PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
It’d be nice to have them at both facilities, albeit Zillie should be moved to the GFA or devil exhibit. If it’s one facility or the other though I believe we are in agreement that it should be HS
Healesville Sanctuary Healesville Sanctuary News
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
I would still argue a lot of the general local public would still rather see a Koala or a Kangaroo over a Cassowary.
From experience, Zillie does receive a decent amount of attention from most visitors (but there’s no reason why she shouldn’t; as she’s located smack bang past the gorillas and pygmy hippos).
In her previous enclosure, she went under the noses of many visitors for many years; I for one didn’t know Melbourne had a Cassowary in the GFA until a volunteer pointed her out just a year before she was eventually moved to the Gorilla Rainforest!
So, although Cassowary are a well fledged attraction, they would be more suitable to Healesville rather than Melbourne unless a more suitable enclosure is created for them (geographically).
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
But the lack of attention where she was in the GFA wasn't due to disinterest in the species and more down to lack of signage reminding people to look down.
I will have to disagree though, I maintain the belief that the average Australian visitor is more excited when they see a cassowary that when they see the dime a dozen Kangaroo or koala.
I don't think Zillie should be in the gorilla rainforest, but definitely should maintain their presence at MZ.
I will have to disagree though, I maintain the belief that the average Australian visitor is more excited when they see a cassowary that when they see the dime a dozen Kangaroo or koala.
I don't think Zillie should be in the gorilla rainforest, but definitely should maintain their presence at MZ.
20 Helmeted honeyeaters have been released:
From socials:
Zoos Victoria, in collaboration with our partners, is thrilled to have recently released 20 Critically Endangered native Helmeted Honeyeaters into the wild at Yarra Ranges National Park, in a conservation effort to save the species from extinction.
The release of zoo-bred birds, combined with extra feeding in the wild, has helped the Helmeted Honeyeater population rise to almost 250 in the wild - making this one of Victoria’s most significant threatened species success stories.
From socials:
Zoos Victoria, in collaboration with our partners, is thrilled to have recently released 20 Critically Endangered native Helmeted Honeyeaters into the wild at Yarra Ranges National Park, in a conservation effort to save the species from extinction.
The release of zoo-bred birds, combined with extra feeding in the wild, has helped the Helmeted Honeyeater population rise to almost 250 in the wild - making this one of Victoria’s most significant threatened species success stories.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Zoos Victoria on Instagram: "You knew they could fly, but did you know they can dive too? Check out the Osprey and a flock of other majestic birds-of-prey at 'Spirits of the Sky' - running daily at Healesville Sanctuary."
Has Healesville held Osprey for long? And if so, has it been a part of the Spirit of the Sky for long?
I last went around 2019 and have no memory of it being in the show, or there even being a pond in the arena area.
Could this be why it had recently been scrubbed from Maps?
- The new revelation of an Osprey in the Spirits of the Sky show makes me excited to visit! The footage on Instagram looks awesome. (I realise I wont have that view) -
Has Healesville held Osprey for long? And if so, has it been a part of the Spirit of the Sky for long?
I last went around 2019 and have no memory of it being in the show, or there even being a pond in the arena area.
Could this be why it had recently been scrubbed from Maps?
- The new revelation of an Osprey in the Spirits of the Sky show makes me excited to visit! The footage on Instagram looks awesome. (I realise I wont have that view) -
A female Eastern osprey was recorded in the Zoos Victoria 2020-2021 Inventory (which covers July 2020 to June 2021).
A female was mentioned in January 2015:
Alvey makes a Splash every day at Healesville Sanctuary, demonstrating her amazing fishing skills as she dives from great heights into the Flight Arena pond to scoop out her whiting.
Alvey is an Osprey, sometimes known as the Sea Hawk or Fish Eagle. She’s a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey and is the very last one featured in the 2.30pm Spirits of the Sky presentation. Why? Because she always flies off to enjoy her catch somewhere secret, returning home when she’s ready.
They can live up to 25 years, so this may be the same bird, as the one in today’s video is also female.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the comprehensive! (Mean that)
So new, but not that new then. And not why the spirits of the sky was not operational.
So new, but not that new then. And not why the spirits of the sky was not operational.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Wait, was SotS closed due to the strike action?
Spirit in the Sky was cancelled because of the strike. No doubt signs were removed and the map altered so visitors were not looking for a show that was not happening. It would also have taken time to get it up and running again when the strike ended..
Osprey have been there for as long as I can remember!
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Have they always been in the show though?Osprey have been there for as long as I can remember!
Zoos Victoria made a post about one being in the show in late January 2015 and a ZooChatter reported seeing one for the first time in June 2015 (despite not seeing it on several previous visits).
The show list for early January 2015 was: Black Kite, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Galah, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Long-billed Corella, Barking Owl, Nankeen Kestrel, Black-breasted Buzzard and Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Yeah, that's the only place I've ever seen them. I do remember seeing one prior to 2015 (I think the visit was 2014); so they might've been new at the time, I'm not sure.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I’ve never seen one at the bird show before
@zooboy28 was a regular visitor according to his posts on here and never saw one at the show until June 2015.
Apparently the bird comes back when it’s good and ready, so perhaps it’s not always been a regular feature over the years (i.e. daily demonstrations became weekly at some point): She’s a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey and is the very last one featured in the 2.30pm Spirits of the Sky presentation. Why? Because she always flies off to enjoy her catch somewhere secret, returning home when she’s ready.
We also don’t have confirmation the current Osprey is the one mentioned in 2015 (and again in 2020-2021). For all we know it died and was replaced at some point, with the replacement taking time to train. That may also explain why the Osprey is appearing daily again.
Breeding of Guthega skink:
From socials:
This Endangered little Lizard was born at Healesville Sanctuary earlier this season and is extra special, as two genetically distinct subpopulations were bred to create this little cutie!
Its mother is from Victoria’s Bogong High Plains and its father from Mt Kosciuzko in New South Wales, with keepers investigating options for genetic rescue of the Victorian population.
From socials:
This Endangered little Lizard was born at Healesville Sanctuary earlier this season and is extra special, as two genetically distinct subpopulations were bred to create this little cutie!
Its mother is from Victoria’s Bogong High Plains and its father from Mt Kosciuzko in New South Wales, with keepers investigating options for genetic rescue of the Victorian population.
Fat-tailed dunnarts on display in nocturnal house:
From socials:
Four ferocious carnivores have moved in to Healesville Sanctuary's Nocturnal House. Despite being small in stature, these Fat-tailed Dunnarts are fierce hunters - in fact, they're from the same family as Quolls and Tasmanian Devils!
From socials:
Four ferocious carnivores have moved in to Healesville Sanctuary's Nocturnal House. Despite being small in stature, these Fat-tailed Dunnarts are fierce hunters - in fact, they're from the same family as Quolls and Tasmanian Devils!
Raptor Rehabilitation Centre
From socials:
A space for injured wild birds to build up their flight fitness. We’re beyond excited to show you the new Raptor Rehabilitation Centre at Healesville Sanctuary.
Birds such as Wedge-tailed Eagles, falcons, hawks and owls can now build up flight fitness while in care at Healesville Sanctuary, so they not only survive but thrive when they return to the wild.
From socials:
A space for injured wild birds to build up their flight fitness. We’re beyond excited to show you the new Raptor Rehabilitation Centre at Healesville Sanctuary.
Birds such as Wedge-tailed Eagles, falcons, hawks and owls can now build up flight fitness while in care at Healesville Sanctuary, so they not only survive but thrive when they return to the wild.
Of curiosity ...... are any Leadbeater's on display?