Burgers' Zoo Burgers' Zoo 2021

Mr. Zootycoon said:
I was quite stoked to go the Mangrove which has been accumulating nice species for the last two years. The Crested bobwhite and the male Blue Ground Dove were as close to target species as it gets for me, as I had never seen either. However, my first visit was quite unsuccessful: the grassquits were all over the place and the doves were fair game too (though disappointingly I only saw female ground doves!), but I couldn't find any other free roamers. The second visit later in the afternoon was more successful as it produced sightings of Northern cardinal, a pair of ground doves and after a lot searching a brief glimpse of a bobwhite. The bobwhites actually have a very loud high pitched call which can be heard all over the Mangrove, but seeing them can be difficult! Also saw my first tropical gar.
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My suggestion for the bobwhites is to go onto the adventure path, stop at the stepping stones over the stream and try and get a glimpse of the plant-free area against the wall, that's where you'll best find them (as well as behind the butterfly signage before the adventure path)

Other free-roamers can be found in different spots. The violacious euphonia in the forest area near the manatee viewing window, the honeycreepers in the plants behind the benches close to the exit, the indigo buntings are a rare sight but can show up anywhere. I personally haven't seen the anolises yet, and no-one has spotted the geckos. The basilisks are most reliably found in the rocks around the small pond next to the main path. Blue ground pigeons are best seen in the second area of the adventure path

Mr. Zootycoon said:
The old Hispid cotton rat enclosure now has a sign for Merriams kangaroo rats, though I didn't see any. It is also signed in their old enclosure and I saw one in there.
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I'm fairly certain the kangaroo rats have one enclosure, that loops around the milk snake exhibit

Mr. Zootycoon said:
Other highlights of the day: a party of three catbirds mobbing a sunbittern in the Bush
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Congrats! The catbirds are quite hard to spot and the sunbitterns are becoming rarer since the new Bush restaurant (they hang around the roof a LOT)
 
Despite just moving back in, the lionfish are out of their tank again. it is now inhabited by two young nurse sharks (Pseudoginglymostoma brevicaudatum)
 
Since this weekend, annual pass holders no longer need to reserve a time slot to visit the park.

1,5 meter distances aren't necessary in parks anymore. I've asked if some of the restrictions in the park will be lifted soon (such as the removed caimans, the closure of the Canyon and the bird watching platform) and am still awaiting an answer
 
Does anyone know how the roadrunner chicks are doing? Did the chicks make it? Last I heard 6 had hatched and 3 eggs were in the incubator.
 
I visited Burgers' yesterday and I noticed that the Northern cardinals had been very busy in Desert. When the male first arrived the female immediately started making a nest and now they're already foraging with the babies! I counted two but there could be more.

The male painted buntings in Desert finally have their colours, for a while they had the same colours as the females.

Does anyone know how many tropical gars came to the mangrove when it first opened? For a really long time I thought there were only two, but I counted six yesterday, and none of them looked like they were born recently
 
Some very sad news; bighorn sheep left the zoo

Dikhoornschapen vertrokken | Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem (burgerszoo.nl)

'The bighorn sheep left our park on Thursday 21 October 2021 after 27 years as an animal species.

We made this choice because there are very few EAZA zoos in Europe that have this species in their collection (EAZA: European Association of Zoos and Aquariums). This not only makes it difficult to move young animals to suitable fellow zoos, but in the long term also poses a challenge in keeping the genetic variation high within the zoo population to be sustainble in the future.

It is of course the intention in to establish a new animal species in the former habitat of the bighorn sheep. However, the future use of this residence is currently being considered and yet unknown. '
 
Haasje said:
Some very sad news; bighorn sheep left the zoo

Dikhoornschapen vertrokken | Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem (burgerszoo.nl)

'The bighorn sheep left our park on Thursday 21 October 2021 after 27 years as an animal species.

We made this choice because there are very few EAZA zoos in Europe that have this species in their collection (EAZA: European Association of Zoos and Aquariums). This not only makes it difficult to move young animals to suitable fellow zoos, but in the long term also poses a challenge in keeping the genetic variation high within the zoo population to be sustainble in the future.

It is of course the intention in to establish a new animal species in the former habitat of the bighorn sheep. However, the future use of this residence is currently being considered and yet unknown. '
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This might be some of the saddest news I've heard in a long time. A real shame to see this beautiful and rare species leave. A true loss for European zoos.

I can't think of any species that could possible replace them. Not emotionally nor logically (unless they plan on completely redesigning 1/3rd of the desert hall)
 
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Mr Gharial said:
I visited Burgers' yesterday and I noticed that the Northern cardinals had been very busy in Desert. When the male first arrived the female immediately started making a nest and now they're already foraging with the babies! I counted two but there could be more.

The male painted buntings in Desert finally have their colours, for a while they had the same colours as the females.

Does anyone know how many tropical gars came to the mangrove when it first opened? For a really long time I thought there were only two, but I counted six yesterday, and none of them looked like they were born recently
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I had no idea Burgers even had northern cardinals, I do see them all the time as an Illinoisan, but not quite in a desert setting if you know what I mean. ;) :p
 
Haasje said:
Some very sad news; bighorn sheep left the zoo

Dikhoornschapen vertrokken | Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem (burgerszoo.nl)

'The bighorn sheep left our park on Thursday 21 October 2021 after 27 years as an animal species.

We made this choice because there are very few EAZA zoos in Europe that have this species in their collection (EAZA: European Association of Zoos and Aquariums). This not only makes it difficult to move young animals to suitable fellow zoos, but in the long term also poses a challenge in keeping the genetic variation high within the zoo population to be sustainble in the future.

It is of course the intention in to establish a new animal species in the former habitat of the bighorn sheep. However, the future use of this residence is currently being considered and yet unknown. '
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You say sad, but I think it's not a bad decision.

After all the bighorn sheep exhibit was becoming a bit smaller with the ever growing herd, seemingly. And the genetic issue means the species was doomed eitherway.

I wonder what they got in store next.
 
Mr Gharial said:
This might be some of the saddest news I've heard in a long time. A real shame to see this beautiful and rare species leave. A true loss for European zoos.

I can't think of any species that could possible replace them. Not emotionally nor logically (unless they plan on completely redesigning 1/3rd of the desert hall)
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The bighorns are just moving to france. So not a loss.
 
Anubite said:
The bighorns are just moving to france. So not a loss.
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Well moving to France but in an obscur park called "Rêve de bisons" which is no more that a farm with 200 american bisons and a wolf pack (I have the info from a friend). Of course, you can buy bison meat there !

From what I read the park want to enlarge and create a nature reserve with canadian animals. I don't know if it's still the idea as at the beginning of the year they were in economical crisis.
 
Antoine said:
Well moving to France but in an obscur park called "Rêve de bisons" which is no more that a farm with 200 american bisons and a wolf pack (I have the info from a friend). Of course, you can buy bison meat there !

From what I read the park want to enlarge and create a nature reserve with canadian animals. I don't know if it's still the idea as at the beginning of the year they were in economical crisis.
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Sounds like a thing to do for a species that is hard to get around the european continent :P
 
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