Small news at Chester Zoo » Chester Zoo

26-03-2008

The only current bald ibis are at Belfast and Koeln Zoos. Both keep just the pair (I am afraid .. I guess they are also colonial breeders .. so at least we should have 3.3 at either).

Hopefully, our SA member can help us out here (Pretoria keeps about 40+ birds and San Diego is breeding them fine).

26-03-2008

i believe there is a flock at Walsrode

26-03-2008

There is indeed; saw them in September.

Looking over my photos; a decent sized flock of at least 10 birds (may have been a few more). Added a photo of some of them here: Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) at Vogelpark Walsrode - Photo Gallery

26-03-2008

As not on ISIS. Any idea how big the flock at Walsrode is?
No chance of getting Malagasy ibis confused here (theys keep them as well)?

26-03-2008

I'm guessing that the Butterfly house and aviaries will be finished by Autumn half-term and that the bridge, cheetahs and crocs will be done by May half-term...

By chance, does anyone know what the next developments will be, after this set?

26-03-2008

When will the african aviaries be finished?
I hope that it is by the end of July, as I am in Chester for a week in August.

26-03-2008

See my post above jelle - was editing while you were typing!

Threskiornthid-wise, Walsrode in September had:
Sacred Ibis
Madagascan (Blue-eyed) Sacred Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Northern Bald (Waldrapp) Ibis
Southern Bald Ibis
Hadada Ibis
American White Ibis
Scarlet Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Madagascan Crested Ibis
Eurasian Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
Black-faced Spoonbill (two females, off-show)


We now return to your regular scheduled Chester minutiae

26-03-2008

Sounds about right to me. I think the Butterfly house is done when its done, basically.

26-03-2008

Hang on a minute its only a greehouse it cannot be much bigger then the new ones built for the gardens near the off-show parrots and 1 of those went up in 4 to 5 weeks so it could be alot quicker then we think at present big question is how log will it to plant out,plus how many of the plants are ready and waiting to go straight in their.

27-03-2008

I agree, the butterfly house is just a pre-fab structure. So they could get it open in a few weeks if they want to, provided that they have been organising some plants and some butterflies.

Alan

__________________
When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

27-03-2008

Well, here's hoping. I reckon it's gonna be a very nice addition to the zoo; the quicker it's finished, the better!

27-03-2008

Does anyone have a realistic time for when the aviaries will be finished???

27-03-2008

Well if what i`ve heard from a contact within the zoo they have a arrival date for the first Butterflies/pupae to arrive at the zoo,pity i cannot rember what date i was told but the month was may.
As for the aviarys its anyones guess they hadn`t even started last weekend but then things can happen fast at Chester.

Amphibian News at Chester
28-03-2008

Life on the Lily Pad exhibition opening March in Joseph Banks room - this includes caecilians which I have never seen, and not even seen on TV until Attenborough's programme the other week.

New arrivals include the rediscovered Rancho Redondo frog which unfortunately won't be going on display. These are the only ones in a zoo although they are collaborating with Manchester museum so may be they will be visible there.

28-03-2008

Is there are complete species listing for the Chester Zoo Amphibian Ark? These Rancho Redondo frogs: are they also maintained at the Manchester Museum (what kind of zoological institution is the Museum ... )?