The Summer meeting of the Bird of Paradise Species Interest Committee held July 9^th at the Bronx Zoo was a great success. Attendance was good and the weather was beautiful. Following the meeting, we all had the opportunity to explore the avicultural wonders of the Bronx Zoo. We were all impressed by their new Bird of Paradise exhibit, off exhibit breeding facility. (Not to mention the Carmine Bee-eater exhibit and Jungle World.)

First, I must thank everyone at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society for making the BOPSIC possible by providing the space and logistical support. Special thanks to Chris Sheppard and Don Bruning for facilitating the event and bringing in all the WCS personnel who work with BOPs to share their experiences with us. Chris Sheppard went even further and had the entire group over to her house for a delicious buffet dinner and socializing following the meeting. This was a great opportunity to talk in depth with our fellow SIC members and exchange ideas and information in a relaxed and informal setting. Patty Cooper of WCS created an excellent display of work with the Lesser and Red Bird of Paradise at the Bronx Zoo. The display contained photos, log books, and artifacts of work with their BOPs.

I also would like to thank all those that attended for their input and their willingness to volunteer for projects to get the BOPSIC’s goals and objectives accomplished.

Special thanks is given to Dave Rimlinger for completing the Bird of Paradise bibliography and to Martin Vince and Jack Bellinger for mounting of our BOPSIC website.

After reviewing the previous Action List and updating the attendees on progress, the next item on the agenda was set the priorities for the New Action List. The following is the results agreed upon by the committee members present. There may be some slight redundancy with the review of the previous Action List.

1. Develop short 1-2 page information sheets on Bird of Paradise species. (2.2)

John Rowden, the curatorial intern at the Bronx Zoo, and Wendy Worth, curatorial assistant at the Bronx Zoo, volunteered to develop and write up these short information sheets on the various Bird of Paradise species in North American Zoos

2. Develop husbandry protocols on species. (2.5)

Kurt Hundgen is the facilitator for setting the format for the husbandry protocols

3. Management book 60-120 pages for Bird of Paradise (2.5)

This will be a compilation of the husbandry protocols developed by the various facilitators assigned to each species of Bird of Paradise.

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

This is an ongoing project. All proceedings of the BOPSIC are currently posted there.

5. Develop Research program to identify factors which inhibit or stimulate reproduction in Birds of Paradise. (3.1)

Each institution agreed to write up an independent list and submit it at the next meeting of the BOPSIC.

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

A veterinary advisory panel has been instigated and will be headed by Meg Ferrell DVM of the Honolulu Zoo. Several suggestions have been made for choices of vets to sit on the panel. These nominees will be contacted by Meg Ferrell and asked to join the panel. Once the panel is chosen, they will review all records of health problems with Birds of Paradise and make recommendations for better husbandry.

Ellen Dierenfeld of the WCS has agreed to head up an advisory panel of nutritionists. She has already contacted some nutritionist and is putting together a panel. The main issues that they will address are: 1) supplying nutrition citations for bibliographical references for the BOP husbandry manual. 2) Writing the diet recommendations section for husbandry manual. 3) Documenting a handrearing diet section for the husbandry manual. 4) Compiling a list of the iron content (calculated and actual) in commercial products fed to birds of paradise and 5) detailing a protocol for obtaining liver samples for Iron assay.

A note on item 5). Ellen Dierenfeld has requested that samples of livers from all necropsied bird of paradise. Protocols are being set up to facilitate the transport of specimens. This is a very important project that will help in research into the cause of Hemosiderosis.

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

Captive Populations of Birds of Paradise are currently being set up at Wau. Peter Luscomb is providing assistance in constructing facilities and with keeper instruction. In Lae, Paul Zabarowskis is providing much the same help to the Rainforest Habitat facility at the University of PNG. This facility is under the direction of Peter Clark. (See results of previous action list, preceding page)

8. Develop educational material for New Guinea school system. (4.4)

The development of educational material for New Guinea school system is in need of a leader. Don Bruning suggested that we contact Ann Berkowitz of WCS. Educational work is being developed at the Rainforest Habitat at the University at Lae.

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

The new Action List as set the BOPSIC at theJuly 9, ’97 meeting in New York.

Thank You to all those who participated for your help in making this meeting a success.

Curator of Birds
Honolulu Zoo