Blackbrook Zoo (Closed) Blackbrook Zoo 2010

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Pygathrix said:
Thanks, I thought they might just be crows but the mesh seemed too fine for them. I was hoping you were going to say New Caledonian crows so I could ask you when the kagus were arriving:)

I know what the new mammal is, I heard you say it, although there are several zoos in Europe with it unless you're getting a particular subspp.

Keep up the good work.
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Its it bit more interesting than the standard one you see,pity they don`t look that much different!!Still none in the UK of any sub-species until Blackbrook get theres.
 
It is a specific subspecies, as Im sure you will be told of when it is finally confirmed.

Mammal-wise though it will be the first of potentially three species not seen anywhere else in the UK, and a fourth species not seen anywhere else in Europe...

As and when things progress Im sure you will all be kept in the loop...
 
Vini said:
It is a specific subspecies, as Im sure you will be told of when it is finally confirmed.

Mammal-wise though it will be the first of potentially three species not seen anywhere else in the UK, and a fourth species not seen anywhere else in Europe...

As and when things progress Im sure you will all be kept in the loop...
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Exciting times ahead for Blackbrook and for us zoo nerds, i have heard it will be an all male group that will be coming in for the first species.
Hopefully birds will still be the priority of the park, as they seem to do really well with them.
 
Its a pair coming, though bachelor groups are something that is being looked into - infact a species has been added to the collection plan of which the plan is to hold a bachelor group of eventually.

The majority of the collection will always be birds, but the space is there to have a very interesting and important collection of mammals as well. Don't worry - there are many new and exciting bird species coming in, one of which should be the only pair outside of their country of origin I believe...
 
Thanks Vini, good to hear such positive news, collection wise coming out of a UK zoo
 
mazfc said:
I'm getting very excited about visiting now
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Well don`t forget to take your Bird ID books as the labelling is best described as poor in places and very good in others,many species of waterfowl are not found any where near the labels for them or not labelled at all.
 
But theres usually a keeper willing to tell you ;-). That besides labelling is an issue - but this is being tackled, the amphibean exhibit is a good example of what is being done. It has been being done at a rate of 10 species per month on the main park, but this is shortly to change and hopefully progress much quicker. Thanks for your visit today ;-)
 
Hi Vini thanks for the information. Is your user name a clue to a new species? Would you be able to post some photos of the secretary bird chicks? I'd love to see them.
 
Vini australis has been on-site, but not on show at Blackbrook for around about 6 months now. It is due to go on-loan to another collection however.
Its a personal favorite genus of mine.
Im sure I can put up some photographs - let me just work it out!
Sec' birds 4 and 5 are due under the parents with a bit of luck some time in the next couple of weeks!
 
Vini said:
But theres usually a keeper willing to tell you ;-). That besides labelling is an issue - but this is being tackled, the amphibean exhibit is a good example of what is being done. It has been being done at a rate of 10 species per month on the main park, but this is shortly to change and hopefully progress much quicker. Thanks for your visit today ;-)
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While Blackbrook is one of the better places for finding a keeper i have been and never spotted one to ask questions to in the past.
As for the signs I`m glad its in hand but surely if you have a sign for a species already that sign can be moved with the species if you move the species to another enclosure?
On a positive note i do like the new style signs they provide a good amount of details about the species!
 
Finally made my first visit to Blackbrook on a very rainy windswept bank holiday Sunday.

I was really impressed by the variety of species I saw there. I saw loads that I had never seen before. I think the highlight for me was the vulturine guinea fowl - great looking birds.

The tropical house was a joy in the cold weather and had a great variety of birds. Tho I couldn't match every species to the signage. Is the dove with 'bloody' chest a bleeding heart dove?

The pelican and penguin feedings were fun and informative as well.

We we t to leave about 5 then spent another 45 mins looking at all the enclosures in the car park area. Well worth a look. Particularly enjoyed the ural owl taking a bath, the brown pelicans with mini deer (does anyone know what these are) and I'm pretty sure I spent a bit of time looking at a tawny frog mouth! Hope I did anyway!

Oh by the way, the scarlet tearoom is lush - very nice scones at the end of cold day.

My main problem as someone who knows very very little about birds is that the signage didn't always seem to match the species I was looking at. Maybe a bird spotters guide to carry round would be a help as I loved what I was seeing and really wanted to know more
 
mazfc said:
Finally made my first visit to Blackbrook on a very rainy windswept bank holiday Sunday.

I was really impressed by the variety of species I saw there. I saw loads that I had never seen before. I think the highlight for me was the vulturine guinea fowl - great looking birds.

The tropical house was a joy in the cold weather and had a great variety of birds. Tho I couldn't match every species to the signage. Is the dove with 'bloody' chest a bleeding heart dove?

The pelican and penguin feedings were fun and informative as well.

We we t to leave about 5 then spent another 45 mins looking at all the enclosures in the car park area. Well worth a look. Particularly enjoyed the ural owl taking a bath, the brown pelicans with mini deer (does anyone know what these are) and I'm pretty sure I spent a bit of time looking at a tawny frog mouth! Hope I did anyway!

Oh by the way, the scarlet tearoom is lush - very nice scones at the end of cold day.

My main problem as someone who knows very very little about birds is that the signage didn't always seem to match the species I was looking at. Maybe a bird spotters guide to carry round would be a help as I loved what I was seeing and really wanted to know more
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1) Yes you are correct, also did you see the Speckled Mousebird in the Tropical House?

2) I believe these are Muntjac Deer.
 
I went to Blackbrook with mazfc.

We thought we saw the Speckled Mousebird!

I saw my favourite boat billed herons so I was happy. My friend recorded that we'd seen Rosetta spoonbill in Costa Rica so Rosetta they'll always be (and don't put me on zoo misconceptions if you overhear me) and I was thrilled to see lots of them and fascinated by the one picking up one of the chicks from the food bowl and taking it to the pond for a very thorough wash.

I liked the crowned crane even though he seemed to take exception to me.

Definite lack of or mislabelling meant we didn't know what a lot of the things we were looking at were.
 
Paix said:
1) Yes you are correct, also did you see the Speckled Mousebird in the Tropical House?

2) I believe these are Muntjac Deer.
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Thank you.

We spent quite a while looking for the mouse bird as it was the only one from the labels we couldn't see at first. It was actually a bit smaller than I was expecting.
 
mazfc said:
Thank you.

We spent quite a while looking for the mouse bird as it was the only one from the labels we couldn't see at first. It was actually a bit smaller than I was expecting.
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Yeah, it was larger than I was expecting! :D
 
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