Breeding history and husbandry of the Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana).

Abstract

The Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) has been held by the San Diego Zoo for more than 50 years, but the population remained in low numbers until the mid-1990s. A previous article published in 1997 documented the beginning of the rise in the population; however, no new information has been published since that time. Over the past 25 years, behavioral observations by animal staff have led to improvements in husbandry techniques, which includes artificial incubation of eggs and hand-rearing of chicks. The ability to simulate a lek with various housing arrangements, in which the males can display with each other, be given access to a female for copulation, and then be separated again has proven paramount for breeding success. Additionally, females are allowed mate choice, further mimicking natural behaviors observed by this species. The refinement of these methods has led to a greater number of fertile eggs as well as higher hatchability and survivability, which in turn has resulted in a significant increase in the captive population.