AZA Piciformes TAG AZA PICIFORMES TAG STRUCTURE

Chair: Michael Macek, Saint Louis Zoo

Vice- Chair: James Mejeur, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Secretary: Robert Webster, Toledo Zoological Gardens

Steering Committee:Sherry Branch, SeaWorld OrlandoJoe DeGraauw, Nashville Zoo, Inc.Gen Anderson, St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological ParkFred Kromm, Tracy Aviary

Veterinary Advisors:Keith Benson DVM, Riverbanks Zoo and GardenJanis Raines DVM, Dallas Zoo

Keeper Advisor:Vacant

Nutrition Advisor:Deb Schmidt, Saint Louis Zoo

PMC Advisor:Ed Spevak, Saint Louis Zoo

Website Manager:Joe DeGraauw, Nashville Zoo, Inc.Website Address: www.nashvillezoo.org/piciformes/piciformes_start.htm

Listserv Manager:Michael Macek, Saint Louis ZooPiciformes@lists.AZA.org, Toucans@lists.AZA.org

AZA Piciformes TAG TAG MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALSThe mission of the Piciformes Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) is to provide leadership forthe captive management of Piciformes in order to maintain healthy and sustainablepopulations and to support the conservation of relevant species and their habitat.The TAG will strive to fulfill this mission by pursuing the following goals:

• Publish an AZA approved Regional Collection Plan (Next edition draft due 6/1/2015).

• Promote conservation concerns and conservation action to member institutions.

• Achieve excellence in Piciformes husbandry through the production of AnimalCare Manuals: Toucan (in progress), Barbets (in progress), and Woodpeckers.

• Continue to support the Nashville Zoo in its maintenance and development of thePiciformes TAG website: www.nashvillezoo.org/piciformes/piciformes_start.htm

• Facilitate the work of AZA studbook keepers, PMP managers, and SSPcoordinators for Piciformes.

• Function as the principle liaison with other regional specialty groups concernedwith Piciformes. I presented at the ALPZA meeting in 2012 and EAZA in 2014.

• Maintain the Piciformes TAG and Toucan AZA listserves:Piciformes@lists.aza.org, Toucans@lists.AZA.org

http://www.nashvillezoo.org/piciformes/piciformes_start.htmmailto:Piciformes@lists.aza.orgmailto:Toucans@lists.AZA.org

AZA Piciformes TAG PICIFORMES 2009 RCP SPACE SURVEY SUMMARIESRed Text identifies the proportion of spaces attributed to the Dallas World Aquarium

One AZA accredited institution, The Dallas World Aquarium (DWA) currently holds a disproportionatenumbers of Barbets (19%), Aracaris/Toucanets (61%) and Toucans (26%). Future spacesare also disproportionately attributed to the Dallas World Aquarium: Barbets (18%),Aracaris/Toucanets (75%) and Toucans (33%).

Note: The third edition of the RCP will be published this year.

Taxon Current Spaces Future Spaces 2003 Program Spaces 2009 Program Spaces

Woodpeckers 50 101 0 0Barbets 96 (18 or 19% DWA) 252 (46 or 18% DWA) 75-100 180Aracari/Toucanets 284 (174 or 61% DWA) 597 (450 or 75% DWA) 75 180Toucans 198 (52 or 26% DWA) 356 (116 or 33% DWA) 225 300

AZA Piciformes TAG Red and Yellow Barbet (Trachyphonus erythrocephalus)

Red Program Studbook: Mark O’BerryLast Published: 8/21/2013Last Plan: July 2014Current Population: 27/13/2 (42) in 9 InstitutionsGene Diversity: 89.92% currently, projected 11.1% in 100 yearsTarget Population: 80 (at the current growth rate it will 25 years to reach target) EAZA ISIS Population: 36/33/11 (80) in 19 Institutions

Mark O’BerryDisney’s Animal Kingdom407-938-2684Mark.A.O’Berry@Disney.com

STATE OF THE POPULATION

AGE STRUCTURE

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius)

Red Program Studbook: Anne Tieber, Studbook Keeper and SSP CoordinatorLast Published: 2/28/2013Current Population: 28/21/0 (49) in 19 institutionsGene Diversity: 95% currently, projected 54% in 100 yearsTarget Population: 100EAZA ISIS Population: 26/15/6 (47) in 22 institutions

Anne TieberSaint Louis Zoo314-646-4684Tieber@stlzoo.org

State of the Population

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2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

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Hatches/Deaths

Hatches

Deaths

AGE STRUCTURE AND LIFE SPAN

Current ratio is 26.17 (skewed) with most being “breeding age” birds

Optimum breeding age is 1-8 for both sexes

Occasionally will breed past this (11,12,16)

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

Importers

•Penguin International

•The Feathered Wagon

•Bester Birds

•Birds Express

Housing

•Birds do well in single pairs or mixed with ground species.

•Some have had success in larger flights/aviaries, but can be territorial and aggressive to smaller species especially when breeding.

•Moody Gardens having success with a small bachelor group mixed in with parrots.

Space survey (2009)

Results yielded a lot of space available, but even last year, offspring were trying to be placed.

AZA Piciformes TAG Green Aracari (Pteroglossus virdis)

Yellow SSP Program: Kevin Willis, Studbook Keeper and SSP CoordinatorLast Studbook: 2013 Last Plan: May 2013Current Population: 62/65/5 (132) in 38 institutionsGene Diversity: 92.1% currently, Target Population: 150EAZA ISIS Population: 10/17/2 in 9 institutionsNote: In 2012 Mark Myers/Kevin Willis coordinated the exportation of 1.4 “surplus” aracari to EAZA (Birdpark Avifauna, Netherlands). In 2013 anadditional 1.8 were scheduled to be exported to bolster the EEP.

Kevin WillisMinnesota Zoological Garden952-431-9272Kevin.willis@state.mn.us

STATE OF THE POPULATION

AGE STRUCTURE

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG Curl-crested Aracari (Pteroglossus beauharnaesii)

Red Program Studbook: Flavia ParottiLast Published: Not yet Published Current Population: 30/24/3 (57) in 7 InstitutionsTarget Population: 80EAZA ISIS Population: 0/0/2 in 1 Institution

Flavia ParottiCharles Paddock Zoo805-461-7625Fnogueira@atascadero.org

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii)

Red Program Studbook: Lauren SchneiderLast Plan: February 2, 20152015 Plan Population: 12/11/2 (25) in 14 InstitutionsGene Diversity: 84% currently with 0% projected in 100 yearsCurrent 2014 ISIS Population: 13/16/2 (31) in 17 InstitutionsTarget Population: 50EAZA ISIS Population: 2/5/1 in 6 InstitutionsALPZA ISIS Population: 2/0/4 in 4 Institutions

Lauren SchneiderSeaWorld San Antonio716-696-0404lauren.schneider@seaworld.com

STATE OF THE POPULATION

STATE OF THE POPULATION

AGE STRUCTURE

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAGKeel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)

Red Program Studbook: Shannon IrmscherLatest Plan: Upcoming March/April 2015Last Studbook: 11/4/2013 2010 Plan Population: 27.29.1 (57) in 22 Institutions Current Population: 29.20.0 (49) in 19 InstitutionsGene Diversity: 83% currently with 0% projected in 69 yearsTarget Population: 100EAZA ISIS Population: 5.7.2 (14) in 9 InstitutionsALPZA ISIS Population: 9.6.23 (38) in 11 Institutions

Shannon IrmscherMesker Park Zoo & Botanical Garden812-435-6143sirmscher@meskerparkzoo.com

Photo by Bill Palmer

STATE OF THE POPULATION

AGE STRUCTURE

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

Breeding Challenges

31 birds imported from Nicaragua in 2006

Fresno’s pair still the only pair from this group to produce offspring. (Denver has had success with one of the males.)

All other birds entering the population have come from private breeders

Dallas World Aquarium importation

Great genetic diversity from wild caught founders but very little breeding success

Imported birds are about to enter post-reproductive years

Breeding Challenges Need to analyze breeding situations across the

population (workshop)

What is restricting breeding? Habitat size? Temperature? Humidity? Outdoor versus indoor enclosures?

We need to act fast to change husbandry and increase breeding, and to capitalize and the large influx of wild caught genes

A beautiful, charismatic, recognizable species whose future in AZA institutions is in jeopardy

AZA Piciformes TAG Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)

Yellow SSP Program: Melissa ReynoldsLast Plan: December 16, 2014 Current Population: 34/37/4 (75) in 28 institutionsGene Diversity: 94% currently with 0% projected in 100 yearsTarget Population: 100EAZA ISIS Population: 42/34/4 (80) in 34 InstitutionsALPZA ISIS Population: 8/4/4 (16) in 6 InstitutionsNote: In 2005 thirty birds were imported from the wild via a collaborative importation of AZA institutions.

Melissa ReynoldsRiverbank’s Zoo803-779-8717 (1109)mreynolds@riverbanks.org

STATE OF THE POPULATION

AGE STRUCTURE

Has bred

AZA Piciformes TAG

AZA Piciformes TAG

Most species cannot be maintainedfor many more years……

Best chances for Toco Toucan and Green Aracari

Suggestion: Phase out all species except for Toco Toucan and Green Aracari

Hand rearing and upgrading to EEP should be considered for especially TocoToucans

EAZA TAG Recommendations

AZA Piciformes TAG Breeding Toucans in Captivity Workshop

Sunday, March 22, 20153pm-6pmSCHEDULE:•3:00-3:15Introduction, Lauren Schneider, SeaWorld Texas•3:15-3:35 Breeding Ramphastids at the Denver Zoo, John Azua, Denver Zoo•3:35-3:55 Keel-billed Toucan Breeding, Jennifer Wesson, Fresno Chaffee Zoo•3:55-4:15Breeding Behavior in the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Jerry Jennings, Emerald Forest Birds•4:15-4:35Toco Toucan Breeding at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Melissa Reynolds, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden•4:35-4:55 Ramphastid Nutrition, Deb Schmidt, St. Louis Zoo•4:55-5:30Hand-rearing Toucans, Carolina Arruda, Dallas World Aquarium•5:30-6:00Discussion – Identifying Areas of Investigation, Michael Macek, St. Louis Zoo