The new Red Billed Chough enclosure. This used to house the Sumatran Orangutans before the new enclosure was built in the 90's. The Chough's are part of a reintroduction project to the coast of Jersey.
Thinking about it more, it's probably entirely right that the aviary should be devoted to Red-billed Choughs and nothing but the choughs. To have any other birds in there would only detract from the choughs. As long as the choughs are the only species in the aviary, visitors are made to realise that the birds must be very special.
This argument can be made for any bird species in zoos. However the argument for mixed bird species is that they make more interesting, lively dispalys. Not to mention the practical element of saving space.
Foz -- This is a high profile, conservation-oriented exhibit, aimed at eventual regeneration of Jersey cliff-top habitat, the former haunt of the Chough. There is no other bird from that habitat that would live in that aviary without interfering with the Choughs in some way. Wild rabbits might be inclkuded in this enclosure, to show how they have historically kept the Jersey coastal turf cropped [and thus suitable for foraging Choughs]. However, the rabbits would have to be looked after, and prevented from burrowing out, all taking the attention of keeping staff away from Chough propagation. Someone else suggested a few ducks in here. I am very duck-minded, and have kept them in all sorts of places, but, unfortunately, there are no cliff-top grazing ducks in Jersey.
Wild rabbits might be inclkuded in this enclosure, to show how they have historically kept the Jersey coastal turf cropped [and thus suitable for foraging Choughs]. However, the rabbits would have to be looked after, and prevented from burrowing out,
Rabbits wouldn't be able to escape as its solid floored exhibit( that's unless they've dug up the original floor since the Apes used it). But they'd soon ruin the 'pasture' effect in a small area by over-burrowing in it. I agree the reason its a single-species exhibit is because its a conservation project in progress, rather than merely an attractive 'zoo' exhibit.
I have often wondered why the oft-quoted 'loss of clifftop grazing' and 'increase of vegetation' is given as the main reason Choughs became extinct in places like Cornwall and Jersey. Even without sheep/cattle etc there have always been rabbits present to graze the cliffs, and indeed the clifftop habitat in Cornwall really looks no different to me nowadays than it did when Choughs first stopped breeding and then became extinct in the 1960-70 period. And why weren't similar habitat changes at work in Wales and Ireland i.e. why didn't the birds die out there too?
I believe the previous Cornish birds were the victims of other forces- possibly genetic influences causing a lack of virility and breeding performance in the final years of breeding. I don't know the full story behind their extinction on Jersey or why it hasn't been recolonised from nearby Brittany. Hopefully this reintroduction project will redress the balance though.
Pertinax; you're right about the solid floor, which I had forgotten about. The effort needed to wire over this for what would have to be a non-breeding group of rabbits, wouldn't be worth it.
Interesting thoughts about the whole 'choughs becoming extinct' issue. I didn't actually see the bird, but a single Chough turned up on portland a few years ago, and stayed for several months. Escape....immigrant....lost Welsh bird?
The Choughs in this aviary have more flight room than your average captive Chough, and show off their bouyant aerobatic abilities rather well.
Foz -- This is a high profile, conservation-oriented exhibit, aimed at eventual regeneration of Jersey cliff-top habitat, the former haunt of the Chough. There is no other bird from that habitat that would live in that aviary without interfering with the Choughs in some way. Wild rabbits might be inclkuded in this enclosure, to show how they have historically kept the Jersey coastal turf cropped [and thus suitable for foraging Choughs]. However, the rabbits would have to be looked after, and prevented from burrowing out, all taking the attention of keeping staff away from Chough propagation. Someone else suggested a few ducks in here. I am very duck-minded, and have kept them in all sorts of places, but, unfortunately, there are no cliff-top grazing ducks in Jersey.
Clearly I wasnt saying that THIS should be a place for mixed exhibits. it was merely that these factors were not originally raised, (no one can include everything), so I felt the compulsive need to just to highlight this, not being specific to this case at all.
Chester's 'Europe on the Edge' aviary contains at least one pair of Choughs (its a very large mixed species aviary) and they have a good flight area too. Can't remember if they breed in there.
in the 1970's Newquay Zoo used to have a special 'Chough Aviary' containing several pairs. I believe some of them suffered from Aspergillosis though and the plans to breed them never came to fruition.
Odd wild Choughs do turn up in places miles from their normal range sometimes. Before they recolonised Cornwall there were several sightings of odd birds in South Devon. The question is, is it more likely the Portland Bird came from Brittany- perhaps so?
Interesting 'zoo history' paralell between this enclosure and the Tecton Roundhouse at Regent's Park. Both were built as state of the art Gorilla enclosures [one worked, one didn't], neither would be acceptable for that species today, both have been through an Orang phase, and graduated towards mildly exciting housing for medium sized species.
First time I saw this house I was surprised how economical in size it was. But then Jersey were only just starting out breeding Gorillas. Even the interior of the current house is pretty small, though its okay for the current group which has dwindled in size in recent years.
