Spring babies at endangered bird breeding facility
There has to be total trust between breeding pairs of West African black casqued wattle hornbills because when the female goes to nest, the entrance is sealed up inside by the mother while the father seals it from outside.
Only the beak of the female West African black casqued wattled hornbill is visible as she reaches to take food from the male. Shelley Kjonstad/African News AgencyA misty fog enveloped the nest where only the beak of the female and her copper brown head were visible as she called out for food. . “With curiosity getting the better of me, I went to have a look but had to use a stainless mesh shield as both the male and female became extremely defensive of the nest log,” said Horsfield. He took a quick sneak peek and spotted the baby hornbill.
“Hornbills have a fascinating and complex reproductive biology. Anatomically, they have unique kidneys which allow the female to go without water for a sustained period of time while she is in the nest. The male will also take her moisture-rich foods such as fruit and berries,” said Horsfield. There are two pairs of southern ground hornbills at Amazona and a 7-day-old chick which is being cared for in an incubator in the rearing facility. Eggs may be moved to incubators if the parents are not doing well with an egg. While the chick’s eyes were still closed, Horsfield pointed out the tiny ears which were working well. To reassure the tiny chick, Horsfield and his assistant, Don Soko, vocalise by mimicking an adult hornbill.
Black palm cockatoo with William Horsfield of Amazona Endangered Bird Breeding Facility. The bird is native to Papua New Guinea and Australia, where it is listed as vulnerable. Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency
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