Zoochat Challenge North America 2024

Ahh man, I was really hoping it would be birds.

For reptiles, should Boas, Pythons, and Snapping Turtles also be included? Or where those excluded?
 
Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium (January 3, 2024)
1. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
2. Lion (Panthera leo)
3. Caracal (Caracal caracal)
4. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
5. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
6. Dingo (Canis familiaris)
7. Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
8. Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
9. Bonnethead shark (Sphyrna tiburo)
10. Sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus)
11. Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
12. Short-tail nurse shark (Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum)

Lakeside Nature Center (January 3, 2024)
13. Coyote (Canis latrans)
14. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
15. Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)
16. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
17. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
18. American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
19. Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
20. Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
21. Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
 
Blue Hills Trailside museum (January 4th 2024)

1. Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
2. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
3. Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
4. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
5. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
6. Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
7. Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
 
forget to mention one here,
disney's animal kingdom: 1/1/24
8. Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)
You might’ve forgotten to include the Nile Crocodile, which counts for the challenge. I saw over on global challenge thread that you were indeed able to spot them. ;)
 
You might’ve forgotten to include the Nile Crocodile, which counts for the challenge. I saw over on global challenge thread that you were indeed able to spot them. ;)

Thanks KiwiBirb. I've counted Nile Crocodile for you @pichu :) so next update start at 10.

Ahh man, I was really hoping it would be birds.

Was strongly considering an exclusive bird challenge this year (especially as North America still has never had one), but there are a handful of zoos currently with few or no birds on display because of avian flu once again - so I opted to save it for another year. That being said, raptors are the largest pool of potential species for this challenge... so I feel like I delivered on creating a "bird-heavy" challenge for 2024.

For reptiles, should Boas, Pythons, and Snapping Turtles also be included? Or where those excluded?

I excluded them - again, to keep things more focused and streamlined.
 
Was strongly considering an exclusive bird challenge this year (especially as North America still has never had one), but there are a handful of zoos currently with few or no birds on display because of avian flu once again - so I opted to save it for another year. That being said, raptors are the largest pool of potential species for this challenge... so I feel like I delivered on creating a "bird-heavy" challenge for 2024.
This makes sense. For what it's worth, to give a suggestion for future years, my dream challenge would be to repeat the "North American Mammals" challenge as "North American Birds". A perfect mix of passerines, waterfowl, birds of prey, and more!
 
This makes sense. For what it's worth, to give a suggestion for future years, my dream challenge would be to repeat the "North American Mammals" challenge as "North American Birds". A perfect mix of passerines, waterfowl, birds of prey, and more!

The issue with that becomes what counts as north american, given vagrants, etc :P
 
Bronx Zoo: January 2, 2024
1.) Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
2.) Amur tiger (Panthera tigris)
3) Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
4.) African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
5.) Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
6.) Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
7.) Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
8.) Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
9.) Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
10.) Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)
11.) Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
12.) Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Queens Zoo: January 3, 2023
13.) Canada lynx (lynx canadensis)
14.) Cougar (puma concolor)






 
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory 1/1/24
1. African Lion (Panthera leo)
2. Mainland (Amur) Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris altaica)
3. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
4. Serval (Leptailurus serval)
5. Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)
6. Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)
7. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
 
Every year I say I want to actually participate in this and every year I forget about it. So here is to doing better!

Philadelphia Zoo (1/4/24)
1. Common Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
2. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
3. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
4. African Lion (Panthera leo)
5. Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris)
6. Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)
7. Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
8. West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
9. Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
 
Bronx Zoo: January 2, 2024
1.) Dhole (Cuon alpinus)
2.) Amur tiger (Panthera tigris)
3) Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
4.) African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
5.) Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
6.) Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
7.) Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
8.) Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
9.) Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
10.) Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)
11.) Brown bear (Ursus arctos)
12.) Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

Queens Zoo: January 3, 2023
13.) Canada lynx (lynx canadensis)
14.) Cougar (puma concolor)
Staten Island Zoo: January 7, 2024
15.) Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
16.) Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)
17.) Red fox (vulpes vulpes)
18.) Amur leopard (Panthera pardus)
19.) American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
20.) Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
21.) Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci)
22.) White spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)
23.) Serval (Leptailurus serval)
 
Lincoln Park Zoo 1/7/24
Mammals (4):
Red Wolf (Canis rufus)
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
Lion (Panthera leo)

Birds (4):
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Reptiles (2):
West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
 
A sunny January day in San Diego to kick off the new year and the new challenge!

San Diego Zoo (San Diego, CA) - 02 January, 2024:
Felidae:
1.
Caracal (Caracal caracal)
2. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
3. Cougar (Puma concolor)
4. Jaguar (Panthera onca)
5. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
6. Lion (Panthera leo)
7. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
8. Serval (Leptailurus serval)
9. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia)

Canidae:
10. Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda)

Ursidae:

11. Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
12. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
13. Sloth bear (Melursus ursinus)

Accipitriformes:
14. Crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
15. Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)
16. Steller’s sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)

Cathartiformes:
17. Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
18. California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

Strigiformes:
19. Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia)

Crocodilia:
20. Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
21. Dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
22. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
23. Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
24. Slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
25. West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

Varanidae:
26. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)
No bat-eared foxes, but it was otherwise a very successful first visit to the Safari Park in the new year!

San Diego Zoo Safari Park (Escondido, CA) - 09 January, 2024:
Felidae:
27. Sand cat (Felis margarita)

Accipitriformes:
28. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
29. Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
30. Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
31. Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
32. Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
33. Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)
34. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
35. Ruppell’s griffon vulture (Gyps rueppellii)
36. Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
 
Staten Island Zoo: January 7, 2024
15.) Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
16.) Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)
17.) Red fox (vulpes vulpes)
18.) Amur leopard (Panthera pardus)
19.) American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
20.) Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
21.) Horn shark (Heterodontus francisci)
22.) White spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)
23.) Serval (Leptailurus serval)
Addition to Staten Island:
24.) Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Turtle Back Zoo: January 8, 2024

25.) Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta)
26.) Lion (Panthera leo)
27.) Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
28.) Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
29.) Jaguar (Panthera onca)
30.) Epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)
31.) Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooper)
32.) Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicintus)
33.) West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
34.) Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

Beardsley Zoo: January 9, 2024
35.) Red wolf (Canis rufus)
36.) Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
37.) Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
38.) Barred owl (Strix varia)
39.) Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare)
40.) Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
41.) Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
 
I made my first visit to Capron Park Zoo since 2021 today:
1. Amur Leopard- Panthera pardus orientalis
2. African Lion- Panthera leo
3. Serval- Leptailurus serval
4. Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman- Paleosuchus palpebrosis
 
Just returned from an immensely satisfying week in Southern California and brought back a nice haul for this challenge.

Birch Aquarium at The Scripps, 01/05/2024:

Selachimorpha
1. Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata)

San Diego Zoo, 01/06/2024 and 01/09/2024:

Felidae
2. Lion (Panthera leo)
3. Tiger (Panthera tigris)
4. Jaguar (Panthera onca)
5. Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus)
6. Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)
7. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
8. Serval (Leptailurus serval)
9. Caracal (Caracal caracal)

Canidae
10. Fennec Fox (Vulpes zerda)

Ursidae
11. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)
12. Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)
13. Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
14. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)

Cryptoprocta ferox
15. Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)

Accipitriformes
16. Crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
17. Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja)
18. Steller’s sea-eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)

Cathartiformes
19. Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
20. California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)

Strigiformes
21. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Crocodilia:
22. Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
23. Dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
24. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
25. Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
26. Slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
27. West African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

Varanidae:
28. Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 01/07/2024:

Felidae
29. Sand Cat (Felis margarita)

Accipitriformes:
30. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
31. Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
32. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
33. Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
34. Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
35. Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
36. Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)
37. Ruppell’s griffon vulture (Gyps rueppellii)
38. Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)
 
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National Aquarium Jan 10

1 Smooth-fronted Caiman
2 Freshwater Crocodile
3 Blacknose Shark
4 Horn Shark
5 Nurse Shark
6 Blacktip Reef Shark
7 Sand Tiger Shark
8 Sandbar Shark
9 Zebra Shark
10 Tasselled Wobbegong
 
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