Harteman Wildfowl Aviaries
Our Birds & Conservation Breeding
Conservation
Harteman Wildfowl contributes to knowledge, education and conservation of the world's waterfowl and a variety of other birds. For some species we contribute by being part of EAZA’s Ex-situ Programmes (EEP*); as well as directly contributing to ex-situ conservation by keeping and breeding threatened species in my private collection – keeping breeding records, gathering data and images about these species in my private collection – and educating the public through this website, social media channels, magazines and the avicultural and conservation community.
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds in a protected environment using controlled conditions, for pleasure, (semi-) scientific research and conservation purpose. Modern aviculture embraces new insighs on zootechniques, ethics, welfare and environment. Modern aviculture embraces the sharing of passion, knowledge and skills within the sector and beyond.
Our birds
Overview of the residents in our aviaries
We keep and breed both rare and common species in our aviaries, with a focus on conservation breeding. Some of our birds have come from governmental confiscations, others are part of conservation breeding programmes. Currently, we have the following species at our facilities (October 2025). These animals are not available for sale.
Anseriformes (waterfowl) | Geographic region | IUCN Status* | Regulations | Conservation Breeding Class (Collar et al.)** | Conservation Programme | |
1. | Oceania | LC | ||||
2. | Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis | North America | LC | |||
3. | Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor | Africa, India, South America | LC | EU Bird List | ||
4. | Asia | CR | CITES I / EU A | Prudent | EEP | |
5. | Chiloé wigeon, Mareca sibilatrix (Anas sibilatrix) | South America | LC | |||
7. | Africa | EN | CITES II / EU B | Precautionary | EEP | |
8. | South Atlantic Ocean | NT | ||||
9. | Asia | CR | Prudent | EEP | ||
Non-Anseriformes (other birds) | Geographic region | IUCN Status* | Regulations | Conservation Breeding Class (Collar et al.)** | Conservation Programme | |
10. | Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae | Oceania | LC | |||
11. | Australian crested pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes | Oceania | LC | |||
12. | Laughing dove, Spilopelia senegalensis | Africa, Asia, Europe | LC | EU Bird List | ||
13. | Australian bush thick-knee, Burhinus grallarius | Oceania | LC | |||
14. | Common bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera | Oceania | LC | |||
15. | Purple-crested turaco, Tauraco porphyreolophus | Africa | LC | CITES II / EU B | ||
16. | Temminck's tragopan, Tragopan temminckii | Asia | LC | |||
17. | Orange-headed thrush, Geokichla citrina melli | Asia | LC | |||
18. | Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus | Africa | LC | From confiscation | ||
19. | Common myna, Acridotheres tristis | Asia | LC | EU Invasive species | ||
20. | White-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus | Asia | LC | CITES II / EU B | EEP | |
21. | Peaceful dove, Geopelia placida | Oceania | LC | |||
22. | Tambourine dove, Turtur tympanistria | Africa | LC | |||
23. | Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica | Asia, Oceania | NT | CITES I/ EU A | EEP | |
* Explanation of abbreviations:
- EAZA = European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
- EEP = EAZA Ex situ Programme
- ZIMS = Zoological Information Management Software by Species360.
- IUCN-SSC = International Uniion for the Conservation of Nature, Species Survival Commission
* Conservation status categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
- LC = Least Concern
- NT = Near Threatened
- VU = Vulnerable
- EN = Endangered
- CR = Critically Endangered
Featured species at our facilities
Magpie goose, Anseranas semipalmata - LC
The magpie goose is an odd kind of waterfowl. They hardly have any webs contrary to other waterfowl; magpie geese often find a high branch to sleep on. These birds live near the water in Australia, but they don't often swim. It doesn't have an eclips moult but loses its quills divided over the year, so that it can fly all year round.
Magpie geese are rare in (European) aviculture and therefor have a focus in our aviaries.
White-winged duck, Asarcornis scutulata - CR
The white-winged duck, Asarcornis scutulata, has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2024 and is listed as Critically Endangered, because it has a very small and fragmented population which is undergoing a very rapid and continuing decline as a result of the loss of and disturbance to riverine habitats. There are now likely only 150-400 mature individuals left, widely scattered in populations across its once vast range, many of which are probably now too small to be viable. The duck was historically widely distributed from north-eastern India and Bangladesh, through South-East Asia to Java and Sumatra, Indonesia.
White-winged ducks hatched at our facilities have been moved to zoological institutions in Singapore, Germany, Poland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Madagascar teal (Bernier's teal), Anas bernieri - EN
The conservation status of the Madagascar teal is endangered, yet little is known about its actual population. The species seems never to have been numerous and was virtually unknown until 1970s, despite being apparently being widespread across entire island based on subfossil deposits.
South Georgia pintail, Anas georgica georgica - NT
After the importation of 17 birds in three separate groups over four decades, the South Georgia pintail was well established in captivity in the early 2000's.
The captive flock of South Georgia pintails originally descended from one single breeding pair. Breeding success markedly improved after the introduction of 12 new birds from the wild in 1998.
The wild population is small and vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic threats, so a backup captive population might be useful for the future.
Baer's pochard, Aythya baeri - CR
Previously considered Vulnerable, then (2008) Endangered and more recently uplisted to highest threat category, Critically endangered, while a single species action plan has been prepared as a result. Population most recently estimated by BirdLife International at just 150–700 mature individuals and considered to be still declining.
Australian bush thick-knee, Burhinus grallarius - LC
The bush thick-knee (or bush stone-curlew) is a ground-dwelling bird that requires specific aviary conditions, a varied diet, and careful handling due to its unique needs.
Bush thick-knees are rare in (European) aviculture and therefor have a focus in our aviaries.
Long-tailed glossy starling, Lamprotornis caudatus - LC
Long-tailed glossy starlings are common and widely distributed in their natural habitat in the semi-arid belt of the Sahel (western Africa, south of the Sahara desert). Though, in aviculture they are fairly uncommon, being rarely bred in aviaries. Because of this rarity and their beauty, there is unfortunately still a considerable demand for illegal imports of wild-caught birds.
Our birds originate from a seizure of illegally imported animals. After living in an official shelter for confiscated animals for some time , they were later handed over to us, in breeding loan. Hopefully these birds are acclimatised enough to reproduce well in our aviary.
Nicobar pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica - NT
In 2025 we have welcomed Nicobar pigeons to our flock, a species found on small islands and in coastal regions from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, east through the Indonesian Archipelago, to the Solomons and Palau.
Nicobar pigeons are hunted in considerable numbers for food, and also for their gizzard stones which are used in jewellery. Though the bird is widely distributed and in some locations very common - even on small Palau it is still reasonably plentiful - its long-term future is increasingly jeopardized. For these reasons, the IUCN considers the Nicobar pigeon a near threatened species.
Did you know the Nicobar pigeon is the closest living relative of the extinct dodo and Rodrigues solitaire?
Conservation breeding and avian diversity
** Chances and challenges.
The number of species of bird threatened with extinction is increasing every year. Given the increasing rapprochement between aviculture and conservation organizations and the escalating global crisis in species conservation, Collar & Butchart enumerate the avian taxa that are subject to, or might most appropriately be considered for, conservation-breeding programmes, in different classes as mentioned below.
Source: Int. Zoo Yb. (2014) 48: 7–28 (N. J. COLLAR & S. H. M. BUTCHART)
