Today I visited the National Zoo to check out some of their new birds. I've posted photos on my Flickr: National Zoo, Aug 2010 - a set on Flickr The Bird House had some nice surprises: a new exhibit for a flock of Swamp Sparrows (two subspecies: nominate and nigrescens) which are housed with a pair of Southern Masked Weavers; several Blue-winged Teal in both the wetland exhibit and the walk-through Indoor Flight Room; Socorro Doves (also new) in the wetland exhibit and in another hall gallery with four Guira Cuckoos; and, most striking, a pair of Spectacled Owls which are rather unfortunately in one of the smaller hall exhibits which previously held a Green Magpie. The Great Outdoor Flight Cage always seems to be devoid of birds considering how massive it is. There were a few sleeping ducks, some peafowl, a pair of Temminck's Tragopans and three Bamboo Partridges but nothing else. I feel like that space could be used more efficiently but I'm sure the staff have their reasons for not filling it more. The Indoor Flight Room also seemed to be lacking, with only 11 species (compare to 15 in 2009 and 18 in 2007) and max two individuals of each species. The Lilac-breasted Rollers (my favorite) are still in there, along with two very active Blue-crowned Motmots which were perched about two feet away from the visitors at the lower entrance. Many of the exhibits were undergoing renovation, including the entire strip of southeast Asian bird galleries. Amazonia now has a beautiful male White-tailed Trogon flying around with the other species (I saw one Roseate Spoonbill and two each of Blue-gray Tanager and Red-crested Cardinal) which I believe came from the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It was in great condition and very active, fluttering around right above the path. Construction continues on the new Elephant Trail exhibit and it looks like it'll be fantastic, especially considering what used to be in its place. The grass was lush and there are several pools as well. And the pandas were out! Always a nice surprise.
Today I saw: Ringed Teal Blue-winged Teal Malay Great Argus Sunbittern Nicobar Pigeon Western Crowned Pigeon Blue-crowned Motmot Lilac-breasted Roller Bali Mynah Silver-beaked Tanager Blue-gray Tanager In recent years I've also seen: Scarlet Ibis Bahama Pintail Crested Wood Partridge Sulawesi Ground Dove Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Plum-headed Parakeet Eclectus Parrot Violet Turaco Guira Cuckoo Magnificent Bird of Paradise Golden-breasted Starling but did not see any of them today.
Returned last Saturday to see the new Crested Oropendolas in the Bird House and they are already toying with nesting material. They share their exhibit with a Wood Duck and two Ringed Teal. Next to them is an exhibit with a new female Spangled Cotinga (sharing her exhibit with Elegant Crested Tinamou and a Socorro Dove). These exhibits used to house Asian birds: Hooded Pitta, Black-naped Oriole (both gone from the Zoo), Pheasant Pigeon and Fairy Bluebird (elsewhere in Bird House). Indoor Flight Room had the same inhabitants as on my previous visit, with the addition of a Sulawesi Ground Dove, a female Eclectus Parrot, and a pair of Fairy Bluebirds. None are new to my knowledge; maybe I just didn't see them last time. The Blue-winged Teal were relocated elsewhere in the building. It's always nice to see the Lilac-breasted Rollers, which are being phased out from U.S. zoos altogether and could possibly be gone in a decade or so.
Made two more visits, one in April and another this morning. As usual, the Bird House feels under-stocked inside but appropriately stocked outside. The Guam Rails, Guam Kingfishers, and Socorro Doves, which are all in the same corner, are all sectioned off, as are the Kiwis; I would imagine this is due to nesting activity. (I saw the Guam Rails on a nest in April and the Socorro Doves on one today.) Other species which recently bred in the Bird House: Black Crake, Burrowing Owl, and (I think) Red-billed Hornbill. The Sunbittern were on a nest as well in the freeflight. The Blue-billed Curassows have been moved outside, where there are now Whooping Cranes and Brown Pelicans as well. Inside the Great Outdoor Flight Cage was an incredibly tame Double-crested Cormorant that followed the visitors around, but then croak-barked at them when they got too close. There were also some White-faced Ibis in here which I haven't seen at the zoo in years, and the Derbyan Parakeets were moved in here from a smaller aviary -- beautiful birds, nice to see them in free flight. Amazonia was incredibly quiet. Gone are the days of 10-15 species; today I only saw 2 (Sunbittern, Roseate Spoonbill) and heard a 3rd (White-tailed Trogon). A few other common passerines were listed but remained invisible.
I think it would be awesome if they beefed up the collection in there. Move the other pair of motmots from the Bird House, throw in some cotingas and large (motmot-proof) hummingbirds, etc. It would be fantastic. But I'm sure they have their reasons.
Yeah, I don't see why there can't be more birds there, but if the bird house is also understocked, then they might as well just put the small Amazonia collection in there, since there is probably extra room. That, or just get some more birds for both exhibits, but I doubt this is a priority for them.
Ok I know this thread is borderline ancient but does anybody know if they still have lilac breasted roller?
I wouldn't know but I wouldn't think so because the zoo has been slowly lowering their bird population and sending them to other facilities as they get ready for construction of Experience Migration. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/birds/experience_migration.cfm
Thanks. I also emailed he zoo, but last time they didn't respond. I'll be visiting in less than a week .
