Taronga Zoo Crimson Chat

Simon Hampel

Simon Hampel

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20+ year member
According to the Taronga Zoo website they have a Crimson Chat at the zoo.

Does anyone happen to know where I might find it at the zoo - I'd love to
try and get a photo of it for my collection.
 
I would suggest going to adelaide zoo where there are lots of Crimson chats and the aviaries are in full sun most of the day, they are behind the pelicans, no idea where taronga keep them, probably the most heavily planted aviary.
 
Sim said:
According to the Taronga Zoo website they have a Crimson Chat at the zoo.

Does anyone happen to know where I might find it at the zoo - I'd love to
try and get a photo of it for my collection.
Click to expand...

I tried to get a photo of them on my last visit. They are in the avairies across from the koalas.
 
boof said:
I tried to get a photo of them on my last visit. They are in the avairies across from the koalas.
Click to expand...

Cool thanks. At least that's the first place I would have tried!

Although ironically it's typically the last place we would visit on a trip to Taronga - we tend to go down past the Kangaroos and Platypus first when we visit, after entering from the top entrance (although we haven't been since they started work on the new carpark / entrance).
 
I usually head to the platypus pools first. I then go back up to the old walk thru avairy and then over to the reptiles.
 
boof said:
I usually head to the platypus pools first.
Click to expand...

After seeing the new Platypussary at Healseville Sanctuary a few weeks back, I don't think I'll ever bother with the platypus area at Taronga again - I've been spoiled now by Healseville's amazing setup.
 
Sim said:
After seeing the new Platypussary at Healseville Sanctuary a few weeks back, I don't think I'll ever bother with the platypus area at Taronga again - I've been spoiled now by Healseville's amazing setup.
Click to expand...

Is it a walk through avairy like the platypus pools?
 
ive seen this handsome little bird quite a few times...i had no idea they were actually this tiny. he's in the cumberland plains woodland aviary....one of the last aviaries on the loop if you turn left as you enter. the keepers put the food at the front of the aviary which attracts the shyer birds out
 
glyn said:
he's in the cumberland plains woodland aviary
Click to expand...

Thanks Glyn,
I couldn't remember the name of the avairy. It will be ashame to see these avairies removed. They hold some great birds.
Hey Sim. If you're interested their are some swift parrots in the same avairy.
 
I like large walk-through aviaries ... makes it much easier to take good photos (although it can be much more difficult to find the small birds).

Once my last uni assignment for the year is done (I have 11 days including today :eek: ) ... I'll make an effort to go see if I can get a good photo.
 
I emailed several photos of the Crimson Chat to you privately Sim. Taken today at Adelaide Zoo. The male posed beautifully for me. The photos were quite good despite being taken through the netting.
 
Those aviaries at Taronga hold some wonderful birds, but you need to wait quietly to see them, and most visitors, regrettably, don't have the patience.

I would estimate that 95% of Taronga's visitors don't even enter that aviary area.

Some years ago I spoke to Graham Phipps, Curator of Birds, who told me that, contrary to popular belief, the small softbilled birds at Taronga are aviary bred, not wild caught. Although most aviculturists are into larger flashier birds like parrots, there is a small group of skilled and enthusiastic birdkeepers who specialise in softbills, keeping and breeding them in large planted aviaries and swapping birds among themselves.
 
This male was in the first of the Horseshoe Aviaries (the first one on your right as you enter the area) in February this year. It may have been moved since to one of the other aviaries - I later asked one of the Bird Keepers about it and he said they didn't have anywhere else to display it at the time (apparently it was part of the avifauna of the habitat being displayed).

http://www.zoochat.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18554

:)

Hix
 
It is in the far exhibit, when you go if you go off to the right around the loop it is the last aviary you come to.
 
Those aviaries are no longer accessible due to construction work.

:p

Hix
 
I was at Taronga at the start of the month as they were being pulled down. I am going up there tomorrow.
What is being constructed?
I thought it was going to be a picnic lawn.
 
It looks like the old avairies are being replaced by a stage area. A stage has been built opposite the remaining avairies.
 
Last Tuesday they were putting down a lot of soil in front of the 'stage' (which will probably be a viewing platform). Whether you will be looking into one large aviary or over an openroofed pen, I don't know.

:p

Hix
 
I didn't think of the stage as a viewing platform, Hix. It looked a little small. I hope you are right.
Another walk through would be good.
Fingers crossed.
 
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