I had the pleasure of visiting of visiting both zoos although Prague has been a couple of years ago. Prague has a great collection and I truly enjoy a lot of the enclosures in the form of the cliff aviaries - Sichuan building and the lorikeet row (and I'm still looking forward to see the new parrot house). Leipzig is a bit of a let down. The birdhouse is relatively small with some gems like the Blue-headed quail-dove but overall it is just ok. Godwana land has a nice collection, but still not packing the punch that some other halls like Burgers' have collection wise. I think this is the one category (together with reptiles) that Leipzig is just ok and therefore not in the same league as Prague.
European (Tea)Cup - League F - Prague vs Leipzig
- Thread starter TeaLovingDave
- Start date
African Savannah:
@Chapman'szebra - home to Ostrich and one of the largest and most attractive savannahs at a city zoo in Europe.
The Pheasantry extends into a series of bird of prey aviaries, which are far better, and house a fascinating selection of species. Again, the list has already been provided, but I should reiterate the highlight: Pel's Fishing-owls, which have bred here for the first time in captivity.
@Chapman'szebra - for Egyptian and Hooded Vultures, rather good in my opinion.
Since the new Gorilla house was built, Pragues savannah doesn't stand a chance against Leipzig, which also has more birds (beside the ostriches also lesser flamingo and marabou storks). The quality at the birds of prey aviaries at Prage varies on a large scale. While the fishing owls are ok, i definitely wouldn't say the same for the larger eagles.
A very quick breakdown of Leipzigs main offering at this category
The walk trough aviary for northern bald ibis and griffon vulture.
The second large asian aviary.
And finally the flamingo aviary with some other south american birds
There are a few more smaller aviaries at the zoo but nothing outstanding.
EliasNys
Well-Known Member
Do you mean that Leipzig also keeps some birds pinioned? Or are these in an aviary?
They are pinioned - the stork free-roaming on the main body of the savannah, and the flamingo are located on a pond at one end of the savannah with their housing located within the giraffe house.
EliasNys
Well-Known Member
As I said I would do, I changed my vote to 5-0
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Perhaps Leipzig's savannah is better overall, but in a discussion that solely relates to birds, the presence of more flight-restricted (be they wing-clipped or pinioned) birds on an open-topped savannah doesn't really strike me as a good thing. Superior ostrich enclosure, perhaps, although from what I could find, even with the Dja Reserve reducing the savannah space, Prague's savannah is only marginally smaller than Leipzig's.
Per ZTL this is 270-81 to Prague on species. I can't speak for Leipzig but on my visit over 240 of those at Prague were onshow. While those aviaries you picture do look really nice, I don't think they are enough to salvage a consolation point for myself when Prague has so many equally good or even better aviaries for similar species.
Although the result is pretty much locked-in at this point, I reckon it is worth requesting that we hear the arguments and opinions of those voters who are most positively-disposed towards Leipzig where this category is concerned - both because it may well convince some of the more hardcore pro-Prague voters to ameliorate their stance, and because it might encourage further participation and votes from lurkers either way - @snowleopard , @Rohin , @antonmuster , @Green_mamba and @Veno ?
For those voting 5-0, I think we need clarification from TLD that you have given sufficient justification for your vote or otherwise you may need to change it back to 4-1 (personally I think 5-0 votes should automatically be downgraded to 4-1 if no or insufficient justification has been given, not discounted completely).
This seems one of the most clear cut results ever and 5-0 doesn't need too much justification this time
This seems one of the most clear cut results ever and 5-0 doesn't need too much justification this time
cornu aspersum
Well-Known Member
I won't be of much use, unfortunately, since I haven't been to either zoo; but from what I've seen, I prefer Prague's bird selection and presentation, such as its bird of prey aviary and the jungle bird house.
Yeah, all three of the individuals who have voted 5-0 thus far have provided fair account for their reasoning, so I am entirely satisfied with their votes. As you suggest, the level at which a 5-0 is justifiable pretty much varies from match to match - if a match is otherwise leaning towards a 50/50 split or close to it, the reasoning provided would have to be very, very good indeed!
So in other words, you have given Leipzig 2 points purely because you prefer Prague based on the presented evidence, but don't want to influence the vote *too* heavily in either direction given your lack of direct experience?
which is fair enough reasoning - as I've noted repeatedly I *want* people to participate even if they don't have direct experience of a collection, as every vote helps to "adjust" the overall score towards a more fair and true result!
I voted 4-1 for Prague because the difference in the number of species is overwhelming and the rarities there are even better.
That said, Leipzig has some very nice species: 3 fruit-doves, 2 crowned pigeons, Allen's Gallinule, Black crake, Blue-backed grassquit, Chestnut-capped babbler, Greyheaded kingfisher, Hartlaub turaco, Painted bunting, Indian pond-heron, Philippine rufous night-heron, Madagascar pond-heron , Lesser Brazilian teal, Napoleon bishop, Montserrat oriole, Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Sumbawa Forsten lorikeet, Sierra Leone green pigeon, Red-legged honeycreeper, Wattled starling, Western plantain-eater, Yellow-crowned gonolek, White-crowned robin-chat, Turquoise tanager, : that's an absolute first class list few other zoos could beat.
And the historic vulture aviary is a stunning structure.
But it's against Prague, a zoo that few others can beat when it comes to birds (Walsrode surely, Plzen and Berlin Zoo maybe).
That said, Leipzig has some very nice species: 3 fruit-doves, 2 crowned pigeons, Allen's Gallinule, Black crake, Blue-backed grassquit, Chestnut-capped babbler, Greyheaded kingfisher, Hartlaub turaco, Painted bunting, Indian pond-heron, Philippine rufous night-heron, Madagascar pond-heron , Lesser Brazilian teal, Napoleon bishop, Montserrat oriole, Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Sumbawa Forsten lorikeet, Sierra Leone green pigeon, Red-legged honeycreeper, Wattled starling, Western plantain-eater, Yellow-crowned gonolek, White-crowned robin-chat, Turquoise tanager, : that's an absolute first class list few other zoos could beat.
And the historic vulture aviary is a stunning structure.
But it's against Prague, a zoo that few others can beat when it comes to birds (Walsrode surely, Plzen and Berlin Zoo maybe).
I voted 4-1 for Prague, and I think people have already given good reasons for to. Other than the “rational” explanations I also voted because of the presence of shoebills. The flamingo exhibit in water world and monkey islands feels like a blemish on Prague’s record though.
The result was never really in doubt, and this was certainly one of the most one-sided matches of the Cup thus far - however, the discussion remained active and vibrant throughout, much to my pleasure:
Prague - 92/115 points - 80.000%
Leipzig - 23/115 points - 20.000%
Interestingly, the three 5-0 votes and the three 3-2 votes cancelled out, creating a true 4-1 result ratio overall!
Prague - 92/115 points - 80.000%
Leipzig - 23/115 points - 20.000%
Interestingly, the three 5-0 votes and the three 3-2 votes cancelled out, creating a true 4-1 result ratio overall!