Abstract
Birds of all varieties, but particularly
waterfowl, pheasants, parrots, as well as
some exotic finches, have for centuries
fascinated man to such a point that he
has been moved to painstakingly provide
for them in captivity, strictly for aesthetic
or ornamental purposes. Of the 8,650
surviving species of birds in the world,
the wildfowl perhaps best lend themselves
to captive display and propagation;
not only because many are colorful and
strikingly patterned, but also because of
their dispositions, habits and minimal
maintenance requirements. However, the
role of propagation in a controlled environment
did not become significant as a
major conservation consideration until
the 20th century.