title: Application of video recording technology to improve husbandry and reproduction in the carmine bee-eater (Merops n. nubicus).
abstract: Incorporating technology with research is becoming increasingly important to enhance animal welfare in zoological settings. Video technology is used in the management of avian populations to facilitate efficient information collection on aspects of avian reproduction that are impractical or impossible to obtain through direct observation. Disney's Animal Kingdom(®) maintains a successful breeding colony of Northern carmine bee-eaters. This African species is a cavity nester, making their nesting behavior difficult to study and manage in an ex situ setting. After initial research focused on developing a suitable nesting environment, our goal was to continue developing methods to improve reproductive success and increase likelihood of chicks fledging. We installed infrared bullet cameras in five nest boxes and connected them to a digital video recording system, with data recorded continuously through the breeding season. We then scored and summarized nesting behaviors. Using remote video methods of observation provided much insight into the behavior of the birds in the colony's nest boxes. We observed aggression between birds during the egg-laying period, and therefore immediately removed all of the eggs for artificial incubation which completely eliminated egg breakage. We also used observations of adult feeding behavior to refine chick hand-rearing diet and practices. Although many video recording configurations have been summarized and evaluated in various reviews, we found success with the digital video recorder and infrared cameras described here. Applying emerging technologies to cavity nesting avian species is a necessary addition to improving management in and sustainability of zoo avian populations.
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ferrie
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sky
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schutz
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Glorieli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quinones
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Shawnlei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breeding
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Chelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plasse
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Leighty
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Animals, Science and Environment, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
authors.forename: Tammie L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bettinger
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000502:physiology*; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D007259:Infrared Rays; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: bird; breeding; chick; egg; nest box; video