Will the new bird park's walk-in aviaries have smaller side aviaries (like Wings of Asia)? If not the species that can be housed in these mixed aviaries will be somewhat limited.
Aracaris and maybe Saffron toucanet would be pretty cool too. Tho, I'm uncertain if their temperament towards other birds is similar to toucans in some aviaries.
Sadly no. There is an area with 40+ conventional aviaries that will partially make due for this. Many of the species you now find in the Wings of Asia side aviaries will be housed there (pheasants, smaller species, etc.) as well as some of the larger less social species (e.g. large hornbills).
And i suppose the Philippine eagles (and whatever raptor species remaining) will be housed in these aviaries as well?
Yes the Philippine Eagles will be there. The new park won't have many more raptors to begin with given the large spaces needed to house them properly. There will be a few more species, some in the walk-through aviaries.
A nice video about Jurong's work with Luzon Bleeding-heart Doves. Source: Wildlife Reserve's Singapore Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=427503564890690 Security Check
Under a MOU 4 birds were sent on B/L from the Philippines to Singapore Zoo. Over the years they have bred 60 and now 10 have been relocated back to their country of origin to be part of a release project on Luzon.
Great project but I would be intrested if any further birds the the 4 original birds were used in the breeding-project because otherwhile the birds now send to the Philippines could be already quite inbred. Anybody with more info about that ?
@Zooish @TheBirdMan Is the blue-breasted kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica) still a part of the bird park's collection?
I do not know, but it seemed to me that the imported 4 was the founder stock. But someone closer to sources at Jurong/WRS would probably have a more definite answer to this!
Yes there were more Luzon Bleeding-hearts already in Jurong, and they were included in the breeding program as well
Any idea how big the flock was before the new Luzon bleeding hearts arrived direct from the Philippines?
There weren't many birds in Jurong to begin with (5-6 if I recall correctly), so there is an over-representation of a few bloodlines, but that is different from inbreeding
Photo of the Night Safari's goliath heron (Ardea goliath) that was featured in the 2004/2005 Night Safari guide. Was incorrectly labelled in the book as a 'purple heron (Ardea purpurea)'. I remember @Zooish mentioned the species in one of the NS forums.
I recall they were first housed at the Fishing Cat Trail aviary, then moved to the Nile Hippo enclosure. Very impressive birds.
Not entirely about Jurong Bird Park, but the article quotes the Deputy CEO and Chief Life Sciences Officer of Wildife Reserves Singapore as saying that the new bird park is on track for completion in 2022. I think its likely to be towards the end of 2022 though - construction of the new park has resumed after a pause due to the coronavirus lockdown. Tourist attractions in Singapore can double visitor capacity to 50% as STB eases curbs
Hopefully the world will be in better shape by then and I can come and visit. I feel so lucky that I visited last year, seeing what will mostly have been the pinnacle of the Jurong site. I previously visited in 1986 in the era of the old style of shows, and probably I went when I was a very young lad in the early days of the park, though I do not remember (I must ask my Mum). One of my top moments of the week I spent in Singapore in April last year was happening on feeding time in the Waterfall Aviary. As all the birds started gathering around my wife asked me if I was OK and all I could muster in response was "overwhelmed."
