Gruiformes in AZA institutions- past, present, and future Robert Webster Curator of Birds The Toledo Zoo

This presentation… …is a summary of Gruiformes populations in North American ISIS institutions Program species are stressed as are some that could be (esp among smaller taxa)

Buttonquail These are the perky pocket-sized members of this amazingly diverse order of birds They are not Coturnix of the Galliformes (It is possible a high percentage of “Turnix” listed in ISIS may not belong to the Gruiformes at all)

Buttonquail

AZA populations have been ephemeral in past, despite breeding Current pop of Madagascan Buttonquail has few founders, but species is perfect to fill ground niche in smaller exhibits and is not aggressive to others.

Buttonquail At Toledo, our males have raised their children well. Our first hen could be left with youngsters, but subsequent hens could not (as in wild.) Females are larger, more brightly colored

Buttonquail Small exhibits fine (though have worked in larger spaces too) Not particularly shy birds Chicks are the size of a nickel (or barkchip)…so must use caution around Breeding life of 3-5 years, but birds have lived to be 8 yrs old Potentially explosive breeders, but to keep this species going, we need more institutions willing to house

Stanley & Demoiselle Cranes

Stanley (or Blue) Crane Studbook in need of PMP 2007 pop of 51 birds– lowest it has been in at least 21 years Few zoos breeding Vulnerable in wild

Demoiselle Crane PMP-to-be? 2007 population of 72 birds half of 1990 total Smallest crane – can mix where others cannot Very little breeding last five years Least Concern in wild

Wattled & Whooping Cranes

Whooping Crane One of THE conservation stories of this group / of North American fauna Zoo pop – last three years – higher than it has ever been; even with releases Endangered in wild

Wattled Crane Active SSP …looking for additional space for these large, powerful cranes 2007 pop of 57 birds is 21-year low, but only ~20 birds off all- time high Vulnerable in wild

Sarus Crane

PMP AZA pop has been stable last few years at around 40 birds, but this is a 1/3 of 1991 population Vulnerable in wild

Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill Crane The common crane for North American exhibits Total AZA pop of 295 birds including 99 Florida & 64 Mississippi Least Concern in wild as species, but Mississippi subspecies is listed as Endangered

Red-crowned & White-naped Cranes

White-naped Crane Active SSP looking for space to grow population AZA pop of 58 birds is 21-year low for this species (~30 birds off early ’90’s high) Vulnerable in the wild

Red-crowned (or Manchurian) Crane Active SSP AZA pop (of 80 birds) is largest it has been in 20 years Endangered in wild

Siberian, Black-necked, & Hooded Cranes

Hooded, Siberian, & Black-necked Crane Hooded Crane PMP AZA pop (of 21 birds) is ½ of late ’90’s pop Vulnerable in wild Siberian Crane Current AZA pop of 19 birds Critically Endangered in wild Black-necked Crane Current AZA pop of 11 birds Vulnerable in wild

Crowned Cranes

West African (or Black) Crowned Crane PMP Fairly stable AZA pop of ~100 birds for last 20+ years Subspecies in the mix Near Threatened in the wild

East African (or Grey) Crowned Crane Most numerous crane in AZA institutions (with 302 birds in 2007) Breeds regularly at a number of zoos Least Concern in wild – but known to be declining in several regions

Exotic Rails I

Exotic Rails Historically, a difficult group to manage Mix well … usually. Some individuals can raid others’ nests & potential nocturnal activity of some species could wreck havoc with exhibit mates Some species can breed explosively & chicks have been difficult to place … thus need for committed managers/holders

Exotic Rails – patterns repeating? Red-and-white Crake had pop of ~50 birds 20 years ago & crashed dramatically, despite breeding well Banded Rail has exploded in last three years to 79 birds What’s next…?

Exotic Rails- the persevering ones Grey-necked Wood Rail & Purple Swamphen have managed to maintain populations of birds for last 21 years Both are partially diurnal & very vocal Potential program species?

Exotic Rails II

Exotic Rails – those that are managed or soon shall be Black Crake PMP to be? Current pop of 69 birds not far off all-time high Climb everywhere & very vocal Guam Rail Active SSP with release component

US Rails

Aside from excellent Light-footed Clapper Rail raise & release project, little work done with native rails… despite rather large populations in recent past of some species & the fact that most species have bred in captivity Ambassadors for declining wetlands Sora American Coot Purple Gallinule

Bustards

Kori Bustard Active SSP Current AZA pop: 60 birds Numerous conservation projects Buff-crested Bustard Active PMP AZA pop (37 birds) at all time high – due to imports & breeding White-bellied Bustard DERP at this time Current AZA pop: 22 birds (21-year high)

Trumpeter, Sunbittern, & Seriema – 3 PMPs

Common (or Grey-winged) Trumpeter PMP to be Current AZA pop of 51 birds Need more institutions breeding birds

Red-legged Seriema Active PMP AZA pop at a 20+ year high of 53 birds

Sunbittern PMP AZA pop more than doubled (to current 104 birds) since 1986 Mixes well with just about anything – tough enough to defend own nest, but not predatory toward others’

The future… As has been seen, AZA’s work with Gruiformes runs the gamut of success… from programs for reintroduction to the wild (Guam Rail)… to populations that bred well and yet still disappeared (Red-and-White Crake.) We have relatively new programs taking their species to new levels of breeding success (Red-legged Seriema, Kori Bustard), while some of the oldest bird programs of all, for most of the cranes, are struggling to find space to grow their populations.

The future… The diversity of Gruiformes is astounding …from the tiny Madagascan Buttonquail to the titanic Kori Bustard, from the high-speed dashes of the Black Crake to the graceful dances of the White- naped Crane, from the dazzling visuals of the Sunbittern to the dazzling audios of the Red- legged Seriema… surely there is room in your institution for (more) members of this outstanding order of birds!