Are lyrebirds only in 2 zoos in Australia? Ive never heard of them being kept anywhere else. Are they that difficult to keep in captivity?? Thanks
Regarding keeping them they are a very large insectivorous bird that feeds on the ground but breeds in trees. You would need a very big planted aviary where they could forage on the ground and an unlimited supply of insects. Their continual scratching and foraging makes it difficult to maintain the plantings in the aviary. I would not say not difficult so much as demanding and beyond what many zoos would be prepared to invest.Are lyrebirds only in 2 zoos in Australia? Ive never heard of them being kept anywhere else. Are they that difficult to keep in captivity?? Thanks
Helmeted honeyeaters are not commonly kept, the only places with them are Healesville, Melbourne and Moonlit, as far as I know. Of course helmeted honeyeaters are a subspecies of the yellow-tufted honeyeater and other subspecies are kept privately and in zoos.So far Regent and Helmeted honeyeaters are being the most-kept honeyeaters in Australia, most likely because they were endangered. I've seen records of many non-threatened beautiful honeyeaters in private collections in Australia, but too bad many of them were not too attracted by Australian zoos.
Blue-faced honeyeater and Friarbirds were fairly common in Australian zoos, but it would be interesting to make a complete list of honeyeaters kept in captivity in Australia!
Helmeted honeyeaters are not commonly kept, the only places with them are Healesville, Melbourne and Moonlit, as far as I know. Of course helmeted honeyeaters are a subspecies of the yellow-tufted honeyeater and other subspecies are kept privately and in zoos.
Regents are in 10 zoos give or take, but are not held privately. Australian softbill keepers and breeders usually refrain their breeding status and pictures from the internet, so there is always not too much data of their recent breeding status.
Probably the most common species seen in aviculture are scarlet honeyeaters and the three chats. Other species are occasionally available privately and sometimes appear in some zoos. However overall there is littlie interest in small passerines in Australian zoos these days.
There should be a handful of places that have them but like most native birds there is limited information available on their current status in Australian zoos. In more recent times I've seen them at Melbourne Zoo in 2018 (they still had one male as of June 2021) and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary up until around 2020. They are also present in private aviculture so there should be a few other facilities with them. Overseas, I also know San Diego Zoo have this species in their Australian bird aviary.Does anybody know how many zoos in Australia keeps Squatter pigeons?
Overseas, I also know San Diego Zoo have this species in their Australian bird aviary.
Having just visited the zoo yesterday, I did not see Squatter Pigeon signed or present; also looks like nobody has photographed one there in nearly a decade. Still several other native Australian birds though.
