By Graeme Phipps

In an early issue of the newsletter of the AFA Conservation Committee, RARES (Rescue And Research in Endangered Species), a listing was done of threatened and near threatened native and exotic avian species, and analogues of those species in Australian aviculture. The data were drawn from matching species lists of birds then thought to figure in Australian aviaries to the publication "Birds to Watch 2: The World List of Threatened Birds" by Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield. This was published by Birdlife International and was subtitled as "The Official Source for Birds on the IUCN (that is, the World Conservation Union) Red List."

The purpose of the listing was to draw the attention of the avicultural community to the number of species in their collections which qualified for much more coordinated captive management. This is nothing more than good practice anyway - we would not want these species dying out in Australia; the more so because they are populations of species now listed as threatened or near threatened. When you scan this list you will note species such as the Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora, a common cagebird; and also the Golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus - again common. This suggests a couple of things. One, doing threatened species work is available to anyone - threatened species no longer equals expensive; and Two - where do you think it is all going to end? If a Java Sparrow has its survival under threat in the wild, how can we know what species currently common in aviculture might end up representing important "insurance policies" for species in the wild. Or to put it another way, we have an obligation to responsibly manage all species in our care.

At the last Exotic Bird Committee meeting, it was suggested that this article, revised and updated should be published in the NEBRS Newsletter. Since the NEBRS newsletter is only concerned with EXOTIC species, no native species are mentioned. Australian native species should receive particular attention. Many are unknown to aviculture outside Australia. There is the opportunity for these species to be kept in climatic conditions similar to the wild, thus avoiding the problem of birds adapting too closely to captive conditions over generations. Additionally , there is the opportunity to be integrated with conservation efforts of these species in the wild.

So things are grim for a lot of species. Study the list and think about it. Maybe take the view that you are the one who is going to make a difference. You would be surprised how much the fortunes of a species can be affected positively by the focused work of just one person.

The codes against the species are as follows: CR= Critically Endangered, which means that the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. EN = Endangered. This means that the species is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. VU= vulnerable, which means that the species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium- term future. NT= Near Threatened is what it says. Included in these categories are a series of criteria which include consideration of A, whether the species is in rapid decline; B if it has small range, plus if the populations are fragmented, declining or fluctuating; C whether the population overall is small and is declining; D if it has a very small population and E if the species has received an unfavourable Population Viability Assessment as a result of a workshop.

Common Name	Scientific Name	Conservation Status
Black-breasted Buttonquail	Turnix melanogaster	EN
Chestnut-backed Buttonquail	Turnix castanota	VU
Flock Bronzewing	Phaps histrionica	NT
Partridge Pigeon	Geophaps smithii	NT
Palm Cockatoo	Probosciger aterrimus	NT
White-tailed or Baudin's Black-Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus baudinii	VU
Slender-billed Black-Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus latirostris	VU
Glossy Black-Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus lathami	VU
Pink or Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo	Cacatua leadbeateri	NT
Western Corella	Cacatua pastinator	NT
Superb Parrot	Polytelis swainsoni	VU
Princess Parrot	Polytelis alexandrae	VU
Golden-shouldered Parrot	Psephotus chrysopterygius	EN
Hooded Parrot	Psephotus dissimilis	NT
Turquoise Parrot	Neophema pulchella	NT
Scarlet-chested Parrot	Neophema splendida	VU
Swift Parrot	Lathamus discolor	EN
Red-eared Firetail	Emblema occulata	NT
Star Finch	Neochmia ruficauda	VU
Gouldian Finch	Chloebia gouldiae	EN
southern Black-throated Finch	Poephila cinta cinta	VU
Yellow-rumped Munia	Lonchura flaviprymna	NT
Pictorella Munia	Lonchura pectoralis	NT

A List of Threatened Native Australian Subspecies Relevant to Australian Aviculture,
additional to Table 1.

A List of Threatened Native Australian Species,
normally not in private aviculture but for which a contribution may be possible.

The species in this list, if in captivity at all, are usually in zoos or in government run installations and are not normally available to private aviculturists. However they are all either easy to breed in captivity or belong to families that are often kept. Therefore it is possible that aviculturists may at some time in the future be invited to become involved in captive breeding programs for these birds. Whether or not that happens will probably depend on credibility, that is, how the species currently available are being handled. The CC’s aviary accreditation project is obviously of relevance here.

Species currently in Aviculture which are analogues for Threatened Species.

Analogue species can be used in a number of ways to assist the conservation of their endangered relatives. For instance, husbandry manuals can be developed, which can be applied to a breeding program for the threatened species. Life table data can be obtained which can then be used by biologists in planning recovery programs. The following list of analogue species could be extended - think about it.

NB. In particular I would like to highlight the opportunity, - one might even say, duty as relates to Pittas. This is a small family of only 26 species, yet look at the shocking state that they are in. 7 species are threatened with extinction: Schneider’s Pitta Pitta schneideri VU; Gurney’s Pitta P. gurneyi CR; Superb Pitta P.superba VU; Azure-breasted Pitta P.steerii VU; Whiskered Pitta P. kochi VU; Fairy Pitta P. nympha VU; Black-faced Pitta P. anerythra VU.

And another 7 species are NEAR THREATENED, namely Blue-naped Pitta P. nipalensis; Blue-rumped Pitta P. soror; Giant Pitta P. caerulea; Bar-bellied Pitta P. elliotti; Blue- headed Pitta P.baudii; Sula Pitta P. dohertyi and lastly the Mangrove Pitta P. megarhyncha. It would have been easier to list the species that weren’t threatened.

In Australia we do rather well with Noisy Pittas in captivity, certainly enough to be able to construct a quality husbandry manual and provide Life Table data of crucial value to Population and Habitat Viability analysis when workshops are called on these. It should be one of the highest priorities as far as the CC is concerned. In fact, holding a PHVA on Gurney’s Pitta ( or a CAMP on all Pittas done with a PHVA on Gurney’s Pitta) using Noisy Pitta data would be a very major positive conservation contribution from the captive community of this region.

Threatened Australian Bird Taxa for which Captive Breeding may play a
Significant Role in their Long-term Conservation

This listing is derived from a DRAFT discussion paper circulated by Stephen Garnett, and is extracted from the draft Action Plan for Australian Birds by Stephen Garnett and Gabriel Crowley. This shows considerable lateral thinking on the part of Stephen, as outlined in his excellent presentation at the June 1999 International Avicultural Convention in Brisbane, and is an opportunity that should not be ignored. Again, the CC is going to coordinate a response and a mechanism from the private perspective and seeks to encourage and involve new players, not just existing bird breeders -who currently do not demonstrate great interest in captive conservation project work.

Stephen has given some indications against these suggested populations about what needs doing in his view. When the list is scanned, and having in mind the background of current avicultural practice I cannot see any that would be unreasonable. Painted snipe would be an interesting challenge- although they have been kept at Taronga Zoo; I guess that Night Parrots may end up being far easier to manage in captivity than Ground Parrots have turned out to be thus far; Azure kingfishers will be a challenge; the honeyeaters will all be ok if people are clear about their behavioral needs; Chats will be no problem, likewise Whistlers. Shrike-tits are fairly aggressive, but should be ok. All in all a very interesting list, and one which helps focus on where energies should be applied.

Two species I had on my list no longer figure in Australian aviaries: the Green-cheeked parrotfinch Erythrura viridifacies, and the Yellow, or as it was more usually called, the Green Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata. A third, the Yellow-headed Amazon was listed by me as Amazona ochrocephala; however "Birds to Watch" lists this as Amazona oratrix. So I concede to a possible nomenclatural error.

On the other hand there are some additions. Since my listing, four species need to be added: three of which were in zoos- thus I thought weren't relevant to my article which was more for private aviculture; and one which I knew was here but overlooked that the species was in trouble in the wild. The zoo species are the Greater Rhea Rhea americana, the Brown Kiwi Apteryx australis and the Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria. The fourth is the Moluccan King-parrot Alisterus amboinensis, otherwise known as Amboina Kings. However there are very few of these indeed.

A further five threatened species need to be added: Salmon-crested cockatoos Cacatua moluccensis, White Cockatoo Cacatua alba, Blue-winged Macaw Ara maracana, Blue-throated Conure, or as BTW2 has it, Blue-chested parakeet Pyrrhura cruentata and the Red-crowned Parrot, listed in BTW2 as the Green-cheeked Amazon Amazona viridigenalis.

The easiest explanation is that they were here and I just didn't know about them. Possibly this is a function of all those secretive little old ladies, generally maiden aunties, who I am told keep to themselves and live in the back blocks of Australia and drop off the perch bequeathing collections of unusual birds to grateful nephews or nieces.

Seriously however, it does appear that we have excellent opportunity to do some very good captive management. People might form themselves into breeder consortiums. The CC can help with the details of program setup etc. or we might produce further articles to suggest what we hope will be helpful directions. Why not think about some of the species in the list below as club or society-based programs? It would add a worthwhile dimension to aviculture and encourage new membership.

Note that the list includes Schedule 9 species, that is, those that are exempt from the registration scheme.

Threatened Exotic Species currently in Austalian Aviaries.