Chester Zoo Chester 2011 #4

Status
Not open for further replies.
I should've posted over the weekend (been a bit kiboshed by a pox) that as mentioned a few months ago, the history banner has now been relocated to the edge of the lawn opposite the servals. It ruins the open space - not that there were many snowdrops left - but hopefully will get a lot more attention.

For the eagle-eyed, or perhaps eagle-eared - their call is quite distinctive - there are now at least two red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio) in free-flight in the Tsavo African Bird Safari.
 
SMR said:
For the eagle-eyed, or perhaps eagle-eared - their call is quite distinctive - there are now at least two red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio) in free-flight in the Tsavo African Bird Safari.
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming this SMR, I saw one of these on Friday but didn't know what it was until zoogiraffe told me on Sunday :)

Edit: It isn't a very good photograph, but thought I'd attach it anyway :)
 

Attachments

  • 095.JPG
    095.JPG
    3 MB · Views: 15
Last edited:
bongorob said:
It's a starling with red-wings, don't worry too much about your reputation, anyone could work that one out.
Click to expand...
Even ZG? ;) :eek:

Actually I found their red wings quite difficult to spot, even in flight. These might be young birds that haven't developed full colouration yet.
 
SMR said:
Even ZG? ;) :eek:

Actually I found their red wings quite difficult to spot, even in flight. These might be young birds that haven't developed full colouration yet.
Click to expand...
Nope they don't get much redder than the ones I saw on Sunday with Javan Rhino.
 
There are 1.1 starlings. The Cape Teal which were labelled and never seen, have hatched 5 young. The blue-winged geese which were labelled and never seen, and apparently never at the zoo, remain a mystery to me.
 
visited again today :-)
nothing new to report other than there is a nice history of the zoo time line gone up next to the bush dogs.
Can anyone tell me why the African Hunting Dogs pack is currently 2 dogs light?
Thanks
 
Waddi said:
visited again today :-)
nothing new to report other than there is a nice history of the zoo time line gone up next to the bush dogs.
Can anyone tell me why the African Hunting Dogs pack is currently 2 dogs light?
Thanks
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell seems like the girls have separated themselves off from the boys, you can usually see them running along the back on the bridge side,
 
Waddi said:
has us been relocated from somewhere else within the zoo?
Click to expand...

It was up outside Cedar House (facing the Aquarium entrance) from summer 2009 until summer 2011. :)

It was produced as 2009 was the 75th anniversary of the North of England Zoological Society.
 
ah, the aquarium is the one part of the zoo I purposely miss. Are there any plans to update/rebuild/modernize the aquarium?
 
Waddi said:
ah, the aquarium is the one part of the zoo I purposely miss. Are there any plans to update/rebuild/modernize the aquarium?
Click to expand...

I believe the current plan is to integrate fish into the other new exhibits as they are built rather than building a new aquarium per se. So there'll be more exhibits on the lines of the elephant and okapi house tanks, and indeed the one currently being built in the jaguar house. There're quite a few possibilities for aquatic displays in the new Islands area, for example.
 
Waddi said:
ah, the aquarium is the one part of the zoo I purposely miss. Are there any plans to update/rebuild/modernize the aquarium?
Click to expand...

Although I'm certainly not a fish person I actually quite enjoy the Aquarium BUT AVOID IT ON BUSY DAYS !!!!

On a quiet day it can be a very pleasant tour.
 
Maguari said:
I believe the current plan is to integrate fish into the other new exhibits as they are built rather than building a new aquarium per se. So there'll be more exhibits on the lines of the elephant and okapi house tanks, and indeed the one currently being built in the jaguar house. There're quite a few possibilities for aquatic displays in the new Islands area, for example.
Click to expand...

I believe that they drew up plans for a replacement aquarium a couple of years ago but these have not been mentioned for some time. They probably shelved them when they found how much a "good" aquarium costs! While I like the idea of combining different animals in zones in my opinion the best zoos ( based on extensive visits abroad ) also have dedicated buildings as aquariums as well.
 
SMR said:
Eliza is far from "creepy", she's a lovely bird and if she takes to you, will actually regurgitate a grape as a gift. Whenever I've been in the aviary with her, she's always been gentle and friendly, almost sitting on my shoulder at one point.
The Blue Peter segment was shot a while ago because she's moved home since.
Click to expand...

What species is Eliza? Is she still At Chester, or has she left the collection?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top