Abstract
As the movement of birds between
different countries becomes increasingly
restricted, one avicultural group
that will become increasingly more
difficult to maintain in aviculture will
be softbills. Already, as the number of
species imported into the United
Kingdom (U.K.) has dwindled, a harsh
spotlight is being cast on some species
as to whether or not they can be realistically
sustained as a captive population
in future years. This situation has
seen many formerly common species
become scarce and by comparison
some formerly rare species, with the
aid of concentrated avicultural attention,
becoming well established. One
species which has managed to establish
itself in U.K. aviculture during
recent years is the Lilac-breasted
Roller (Coracias caudata).
I have long rated birds of the genus
Coracias among my personal favorites.
Birdworld Bird Park in Farnham,
England, currently maintains three
species from this genus. Out of these it
is the Lilac-breasted Roller which was
the first to breed and has proved to be
the most productive species, the other
two species which are the European
(C. garralus) and the Racquet-tailed
(C.spatulata) have not, to date,
matched the level of successful breeding
that has been achieved with the
former.
The stout, prominent physical posture
of rollers make them impressive
aviary birds. Measuring up to 30 em
(11-1/ 2 inches) in overall length,
they have a stocky, rounded body
with short, broad wings and tail. The
head is pronounced as with all the
Coraciformes. This bold stature of the
bird is enhanced by their preference
for roosting in a high, prominent position.
In the wild they can frequently
be seen sitting on top of telegraph
poles and are visible from some distance.
In captivity a high central perch
will soon be adopted as the regular
perching position within an aviary.
The call consists of a short series of
chattering notes.
In coloration, the Lilac-breasted Roller
shares the usual color scheme of
other Coracias species. Various pastel
shades of brown, beige and white
combine over the head and down the
back which contrast strikingly against
the varying shades of light to royal
blue which cover much of the wings
and under body in a typical Coracias
pattern. The Lilac-breasted Roller, as
its common name suggests, stands
easily distinguishable from its close
relatives because of the rich lilac band
across the lower neck and chest.
Fledging birds have exactly the same
plumage patterns as their parents as
soon as they leave the nest, although
the coloration could be described as
being softer and not quite as intense
in its brightness. The bird in the
accompanying photograph was
among the first Lilac-breasted Rollers
to be reared at Birdworld and is photographed
here at five months of age.
The wild distribution of this bird
covers Somalia and Ethiopia through
east and central Africa. Although sporadically
available throughout avicultural
history, the Lilac-breasted Roller
has never been considered to be
"commonly kept" and has only
recently begun to be consistently bred
in reasonable numbers.
The husbandry requirements of Coracias
rollers are easily met. Accommodation,
in the form of a large
planted aviary will suit them. In England
and other temperate countries of
the world, the additional need of a
heated shelter for the winter period
will be required. Although rollers are
generally hardy they are particularly
prone to suffering from foot problems
during periods of cold weatl1er. High
aviaries are much preferred by rollers
who seem to enjoy perching in a
prominent position, but only if this is
available well above human head
height. Aviaries which allow for the
nest box to be situated in a high position
also seem to prove to be much
more successful. The diet at Birdworld
for rollers consists of equal parts of
fruit and a meat mix. The fruit segment
of the diet is made up from a
variety of seasonally available fruits.
The meat mix contains minced ox
heart, soaked S.D.S. Zoo pellets and a
commercial insectivorous mix. Live
food is supplied daily in the form of
mealworms fed on the main dish and
also locusts and crickets being fed ad
lib during the summer. If wild-caught
birds are ever worked with then the
regular feeding of a variety of live
foods does, of course, become....