Comments on: The Return of the Lory http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/ Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:19:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Alan Lieberman http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-250524 Tue, 06 May 2008 03:46:46 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-250524 Keep your eyes to the skies! CRES will be sending two field biologists to Atiu in August to get a better idea of how many Kura are flying about, where they are spending time (feeding, roosting, nesting) and if they can get a count on babies, fledglings and juveniles. This is a great conservation story and it just keeps getting better. Thank you for looking in. By the way, for those who are interested, there will be a Parrot International conference on May 31 and June 1 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I'll be making a presentation on the Kuhl's (Rimatara) Lory translocation with plenty of photos and stories about the adventure. There will be many other good presentations covering parrot conservation projects from around the world. Hope to see you there. Keep your eyes to the skies! CRES will be sending two field biologists to Atiu in August to get a better idea of how many Kura are flying about, where they are spending time (feeding, roosting, nesting) and if they can get a count on babies, fledglings and juveniles. This is a great conservation story and it just keeps getting better. Thank you for looking in. By the way, for those who are interested, there will be a Parrot International conference on May 31 and June 1 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I’ll be making a presentation on the Kuhl’s (Rimatara) Lory translocation with plenty of photos and stories about the adventure. There will be many other good presentations covering parrot conservation projects from around the world. Hope to see you there.

]]> by: Tara http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-250189 Mon, 05 May 2008 19:04:09 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-250189 Just got back home from a wondeful trip! We only spent one night in Atiu but Birdman George took us to a couple of lorikeet sites on both the afternoon of arrival and morning of departure. No babies sighted but we saw 5 lorikeets in the banana patch in the early evening and 4 lorikeets in the trees near the Atiu Villas Hotel. They were stunning! I am putting together a photo and video presientation and will upload it to the Ecotuorism/Birdwatching forum as soon as I can complete the presentation. My handle there is Tiki and I am a moderator. George says he has seen 4 babies but he isn't eligible for the $200 prize and he doesn't have a camera to photograph them. Just got back home from a wondeful trip! We only spent one night in Atiu but Birdman George took us to a couple of lorikeet sites on both the afternoon of arrival and morning of departure. No babies sighted but we saw 5 lorikeets in the banana patch in the early evening and 4 lorikeets in the trees near the Atiu Villas Hotel. They were stunning! I am putting together a photo and video presientation and will upload it to the Ecotuorism/Birdwatching forum as soon as I can complete the presentation. My handle there is Tiki and I am a moderator. George says he has seen 4 babies but he isn’t eligible for the $200 prize and he doesn’t have a camera to photograph them.

]]> by: Tara http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-230467 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:40:58 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-230467 Thanks Alan, that's awesome news! I can't wait to see them, only a couple weeks to go now! Thanks Alan, that’s awesome news! I can’t wait to see them, only a couple weeks to go now!

]]> by: Alan Lieberman http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-214251 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:43:36 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-214251 Perhaps I should have "blogged" the good news earlier, but somehow felt that the honors of making baby announcements should go to the (surrogate) parents Gerald McCormack and Roger Malcolm. But since you asked, I am most pleased to announce that the first baby produced by the translocated flock has been seen in the company of its parents in various locations on Atiu. Of course, one could speculate that there might even be more than one baby, seen in various places, but until one sees more than one in view, it is best to be conservative and know there is one rather than assume there are more. However, this is truly great news. Within 10 months of making the move, these birds have settled in remarkably well, have found native food resources to their liking and have found suitable nest site(s) that were good enough to incubate an egg, hatch a chick and rear a fledgling. The "team" is most proud of the event, and the Rimatarans and Atiuans are celebrating. I'm sure Birdman George will be thrilled to show you the chick. Everyone will be on the lookout for more. Maybe you'll be the lucky spotter. Perhaps I should have “blogged” the good news earlier, but somehow felt that the honors of making baby announcements should go to the (surrogate) parents Gerald McCormack and Roger Malcolm. But since you asked, I am most pleased to announce that the first baby produced by the translocated flock has been seen in the company of its parents in various locations on Atiu. Of course, one could speculate that there might even be more than one baby, seen in various places, but until one sees more than one in view, it is best to be conservative and know there is one rather than assume there are more. However, this is truly great news. Within 10 months of making the move, these birds have settled in remarkably well, have found native food resources to their liking and have found suitable nest site(s) that were good enough to incubate an egg, hatch a chick and rear a fledgling. The “team” is most proud of the event, and the Rimatarans and Atiuans are celebrating. I’m sure Birdman George will be thrilled to show you the chick. Everyone will be on the lookout for more. Maybe you’ll be the lucky spotter.

]]> by: Tara http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-212659 Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:26:50 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-212659 Hello Alan I am very much looking forward to seeing these beautiful birds next month when my husband and I visit Atiu. Birdman George will be guiding us. I heard the birds have been breeding and was wondering how many babies there are? Cheers, Tara T. Hello Alan

I am very much looking forward to seeing these beautiful birds next month when my husband and I visit Atiu. Birdman George will be guiding us. I heard the birds have been breeding and was wondering how many babies there are?

Cheers,
Tara T.

]]> by: Stacey Gelis http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-73817 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:06:53 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-73817 Hello Alan, I was wondering if you were going to publish some of your findings from this translocation project. For example weights; the birds reaction to their short captivity; any sexing done; any scientific data collected eg faecal exams; blood results; crop sampling etc etc. This would be most interesting. Thanks in anticipation. Stacey Gelis Hello Alan,
I was wondering if you were going to publish some of your findings from this translocation project. For example weights; the birds reaction to their short captivity; any sexing done; any scientific data collected eg faecal exams; blood results; crop sampling etc etc. This would be most interesting.
Thanks in anticipation.
Stacey Gelis

]]> by: Lorentsen http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-54043 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:22:27 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-54043 Hello Alan, I'm just back from the Cook Islands.I met Gerald Mc Cormack to talk about the Vini lorikeets.Afterwards I went to Atiu for I few days, saw I few Rimatara Lory nektar eating on the flowers. They are one of the most beautifull lory in the world.I went also to Aitutaki to see The Blue Lory my favourite bird. I hope that your good work to keep this species will go one. Hello Alan,

I’m just back from the Cook Islands.I met Gerald Mc Cormack to talk about the Vini lorikeets.Afterwards I went to Atiu for I few days, saw I few Rimatara Lory nektar eating on the flowers. They are one of the most beautifull lory in the world.I went also to Aitutaki to see The Blue Lory my favourite bird.
I hope that your good work to keep this species will go one.

]]> by: Richard http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-40909 Wed, 16 May 2007 17:50:46 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-40909 Alan, This is a fascinating and worthwhile project. I'm really pleased that it went so well. Alan,
This is a fascinating and worthwhile project. I’m really pleased that it went so well.

]]> by: Alan Lieberman http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-40752 Tue, 15 May 2007 21:31:52 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-40752 Thank you all for the interesting and colorful comments and questions. To address your inquiries: 1. I like brownies, but as the photo above clearly documents, I should stay away from such things. 2. I am happily married to the woman of my dreams... and interestingly enough, my wife Cyndi Kuehler initiated and has been involved in the Vini lory conservation project in French Polynesia since 1989. 3. Mist nets are nets made of super-fine denier nylon thread that come in various lengths and widths (usually 30'-60' long, 7' wide) that can be stretched in the air across "flyways", catching the birds that are targeted. It causes no harm to the birds; they often dangle in the net awaiting removal by the biologist. Good question though.... maybe I'll write a blog w/photo on the process of mist-netting. 4. The comment by Dr. Malcolm is very interesting and encouraging. The Kura seem to be settling in very well in Atiu and adjusting to the new scenery, gardens and human proximity. By the way, Dr. Malcolm was a key participant in setting up the project and was most helpful in the process of catching and maintaining the birds in Rimatara and releasing them on Atiu. The birds can be seen easily from the verandas of his mini-resort on Atiu if any birders wish to add Vini kuhlii to their lifelist. Thank you all again for your keen interest. It was great fun and the results thus far are very satisfying. Thank you all for the interesting and colorful comments and questions. To address your inquiries:

1. I like brownies, but as the photo above clearly documents, I should stay away from such things.

2. I am happily married to the woman of my dreams… and interestingly enough, my wife Cyndi Kuehler initiated and has been involved in the Vini lory conservation project in French Polynesia since 1989.

3. Mist nets are nets made of super-fine denier nylon thread that come in various lengths and widths (usually 30′-60′ long, 7′ wide) that can be stretched in the air across “flyways”, catching the birds that are targeted. It causes no harm to the birds; they often dangle in the net awaiting removal by the biologist. Good question though…. maybe I’ll write a blog w/photo on the process of mist-netting.

4. The comment by Dr. Malcolm is very interesting and encouraging. The Kura seem to be settling in very well in Atiu and adjusting to the new scenery, gardens and human proximity. By the way, Dr. Malcolm was a key participant in setting up the project and was most helpful in the process of catching and maintaining the birds in Rimatara and releasing them on Atiu. The birds can be seen easily from the verandas of his mini-resort on Atiu if any birders wish to add Vini kuhlii to their lifelist.

Thank you all again for your keen interest. It was great fun and the results thus far are very satisfying.

]]> by: Rosie http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-40583 Mon, 14 May 2007 11:28:00 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/default/the-return-of-the-lory/#comment-40583 Way to go Alan! I hope ZSSD appreciates all your efforts - you've done an outstanding job over the past many years. Mahalo, Rosie Way to go Alan! I hope ZSSD appreciates all your efforts - you’ve done an outstanding job over the past many years.
Mahalo, Rosie

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