Do we have any observations of Argus pheasant and Edward's pheasant in the Bush? Or at least, their locations?
Burgers' Zoo free-ranging species in Burgers Bush, Desert and Mangrove
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
As many people still struggle to find certain species in the Bush, I have compiled the following list of where every species is most likely to be found, based on my own experience as well as information in this thread.
Map of the bush (based on a map originally by Burgers' Zoo and then modified by first Lisanne de Boer (Van Hall Larenstein) and me):
Legend
1-26 Path numbers
B bird house, this is where the signage is located
F Feeding stations
O Observation platform
R Rice paddy
T Turtle enclosure
"Toegang" = entrance
"Avonturenpad" = adventure trail
MAMMALS
Rodriquez fruit bat
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: Lyles' fruit bat
Single animals can be found in hanging in all vegetation from approx. 2 meters high to the canopy. Can be seen flying during the day as well, being most active in the early morning and late afternoon.
Lyles' fruit bat looks similar, but is larger, more golden brown and has a more pointed nose.
Lyles' fruit bat
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: Rodriquez fruit bat
A few old individuals remain. They are seen mostly higher up in trees than the Rodriquez fruit bats and are most often seen in the area around the Bush restaurant terrace
Rodriquez fruit bat look similar but are distinctly smaller, darker brown with a more stump nose.
Seba's short-tailed bat
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
A large bachelor group roosts in an artifical cave that cannot be seen by visitors. The only chance of seeing this species in the Bush is during the Pasar Malam event in December-January when the Bush is open in the night time.
BIRDS
Red-shouldered teal
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
Currently the only duck species in the Bush. The animals are basically always present in the Capybara enclosure. If not they are likely around the Turtle enclosure or in the stream between the Turtle enclosure and the Bush restaurant
Chaco chacalaca
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: none
An unmistakeable species that can be tricky to spot. This species is most easily seen in the early morning when it often hangs around the Desert tunnel, Aardvark enclosure or path 9. During the day often hidden in vegetation, but it is worth checking the feeding stations next to path 6 & 8 and beneath the jeep. When calling they are easily located.
Crested wood partridge
Encounter rate: medium - high
Similar species: none
Unmistakeable small partridge that can be found in many places in the bush. These birds often stick to the vegetation, but are often seen around path 3,4,5, 6, around the bird house and in or around the Aardvark enclosure. Individuals can turn up anywhere.
Madagascar crested ibis
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: none
A mostly terrestrial ibis that can be tricky to find. Recently both birds have often been seen at the turtle enclosure. Otherwise individuals can be found walking on any of the visitor paths, but it is also worth scanning the undergrowth around path 6 and the Turtle enclosure.
Scarlet ibis
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: none
The only big red birds in the Bush. They are most often found in the trees between the Turtle pond and Bush terrace along the small stream. They can also be expected at the Rice paddies and around the Capybara enclosure
Sun bittern
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: none
A species that can sometimes be tricky to find. It is most often seen around the Capybara enclosure, especially on the fake fallen tree. Other spots are path 20 and the Turtle enclosure.
Victoria crowned pigeon
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: none
An unmistakeable large blue pigeon. An individual can often be found on a nest at the bridge at 22b. Often seen on the bush terrace and around the Turtle enclosure as well. They can turn up anywhere though.
Green naped pheasant pigeon
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: none
This terrestrial pigeon can be hard to find on some days. The best chance is checking the Bush terrace or along paths 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, but can turn up anywhere.
Pinon imperial pigeon
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: Green imperial pigeon
A large pigeon that sticks to the canopy and can therefore be tricky to spot. Birds tend to be reliably seen in the canopy around paths 22a, 23, 24, 25 and around the bush terrace.
Larger and greyer, rather than greenish, than Green imperial pigeon, with a clear red ring around the eye. It also lacks the reddish neck of Green imperial pigeon.
Green imperial pigeon
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: Pinon imperial pigeon
These pigeons stick to the canopy, but can be reliably seen in the trees around the observation platform and are also often seen around the Bush terrace. The highly distinctive call is also an easy way to find them.
Smaller and with a distinct greenish back compared to Pinon imperial pigeon, also lacks red eye ring but has a reddish neck.
Luzon bleeding heart pigeon
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: none
A terrestrial pigeon that can be seen walking around practically anywhere. It is particularly common around paths 1,3, 6, 10, 23, but can be seen everywhere
Green winged pigeon
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
By far the most common pigeon that cannot be missed.
Nicobar pigeon
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
A common pigeon that can be seen on the ground as well as in trees, common everywhere, but especially easily seen around the Otter enclosure and the Bush terrace.
Orange-fronted fruit dove
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: none
An arboreal pigeon that is not very easily seen. It is most often observed around the entrance to the Zebra stables, path 15, 16, 17 and on parh 9.
Blue-crowned hanging parrot
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: none
Currently the only parrot in the Bush. This small species is easy to miss, but it is worth checking the feeding station at path 6, and paths 24 and 25a but can be expected anywhere... The flight is distinctively straight and fast and in flight the birds are often noisy.
Red-crested turaco
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: none
Despite the fact there is not a very high number of Turaco around they are quite reliably seen. The best areas include the Bush terrace and paths 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 22, 23
Speckled mousebird
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
A distinctve brown bird that is easily seen, especially around 3, 5, 6, 26 and the Bush terrace.
White-eared catbird
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: none
A rather localized bird which is almost exclusively seen in the area ranging from the observation platform to the Bush terrace and the Capybara enclosure. Especially the feeding station next to the Bird house is a good spot.
White rumped shama
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: Montserrat oriole
A songbird that can be hard to find, though there tend to be some animals around paths 22b, 23 and 24.
Male Monterrat oriole are similar in colouration, but lack the white rump and have a much thicker bill.
Snowy-crowned robin chat
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
The second most common bird in the Bush and is present everywhere.
Chestnut-backed ground trush
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: none
A rather uncommon bird, which is often seen around the stairs leading to the observation platform. Individuals can pop up anywhere, but can be expected around path 3, 5, 6, 23
Fairy bluebird
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: Screaming piha
Birds are commonly seen throughout the Bush.
Female Fairy bluebirds can at a distance be mistaken for Screaming piha, but on closer inspection are bluish, not greyish, and slightly smaller.
Golden-fronted leafbird
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
Only one female is kept and she is very hard to see, as she mostly sticks to the canopy. The best chance is trying from the observation platform, where she is sometimes sitting in the roof structure. Otherwise the trees around the Otter enclosure and close to the Jeep are worth checking.
Blue-crowned laughing thrush
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
Currently only one individual is present, which often associates with the ubiquitoes Red-whiskered bulbul. The best chance of seeing this bird is around the patches of Bamboo along path 23 and 25.
Red-rumped cacique
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
A small group is kept, but this bird cannot be missed around its nesting tree at the Bush terrace. Foraging birds are very noisy and often around the area with the Rice paddy and Otters.
Montserrat oriole
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: White-rumped shama
A species that has become more easy to see recently due to breeding results in 2018 and 2019. It is most often seen around paths 23 and 24. But the feeding station next to the Bird house and the Capybara bridge are also good spots.
Screaming piha
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: Fairy bluebird
A secretive bird, sitting motionless in trees, that can be fairly reliably seen by locating its loud call. There are multiple calling males which often hang around paths 1, 4, 24, 25a. Birds also occasionally pop up throughout the bush, most notably around path 9, 22a.
This species can from a distance be confused with female Fairy bluebird, but is clearly grey, not bluish, and slightly larger.
Purple honeycreeper
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: none
A small species that often sticks to the canopy, but regularly descends lower. These birds are very active and can pop up anywhere. Good places include the feeding stations at paths 6 and 14. Also regularly seen around path 24 and 25
Madagascar red fody
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: House sparrow, Brazilian tanager
This bird is less ubiquitous then before, but still common, especially around the Bush terrace and paths 1, 5, 6, 8, 23, 24, 25
Females and non-breeding males can be confused with House sparrows, but are smaller, have a more buffy ground color and a smaller bill. The only other smaller red bird is the male Brazilian tanager which is larger, has a clear white patch on a larger bill and a uniform black back.
Brazilian tanager
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: Madagascar red fody
A pair of this species is kept and is almost exclusively found around paths 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 23
Chestnut-bellied seedfinch
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: Rose-bellied bunting
A small passerine that is most easily seen around the Rice paddy, especially when seeds are present. It can also be sometimes seen at path 25b and between the waterfall and the Desert tunnel.
Female Seedfinches look similar to female Rose-bellied bunting, but are smaller, with a heavier bill and lack the white eye-ring.
Red-whiskered bulbul
Encounter rate: very high
Similar species: none
The most common bird in the Bush and it is ubiquitous anywhere. It is especially common around path 26 where many nests are located.
Blue-backed grassquit
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: none
A small passerine that mostly sticks to the areas close to the roof and is often seen in the roof structure around paths 3, 4, 5, 7.
Rose-bellied bunting
Encounter rate: low-medium
Similar species: Black-bellied seedfinch
An increasingly common species that is now relatively often found, especially around path 6, 8, 9 but also at path 26. The feeding station at path 6 is especially good. Individuals can turn up anywhere though.
White eye spec.
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
A small bird that mostly sticks to higher levels of the vegetation. Only a few individuals remain. Best chance may be around path 6, 23, 24, 25
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
Green iguana
Encounter rate: low
Similar species: none
An increasingly hard to find reptile. It used to be fairly reliable around path 5, especially on the rocky outcrop there. It might still be found around paths 4, 5, 7, 8, especially on the sandy stretches next to the roof, as well as around the observation platform.
Guadeloupe anole
Encounter rate: high
Similar species: none
A small lizard that is present throughout the Bush, but reliably seen in the vegetation around the Red-footed tortoise enclosure, on the Observation deck, around the feeding station at path 14 and around path 4.
Plumed basilisk
Encounter rate: medium
Similar species: none
This species is restricted to the netted area around the Caiman enclosure. Good spots are the stream between the tortoise and Caiman enclosure, the beaches in the Caiman enclosures, as well as carefully scanning the trees in that area.
Common house gecko
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
Nocturnal and thus practically impossible to find.
Montserrat whistling frog
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
A very common frog, but because of its nocturnal habits it is practically impossible to see one. Its whistles might be heard during the Pasar Malam when the zoo is open during darkness.
Spotted running frog
Encounter rate: very low
Similar species: none
A nocturnal frog that is practically impossible to see.
Location of several unsigned reptiles and fish
Capybara & former Manatee enclosure
Yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle
Pirapitanga
Tambaqui
Zebra cichlid
Guppy
Redtail catfish
Caiman enclosure
Occelated stingray
Plecostomus spec.
Zebra cichlid
Guppy
Turtle enclosure
Asian leaf turtle
Ponds around Livingstone bridge (22b)
African lungfish
Nile tilapia
Labeobarbus intermedius
I noticed a missing unsigned animal here, there are also convict cichlids in the stream between the caiman pond and the tortoise enclosure
This is the area where i most often see the Argus Pheasants, during my latest visits I think ive seen them a total of 5 or 6 times.
Ive not personally seen the Edwards pheasants yet. But I assume they inhabit the same general area and possibly more towards the otters / leaf turtles aswell.
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PicanBird
Well-Known Member
When i spotted the edwards pheasants they were behind the otter enclosure/leafturtles region. But again that is the place most animals start out and slowly find their spot through the hall over time.
I'll put them over there for now then, but give us any updates if you see them anywhere else
Alright, here's an outdated bird map for the bush, still using the guide from page six. I didn't include the animals that were said to only still be a few individuals.
I used a (relatively) old recording from october to draw out the new restaurant, but I'm not sure how accurate it is, as I didn't focus on it and didn't take all the paths around it. I have no clue if that terrace or the the bird house are still there
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I thought that was one big river, oh well
Well, as I said, it was made with outdated information. What are some other updates? I'll take out the parrots
New free-roamer in the bush: The white-winged wood duck (Asarcornis scutulata). According to TimmieGuns observation and the thumbnail on their YouTube channel (video on the new species set to premier at 15:00) they like to hang out in the capybara pond (unsurprisingly)
The video just dropped, they got two individuals, one from France, one from the Czech republic (No specific zoos mentioned). They indeed prefer the capybara pool.
They also mentioned planning to add another specific duck species, but that species is not available yet (it's not mentioned which species exactly, I'll ask!)
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PicanBird
Well-Known Member
Okay this week I had two times a check on the uncertain birds. Bobwhites (mangrove) really manage to hide well, but I am still in assumption of them hiding in the dryforest area near the exit.
Today I spotted the Vietnam Pheasant and the Madagascar Ibis again near the giraffe stables (the new pair of Victoria Crowned Pigeon roam the whole hall looks like, as I have seen them on various spots this week.)
Crowned Basilisk female spotted in the caiman area
Today I spotted the Vietnam Pheasant and the Madagascar Ibis again near the giraffe stables (the new pair of Victoria Crowned Pigeon roam the whole hall looks like, as I have seen them on various spots this week.)
Crowned Basilisk female spotted in the caiman area
We could even do one for Rimba, Safari and Ocean too
This is an old one , but I think I can help here
RIMBA:
Bear enclosure:
Binturong
Sun bear
Mixed plains exhibit:
Javan banteng
Reeve's muntjac
Common hog deer
Myanmar thamin
Siamang
Sunda pig-tailed macaque
Monkey enclosure:
Dusky langur
Red-cheeked gibbon
Sumatran tiger
Asian water monitor
Reticulated python
Safari:
South African cheetah
Lion (No subspecies)
Savannah plains enclosure:
Southern white rhinoceros
Beisa oryx
Eastern white-bearded wildebeest
Roan antelope
Rothschild's giraffe
Ellipsen waterbuck
Grant's zebra
Pond below the kopje restaurant:
Great white pelican
Eastern grey crowned crane
Helmeted guineafowl
Free-roaming (ish):
Domestic chicken
Helmeted guineafowl
They live under the bridge and can go into the savannah enclosure if they want, but the don't often do that
Not doing Ocean because half of the zootierliste list for Burgers Zoo is fish from Ocean
PicanBird
Well-Known Member
The crowned crane has been dead for over 1.5 years now. Do not forget the caiman in the Rimba at current times
Really?! Damn, last time I visited the signs were still up and I actually sent an email to ZooTierListe, since they didn't say that they were in Burgers zoo
Do not forget the caiman in the Rimba at current times
Fair, but that's only temporarily. They'll move back in the Bush as soon as everything's open again (In, like, five years or so)
Domestecated chicken ? I never seen them or even a signage for them in the zoo
PicanBird
Well-Known Member
Only use them to hatch guineafowl eggs, as guineafowl themselves are horrible at that stuff.
So no signage needed as there are only a few among the hundreds of guineafowl
man, I hope then take a new couple of crowned cranes on the exhibit. It allways looked so nice, and they had quite a large area to roam.
They're listed on ZooTierListe, though I haven't actually seen one
PicanBird
Well-Known Member
Though I do have to make the comment @Mr Gharial that the enclosure list does not fit this specific thread as enclosures are not freeroaming. The only answer that could sorta fit is the guineafowl. But that is my opinion on a request from 4 years ago.
Correct, but it was something I was curious about too. We could make a separate thread for species lists in the enclosures (where we could also do one for ocean)