I've been told it happens quite often so I always look for them there but I've never been successful. So congrats on the find!
This weekend I visited the zoo for the first time this year. Spend very little time at the outside parts (Rimba, Park, Safari) because of the dreary weather. My walk through the Bush was rather mediocre, seeing almost only the bigger and bolder species, but a cooing superb fruit dove was a very neat sight. Desert went a lot better: both quail species and all the desert rodents as well as the ringtails showed very well. In the Mangrove I found most bird species and despite the rain quite a number of butterflies where active. In terms of 'news': the small aviary in the Desert now houses rose-bellied bunting and soccoro doves. The cardinals and all signage of them seem to be gone. I also saw a blue-winged teal in the pond. The bird house seems emptier every time I visit. Compared to two years ago four species have left (emerald dove, inca jay, great argus, white-rumped shama), and one was gained (or re-gained? The laughing-thrushes seem to have gone on and off show a few times). But the house feels even emptier, at least part because some species used to be present in more than one aviary. Spoiler: Bird house species list Inner row (apes to Mangrove) 1. Gouldian Finch 2. Chestnut-backed Thrush 3. Superb fruit dove (signed not seen) 4. Silent forest display (no living animals) 5. White-lipped Tree Frog, Green Tree Python 6. Pantano Cichlid (signed not seen), Blue Guianacara (signed not seen), Corydoras longipennis, Ancistrus dolichopterus Outer row (apes to Mangrove) 1. Satyr Tragopan, Sumatran Laughing-thrush 2. Galah 3. Kea 4. Black Hornbill 5. Grosbeak Starling 6. Blue-winged Kookaburra
On Zootierliste, I noticed a new species for Burgers' Zoo: The Side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). I take a 'zoo break' during winter and haven't been there in a bit, does anyone have more information about these animals?
At least I didn't see any on show, but the ZTL entry looks legit. Would be good to see some new stuff again... Not many updates really, but a few worth sharing: - The small ocean tank is now again inhabited by 1.1 zebra sharks (with a 3rd one in the big tank), the female looked like she was carrying eggs. There was also an Indian threadfish, which is a new species for that tank. The tank is still understocked with about 10 individual fish in total (of 5 species). - The aardvark female was locked in the separation enclosure, normally that only happens when they are pregnant, but I didn't catch a keeper, so who knows... - In November a male Reeves' muntjac arrived from Landau, so this species has returned, I didn't visit Rimba, so not sure if it is already on show. - I saw no work whatsoever on the former lynx enclosure and there is also no sign of a new caiman yet. - According to De Harpij the chestnut-bellied seedfinches have finally successfully raised a chick that actually fledged and survived, there have been a lot of failed attempts in the past.
Visited again today, with multiple new things going on: Park: they were of course busy near the new playground area at the Bush entrance, which means some of the park was closed and you have to walk around the desert to get into the Bush. They were also working on the new elephant stables. Desert: In the Lynx enclosure there was a small, low net placed. Pretty much the only animal that would be stopped by this and occurs in Arid North America would be the Texan gopher tortoise. I talked to a keeper and they confirmed it would be a tortoise. That same keeper confirmed the arrival of a new lizard species, but it was unlikely they would be on display anytime soon. Bush: A new bird in the bush, but not new for Burgers' zoo: A lot of Violacious Euphonias were released after being transferred out of the Mangrove. They were quite showy, especially around the restaurant. The signage for the Caiman was also removed, there's now some extra information about the Occelate river stingray and the Suckermouth catfish. Mangrove: A keeper confirmed that the Lowland cichlids were assumed to be out of the collection. There was only one left for a little while and it hasn't been seen so its currently assumed dead. In the mudflats, new Blue tang surgeonfish arrived. As well as some seagrass that was planted in multiple areas, both in the deeper areas and in the shallow/muddy region. Ocean: The Japanese sea nettle are back on display again. Rimba: They're currently renovating the Sun bear/Binturong enclosure. With a lot of new climbing areas that include some small sleeping huts for the Binturongs.
Some updates from today: - In the Desert 2 new bird species have been released: a flock of 4.2 American siskins (Spinus tristis) and 10 common ground doves (Colimbina passerina). The siskins are the only ones on display in Europe, the doves aren't common either. Both species are still unsigned, but were quite showy with some patience. It is worth visiting in the morning now, as then there are displaying Gambel's quails everywhere and the rose-bellied buntings were also very active. - There aren't any changes to the former lynx exhibit since the last update. - In the Rimba a banteng was born, the first in years. 2 browl-antlered deer were also born recently, bringing the total of young born the past year to 7, if I counted correctly. As the breeding male died last year, this will probably be it for now. - The new Reeves's muntjac male is also on display in the main Rimba paddock, he is still unsigned and seems to be alone (at least for now). - A beisa oryx was born recently, to the same female who gave birth last year, bringing the group to 1.3.1. Mother and calf can be seen with some luck in a separation enclosure. The other oryx are on the main paddock, just as the whole waterbuck group. The giraffe calf is visible outside in their separation paddock. - In the Ocean the "little ocean" tank is now restocked, ~5 Indian threadfish and ~25 golden trevally were added. Together with 2 zebra sharks, a single fusilier and some cleaner wrasse this exhibit finally feels filled again. - In the Bush the new euphonias (surplus males from the Mangrove) seem to be everywhere, a nice addition. In the Mangrove the breeding group is already nesting again, just as the croaking ground doves. In the Bush the crowned pigeons are nesting again in the tree near the restaurant. - The new playground next to the Bush is opened, so are the renovated pathways from the Bush to the entrance and gorillas. These were made less steep, as Dutch people complained a lot about the incline (a slope they wouldn't even notice in e.g. Prague).
I'm actually here right now. Haven't found the doves or siskins in the desert yet. Any spotting tips? Very happy to see new species added in the desert
The siskins move as a flock and mostly stick to the trees. Watch out for their sounds, I saw them in the mesquite trees next to the prairie dog enclosure and the former tortoise enclosure. I saw singletons/pairs of the doves in multiple places, especially around the prairie dog enclosure, but also between the peccaries and the roadrunners and near the t-rex. The doves are quite tiny and like to sit still.
Some updates from the ZieZoo, their quarterly magazine: - Already in 2023 a confiscated group of Indian star tortoises arrives (Geochelone elegans), in time they will be on show in one of the 2 water monitor enclosures. They were already mentioned in an article about confiscated animals back in May 2023, but were quickly removed again from said article. - The first zebra of the year was born, as well as multiple hog deer - 2 female white-winged wood ducks arrived, which means there are now 4 females on show in the Bush. On the bidding of the EEP coordinator, Burgers' only keeps females - The wording on the passing of the final bobcat indicates that this is a species that won't come back, no words on the replacement though.
Recently the Great barracudas (Sphyraena barracuda) left the zoo and were send to Diergaarde Blijdorp. This is a very difficult procedure given the animals size, sensitive skin and fast movements. Therefore the animals were trained to go into a large bucket, sadly one of the animals passed away after arriving at Blijdorp. The other barracudas can be seen in the grote haaienbassin in Blijdorp. The whole reason for this move was the desire of Burgers to house a new fish in this aquarium, one that couldn't be combined with the barracudas, draadvinmakrelen (in Dutch). Would that be the Indian threadfish (Alectis indica)? Furthermore some more Golden trevallys (Gnathanodon speciosus) were also added to the tank. Source: Instagram of Burgers Zoo (18/04/2024)
Since April 22nd, there's a new avian addition to the Bush! Two male black vultures, both hailing from Ostrava Zoo in Czechia. Quite the splendid inclusion, I must say.
Well, that's about the coolest species they could've added. Though I do wonder how well they will do in such dense vegetation. I think only Rander's Regnovs (probably didn't spell that right) has vultures in a tropical greenhouse
well, Blackvultures, live in the dense rainforesto f the amazone ,and central america, not only the sothern US
I'm well aware, I've seen them in the amazon. But they usually fly above the treeline, not in the actual forest. Now, Burgers Bush has plenty of room above the trees, but not as much as the desert has
Some small snippets from a short visit: - Apart from a refurbishment of the elephant stables, their outdoor paddock will also be slightly expanded next to the path from the entrance to the Bush: - I spotted one of the new black vultures in the trees opposite the Asian leaf turtle enclosure (which is the water next to the giraffe stables). It is a great sight, though the vulture clearly still had to get a grasp of trees and bending branches. The red-rumped caciques are again building nests above the former manatee enclosure and the crowned pigeon is still on the nest near the restaurant. - The 2 kangaroo rat enclosures and the milk snake enclosure in the Desert tunnel are currently empty for refurbishment, there is no indication what will come back. There wasn't any visible work being done in the former bobcat enclosure, though it did contain a Socorro pigeon. - The Desert is a good place to linger this time of year anyway with several plant species in full flower and loads of bird activity. There are male Gambel's quails everywhere this year and the new American goldfinches are also very vocal and moulting to their summer plumage. They are joined by a snowy-crowned robin-chat from the Bush which found its way through the underground tunnel...
Exciting news: Burgers' Zoo has applied for a permit to demolish the old pheasantry (the small bird house) and replace it with a new unknown exhibit. This means we can probably expect start of the works by the end of Summer/Autumn and an announcement between mid-June and then. Provinciaal blad 2024, 6295 | Overheid.nl > Officiële bekendmakingen
Very excited for this! I believe it was... 2019 since we got any truly new areas in Burgers' Zoo. That's half a decade with no new enclosures (that is, if we don't count the PPP enclosure in the Desert)
I wouldn't count on it, they are separate buildings, just somehow merged , but with Burgers' you never know
I hope they also rebuild the ape indoors, as they are not the best. I am just couripus what they gonna do on the area of the bird house. It is not big. So ko eccodisplay. My gues is tgat they just build a modern birdhouse
