So I visited the Zoo today (finally!
), and I thought I'd share some quick updates. (Apologies if some of the things I report aren't new - I've only aware of the changes that have occurred since the start of this year.)
- The Montezuma oropendola has been moved to the grey-winged trumpeter exhibit.
- The newly-renovated finch exhibit contained the following species: red-faced parrot finch, blue-faced parrot finch, double-barred owl finch, star finch, long-tailed finch and plum-headed finch. Crested wood partridges are also on display here.
- Thylo, I did keep an eye out for those seedeaters. The signage for both species was still up. I caught a quick glimpse of the ruddy-breasted when I walked in, but wasn't able to get any pictures or videos. I did not, however see any black-and-white seedeaters in the 6+ minutes I spent in the exhibit.
- There was a lesser bird-of-paradise chick in the Nursery. While, Thylo reported seeing one there during his visit in January, the one on display today hatched on February 27th. There were also two green-winged macaw chicks on display here as well.
- The Guanay cormorant is still kicking, although it was fast asleep all throughout my walk through the Seabird Aviary. (Also, no steamer ducks in the aviary. No signage for them either. I believe someone asked about them earlier.)
- There appears to be a few Magellanic penguin chicks on exhibit - I saw at least two. I am not sure how old they are, as they seem to have shed nearly all of their down, but are not yet sporting full adult plumage.
- To my surprise, there was a red-crowned crane in the adjutant stork aviary. Is this a new addition?
- I saw no black skimmer in the little penguins exhibit. Can we assume it has died?
- Not sure if this has been reported yet, but there are African spoonbills on display with the pied avocets in the exhibit after the kiwi.
*Aside* - having seen the red-legged seriemas in their Aquatic Bird House enclosure, I too agree that it is incredibly small for them.
- In Jungleworld, in the last exhibit where the gharials now live, there appeared to be a greater mouse deer sitting on the bank along with the crocodilians. Not sure if this is a big deal at all, but I personally just found it very odd. (Although, gharials eat fish primarily... Maybe that isn't so strange after all.
) I will post pictures of both the mouse deer, as well as the gharials. They were everywhere - up on land, floating on the surface of the water, sitting at the very bottom of their pool... very exciting to see so many of them on display.
(Unfortunately, I ended up not having the time to visit the Carter Giraffe Building to check on the duikers, the Mouse House, or the World of Reptiles, as I initially planned to. Will have to get to them the next time around.)
Also, two quick questions:
- Has anyone here ever seen the slow loris that apparently lives in the mouse deer exhibit in Jungleworld? I've been waiting to see it now for some time.
- Where are the mouse lemurs found in Madagascar? Are they in the exhibit that usually has the Madagascan ground boas? Or the exhibit just before you enter the spiny forest, where some species of gecko was kept in the past?
) Let's hope this week works out!
(They told me this as they were at the National zoo, speaking about the bird house renovations, and how excited the were to see this new bird called the maleo, so you can understand my confusion.)
