White-faced Heron at Planckendael Jan 09

Ardea novaehollandiae

there seem to be quite a few Australian species at this zoo. Are these species there unusual in terms of other European zoos?

They're certainly a Planckendael speciality, and (unless I'm being dim this morning) it's the only European zoo to have the trinity of koala, wombat and echidna on show.

This particular species (the heron) has since turned up just up the road from me at Blackbrook, so it's one I'll be seeing a lot more of!

they're the most common species of heron in the wild in New Zealand, so I usually see them several times a week