EEP Crowned pigeon number 4

EEP STUDBOOK CROWNED PIGEONS
Several years ago the department of Animal Behavior of the Wageningen Agricultural
University initiated several years ago a research project into comparisons of animals housed
under different circumstances. Until now this project is only focused on mammals, like brown
bears and zebras. This is the first study within the framework of this comparative behavior
project that focuses on birds.
Materials
Within the EEP over 100 crowned pigeons are registered, but most of them are being kept by
private persons. The Dutch Federation of Zoos has twelve members, of which four are
currently keeping crowned pigeons: Amsterdam Zoo (Artis), Rotterdam Zoo (Blijdorp),
Arnhem Zoo (Burgers’) and Alphen a/d Rijn Birdpark (Avifauna). This research project was
carried out in these public institutions, because of their scientific attitude and their
cooperation.
In Amsterdam Zoo two pairs of Goura victoria are housed in the tropical birdhouse. Each pair
has an own indoor-aviary of 3 x 5 x 4 (width, depth, height) meters. The roof consists of
frosted glass, which provides at least a lot of light. There are also outdoor-aviaries, directly
connected to the house, but these are only used during the summer. This research project was
carried out from November 1996 until April 1997 and the birds were not enabled to use the
outdoor aviaries. Each pair of crowned pigeon's shared the aviary with some other species of
birds, like Tauraco persa livingstonii, Dacelo gigas, Dacelo leachi, Coracias benghalensis,
Gracula religiose and Lamprotornis purpereus. Although the aviaries are not very large in
size, they are quite well furnished with a lot of Ficus benjaminii, but also sand, mould, a small
pond and a lot of branches.
Rotterdam Zoo, as EEP-coordinator for crowned pigeons, has both Goura victoria and Goura
scheepmakeri. During this study only one pair of Goura victoria kept in a small cage of 3 x 2
x 2,5 meter was studied. These birds were kept behind the scenes and were able to use a large
aviary in summer, but in winter they only had the cage as described above. Last spring, this
whole building was pulled down and in a green house, new (larger) cages were constructed.
There was no heating in the building and during the night the temperature was only about 5
degrees (Celcius). There were no other animals in this cage. The substrate consisted of sand
only (no pond, only a drinking trough) and there were two branches and a nest to sit on.
Alphen a/d Rijn birdpark has two pairs of Goura victoria and one pair of Goura cristata. One
pair of Goura victoria and the pair of Goura cristata were studied. The pair of Goura victoria
was incubating an egg and rearing the squab during the time of the study. Both aviaries (they
have summer and winter only indoor facilities) are about 20 m² and 3,5 meter high. Just as in
Amsterdam Zoo, there is sand as well as mould, and a small pond. There are small trees and
shrubs available (mostly Ficus benjaminii) and branches to sit on. The pair of Goura victoria
was housed solitary, because they were very aggressive towards other birds. The pair of
Goura cristata shared their aviary with four Lamprospreo superbus. In both aviaries a nest is
available, which was actively used by the Goura victoria.
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