ZooChat Challenge Europe 2018

Welcome, everybody! Once again we're stuck with a bit of an overlap in geographical range with the UK Zoochat Challenge, but we won't let that stop us. While @Kevin and I do really like @Shorts' concept of a highly diverse, fixed animal checklist, we don't think it's necessary to have the same challenge twice. The UK is a part of Europe after all, and that could potentially create for a bit of a mix-up with numbers in case a UK member were to participate in both challenges. Thus, we figured a traditional taxonomic challenge for the entirety of Europe would still be interesting and relevant.

This year's challenge will focus on the different fowl species of the world, officially called Galloanserae; a large group of species now down to just Anseriformes and Galliformes, but still incredibly diverse. All kinds of ducks, geese, swans, screamers, megapodes, cracids, guineafowl, quails and pheasants are this year's focus. Visits to a few key places should crank up your lists quite a bit, but since we combined both very different families, I don't believe any one collection could automatically grant anyone the winning ticket. Another reason this group of birds was chosen is because usually I, and I think perhaps some other members as well, tend to not pay too much attention to these birds (mainly the ducks go unnoticed for me), whereas every single one of them is unique and interesting, and certainly deserving of more attention.

I'll be keeping this challenge to a species level to avoid any confusion and/or debates. Since we're listing birds and there are a lot of useful bird lists, I believe it's the most logical to use them; There's a lot of conflict about which ones are better so I'll leave for everybody individually to decide, but it's important you stay consistent! No using IOC to take advantage of one split, and Clements to take advantage of another.

This challenge of course also has rules, with credits to Shorts:
1. You have to actually see the animal, even if just for a second. You don't score if you visit a collection but don't see the animal (harsh, but fair);
2. Proof via photographs is not required, your word is your bond;
3. You have to see the animal via normal public access (i.e. not including zookeeper for the day or photography days behind the scenes) during normal public opening hours (i.e. no scoring because you know the keeper and can get access before/after hours). Basically the species has to be seen as Joe Public would;
4. Only collections located in what is geographically Europe will count in this challenge (including Iceland, the UK, Ireland, the Mediterranean islands, but excluding Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey to avoid conflicts about what is and isn't 'Europe.')
5. Report/update your progress on this thread as you go along;
6. The winner will be deemed to be the person(s) who's seen the most at 31st December 2018;
7. Many zoos have freeroaming waterfowl species on their grounds, and we understand that this might cause for some confusion about which ones are captive and which ones aren't. It's hard for us to really make a clear rule about this, so we think it's best to just use your own judgment; exotic species that are obviously clipped/pinioned and/or ringed would count, whereas a native species that still seems capable of flight and has no trace of a ring wouldn't. It's not the end of the world if a 'wild' species is accidentally counted, since sometimes it's hard to be certain. Zootierliste could help confirm any suspicions.
8. @Kevin and my decision on any questions is final, but we're open to discussion and debate on any specific points.

This challenge is solely for fun, sadly I won't be able to offer the winner an actual prize. Most of all, we hope everyone has a great time!

 

You’re not giving very much time to go out and see any zoos

 

I knew I missed something! It's fixed now.

 

Well, I'm not visiting Europe this year, so I'm out.

 

So, not that ZTL is a reputable site at the best of times, we could say that any species listed in the fowls or waterfowls on there would count for this challenge?

 

Yep.
When you change the setting to show scientific names, those two come up as Galliformes and Anseriformes which are the two orders for this challenge.

I really like the choice of challenge this year, it's a nice broad topic that has the potential for lots of nice species and very high lists. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be visiting very many European zoos this year but it's still a nice, fun topic.

 

Chester Zoo- 01/01/2017
1) Eastern Crested Guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)
2) African White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus)
3) Hottentot Teal (Spatula hottentota)
4) Cape Teal (Anas capensis)
5) Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri)
6) Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
7) Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
8) Red-billed Teal (Thalassornis leuconotus)
9) Salvadori's Pheasant (Lophura inornata)
10) Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
11) Chestnut-bellied Partridge (Arborophila javanica)
12) White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
13) White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
14) Smew (Mergellus albellus)
15) Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
16) Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca)
17) White-winged Duck (Asarcornis scutulata)
18) Great Argus (Argusianus argus)
19) Palawan Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
20) Roul Roul (Rollulus roulroul)
21) Congo Peafowl (Afropavo congensis)
22) Cabot's Tragpon (Tragopan caboti)
23) Collared Partridge (Arborophila gingica)
24) Vietnamese Pheasant (Lophura hatinhensis)
25) Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus)
26) Lady Amherst's Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae)
27) Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
26) Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis)

 

It should probably be allowed but as Lophura edwardsi I reckon. I don't think you should be allowed to count edwardsi and 'hatinhensis'.

 

First entry of the year:

London Zoo

1. Green peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
2. White-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata)
3. Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
4. Edwards’ pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
5. Northern helmeted curassow (Pauxi pauxi)
6. Blue peafowl (Pavo muticus)
7. Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis)
8. Roulroul (Rollulus rouloul)
9. African pygmy goose (Nettapus auritus)
10. Hottentot teal (Spatula hottentota)
11. Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri)
12. White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
13. Comb duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
14. Plumed whistling duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)

 

I'm visiting Washington and possibly Slimbridge so I might have a chance

 

Ouwehands Dierenpark

15. Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus)
16. Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)
17. Red-crested pochard (Netta rufina)
18. Bahama pintail (Anas bahamensis)
19. Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
20. Fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)

 

1 Black swan Cygnus atratus Zie Zoo
2 Mandarin duck Aix galericulata Zie Zoo
3 North American wood duck Aix sponsa Zie Zoo
4 Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis Zie Zoo
5 Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina Zoo Frankfurt
6 Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis Opel Zoo
7 Barrow's goldeneye duck Bucephala islandica Opel Zoo
8 Canada goose Branta canadensis Opel Zoo
9 Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna Opel Zoo
10 Eurasian green-winged teal Anas crecca crecca Opel Zoo
11 Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca Opel Zoo
12 Garganey Spatula querquedula Opel Zoo
13 Marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris Opel Zoo
14 Northern pintail Anas acuta Opel Zoo
15 Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata Opel Zoo
16 Egyptian goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Opel Zoo
17 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Opel Zoo
18 Cheer pheasant Catreus wallichii Zie Zoo
19 Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus Zie Zoo
20 Golden pheasant Chrysolophus pictus Zie Zoo
21 ndian peafowl Pavo cristatus Zie Zoo
22 Vietnamese pheasant Lophura hatinhensis Zie Zoo
23 Yellow-necked spurfowl Pternistis leucoscepus Opel Zoo
24Helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris Opel Zoo
25 Himalayan monal Lophophorus impejanus Opel Zoo
26 Reeves's pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii Opel Zoo
27 Satyr tragopan Tragopan satyra Opel Zoo
28 Crested wood partridge Rollulus rouloul Zoo Frankfurt

 

Artis

21. Black swan (Cygnus atratus)
22. Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
23. Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus)
24. Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
25. Eider duck (Somateria mollissima)
26. Great argus pheasant (Argusianus argus)
27. Crested guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)
28. Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)
29. Ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata)
30. Red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii)
31. Palawan peacock pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
32. Southern screamer (Chauna torquata)

 

Artis

33. Satyr tragopan (Tragopan satyra)
34. Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

 

Hamerton Zoo

35. Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
36. Great curassow (Crax rubra)
37. Paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata)
38. Cape Barren goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)
39. Silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera)
40. Vulturine guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum)
41. Yellow-knobbed curassow (Crax daubentoni)

 

Should be a fun challenge, let's see how it goes!

Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens
7.1.18

1. African pygmy goose (Nettapus auritus)
2. Argentine shoveler (Spatula platalea)
3. Bahama pintail (Anas bahamensis)
4. Baikal teal (Sibirionetta formosa)
5. Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus)
6. Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)
7. Bernier's teal (Anas bernieri)
8. Chiloe wigeon (Mareca sibilatrix)
9. Common eider duck (Somateria mollissima mollissima)
10. Common goldeneye duck (Bucephala clangula clangula)
11. Common pochard (Aythya ferina)
12. Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
13. Coscoroba swan (Coscoroba coscoroba)
14. Fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)
15. Hottentot teal (Spatula hottentota)
16. Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis)
17. Maned wood duck (Chenonetta jubata)
18. Marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
19. Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)
20. Northern black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis fulgens)
21. Northern pintail (Anas acuta)
22. Old World comb duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos melanotos)
23. Philippine duck (Anas luzonica)
23. Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis)
24. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)
25. Red-shouldered teal (Callonetta leucophrys)
26. Tufted pochard (Aythya fuligula)
27. Versicolor teal (Spatula versicolor )
28. White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
29. Black curassow (Crax alector)
30. Crested wood partridge (Rollulus rouloul)
31. Eastern crested guineafowl (Guttera pucherani)
32. Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)
33. Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
34. Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)

Slimbridge WWT
7.1.18
35. Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucopareia)
36. Australian hardhead (Aythya australis)
37. Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri)
38. Barrow’s goldeneye duck (Bucephala islandica)
39. Black-backed rajah shelduck (Radjah radjah radjah)
40. Black-headed duck (Heteronetta atricapilla)
41. Blue-winged goose (Cyanochen cyanopterus)
42. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
43. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
44. Common goldeneye duck (Bucephala clangula clangula)
45. Falcated teal (Mareca falcata)
46. Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca)
47. Greylag goose (Anser anser)
48. Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis)
49. Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
50. Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
51. Northern mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
52. Pacific brent goose (Branta bernicla nigricans)
53. Patagonian Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides specularioides)
54. Pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
55. Rosy-billed pochard (Netta peposaca)
56. Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
57. Smew (Mergellus albellus)
58. Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator )
59. White-winged Duck (Asarcornis scutulata)

Chester Zoo
13.1.18

60. African white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus)
61. Cape teal (Anas capensis)
62. Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
63. Bronze-tailed peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron chalcurum)
64. Chestnut-bellied partridge (Arborophila javanica)
65. Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis)
66. Cabot's tragopan (Tragopan caboti)
67. Great argus (Argusianus argus argus)
68. Vietnamese pheasant (Lophura hatinhensis)
69. Red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii)
70. White-necklaced partridge (Arborophila gingica)

Edit - I've included Slims mallards and greylags in this, just let me know if they are not valid taxa for the purposes of the quest

 

Welsh Mountain Zoo
27) Nepal Kalij (Lophura leucomelanos)
28) Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus)
29) Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys)
30) Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)
31) Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca)
32) Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
33) Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)
34) Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)

 

This is a challenge that Warsaw Zoo is particularly good for:

1) Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah
2) Mute Swan Cygnus olor
3) Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
4) Cape Teal Anas capensis
5) White-winged Wood-duck Asarcornis scutulata
6) Plumed Whistling Duck Dendrocygna eytoni
7) Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
8) Black Swan Cygnus atratus
9) Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
10) Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
11) Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
12) Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
13) Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
14) Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
15) Bare-faced Currasow Crax fasciolata
16) Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
17) Edward's Pheasant Lophura edwardsi
18) Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii
19) Swinhoe's Pheasant Lophura swinhoii
20) Blue Peafowl Pavo cristatus
21) Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia
22) Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
23) Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix
24) Sri Lankan Junglefowl Gallus lafayettii
25) White-necklaced Partridge Arborophila gingica
26) Siamese Fireback Lophura diardi
27) Congo Peafowl Afropavo congensis
28) Vulturine Guineafowl Acryllium vulturinum
29) Roul-roul Partridge Rollulus rouloul
30) Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys
31) Madagascan Teal Anas bernieri
32) Brazilian Teal Anas brasiliensis
33) Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
34) Capercaille Tetrao urogallus
35) Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos
36) Elliot's Pheasant Lophura ellioti
37) Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus
38) White Eared-pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon
39) Lady Amherst's Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae
40) Reeves' Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii
41) Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera
42) Carolina Wood Duck Aix sponsa
43) Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri
44) Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
45) Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
46) Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
47) European Pochard Aythya ferina
48) Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
49) Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
50) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
51) European Quail Coturnix coturnix
52) Chinese Painted Quail Synoicus chinensis

And there are a few more species that I should be able to add when they come back on show in summer.

I've got quite a lot of travelling planned for this year but none of it is in Europe so I may not get to another European Zoo until possibly September.