Hornbills are fascinating birds known for their unique nesting process. These colorful creatures, native to Africa and Southeast Asia, typically mate for life and go to great lengths to ensure the safety and comfort of their offspring.
The nesting process of hornbills begins with the selection of a suitable tree cavity, which the pair will modify to their liking by digging or adding materials. Interestingly, hornbills can be quite picky about the materials used in their nests. For example, at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, a pair named Humphrey and Bacall rejected pine shavings and tree bark provided by the staff, opting to remove most of it themselves.
Once they have prepared the nest, hornbills engage in a process called “walling,” where they seal the tree cavity’s opening with a mixture of soft fruit, feces, mud, and woodchips. The female hornbill will then tuck herself inside the sealed cavity, leaving a small opening through which the male can feed her while she lays eggs and cares for their chicks. It’s worth noting that female hornbills also use this opening to keep the nest clean by excreting waste outside.
Bacall, one half of the Humphrey and Bacall pair, is currently sealed inside the nest, and her progress can be monitored through a livecam at the Jacksonville Zoo. If her eggs hatch successfully, she will care for the chicks for approximately 111 to 137 days before the adult birds break the seal and continue raising their young together.
Humphrey and Bacall’s journey to becoming mates involved careful matchmaking efforts by the zoo staff. The birds were introduced through side-by-side enclosures to allow them to see and hear each other. As they began displaying behaviors indicating mutual interest, such as sharing food and sitting together for extended periods, they were gradually introduced in a shared space under close monitoring. Fortunately, the pair quickly bonded, as hornbills can sometimes take years to form strong enough bonds to nest together.
The hope is that Bacall and Humphrey will soon become parents and continue their legacy at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Their story is a testament to the unique and intricate nesting behaviors of hornbills, showcasing the lengths these birds go to ensure the survival of their offspring.
