Institution: Disney�s
Animal Kingdom
Contact person:� Lyn Heller and Susan Congdon
Phone number:� (407) 938-2684
Email address:
1.� Please list sexes and species of bee-eaters currently held at your institution.
�2.4 Merops n. nubicus
2.� Note method and
company used to sex your birds.
Unsure.� Received already sexed.
3. Describe how your birds are banded and discuss any band problems you have had.
Colored metal open leg bands are used.� Due to the size of the exhibit we have�difficulty seeing the bands.
4. Please describe your bee-eater diet, including use of beehives, other live food, coloring agents offered.
Large mealworms dusted with 2 parts betatene to 1 part each of Emeraid II and Necton S.� The mealworms are tossed into the air 2-3 times daily and caught by the birds. Naturally occurring insects are also regularly eaten. We will be offering live bees as soon as spring arrives.
5.� Please describe your bee-eater exhibits and holding spaces in detail � dimensions, inside or outside, water areas, species exhibited together, etc.
The birds are housed in a 120�x50�x40� outside walk-through African aviary.
The aviary is well
planted with many large trees, shrubs, and flowering plants.� There is a large 2-level waterfall in which
we often observe the bee-eaters bathing.
Other species housed
in the exhibit:
Olive pigeon-Columba arquatrix
African green pigeon- Treron australis
African pygmy geese- Nettapus auritus
Hottentot teal-Anas punctata
White backed ducks-Thalassornis leuconotus
Marbled teal-Marmaronetta angustirostris
White bellied go away bird- Corythaixoides leucogaster
Racquet tailed roller- Coracias spatulata
African grey parrots- Psittacus erithacus
Snowy headed robin chat- Cossypha niveicapilla
Magpie shrike- Corvinella melanoleuca
Hadada ibis- Hagedashia hagedash brevirostris
African jacana- Actophilornis africana
Black crake- Limnocorax flavirostra
Hammerkop- Scopus umbretta
Wattled starling- Creatophora cinerea
Golden breasted starling- Lamprotornis regius
Superb starling- Lamprotornis superbus
Emerald starling-Lamprotornis iris
Amethyst starling- Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Brimstone canary- Serinus sulphuratus
Taveta weaver- Ploceus castaneiceps
White-headed buffalo weaver- Dinemellia dinemelli
Common bulbul- Pycnonotus barbatus
Bearded barbet- Lybius dubius
Madascar red fody- Foudia madagascariensis
African hoopoe- Upupa epops
White-collared kingfisher- Halcyon chloris
6.� Describe any reproductive activity observed and time of year of occurrence.
7.� Describe parent-rearing behaviors and procedures when young are present (incubation periods, diet offered, frequency of feeding by adults, fledging information), and/or artificial incubation and hand-rearing information.
8.� Have you seen any aggressive behaviors in your birds and in what context?� Any other interesting social behaviors observed?
Have observed displacement behavior, wing flashing, and individuals feeding or soliciting feeding from other birds.
9.� Please discuss any acclimation and/or medical problems you have had with your birds.
No problems with current
birds.� We are trying different ideas
to encourage them to eat from a pan and eat a wider variety of food.
10.� Feel free to add anything else you consider pertinent to bee-eater husbandry.
Please return to Marcia
Arland at [email protected] or
FAX #: (718) 733-7300
Or mail to:
Department of Ornithology
WCS/Bronx Zoo
2300 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10460