An Extract From "Rescue and Rehabilitation of Oiled Birds", by Erna Walraven, Taronga Park Zoo, 1992.
Species |
Wild Diet |
Captive Diet |
Quantity |
Frequency |
Method |
Herons
Egrets
Bitterns
Ibis
Spoonbills |
Variety of insects, amphibians, small fish, crustaceans. Some take small reptiles & mammals |
* Meat Mix
* White Bait
* Fly Pupae and insects
|
Handful
Handful
Sprinkle
|
2 x Daily
2 x Daily
1 x Daily
|
* Force feed if needed.
* Meat mix in dish.
* Fish in water.
* Insects in dish or scattered |
Cranes |
Invertebrates,
bulbs, shoots, grains, seeds.
|
*Poultry breeder pellets.
*Meat Mix
*Greens, lettuce, spinach, celery, sprouts.
|
10 Handfuls
5 Handfuls
5-6 Handfuls |
1 x Daily
2 x Daily
1 x Daily
|
Scatter
In Dish
Scatter
|
Stilts |
Molluscs, insects, diatoms, brine shrimp. |
Stilt Mix |
2 Handfuls |
2 x Daily |
In Dish |
| Curlews |
Crustaceans, Worms. |
* Stilt Mix
*Earthworms |
3 Handfuls
1 Handful |
1 x Daily
1 x Every 3 days |
In Dish
Covered with soil in
deep dish. |
Lapwings
Plovers
Godwits |
Insects, Larvae, molluscs, worms, some vegetable matter, seeds. |
*Stilt Mix
*Crickets
*Grasshoppers
*Earthworms |
2 Handfuls
10
10
1 Handful |
*2 x Daily
*When available
*1 x Every Day
*3 Days |
*In Dish
*Scatter after cooling in fridge.
*Covered with soil in deep dish. |
| Rails |
Insects, molluscs, crustaceans, seed, plant matter. |
*Stilt Mix |
2 Handfuls |
2 x Daily |
In Dish |
Moorhens
Swamphens
Coots |
Aquatic plants, seeds, insects, molluscs. |
*Stilt Mix |
3 Handfuls |
2 x Daily |
In Dish |
| Gannets |
Fish |
*Meat Mix
*Whiting |
Handful
5-6 |
2 x Daily |
*Initially force feed then throw food in water or at bird to catch. Leave food in enclosure. |
| Boobies |
Fish, Squid, crustaceans. |
*Small Whiting
*Squid and crustaceans. |
6-8
Handful |
2 x Daily
1 x Week |
As Above |
| Penguins |
Small fish, squid. |
*Small Whiting |
5-6 |
2 x Daily |
*Force feed initially, then hand feed. |
| Skua |
Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, carrion , eggs, birds. |
*Meat Mix
*Whiting
*Mice or Chicks
*Raw Egg |
3 Handfuls
5
2
1 |
1x Daily
1 x Daily
1 x Daily
1 x Daily |
In Dish |
| Darters |
Small fish, frogs, snakes, insects. |
*Small Whiting
*Meat Mix
*Whitebait |
8-10
Handful
Handful |
2 x Daily
1 x Daily |
Force feed if needed.
Meat Mix in dish.
Fish in water or dish. |
Cormorants
Shags |
Mainly fish, also squid, crustaceans, amphibians, insect larvae. |
*Whiting
*Meat Mix
*White Bait |
6-8
1/2 Handful
1/2 Hanful |
2 x Daily
1 x Daily
1 x Daily |
As Above |
| Sea Eagles |
Fish, birds, small mammals, carrion. |
*Rats, mice, mullet,day old chicks.
|
*1 rat or 6 mice or 6 day old chicks or 5-6 whiting. |
1 x Daily |
*Feed different food each day. |
| Pelicans |
Mainly Fish |
*Whiting
*Small Mullet |
10
1 |
2 x Daily
2 x Daily |
Throw, bird will catch. |
| Terns |
Mainly Fish |
*White Bait
*Small Whiting
*Pilchards |
Handful
3
3 |
2 x Daily
2 x Daily
2 x Daily |
In dish or water. |
Geese
Swan
Ducks |
Grasses, herbs, sedges, aquatic plants & seeds, insects, molluscs, crustaceans, insect larvae. |
*Poultry Breeder pellets.
*Seed, oats, cracked corn, millet, wheat.
*Greens, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, celery. |
Handful
Handful
3-5 Handfuls |
2 x Daily
2 x Daily
2 x Daily |
In Dish
In Water
In Water |
