Exotic Birds in Australia

WhistlingKite24 said:
An article in the most recent issue of Australian Birdkeeper magazine confirmed the presence of Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot in Australian aviculture. Quote from the relevant article: "Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots are the only species of hanging parrots I am aware of in Australia."
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That's an "interesting" discovery. I had never heard of them being in the country before, and a brief Google search didn't show any mentions. Makes one wonder how long they have been in Australian aviculture for...
 
As of my visit (8/7/22) Featherdale Wildlife Park still keep Eurasian Skylark in the Birds of the Grasslands Aviary (Grasslands on map). I also noted that they've got an Egyptian Goose in the enclosure called Cape Barren Geese on the map which is @ the back of the park. Other exotic birds I saw or were signed @ the park include Golden Pheasant, Doves (White-Breasted Ground-, Luzon Bleeding-Heart), Nicobar Pigeon, Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Tricoloured Munia & Green-Winged Macaw. I also sighted what may have been a Tricoloured Parrot-Finch in one of the aviaries but perhaps it was a Blue-Faced Parrot-Finch with blue extending down its head & breast as they were signed for the aviary, but remained unseen (as I couldn't discern which it was).
 
zooboy28 said:
*Fiordland Penguin Eudyptes pachyrhynchus - Five birds (1.4) at Taronga Zoo and one male bird at Melbourne Zoo.
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Melbourne Zoo's male Fiordland Penguin has moved to Taronga Zoo for breeding. The article mentions there are now five (2.3) individuals at Taronga - males Ed and Mr Munroe and females Dusky, Gari and Moeraki: High hopes for endangered penguin bonding
 
A small mixed update:
  • Egyptian Goose is now at Mogo Wildlife Park [social media post on 21/09/2022] and Mute Swan at Central Coast Zoo [social media post on 07/12/2021].
  • I am saddened to announce the death of Australasia's last Greater Rhea. The last female died on 14th September 2022 at Gorge Wildlife Park and this marks the end of the very long history rheas had across Australasian zoos. One of my earliest zoo memories is hand feeding the rheas that used to live in the walkthrough kangaroo enclosure at Alma Park Zoo. They will be missed. :( In the last couple of years we have lost Victoria Crowned Pigeon (2016), Chilean Flamingo (2018), Razor-billed Curassow (2019) and now Greater Rhea (2022).
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
A small mixed update:
  • Egyptian Goose is now at Mogo Wildlife Park [social media post on 21/09/2022] and Mute Swan at Central Coast Zoo [social media post on 07/12/2021].
  • I am saddened to announce the death of Australasia's last Greater Rhea. The last female died on 14th September 2022 at Gorge Wildlife Park and this marks the end of the very long history rheas had across Australasian zoos. One of my earliest zoo memories is hand feeding the rheas that used to live in the walkthrough kangaroo enclosure at Alma Park Zoo. They will be missed. :( In the last couple of years we have lost Victoria Crowned Pigeon (2016), Chilean Flamingo (2018), Razor-billed Curassow (2019) and now Greater Rhea (2022).
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Wow that sounds like quite a deliberate decline in the Rhea holdings? Shame about the Victoria Crowned Pigeon, I saw my first ones this year at Parc Zoologique in Noumea and they are stunning birds, one of the highlights of the park.
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
A small mixed update:
  • Egyptian Goose is now at Mogo Wildlife Park [social media post on 21/09/2022] and Mute Swan at Central Coast Zoo [social media post on 07/12/2021].
  • I am saddened to announce the death of Australasia's last Greater Rhea. The last female died on 14th September 2022 at Gorge Wildlife Park and this marks the end of the very long history rheas had across Australasian zoos. One of my earliest zoo memories is hand feeding the rheas that used to live in the walkthrough kangaroo enclosure at Alma Park Zoo. They will be missed. :( In the last couple of years we have lost Victoria Crowned Pigeon (2016), Chilean Flamingo (2018), Razor-billed Curassow (2019) and now Greater Rhea (2022).
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It is sad to see so many wonderful species gone now for good. :(
Has there been any update to the IRA for the importation of parrots?, I believe it was to be completed about one year ago?.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
A small mixed update:
  • Egyptian Goose is now at Mogo Wildlife Park [social media post on 21/09/2022] and Mute Swan at Central Coast Zoo [social media post on 07/12/2021].
  • I am saddened to announce the death of Australasia's last Greater Rhea. The last female died on 14th September 2022 at Gorge Wildlife Park and this marks the end of the very long history rheas had across Australasian zoos. One of my earliest zoo memories is hand feeding the rheas that used to live in the walkthrough kangaroo enclosure at Alma Park Zoo. They will be missed. :( In the last couple of years we have lost Victoria Crowned Pigeon (2016), Chilean Flamingo (2018), Razor-billed Curassow (2019) and now Greater Rhea (2022).
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A sad loss for the region. I really think it's time for restrictions around avaian imports to be reviewed on a wider-scale.

Rather than the blanket ban considered necessary from a biosecurity perspective, something that acknowledged that accredited zoos are are a place of containment, where species are quarantined to strict health standards and don't have any chance of coming in contact with the commercially farmed species these rules protect.
 
Zoofan15 said:
A sad loss for the region. I really think it's time for restrictions around avaian imports to be reviewed on a wider-scale.

Rather than the blanket ban considered necessary from a biosecurity perspective, something that acknowledged that accredited zoos are are a place of containment, where species are quarantined to strict health standards and don't have any chance of coming in contact with the commercially farmed species these rules protect.
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That’s why I find it interesting as to why pigeons could/are allowed for importation when they can fly from one end of the country to the other, hardly containment :rolleyes:
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
While the specific holdings of parrot species aren't listed for this thread, I thought this incredibly unexpected news should be reported here as well. Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo currently have a pair of Hyacinth Macaws!! They will be going on display within the next six months!
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Zambi Wildlife Retreat in Sydney now has a Hyacinth Macaw with their Blue and Gold Macaws as well: Log into Facebook | Facebook
 
@JM01

Great point, its been a long time from what understand. One of those examples where one would think it likely Australia would still have had Kiwi the last few decades but not the case strangely enough (guess the one perk is another encouragement for Australians to visit New Zealand...not that extra encouragement should be needed, NZ rules, say that as one of the Aussies though still wanting to visit). Sort of the way (mammal example in bird thread I know) that New Zealand deserves to have held Platypus by now but still have not (neither has Western Australia or the Northern Territory in Australia). The scarcity of New Zealand birds in Australia (besides shared native species..not that know many examples besides Morporks and some sea-birds) is best exemplified by the fact that the wikipedia page for Mogo (zoo) Wildlife Park has an acknowledgement that they were the last zoo/animal park in Australia to keep Kea(s) (believe the last passed away late '90s/early '00s).
 
JM01 said:
It would be cool to see a Kiwi in an Australian zoo
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steveroberts said:
@JM01

Great point, its been a long time from what understand. One of those examples where one would think it likely Australia would still have had Kiwi the last few decades but not the case strangely enough (guess the one perk is another encouragement for Australians to visit New Zealand...not that extra encouragement should be needed, NZ rules, say that as one of the Aussies though still wanting to visit). Sort of the way (mammal example in bird thread I know) that New Zealand deserves to have held Platypus by now but still have not (neither has Western Australia or the Northern Territory in Australia). The scarcity of New Zealand birds in Australia (besides shared native species..not that know many examples besides Morporks and some sea-birds) is best exemplified by the fact that the wikipedia page for Mogo (zoo) Wildlife Park has an acknowledgement that they were the last zoo/animal park in Australia to keep Kea(s) (believe the last passed away late '90s/early '00s).
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Osedax said:
They are on the Live Import List, they would just need an IRA.
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The 1949 ban on importing birds from all countries except New Zealand was extended to include New Zealand in 1971. Apparently there was a brief reprieve between 1989 and 1995 (which frustratingly zoos failed to take advantage of), with a total ban existing from that point on.

Were the ban not in place, I’d love to see Southern cassowary in New Zealand zoos; and if Auckland Zoo ever bred sufficient numbers of Greater flamingo to generate a surplus, I have no doubt Australians would love to see them in their zoos. Monarto could hold a massive flock.

That’s interesting to know Mogo Zoo once held Kea @steveroberts. Auckland Zoo once exchanged them with the Chicago Zoo for Black leopard cubs.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The 1949 ban on importing birds from all countries except New Zealand was extended to include New Zealand in 1971. Apparently there was a brief reprieve between 1989 and 1995 (which frustratingly zoos failed to take advantage of), with a total ban existing from that point on.

Were the ban not in place, I’d love to see Southern cassowary in New Zealand zoos; and if Auckland Zoo ever bred sufficient numbers of Greater flamingo to generate a surplus, I have no doubt Australians would love to see them in their zoos. Monarto could hold a massive flock.
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That's why they would need an IRA. I believe one for Psittacines is in progress
 
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