Results of the BOPSIC meeting, September 12, 1998

The time allotted us for the BOPSIC was not quite enough to cover all the topic we needed to address, so a short meeting was held following the second AIG meeting on 9/15/98. There were some individuals that could not attend either meeting of the BOPSIC, but I attempted to meet with those people and update them on BOPSIC activities.

First item on the agenda was to review previous Action List. The numbers in parenthesis refer to items on the BOPSIC Goals and Objectives.

1) Review of Previous Action List

a) Develop husbandry protocols on species. (2.5)

Participants were asked to review the husbandry protocol format that was included in each attendees packet. Comments on this format were solicited. If you did not attend the meeting and would like a copy, please email, call or fax me for one. There is supposed to be a WCMC protocol for husbandry manuals; I am currently trying to locate it.

b) Management book, 60-120 pages for Birds of Paradise. (2.5)

This will be a compilation of husbandry protocols for each species. Draft has been started on husbandry protocols for the Magnificent BOP. Others will be started soon.

c) Continue development of home page on the internet. (2.4)

The home page has been up for some time, but needs to be updated. Special Thanks to Martin Vince and Jack Bellinger. Please submit articles or photos that can be included on the web site to James Mejeur.

d) Develop research program to identify factors, which inhibit or stimulate reproduction in Birds of Paradise. (3.1)

The group decided that it is still a bit early to branch into research. We did have the good fortune to have Melinda Pruett-Jones attend the BOPSIC meeting. She is a behaviorist currently working out of the Brookfield Zoo and has a great deal of experience with BOPs in PNG. Melinda has agreed to help us in an advisory capacity in the future.

e) Determine health concerns with Birds of Paradise in captivity and develop programs to mitigate health and nutrition problems. (3.3)

I had the good fortune to be introduced to Dr. Don Jannsson of the San Diego Zoo. He agreed to find a vet from his staff to be on the Veterinary advisory committee. Dr. Jannsson also felt that San Diego would be a good site for the BOP health records repository. I will be working with him over the next few months to organize this committee. I also approached Dr. Bob Cook from the Bronx Zoo about involving one of his staff members in the BOPSIC vet committee. If the BOPSIC vet committee is a success, we may try to branch out as an umbrella vet advisory committee for the PACT-TAG. First, we will have to see how it goes for the BOPSIC.

Chris Sheppard gave an update on diets for handfed BOPs and news on reformulation of the Ziegler BOP pellets. I will ask her post a more detailed update on the BOPSIC list-serve in the near future.

f) Establish captive population of Birds of Paradise in Papua New Guinea and establishment of a Bird of Paradise sanctuary. (4.1 and 4.3)

Don Bruning gave an update on the successes of Rainforest Habitat in Lae, PNG. They have excellent off exhibit breeding facilities and exhibit enclosures. At Wau Ecology Institute, work has progressed on renovating the zoo. All the dilapidated enclosures have been removed and plans are in the works to ship new breeding and exhibit cages to the site.

g) Develop educational material for New Guinea school system (4.4)

Don Bruning gave a brief overview of the current Teacher Training Program at Rainforest Habitat. There was also some discussion on developing a program similar to what Paul Baker has done for Caribbean Parrots. There will be a more detailed update in the future on the BOPSIC list-serve.

h) Conduct a semi-annual review of all actions. Set date for next meeting. (6.3)

The date for the next BOPSIC meeting will be at the Eastern Regional Meeting in Pittsburgh in April ‘99

2) Review current prospects of acquisition of Birds of Paradise from Papua New Guinea.

Don Burning gave us an update on the Wildlife Conservation Societies’ attempt to ship birds out of PNG last June. It appeared that the birds would be allowed to leave the country but at the last minute problems with shipping of the birds developed. At present, the outlook does not look good for shipments in the near future, although we are remaining optimistic. There is a possibility that a few birds that have been bred at Jurong Bird Park in Singapore may be available. San Diego is investigating this possibility.

3) Set New Action Priorities

Placement of Birds of Paradise in participating institutions

The surplus Lesser and Red Bird of Paradise at the Bronx have been placed in the Köln and Chester Zoos respectively. There are still a couple of Magnificent BOPs at Honolulu that will be sent out. If all goes well, there should be more Magnificent BOPs for placement this next breeding season.

There will some movement of birds between Honolulu and San Diego to maximize the breeding of egg laying females.

Opening up to European and Asian Zoos

Kurt Hundgen met with Zoos in Britain earlier this year. As a result, Red BOPs were sent to the Chester Zoo and they have joined the BOPSIC.

Patty Cooper will be traveling to Jurong Bird Park in Singapore in the near future. Hopefully she will talk with the people there about the BOPSIC. San Diego Zoo has made some contact with Jurong previously and there may be a possibility of receiving captive bred BOPs from them.

BOP Studbooks

The Red BOP and Lesser BOP studbooks are due out early January ’99. Congratulations to Kurt Hundgen and Patty Cooper for their efforts.

A studbook has been started for Magnificent BOPs at the Honolulu Zoo. Information and specimen reports for Raggiana and Superb BOPs has been given to San Diego and those studbooks should be started soon.

Now that the WCMC has come out with new guidelines and the TAGs will sanction new studbooks, it should be a bit easier to get official studbooks for Mag, Raggi, and Superb BOPs. It is essential that we manage our populations so that we will have them in the future. There is a possibility that once we get our studbooks completed, we can get help from SPMAG (Small Population Management Advisory Group) to better manage our birds genetically.

Fund raising for Conservation Purposes

It was the consensus of the group that the best use for conservation funds was education. There are some education programs ongoing in PNG and once we have sufficient funds, we will decide to which institutions the funds will be appropriated.

Ideas for fundraising were presented. Other ideas for fundraising were given.

Where should funds be directed?

Obviously the funds will be directed to PNG. This will be a topic of discussion with the steering committee (once appointed).

Education?

Conservation NGO’s in PNG?

Other Ideas

Fundraising options

"Video jukebox" or "rainforest meter"?

I suggested that a "video jukebox" be developed that for a small donation, the courtship displays of the BOPs could be shown and described. It would be a fun and educational and a good way to show off these incredible displays even when the birds are not performing. Jon Seltz suggested that someone from the Sedgwick County Zoo might be interested in developing the plans for this project.

"PNG Coffee"?

Don Bruning was one step ahead of us and brought 29 bags of New Guinea Coffee. This is shade and organically grown coffee. It is very attractively packaged with pictures of Bird of Paradise on the labels. It was a big hit! All the coffee was sold for $10 per bag before I left the hotel that evening. As a result, $295 was raised (I sold the empty carton for an extra $5) for our BOPSIC conservation fund. An account has been set up for the funds. Initially, we will use some of the money to purchase additional coffee to be sold in various Zoo gift shops. Judging from the initial response, coffee should be a good fundraiser.

Other Ideas?

It was suggested that once the BOP management manual is completed, monies from the sale of it should go into the conservation fund. This suggestion had favorable comment and will be voted on when the manual is completed.

Form an exhibit and interpretation committee?

Discuss exhibit and interpretation of Birds of Paradise.

There was discussion about exhibition and interpretation of BOPs. Suggestions were made for a resource repository and educational advisors. It was decided though that it is still too early and the BOPSIC has too many other projects in progress to add another. This project will be for a future time or if the right person volunteers to take it on.

i. Props and photos
ii. Graphics text
iii. How best to showcase birds and breeding displays?
iv. Tie-in with eco-tourism.

Discuss standard data collection system

Pat Whitman volunteered to set up protocols or standard for a data collection system. Chris Sheppard suggested that we ask Patty Cooper to participate in this also. The type of information that is need will also be addressed.

Steering Committee?

Who should be on the Steering Committee

It was decided that all zoos currently holding BOPs should have a voting member on the steering committee. Other interested parties can also be non-voting members.

Nominations for Steering Committee

Curators from each zoo will decide who the Institutional representative and steering committee member will be.

Vote on Steering Committee members

No vote was held. Appointments will be taken care of using email or at the next meeting of the BOPSIC.

          Set date for next meeting

It was voted by the attendees at the meeting to schedule the next meeting for the BOPSIC at the Eastern Regional AZA Meeting in Pittsburgh in April. It will be held in conjunction with the Bird Curators meetings and workshop.