There are a wide variety of tools in the arsenal of a Bird Keeper at the Houston Zoo to be utilized in the enrichment of our animals. In the last post, we saw just how enamored an animal can be with the presentation of fresh browse; the ultimate goal of enrichment is to provide the animal the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors that would otherwise be seen in the wild. In spite of the fact that not all of our animals are folivorous, browse can still be used to better the lives of our animals.
Here are our Grey-winged Trumpeters (Psophia crepitans) getting a browse pile; this is a pile of bamboo with treats such as peanuts and crickets. These birds belong to the order Gruiformes, a group of omnivorous avian species characterized by long legs and a superficial resemblance to one another. As you can see in the video, the presence of a browse pile elicits a great number of reactions. This is a type of enrichment we are able to utilize with many of our avian species, provided it is modified to fit the animal. For example: providing parrots a browse pile with crickets would not provide much intrigue, just as giving the ibis a pile with fruit would not be remotely suited for those animals. Luckily, many birds display some degree of omnivorous nature and we can give our animals a wide variety of treats hidden in the browse pile. Not only does this give the animal the opportunity to get unique food items, but it also allows the animal to have to search for food: this is critical for the mental well-being of many intelligent avian species.
Ever wonder what food items we utilize on a regular basis? Well, the short-list includes: Apple, Orange, Banana, Grapes, Figs, Raisins, Cheese, Avocado, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Pears, Papaya, Blueberries, Mixed Vegetables, Corn, Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Peanuts, Hazelnuts, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts, Crickets, Mealworms, Waxworms, Kale, Endive, Romaine Lettuce, Redleaf Lettuce and Greenleaf lettuce. This is not a comprehensive list and we have even offered our animals odd treats such as Vietnamese Walking Sticks and Dragon fruit - essentially, there are few options that keepers will not explore in providing a varied life for our animals.
Do you like our series on enrichment for our birds? Feel free to check out Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV!
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