Climate change, deforestation, the pet trade, and bushmeat hunting are increasingly taking their toll on wild bird populations around the world and have already led to a significant decline in the numbers of many species in the wild – some are now critically endangered or on the verge of extinction. One tool for preserving certain species, at least in captivity, is targeted breeding. However, this cannot be about standardized “ornamental bird breeding,” as has been propagated for decades by certain clubs and associations. Rather, it is about professional conservation breeding, for which this book provides the necessary foundation. For such conservation breeding projects, the wild bird populations still in captivity must be located, brought together, and managed in studbooks. This requires close cooperation between zookeepers, veterinarians, geneticists, museum ornithologists, and private practitioners. A total of 33 such experts from a variety of professions have been enlisted as authors for this book, and in the first part they provide the theoretical foundations for targeted conservation breeding projects. In the second part, all wild bird species relevant for captivity are discussed with regard to appropriate husbandry methods, their nutritional requirements, and breeding opportunities and problems.
