Join our zoo community

Penang Bird Park Penang Bird Park, 29 May 2017

Discussion in 'Malaysia' started by Chlidonias, 29 May 2017.

  1. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,400
    Location:
    New Zealand
    This was my second visit to the Penang Bird Park. My previous visit in 2014 is recounted here: Penang Bird Park - Penang Bird Park, 13 April 2014

    The Penang Bird Park is one of my favourite animal collections in southeast Asia. Jurong is undoubtably better as a bird collection, but Penang is much better than the KL Bird Park. And I prefer Penang over most of the zoos I've visited too. I am a bird person, of course, but even so it is just so much easier to spend time amongst the aviaries. I spent three hours there on this visit, and it's only a five acre site. Compare that with my four hours at the 360-acre Songkhla Zoo. Partly that was due to the condition of Songklha now, but also because Penang is vastly more interesting.

    I won't cover too much of the same ground as the 2014 review, but for this visit I discovered that the buses to get there from the station at Butterworth (just by the ferry terminal for Penang Island) are now numbers 709 and 703. Last time it was bus number 209. The route is exactly the same now on the 709 so I think they have just changed the numbering system (either that or I was confused last time and thought 709 was 209 somehow). Anyway, it is two Ringgits for the fare and it takes about twenty minutes, followed by a five minute walk. On the return I caught the 203 bus which took twice as long on a meandering route back to the station.

    The basics of the Bird Park remain the same. Two of the aviary blocks (the first primarily for peacock-pheasants and the second for cockatoos) are now glass-fronted. I can't actually remember if they were mesh or glass before to be honest. However the reflections off the glass are terrible. As I mentioned in the last review, there are some difficulties in viewing the birds due to glare off the mesh, and glass fronts are ten times worse. However, it's the tropics - I think the only way around glare would be to put awnings over all the paths to cut out the sun.

    The duck collection has decreased dramatically, for reasons I'm unclear on. The pheasant collection is as large as previously, and the parrot collection has increased by a few species. A fantastic new addition to the collection is a pair of helmeted hornbills, currently separated in adjoining aviaries. They are absolutely magnificent!

    There is a nice waxbill and whydah aviary where I spent quite a bit of time trying to see all the species (I missed a couple). The aviary was mostly quite sparsely-furnished but at one end was a large plant in which most of the species I wanted to see were perched - and the plant was right behind all the signage which obscured the view! Almost all the waxbills and whydahs on the species list (after this post) were in this aviary, although many were also in one of the walk-through aviaries.

    There are now three walk-through aviaries (last time two). Of the two which were there previously, one is much better now, with the turkeys and ring-necked pheasants inhabiting it having been replaced with a much more varied collection including flocks of pigeon species. The second walk-through aviary was lessened for me, though, because that was the one which on my 2014 visit had large numbers of ashy minivets and drongo cuckoos, all now gone. The aviary is still good - it has lots of red-whiskered bulbuls and other birds, but those other two species really made it special. The third (new) walk-through aviary is probably the best of the three, being heavily-planted and able to be viewed on two levels. There were 27 species signposted, mostly passerines, although I didn't see them all. (In the species list which follows I have added separate individual lists for these three aviaries).
     
    devilfish and zooboy28 like this.
  2. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,400
    Location:
    New Zealand
    SPECIES LISTS:

    I have arranged the species lists below exactly the same as those on the previous review so that they can be compared directly. The passerines have changed quite a lot in the intervening three years. Where I have put "new since 2014" this simply means that the species was not present in the collection on my 2014 visit.

    BIRDS:

    *Emu (in the enclosure previously holding Ostrich and Chital)
    *Common Cassowary
    *[Ostrich and Greater Rhea no longer present]

    *Black Swan
    *Magpie Goose (only one seen)
    *Egyptian Goose (lots of them, including a large group in one of the walk-through aviaries)
    *Ruddy Shelduck
    *Radjah Shelduck
    *White-faced Whistling Duck
    *Wandering Whistling Duck
    *Lesser Whistling Duck
    *New Zealand Scaup (I didn't see any but the sign was still there)
    *Mandarin Duck (including white ones)
    *Carolina Wood Duck
    *[Ten other species of waterfowl no longer present]

    *Greater Flamingo (eleven of them)

    *African Spoonbill (two, in one of the walk-through aviaries)

    *Cattle Egret
    *Black-crowned Night Heron (new since 2014)

    *Painted Stork (a small colony with nest platforms)
    *Milky Stork (three in with the Painted Storks)

    *Pink-backed Pelican (lots of them, I think breeding as well)

    *Californian Quail
    *Bobwhite
    *Blue-breasted Quail (Chinese Painted Quail) (and mutations)
    *Chukar
    *Red-legged Partridge (unlabelled, and new since 2014)
    *Roulroul (Crested Wood Partridge)
    *Great Argus
    *Grey Peacock-pheasant
    *Palawan Peacock-pheasant
    *Rothschild's Peacock-pheasant
    *Malayan Peacock-pheasant
    *Ring-necked Pheasant (and mutations)
    *Green Pheasant
    *Golden Pheasant (and mutations)
    *Lady Amherst's Pheasant
    *Reeves' Pheasant
    *Silver Pheasant (I only saw nominate this visit - no lewisi)
    *Kalij Pheasant (nominate, hamiltoni and lineata)
    *Edward's Pheasant
    *Siamese Fireback
    *Crested Fireback
    *Crestless Fireback
    *Indian Peafowl (and mutations)
    *Red Junglefowl (did not see)
    *Green Junglefowl
    *domestic Chicken
    *Red-necked Spurfowl (a large group, new since 2014)
    *Yellow-necked Spurfowl (a large group, new since 2014)
    *Vulturine Guineafowl
    *Kenya Crested Guineafowl
    *Barred Buttonquail (an unlabelled male in a mixed aviary, new since 2014)
    *[Only Scaled Quail, domestic Turkey and Great Curassow were not present from my previous list, and four new species had been added]

    *Blue and Gold Macaw
    *Green-winged Macaw (new since 2014)
    *Hahn's Macaw
    *Blue-crowned Conure
    *Sun Conure
    *Nanday Conure
    *Palm Cockatoo
    *Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
    *Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
    *Umbrella (White) Cockatoo
    *Moluccan (Salmon-crested) Cockatoo
    *Goffin's Cockatoo
    *Ducorp's Cockatoo
    *Galah
    *Cockatiel (new since 2014)
    *Eclectus
    *Budgerigar
    *Australian King Parrot (new since 2014)
    *Australian Crimsonwing (new since 2014)
    *Eastern Rosella (new since 2014)
    *Superb Parrot (Barraband) (new since 2014)
    *African Grey Parrot
    *Alexandrine
    *blue Indian Ringneck
    *Plum-headed Parakeet
    *Blossom-headed Parakeet
    *Moustached Parakeet
    *Long-tailed Parakeet (new since 2014)
    *Black Lory
    *Chattering Lory
    *Red Lory
    *Yellow-streaked Lory
    *Dusky Lory
    *Black-capped Lory
    *Duivenbode's Lory
    *Green-naped Lorikeet
    *[Patagonian Conure and Blue-rumped Parrot no longer present]

    *domestic (Fantail) Pigeon
    *Barbary Dove (white and normal)
    *Pied Imperial Pigeon
    *Green Imperial Pigeon
    *Pink-necked Green Pigeon
    *Thick-billed Green Pigeon (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Jambu Fruit Dove
    *Beautiful Fruit Dove
    *Emerald (Green-winged) Dove
    *Nicobar Pigeon
    *Scheepmaker's Crowned Pigeon
    *Victoria Crowned Pigeon
    *Spot-necked Dove
    *Little Cuckoo-dove
    *Barred Cuckoo-dove
    *Namaqua (Cape) Dove
    *Tambourine Dove
    *Emerald-spotted Wood Dove
    *Zebra Dove
    *Diamond Dove
    *Bar-shouldered Dove

    *White-bellied Sea Eagle
    *Crested Serpent-eagle
    *Changeable Hawk-eagle
    *Brahminy Kite
    *[Black-thighed Falconet and Secretary Bird no longer present]

    *Barn Owl
    *Oriental Bay Owl
    *Malayan Eagle Owl
    *Buffy Fish Owl
    *Spotted Wood Owl
    *Brown Wood Owl
    *Reddish Scops Owl

    *Asian Koel (a number of birds)
    *[All other cuckoos there in 2014 are now gone]

    *Lineated Barbet
    *Red and Yellow Barbet

    *Oriental Pied Hornbill
    *Great Hornbill
    *Rhinoceros Hornbill
    *Wrinkled Hornbill
    *White-crowned Hornbill
    *Malayan Black Hornbill
    *Helmeted Hornbill (new since 2014)
    *Red-billed Hornbill
    *Southern Ground Hornbill
    *[Wreathed and Bushy-crested Hornbills were no longer labelled and I didn't see any]

    *Common Goldenback Woodpecker (labelled as Greater, but with the correct scientific name) (new since 2014, but just one individual)

    *Blue-winged Pitta

    *Black And Red Broadbill
    *Green Broadbill

    *Asian Fairy Bluebird

    *Greater Leafbird (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Lesser Leafbird (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Blue-winged Leafbird (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)

    *Black-headed Bulbul
    *Black-crested Bulbul
    *Grey-bellied Bulbul
    *Scaly-breasted Bulbul (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Red-whiskered Bulbul
    *Stripe-throated Bulbul

    *White-crested Laughing Thrush
    *Lesser Necklaced Laughing Thrush (new since 2014)
    *Black-throated Laughing Thrush (new since 2014)

    *Orange-headed Thrush (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Oriental Magpie-robin (unlabelled)
    *Chestnut-naped Forktail (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any) (would be new since 2014)

    *Asian Paradise Flycatcher (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Malaysian Blue Flycatcher (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Asian Brown Flycatcher (unlabelled in one of the walk-through aviaries) (new since 2014)

    *Baya Weaver
    *Java Sparrow
    *Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (signed on two mixed aviaries but I did not see any)
    *Gouldian Finch (new since 2014)
    *Zebra Finch
    *Long-tailed Finch
    *Orange-winged Pytilia (did not see any)
    *Melba Finch
    *Peter's Twinspot
    *Blue-capped Cordon Bleu
    *Purple Grenadier
    *Orange-winged Pytilia (new since 2014, but I did not see any)
    *Red Avadavat (Strawberry Finch) (new since 2014)
    *Zanzibar Red Bishop (new since 2014)
    *Indigobird sp. (unlabelled individual in one of the walk-through aviaries) (new since 2014)
    *Pin-tailed Whydah (new since 2014)
    *Straw-tailed Whydah (new since 2014, but I did not see any)
    *Paradise Whydah (new since 2014)
    *Red-collared Widowbird (new since 2014)

    *Brown-throated Sunbird
    *Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (signed in two of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)
    *Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker (signed in one of the walk-through aviaries but I didn't see any)

    *Black-naped Oriole

    *Greater Hill Mynah
    *Black-collared Starling
    *Asian Pied Starling
    *Chestnut-tailed Starling
    *Daurian (Purple-backed) Starling (did not see)
    *Grosbeak Starling
    *Asian Glossy Starling
    *Purple Glossy Starling (unlabelled individual) (new since 2014)
    *Superb Starling
    *Golden-breasted Starling

    *Red-billed Blue Magpie
    *House Crow (a white individual) (new since 2014)


    MAMMALS:

    *Lesser Mouse Deer
    *[Greater Mouse Deer was no longer signed anywhere, and the Chital were also gone]


    REPTILES:

    *Saltwater Crocodile (did not see)
    *Reticulated Python
    *Red-eared Slider
    *Amboina Box Turtle
    *[I didn't see the Pig-nosed Turtle this time but it could have still been there]
     
  3. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,400
    Location:
    New Zealand
    WALK-THROUGH AVIARY number one:
    This aviary mainly held domestic Turkeys and Ring-necked Pheasants in 2014. Now it is much better utilised. Unfortunately only three species are signposted in the aviary (Egyptian Goose, Cattle Egret, and Golden Pheasant).

    *Egyptian Goose (a large group)
    *African Spoonbill (two)
    *Cattle Egret
    *Black-crowned Night Heron (I think just one bird)
    *Golden Pheasant (lots of males)
    *Indian Peafowl (blue and white, I think just three birds)
    *domestic Pigeon
    *Pied Imperial Pigeon
    *Pink-necked Green Pigeon (lots)
    *Emerald (Green-winged) Dove
    *Little Cuckoo-dove
    *Zebra Dove
    *Asian Fairy Bluebird

    ................................................

    WALK-THROUGH AVIARY number two:
    This aviary is a new one since 2014. It is heavily-planted with a small stream running through the middle. There is viewing from ground-level and also from a second-level deck. Twenty-seven bird species were signposted for the aviary, and I saw a few more which weren't on the signs. There were also Lesser Mouse Deer signposted but I did not see any in here.

    *Blue-breasted Quail (Chinese Painted Quail) - not signposted
    *Roulroul (Crested Wood Partridge) - not signposted
    *Great Argus
    *Jambu Fruit Dove
    *Emerald (Green-winged) Dove
    *Blue-winged Pitta
    *Green Broadbill
    *Asian Fairy Bluebird
    *Greater Leafbird - not seen
    *Lesser Leafbird - not seen
    *Blue-winged Leafbird - not seen
    *Black-headed Bulbul
    *Black-crested Bulbul - not seen
    *Scaly-breasted Bulbul - not seen
    *Stripe-throated Bulbul
    *Orange-headed Thrush - not seen
    *Chestnut-naped Forktail - not seen
    *Asian Paradise Flycatcher - not seen
    *Malaysian Blue Flycatcher - not seen
    *Asian Brown Flycatcher - not signposted
    *Baya Weaver
    *Java Sparrow
    *Zanzibar Red Bishop
    *Indigobird sp. - not signposted; I just saw one and I couldn't say which species it would be because they all look the same
    *Pin-tailed Whydah
    *Straw-tailed Whydah - not seen
    *Paradise Whydah
    *Red-collared Widowbird
    *Brown-throated Sunbird - not seen
    *Orange-bellied Flowerpecker - not seen
    *Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker - not seen

    ................................................

    WALK-THROUGH AVIARY number three:
    This aviary is the one which in 2014 had Drongo Cuckoos and Ashy Minivets. Thirteen species were signposted as being in the aviary.

    *domestic (Fantail) Pigeon - not signposted
    *Pink-necked Green Pigeon - not seen
    *Thick-billed Green Pigeon - not seen
    *Emerald (Green-winged) Dove - not seen
    *Nicobar Pigeon
    *Scheepmaker's Crowned Pigeon
    *Barred Cuckoo-dove
    *Blue-winged Pitta - not signposted
    *Asian Fairy Bluebird
    *Black-crested Bulbul - not seen
    *Red-whiskered Bulbul
    *Brown-throated Sunbird - not signposted
    *Orange-bellied Flowerpecker - not seen
    *Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker - not seen
    *Superb Starling
    *Golden-breasted Starling
     
  4. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Jun 2007
    Posts:
    23,400
    Location:
    New Zealand