Birdworld Birdworld Updates

I know that Chester bred the Denninson's Barb a few years ago so not a first!

 

Yes, I meant first at birdworld, what was the trigger for breeding at Chester mate.

 

The great bustard chicks are part of the reintroduction programme which birdworld are involved in, they will be used for release when ready.

 

Isn't dennison's barb bred commercially in fish farms in SE Asia for the aquarium trade?

 

Quite possibly. But it is only a relatively recent addition to the aquarium trade in the UK - where it is still a fairly expensive fish to buy.
Birdworld were trying to establish what triggered theirs to breed.

 

Spent an hour here yesterday in the rain, not much to update on, but there are a lot of juveniles running around: smew, ringed teal, waldrapp in Wader Shore; greater flamingo chicks now foraging with the adults; spectacled owls and others in the new owl aviaries.

The Hamerkop nest in Wader Shore has moved so it is now above the entrance, no idea if this was done by keepers or the birds themselves, but I'm presuming from this that they won't be breeding this year.

 

A pair of new metal aviaries are being constructed, according to Twitter they will house Yellow-crested (Cacatua sulphurea) and Citron-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata), presumably moving the individuals housed in the smaller enclosures on the parrot walk over. Lots of 'winter work' going on throughout the park to repair / revamp other aviaries as well, but nothing major; a few species have been shifted around to accommodate this.

The temperate house, one of the duck ponds and a row of 4 aviaries are currently off limits to the public whilst Santa's Grotto is up and running.

 

Glad Birdworld is devoting breeding space for the cockatoo species.

 

They bred 3 chicks this year from the new nest above the entrance.

 

I should have edited that, I've seen two of the chicks, wasn't aware that there was a third. Either way, good breeding success!

 

Birdworld have always had a good selection of cockatoos - but they have been kept in a row of fairly small aviaries for many years - so perhaps this is the start of an upgrade for a few of their resident cockatoos.

 

Big-Belly Seahorses have arrived at Underwater World.

Birdworld on Twitter

 

Greater flamingo hatched :

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=377267446225431

 

The park’s Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush has passed away - I believe they were the only holders in the UK and were one of only two in Europe?

I believe they only had a single individual too, although not 100% on that.

 

I wonder if that came from Seaview on the Isle of White when that closed? I know they had them, and maybe even bred them.
I had them in the 90s, but never bred them.

 

She arrived from Paulton’s Park in 2007.

 

Yes, only one, flick. Such a shame, she was such a lovely little bird, and one I had the pleasure of meeting too

 

Flick was quite a character iirc - very sad to see her go. I had no idea the species were that rare.

 

Only rare in European zoos. It’s wild population is healthy I believe. I remember seeing them on my most recent trek in Nepal.

 

Are there any/many in private hands in the UK? Wondering if any will make their way into "official" collections?
It amazes me when I hear about some of the species in private hands. Nice to know for example that someone local to me keeps Ocelot in their garden.