In case you aren't aware, he is talking about Black-necked Storks. In Australia they are called Jabiru.
Walk Through Aviaries With Large Waders
- Thread starter Sarus Crane
- Start date
Perth Zoo's wetland aviary has always held black-necked stork and brolgas. Pretty sure both species are free-flighted (at some individuals) and could access the visitor walkway if they wanted too.
I used to work with a pair of Japanese red-crowned cranes, and while it wasn't in a walk-through enclosure, we used to enter without concern. In fact I didn't realise till years later how aggressive they can be. My guess is that it depends how socialised the birds are. At Exmoor Zoo each crane exhibit (they have probably half a dozen spp) has a transparent riot shield at the door for keepers to use!
I used to work with a pair of Japanese red-crowned cranes, and while it wasn't in a walk-through enclosure, we used to enter without concern. In fact I didn't realise till years later how aggressive they can be. My guess is that it depends how socialised the birds are. At Exmoor Zoo each crane exhibit (they have probably half a dozen spp) has a transparent riot shield at the door for keepers to use!
Would spoonbills be a good option for walk through exhibits?
I have went into a walkthrough black-faced spoonbill exhibit in Tama.
Milwaukee used to have Eurasian Spoonbills in their walk-through exhibit, but does not anymore.
I've seen several walk through exhibits with both African and roseate spoonbills. Baltimore (African), Smithsonian National Zoo (roseate), Fort Worth (roseate) come to mind, but there were others for sure.
Hogle Zoo has (or had) roseate spoonbills in a walk through aviary.
How come no zoos are interested in Eurasian, Royal or Black Faced Spoonbills? I like Eurasians the most. They have proportionally longer legs and a much more noticable crest than their African relatives in the breeding season. Black Faced Spoonbills are listed as endangered. You'd think the AZA or EAZA would be wanting to establish a SSP for them.
There are absolutely loads of Eurasian Spoonbills in European zoos - there are about 70 collections noted on Zootierliste.
Lots of zoos in Australia have Royal Spoonbills.
There aren't really any Black-faced Spoonbills outside Asia. I think that the one bird left at Walsrode is all. However the wild population has increased substantially (ten-fold) in the last three decades through protection of breeding and wintering sites. It would probably be an advantageous time to start a captive population (via egg-collection) in case of future declines.
Yes indeed! That would be fantastic for the species and perhaps they could be mixed in with Manchurian Cranes or other East Asian birds. Sorry for the confusion in my previous post. What I meant is 'how come there are no Eurasians held in AZA institutions in the USA?' Its getting kinda boring seeing Roseate/African Spoonbill enclosure after another at different AZA zoos.
Slightly off topic, but what is the status of the smaller waders like sandpipers and plovers in zoos? They are common in UK zoos, which often have Pied Avocets, Black-Winged Stilts, and smaller waders like Ruff and Redshank, but what about the rest of the world?
In the US, Black-Necked Stilts are the most common, along with American Oystercatchers. I also see Killdeer and Semipalmated Plovers every once in a while.
I have European Oystercatchers.
Antwerp Zoo got an aviary adjacent to the Hippo house, with marabu, griffon vulture, black cranes, ground hornbills amongst others. The walking through part is rather limited to a viewing point inside the aviary.