Hello everyone: This is my first post on here. I'm an inveterate bird nerd, and I've always enjoyed going to zoos. My intense interest in zoos and their bird collections didn't start to intensify until after an avicultural conference in Miami in 2019. Since then, I've been keeping myself apprized on the zoos in my area and maintaining a list of the birds each zoo is currently holding. I haven't gone too far as to know the genders but I will try my best to pinpoint the species I've seen in person (or at least seen signage for). Australasian Aviary I was told by a friend that they have probably transferred out all their cockatoos due to them being disruptive to the other species in the aviary. The asterisk (*) and bold means a new species since I've last visited (my first time was July of 2020). Here are the species I have seen and are posted: Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica) Green-nape pheasant-pigeon (*) (Otidiphaps nobilis nobilis) Beautiful fruit-dove (*) (Ptilinopus pulchellus ssp.) Pied imperial-pigeon (Ducula bicolor) Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae ssp.) [IN THE SEPARATE FLIGHT NEAR THE EXIT] Princess of Wales parakeet (Polytelis alexandrae) African Adventures Common ostrich (Struthio camelus ssp.) Pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) Asian Tropical Birdhouse Crested partridge (Rollulus rouloul) Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica ssp.) Chinese hwamei (*) (Garrulax canorus ssp.) Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) White-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus ssp.) Roo Walkabout Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) Tropical Rainforest Aviary Ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) Puna teal (Spatula puna) Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis) Blue-throated piping-guan (Pipile cumanensis cumanensis) [I was told its an old female] Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni) Spotted thick-knee / dikkop (Burhinus capensis ssp.) Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus) Inca tern (Larosterna inca) Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias helias) Western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis ibis) Central American boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius ridgwayi) [They added a female] Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) AMAZONIAN motmot (Momotus momota momota or ignobilis) (I don't know why the AZA continually and erroneously call the species they have on display "Blue-crowned" motmots when recent phylogenetic studies have shown the previous subspecies are now given full species status) Red-lored Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis autumnalis) Sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) Blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) Yellow-rumped cacique (Cacicus cela cela) Venezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus icterus or ridgwayi) Throughout the Zoo Southern (Crested) screamer (Chauna torquata) Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) American (Caribbean) flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ssp.) Javan (?) Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris)
No but if the promotional banners are any indication, here are at least five species that will be featured: Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica ssp.) Javan (?) Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris) Golden white-eye (Cleptornis marchei) Chinese hwamei (*) (Garrulax canorus ssp.) Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi)
Oooh! Something to look forward to next visit ^_^ I've always wondered what species could be housed in there to take advantage of the water in the aviary.
Hi everyone! It's been a while since I last updated this list. My most recent visit was on 04/15/2022. BOLD indicates new species. [✓] means saw during trip and means did not see. (***) indicates additional note. Australasian Aviary [✓] Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica) [✓] Green-nape pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis nobilis) [✓] Beautiful fruit-dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus ssp.) [✓] Pied imperial-pigeon (Ducula bicolor) [✓] Masked lapwing (Vanellus miles miles) [✓] Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae ssp.) (***) *** The laughing kookaburras were in a separate flight next to the exit. They were in Roo Walkabout aviary but were moved due to construction (most likely). African Adventures [✓] Common ostrich (Struthio camelus ssp.) [✓] Pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) Asian Tropic Birdhouse [✓] Crested partridge (Rollulus rouloul) [✓] White-throated ground dove (Alopecoenas xanthonurus) [✓] Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica ssp.) [✓] Princess of Wales parakeet (Polytelis alexandrae) [✓] Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus ssp.) [✓] Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) Roo Walkabout [✓] Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) Tropical Rainforest Aviary [✓] Ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) [✓] Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) [✓] Puna teal (Spatula puna) [✓] Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis) [✓] Blue-throated piping-guan (Pipile cumanensis cumanensis) [✓] Spotted thick-knee / dikkop (Burhinus capensis ssp.) [✓] Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus) [✓] Inca tern (Larosterna inca) [✓] Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias helias) [✓] Central American boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius ridgwayi) [✓] Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) [✓] Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) [✓] Amazonian motmot (Momotus momota momota or ignobilis) [✓] Red-lored Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis autumnalis) [✓] Sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) [✓] Blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) [✓] Yellow-rumped cacique (Cacicus cela cela) [✓] Venezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus icterus or ridgwayi) Throughout the Zoo [✓] Southern (Crested) screamer (Chauna torquata) [✓] American (Caribbean) flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) [✓] Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) [✓] Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ssp.) [✓] Javan (?) Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris) Missing in Action / Most Likely Off Exhibit [X] White-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus ssp.) (This species is featured on the banner promoting Kingdoms of Asia). ADDITIONAL NOTES I talked to a keeper when I was looking for the Socorro doves (Zenaida graysoni) that were in the Tropical Rainforest Aviary. They are off exhibit and will move into the Tropic Birdhouse at a later date. (My guess is that once Kingdoms of Asia is complete, all of the birds in the Asian Tropic Birdhouse will move into the Songbird Aviary, and the Asian Tropic Birdhouse will just be a generic multi-flight building). I didn't see the male (1.0) Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) anywhere. He used to live out on African Adventures but due to his mate passing away and getting an injury from chasing off the local birds from the pond, he was on "Lemur Island" the last time I saw him. My guess is he might have passed away; the keeper did say he was old. The tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides ssp.) that used to reside in the Australasian Aviary were transferred out.
Huh, that would not be an appropriate aviary to put that species considering the species is native to Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Most likely another species for Kingdom of Asia's Songbird Aviary. They are beautiful species nevertheless. I saw my first one at San Diego Zoo. Would be nice seeing this species again.
Hi everyone! My most recent visit was on 07/06/2022. BOLD indicates new species, [✓] means saw during the trip, and [X] means did not see. SURPRISE: Hyacinth macaws have returned to Fresno Chaffee Zoo after being absent for over a year. Australasian Aviary [✓] Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica) [✓] Green-nape pheasant-pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis nobilis) [✓] Pink-headed fruit-dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus) [✓] Beautiful fruit-dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus ssp.) [✓] Pied imperial-pigeon (Ducula bicolor) [✓] Masked lapwing (Vanellus miles miles) [✓] Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae ssp.) {SEPARATE FLIGHT} African Adventures [✓] Common ostrich (Struthio camelus ssp.) [✓] Pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) Asian Tropic Birdhouse [✓] Crested partridge (Rollulus rouloul) [✓] White-throated ground dove (Alopecoenas xanthonurus) [✓] Princess of Wales parakeet (Polytelis alexandrae) [✓] Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus ssp.) [✓] Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) Roo Walkabout [✓] Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) Tropical Rainforest Aviary [✓] Ringed teal (Callonetta leucophrys) [✓] Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) [✓] Puna teal (Spatula puna) [✓] Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis) [✓] Blue-throated piping-guan (Pipile cumanensis cumanensis) [✓] Spotted thick-knee / dikkop (Burhinus capensis ssp.) [✓] Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus) [✓] Inca tern (Larosterna inca) [✓] Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias helias) [✓] Central American boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius ridgwayi) [✓] Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) [✓] Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) [✓] Amazonian motmot (Momotus momota momota or ignobilis) [✓] Red-lored Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis autumnalis) [✓] Sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) [✓] Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) [✓] Blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) [✓] Yellow-rumped cacique (Cacicus cela cela) [✓] Venezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus icterus or ridgwayi) Throughout the Zoo [✓] Southern (Crested) screamer (Chauna torquata) [✓] American (Caribbean) flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) [✓] Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) [✓] Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis ssp.) [✓] Javan (?) Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris) MISSING IN ACTION - MOST LIKELY Off Exhibit (?) [X] Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica ssp.) [X] White-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus ssp.) (This species is featured on the banner promoting Kingdoms of Asia). Definitely Off Exhibit [X] Socorro doves (Zenaida graysoni)
Red-billed leiothrix have been added to the tropical bird house, and will eventually be moved to the Kingdoms of Asia exhibit.
I'm sure that there are good animal welfare reasons for not having cockatoos in the Australia aviary any longer, but at one time Fresno Zoo must have had the best collection of cockatoos in California, if not North America, in that aviary.
Cockatoos are extremely intelligent and charismatic yet very loud and destructive birds. My guess on the principle reason why they removed them is because they were disrupting the other species when they attempted to nest. Couple with the tragedy of one of their cockatoos being stolen and never returned, that was all the more reason to remove them. I will agree that seeing at least four different species of cockatoo, along with their male Princess of Wales parakeet, in one aviary was quite a sight to see. Even though I've read that they do it, it was the first time I saw their slender-billed cockatoo dig. I believe I only saw the cockatoos on my first trip in July of 2020 and my second trip in March of 2021. I have pictures of them in my archives.
I'm not surprised to read that this would be a species included in Kingdoms of Asia but I'm nevertheless excited to read they'll be a new addition! They are an iconic Southeast Asian songbird.
Thank you for these great updates regarding the Fresno Zoo's bird collection! I love the diversity of doves and songbirds - one day I hope to get out west to see it!
