SUNNING BEHAVIOUR BY KORI BUSTARDS Ardeotis kori AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK

摘要

In this paper we examine the sunning behaviour of seven Kori Bustards Ardeotis kori over a period of 15 months at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington DC, USA. We found that sunning was most prevalent when the temperature was between 50 deg F-90 deg F (10 deg C-32.2 deg C), between 10.00am -1.00pm, during the months of August-October, when the ultraviolet index was between five and eight. At such times the birds showed preferences for particular areas and that birds sunned on average for eight to 12 minutes before moving to the shade to preen. We conclude that sunning is important for Kori Bustards to maintain good feather condition and zoos and other collections that exhibit this species should provide sunny areas in which theirbirds have the opportunity to exhibit this necessary feather maintenance behaviour.