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biggest_dreamer said:
I was at San Antonio earlier this week and didn’t see them there. There was a construction sign exactly where I believe they should’ve been located.

Still waiting on the train. Hope this wasn’t a waste of time because the storm’s coming in fast and I still haven’t hit MOLA.

Edit: I think Abilene is also supposed to have them?
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Abliene still has them based off their map. Are you visiting Abilene?
 
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There were no birds visible on the train, and the only things that looked like they could’ve been exhibits seemed to be in the process of being dismantled. I’m unfortunately very confident based on the state of things that they actually aren’t on exhibit back there any longer. I haven’t visited the African savannah section yet so there’s a chance that perhaps they’ve already been relocated there, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
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biggest_dreamer said:
There were no birds visible on the train, and the only things that looked like they could’ve been exhibits seemed to be in the process of being dismantled. I’m unfortunately very confident based on the state of things that they actually aren’t on exhibit back there any longer. ai haven’t visited the African savannah section yet so there’s a chance that perhaps they’ve already been relocated there, but I'm not holding my breath.
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That really sucks. There's not really a space I could see them being put in the Africa section, unless they put them in the savanna section itself which I doubt, wonder if they're still there behind the scenes or what. Maybe they'll be back out once Forests and Jungles is done and they shuffle around their insane bird collection, but for now that's sad if they're truly gone.
 
biggest_dreamer said:
There were no birds visible on the train, and the only things that looked like they could’ve been exhibits seemed to be in the process of being dismantled. I’m unfortunately very confident based on the state of things that they actually aren’t on exhibit back there any longer. I haven’t visited the African savannah section yet so there’s a chance that perhaps they’ve already been relocated there, but I'm not holding my breath.
Click to expand...
a picture on the gallery shows that the Secretary birds were moved to the bird row, which while technically is off display for construction of forests, you can still see several of the birds over there such as the spectacled owls and secretary birds
 
King of Komodo Dragons said:
a picture on the gallery shows that the Secretary birds were moved to the bird row, which while technically is off display for construction of forests, you can still see several of the birds over there such as the spectacled owls and secretary birds
Click to expand...
Okay, thanks. I just made it to the savannah but I’ll double back yet again to try and spot them. I’d be a lot less urgent about this if not for the storm that’s ready to break at any moment lol
 
Oh my god there they are! You can see them from around the construction fence across from the harpy eagle! And just like that, I walked a bit further down to see if they could be seen from another angle and once I returned they were already out of sight.

Thank you so much to everyone who assisted in this silly little journey. Couldn’t have done this without you all.
 
King of Komodo Dragons said:
a picture on the gallery shows that the Secretary birds were moved to the bird row, which while technically is off display for construction of forests, you can still see several of the birds over there such as the spectacled owls and secretary birds
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm glad I noticed them. I knew I had to take a picture. I also saw some grey-winged trumpeters and the blue-throated macaws.
 
biggest_dreamer said:
I was at San Antonio earlier this week and didn’t see them there. There was a construction sign exactly where I believe they should’ve been located.

Still waiting on the train. Hope this wasn’t a waste of time because the storm’s coming in fast and I still haven’t hit MOLA.

Edit: I think Abilene is also supposed to have them?
Click to expand...
Little Rock Zoo has Secretary Bird. I saw one over Memorial Day this year.
 
Ggrarl said:
Yeah, I'm glad I noticed them. I knew I had to take a picture. I also saw some grey-winged trumpeters and the blue-throated macaws.
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I’m super glad you noticed them too! The only other “hidden” birds I spotted were some black necked swans, which makes me even more grateful I actually found the one I was after.
 
Other 2024 News Worth Mentioning:
On May 15th, the zoo announced that they bred and released 75 Louisiana pine snakes into the wild.

A conservation update from the field! On May 9, the Zoo’s ectotherms team released 75 Louisiana pine snakes in the Kisatchie National Forest – the... | By Fort Worth ZooFacebook

On May 31st, the zoo announced they bred and released 1.04M Houston toad eggs/tadpoles into the wild.

Another exciting conservation update from the field! Over the last 9 weeks, the Fort Worth Zoo has worked diligently to breed the endangered Houston... | By Fort Worth ZooFacebook

On April 11th, it was announced they acquired a (1.0) Rio Fuerte bearded lizard from the Los Angeles Zoo in California.

https://lazoo.org/wp-content/upload...sion-Animal-Transaction-Report-April-2024.pdf

On April 26th, the zoo announced that 19 lesser flamingos hatched in 2024, which to date the facility has successfully bred 412 hatchlings of this species.

Lesser flamingo chicks go for a walk! | It’s International Flamingo Day and we’re seeing … gray! This year, with 19 lesser flamingo chicks, the Zoo has surpassed 400 hatchings (412 to be exact)... | By Fort Worth ZooFacebook

On June 10th, the zoo announced that 8 frilled lizards hatched which are behind the scenes.

Fort Worth Zoo
 
Some notes from my visit:

  • Sadly the Satyr Tragopans and African Open-Billed Storks seem to be gone, no sigh of them and signage for both species was removed.
  • Both Sumatran Tigers were on exhibit together, so hopefully we will get a successful pairing
  • Interesting case with both the Mountain Lions and Cinereous Vultures where they were still signed but the exhibit was empty and the gates were closed( off-exhibit area was sealed shut in the vultures case)
  • Sadly the zoo seems to have lost one of the Storm's Storks, there was only one on display today, I hope it was just off-exhibit.
  • The zoo also seems to be down to a single American Black Bear, I always see two out together, and there was just one today.
  • Former African Penguin habitat was drained with tarps over the glass.
  • Got to see the yearling Gharial, its amazing how much its grown!
  • Green Jay habitat next to the prairie dogs and burrowing owls was empty with signage removed, but green jay was signed in the coastal aviary alongside Plain Chachalaca which was moved from the smaller aviary.
  • The former Ocelot habitat is now an indoor dayroom for the Bobcat
  • The new Mountains and Desert exhibit was fantastic, I just wish there was more!(bring that bats back please!). The highlight was undoubtedly the Texas Kangaroo Rat, it was way more active than I was expecting.
  • The Two-Striped Stick Insect exhibit was empty but I saw two egg cases, maybe the adults all died off?
  • Instead of butterfly chrysalis, there was a silver argiope on display with he black widow and texas giant centipede at the wildlife traders area.
  • Somewhat annoyingly that even after a whole year, the Anegada Island Iguana enclosure is still signed for Grand Cayman Blue Iguana
  • Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizards have replaced the Mexican Beaded Lizard/Gila Monster habitat
  • Turkey Vulture has been replaced with Southern Crested Caracara
  • The Thai Bamboo Racer is gone, replaced with Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink
  • The only Flamboyant Flower Beetle on display looked very much dead so I wouldn't be surprised if that exhibit gets replaced
  • Indian Ornamental Tarantula was replaced with Golden-Eyed Stick Insects
  • I have a small issue with MOLA currently and that is that there are tons of small spiders building webs in a lot of the enclosures, even some of the new mountains and desert terrariums have this issue.
  • Only a single Toco Toucan chick was on display by MOLA, I thought there was 4 chicks
  • Speaking of babies, it was hard to find an exhibit without one! from Mandrill to Red-Crowned Crane, from African Lion to Gharial to Gorilla the zoo has had some amazing breeding results, even chicks from all 4 flamingo species, not to mention the currently growing elephant calf!
  • The adult Veiled Chameleons on habitat were replaced with 4 juveniles.
  • In unreported baby news, a brown feathered Palm Nut Vulture was with its parents, and from what it seems the parents want a break from the giant chick as they kept flying away from it only for the chick to follow.
  • Somewhat disgusting, but the African Crowned Eagle decided to eat its rat on the overhead railing so rat bits were falling on the path....and unlucky bystanders
  • On the mural for Forests and Jungles, they showcased species silhouettes for the expansion(Bongo, Giant River Otter, Jaguar, Orangutan, ect) but they also showed spider monkeys which I don't believe have been mentioned as coming for the expansion yet. Fort Worth Zoo really lacks on South American wildlife so I am all for it!.
  • Green Peafowl and Grey Trumpeter are gone from Gorilla Aviary but Red-and-Yellow Barbet and Mount Goliath Lorikeets are new(also seem to have gotten a few more Princess Parrots, saw 3 or 4 today, when I would rarely see 1 before)
  • Abyssinian Ground Hornbills and Helmeted Guineafowl signage removed, Southern Ground Hornbill signage added(also seen on exhibit, shame about the Abyssinian, but I haven't seen it since 2021, though I heard it and the southern were occasionally switched on and off exhibit).
 
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King of Komodo Dragons said:
Some notes from my visit:

  • Sadly the Satyr Tragopans and African Open-Billed Storks seem to be gone, no sigh of them and signage for both species was removed.
  • Both Sumatran Tigers were on exhibit together, so hopefully we will get a successful pairing
  • Interesting case with both the Mountain Lions and Cinereous Vultures where they were still signed but the exhibit was empty and the gates were closed( off-exhibit area was sealed shut in the vultures case)
  • Sadly the zoo seems to have lost one of the Storm's Storks, there was only one on display today, I hope it was just off-exhibit.
  • The zoo also seems to be down to a single American Black Bear, I always see two out together, and there was just one today.
  • Former African Penguin habitat was drained with tarps over the glass.
  • Got to see the yearling Gharial, its amazing how much its grown!
  • Green Jay habitat next to the prairie dogs and burrowing owls was empty with signage removed, but green jay was signed in the coastal aviary alongside Plain Chachalaca which was moved from the smaller aviary.
  • The former Ocelot habitat is now an indoor dayroom for the Bobcat
  • The new Mountains and Desert exhibit was fantastic, I just wish there was more!(bring that bats back please!). The highlight was undoubtedly the Texas Kangaroo Rat, it was way more active than I was expecting.
  • The Two-Striped Stick Insect exhibit was empty but I saw two egg cases, maybe the adults all died off?
  • Instead of butterfly chrysalis, there was a silver argiope on display with he black widow and texas giant centipede at the wildlife traders area.
  • Somewhat annoyingly that even after a whole year, the Anegada Island Iguana enclosure is still signed for Grand Cayman Blue Iguana
  • Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizards have replaced the Mexican Beaded Lizard/Gila Monster habitat
  • Turkey Vulture has been replaced with Southern Crested Caracara
  • The Thai Bamboo Racer is gone, replaced with Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink
  • The only Flamboyant Flower Beetle on display looked very much dead so I wouldn't be surprised if that exhibit gets replaced
  • Indian Ornamental Tarantula was replaced with Golden-Eyed Stick Insects
  • I have a small issue with MOLA currently and that is that there are tons of small spiders building webs in a lot of the enclosures, even some of the new mountains and desert terrariums have this issue.
  • Only a single Toco Toucan chick was on display by MOLA, I thought there was 4 chicks
  • Speaking of babies, it was hard to find an exhibit without one! from Mandrill to Red-Crowned Crane, from African Lion to Gharial to Gorilla the zoo has had some amazing breeding results, even chicks from all 4 flamingo species, not to mention the currently growing elephant calf!
  • The adult Veiled Chameleons on habitat were replaced with 4 juveniles.
  • In unreported baby news, a brown feathered Palm Nut Vulture was with its parents, and from what it seems the parents want a break from the giant chick as they kept flying away from it only for the chick to follow.
  • Somewhat disgusting, but the African Crowned Eagle decided to eat its rat on the overhead railing so rat bits were falling on the path....and unlucky bystanders
  • On the mural for Forests and Jungles, they showcased species silhouettes for the expansion(Bongo, Giant River Otter, Jaguar, Orangutan, ect) but they also showed spider monkeys which I don't believe have been mentioned as coming for the expansion yet. Fort Worth Zoo really lacks on South American wildlife so I am all for it!.
  • Green Peafowl and Grey Trumpeter are gone from Gorilla Aviary but Red-and-Yellow Barbet and Mount Goliath Lorikeets are new(also seem to have gotten a few more Princess Parrots, saw 3 or 4 today, when I would rarely see 1 before)
  • Abyssinian Ground Hornbills and Helmeted Guineafowl signage removed, Southern Ground Hornbill signage added(also seen on exhibit, shame about the Abyssinian, but I haven't seen it since 2021, though I heard it and the southern were occasionally switched on and off exhibit).
Click to expand...
Do you know which two of their Nile Hippos are still at the Fort Worth Zoo? I read in one source that they only have two Nile Hippos left and I can confirm Bubbles is still there and that Poppy (a fourth hippo) died in 2019. I want to know if it was either Jonsey or Daisy that was the one that died or if it was a mistake and that they are both still alive. Both of them would now be 40 years old so they would not be considered that young and I also suspect that one has passed away because why would they split the two up after they have been together since they were very young.
 
Nile Hippo Expert said:
Do you know which two of their Nile Hippos are still at the Fort Worth Zoo? I read in one source that they only have two Nile Hippos left and I can confirm Bubbles is still there and that Poppy (a fourth hippo) died in 2019. I want to know if it was either Jonsey or Daisy that was the one that died or if it was a mistake and that they are both still alive. Both of them would now be 40 years old so they would not be considered that young and I also suspect that one has passed away because why would they split the two up after they have been together since they were very young.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry but I do not know which hippos were the ones on display. Though there have only been two on display for a few years now, I don't think I've seen 3 of them together since when the Africa exhibit opened back in 2018
 
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