Book Review: Softbills: Care, Breeding and Conservation

Abstract

W;en the great majority of
ecently published avian
ooks on the market
involve parrot-type birds, it was wonderful
to see a great instructive avicultural
book on the large group of birds
known as softbills.
Of all the types of bird held in captivity
in American aviculture, the most
fragile and most likely to disappear in
our aviaries are members of the softbill
group of birds.
Martin Vince has written an excellent
book on all aspects of the care
and breeding of softbills in captivity.
Having been involved personally in
softbills for many years (Sedgewick
County Zoo, Wichita, Kansas and most
recently at Riverbanks Zoo and
Garden, Columbia, South Carolina),
Martin Vince's expertise in the care of
softbills really shows in this book.
Other aviculturists can now benefit
from his knowledge. I personally
appreciate receiving details on avicultural
techniques from someone who
has first hand experience in the successes
and failures that have occurred
in collections of softbills.
The book begins with an introduction
that defines the term "softbill."
Softbilled birds do not have soft bills.
Softbilled birds eat soft food. In the
main, it is their food which is soft,
r;Jther th;Jn their hills.
Having gotten that out of the way,
Vince's first chapter is called "Acclimating
and Establishing. " and tells
how to begin with new softbills in
your aviaries. This is crucial as many
softbills are rather delicate-especially
those imported from their native habitat
which may be much different than

the environment in your aviaries. The
first step, says Vince, is to provide the
newly arrived birds with as enticing a
diet as possible. Their high metabolism
demands that they consume food frequently-
usually fruits, and livefood.
Only gradually can one introduce artificial
food.
The same chapter also talks about
transferring the birds outdoors. I tells
which groups of birds are winter-delicate
and which are winter-hardy. And
it gives some guidelines on feeding the
birds in the cooler locations. The chapter
ends by saying it takes a full year to
get the softbills as acclimated as they
will ever be.
Chapter Two is ''Purchasing a
So.ftbill. " It outlines a number of questions
to ask and things to look for
before your purchase. I tells how to
inspect a bird and what to look for.
''Housing" is the title of chapter
three. Here you'll learn how to build a
flight cage, how to plan for an outdoor
aviary and flight, plan for an indoor
aviary and flight, the use of greenhouses
and ma~y other helpful hints
on how to make homes for your softbills.
One of the nicest things about a collection
of softbills is that plants, in
many sizes and varieties, will usually
beautify the aviary and enhance the
happiness of the birds. From an aesthetic
standpoint, a well planted softbill
aviary is a joy to behold. You all
know how long a beautiful plant will
last in a parrots aviary. Most softbills do
not share the parrot's destructive
nature. Chapter four is entitled
''Plants. "It contains excellent and specific
advice on how best to use plants

in connection with softhills and provides
a long list of plants considered
safe and another list of potentially
toxic plants.
There is a "Catching and Handling"
chapter and then two long chapters on
"Diets and feeding Techniques" and
"Nutrition." these chapters are quite
detailed and can be referred to time
and again as you work with your softbills.

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