Chester Zoo Birds in the tropical realm
- Thread starter foz
- Start date
Bongorob posted a comprehensive review of the species in the tropical realm in another thread.
I hope he doesn't mind me posting it on his behalf
I hope he doesn't mind me posting it on his behalf
Foz, there are so many threads it is hard to find what you are looking for sometimes.
CZJimmy, please send me some royalties.
Most of the birds seem to do well there, the only exception I can think of was when Little Black Bustards were kept in one of the aviaries on the top floor. They usually lost their chicks, and someone I know who has experience with bustards suggested that the humidity may have been too high. Amethyst Starlings have never bred in this exhibit, despite being housed there for a long time.
Thw Wonga Pigeon and Blue Crowned Pigeon are single specimens.
Montserrat Orioles are not breeding very well either. I don't know why.
The roulrouls, most of the starlings, Pekin Robins and the Java Sparrows breed like mad.
The Rothschild's Mynahs (Bali Starlings) are too old to breed.
The Golden Weavers are two elderly males. At first this bird bred freely but all the females died within a short space of time and the remaining two must be around 20 years old now.
Timor Zebra Finches also do not seem to thrive.
CZJimmy, please send me some royalties.
Most of the birds seem to do well there, the only exception I can think of was when Little Black Bustards were kept in one of the aviaries on the top floor. They usually lost their chicks, and someone I know who has experience with bustards suggested that the humidity may have been too high. Amethyst Starlings have never bred in this exhibit, despite being housed there for a long time.
Thw Wonga Pigeon and Blue Crowned Pigeon are single specimens.
Montserrat Orioles are not breeding very well either. I don't know why.
The roulrouls, most of the starlings, Pekin Robins and the Java Sparrows breed like mad.
The Rothschild's Mynahs (Bali Starlings) are too old to breed.
The Golden Weavers are two elderly males. At first this bird bred freely but all the females died within a short space of time and the remaining two must be around 20 years old now.
Timor Zebra Finches also do not seem to thrive.
Last edited:
Zoogiraffe reported the arrival of a pair of Sunda Island Whistling Thrushes, now free flight in the Tropical Realm but not labelled. I believe there are also 2 Madagascan Fodys still in threre, these are also not labelled. I've not yet seen either species.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
I saw 1 of the Male Fodys on my last visit as for the Thrush not seen it myself but have no reason to doubt my source that they are in their,also for a time they had a Tree Shrew living free in the House for a while or it might even still be living free.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Don`t worry no offence taken i`m just as surprised none of us have spotted them in their as they are quite a unusual species particularly as you say they have bred them as well,as for the tree Shrew if i hadn`t seen it with my own eyes iwould never have believed it just a pity it shot out of view as soon as i got my camera out.
While visiting the zoo a few monthes ago we noticed that the Great Indian and Rhinocerous Hornbills had swapped enclosures. Yesterday we saw that they had been swapped back again. Does anyone know why, please?
I think it was an attempt to get the rhinoceros hornbills to breed by giving them a change of scenery. It worked for the writhed hornbills.
Birds in Tropical Realm & Hermit Crabs
Having visited Chester Zoo today, I noticed that the bird species in the Tropical Realm had changed. The total numbers present seemed to be lower than usual. I seem to remember reading somewhere that some birds were to be moved on but didn't give any detail as to which species. Has anybody any information as to which species have been moved on and whether any new species have been added. I did notice that a lot of the Roul Roul Partridges had disappeared which is a shame as they were a favourite, not just of mine but with many other people that I have spoken to whilst looking around the Tropical Realm. On another note, does anyone know how many Hermit Crabs there are in the exhibit in the Tropical Realm as I've only ever seen one and didn't see any today, as did many other people which was a shame as people were just looking and passing quickly by as they couldn't see anything. I wondered, does anyone know whether this is to be a long term exhibit as it seems a strange example to show due to their burrowing habits. I also wondered, that as now zoos have to justify why they are keeping a species, where the Hermit Crab fits into this. This is not a criticism per se but I would be very interested to know the reasoning behind keeping this species. My own personal view is that perhaps the space could have been better used to display other species of terrestrial inverts if this was the targeted group i.e perhaps a forest dwelling Scorpion species?
Having visited Chester Zoo today, I noticed that the bird species in the Tropical Realm had changed. The total numbers present seemed to be lower than usual. I seem to remember reading somewhere that some birds were to be moved on but didn't give any detail as to which species. Has anybody any information as to which species have been moved on and whether any new species have been added. I did notice that a lot of the Roul Roul Partridges had disappeared which is a shame as they were a favourite, not just of mine but with many other people that I have spoken to whilst looking around the Tropical Realm. On another note, does anyone know how many Hermit Crabs there are in the exhibit in the Tropical Realm as I've only ever seen one and didn't see any today, as did many other people which was a shame as people were just looking and passing quickly by as they couldn't see anything. I wondered, does anyone know whether this is to be a long term exhibit as it seems a strange example to show due to their burrowing habits. I also wondered, that as now zoos have to justify why they are keeping a species, where the Hermit Crab fits into this. This is not a criticism per se but I would be very interested to know the reasoning behind keeping this species. My own personal view is that perhaps the space could have been better used to display other species of terrestrial inverts if this was the targeted group i.e perhaps a forest dwelling Scorpion species?
Did you note which species are missing? The white-headed buffalo weaver is no longer in there, but at 20 years old I expect it has died. New birds in free flight are the Javan Whistling Thrushes. Some birds may have been removed for transfer to the African Aviary.