first more numerous stayed in the go-through aviary wilderness around us and one pair went to Sichuan for a try. While in the go-through aviary the birds did not find the peace to nest, the pair in Sichuan hatched at the third attempt two little ones. Unfortunately, due to the “tired” textile curtains, in the course of the summer several individuals of various species managed to escape from the pavilion e.g. the breeding female of orange-headed thrush (Zoothera citrina) with her little one, several Japanese white-eyes and the female of bearded tit. In order to prevent these losses in the future we changed the original decorative curtains for stripes of plastic foil that are not so nice but much safer.

Red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) easily adapted to the two movements in one year and after the winter spent with waldrapp ibises they nested in the smaller aviary of the pheasantry. The experienced pair of ravens (Corvus corax) hatched the usual five little ones.

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More articles in ... Annual report 2006

• The economic report
• The public
• Breeding - Introduction
• Breeding - Mammals (except ungulates)
• Breeding - Mammals (ungulates)
• Breeding - Przewalski´s Horse
• Breeding - Veterinary care
• Breeding - CITES Centre
• Breeding - In-situ projects
• Breeding - Reptiles
• Operation and maintenance
• Construction activities
• The staff