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STEVENS - PINK-BACKED PELICAN



Pinioning


Chicks at Longleat are pinioned from two to five days old. We prefer

to do this as soon as possible, not only to minimise stress but also because

at this young age the bones are smaller and softer. Pinioning is used as a

necessary means of restraint. Our pelicans are housed in an open enclosure

and if they were full-winged, they could fly out into the park and could fall

prey to large carnivores. Joost Lammers of Vogelpark Avifauna stated that

there they pinion their birds in the first week or as soon as possible. At

Tierpark Berlin they are pinioned at one week old. At Odense Zoo they are

not pinioned at present, but were in the past.


The move outside and integration into the group


At about days 30-36 the chicks are moved into an outdoor exercise pen

but have access to a heat lamp at night. They are moved outdoors so that they

can acclimatise and have the opportunity to move about more and exercise

their wings. They become increasingly messy if they remain inside. At this

stage they are still covered in thick white down although their scapulars,

wing and tail feathers have emerged. As they get bigger the nest baskets are

changed and the floor is lined with straw and lime twigs. Water is available

ad-lib from a large container. It is important that the young pelicans get the

opportunity to walk about by the age of about one month (Kaiser, 2006). The

nest area is surrounded by a low wooden barrier, which the young pelicans

perch on whilst exercising their wings.


At days 70-80 or thereabouts the young birds are moved from the

exercise pen and introduced to the main group of pelicans in the safari park.

The young birds are placed on the island, which has a small wooden house

incorporated onto it. The low wooden surround (the wooden barrier above)

is put around the house so that the birds have something they are familiar

with. Initially the young pelicans are fed on the island and are then gradually

encouraged to feed on the other side of the lake with the rest of the group.

It is when they start feeding with the other pelicans that they become more

confident about taking to the water, which for some does not seem to come

naturally. The adults tend to show little interest in the new arrivals and will

even permit them to stand on their nesting platforms. Three pelicans raised

in 2005 took over one section of the platforms and used this as their main

roosting site. There does seem to be some imprinting behaviour, especially

at feeding times when they become very vocal and partake in head-wagging

and wing-thrashing. Johnsgard (1993) stated that these movements are a

sign of begging for food. After a couple of months they grow out of this

and start conducting themselves in a more mature manner and become less

dependent on the keepers.



