Brown-throated Conure, Adelaide Zoo
No Comments »14th June, 2013; Category: Adelaide Zoo, Aviaries, Non-Australian birds, Parrots and Lorikeets, Zoos
Brown-throated Conure, Adelaide Zoo
The Brown-throated Conure is found in central and South America. It will often be found in the company of macaws. It feeds on seeds, fruits and flowers but will also raid cultivated crops such as mango and millet. Like many parrots, they congregate in large, noisy communities, especially when feeding and roosting.
I have not seen this species in its natural habitat. These photos were taken earlier this year on a visit to my local zoo in Adelaide, South Australia.
Brown-throated Conure, Adelaide Zoo
Brown-throated Conure, Adelaide Zoo
Red-billed Fire Finch, Adelaide Zoo
Red-billed Fire Finch, Adelaide Zoo
The beautiful Red-billed Fire Finch is found in southern Africa. The above photo was taken in our local zoo in Adelaide, South Australia.
The first time I saw this species was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. You can read about that experience, and see the photos taken at the time by clicking here and here.
Red-billed Fire Finch, Adelaide Zoo
Grenadier Weaver, Adelaide Zoo
Grenadier Weaver, Adelaide Zoo
There are many spectacular and beautiful birds in Africa. The weaver family of birds are among the more colourful and interesting of them. Adelaide Zoo in South Australia – my home zoo – has a small collection of Grenadier Weavers, as shown in today’s photos. The colourful male is a spectacular bird indeed, especially when in breeding plumage which ranges from bright orange through to red.
Of peculiar interest in relation to this species is a closely related species, the Red Bishopbird. This member of the finch family, also native to Africa, is a commonly kept aviary bird. In the 1920s some of these either escaped or were released from captivity not more than 20km from where I live. A small population survived along the banks of the River Murray for some years, and they were even featured in some earlier field guides. This small population has obviously died out as there have been no reports of any birds since the late 1950s.
Grenadier Weaver, Adelaide Zoo
Crested Pigeons, Adelaide Zoo
. Crested Pigeon in the Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Zoo has an excellent collection of birds, both Australian and non-Australian birds. In addition to those kept in aviaries, there is a thriving population of local birds which come in to feed in the animal enclosures.
Crested Pigeons are in evidence everywhere and on this occasion I managed a few good shots of some. This is generally very easy for they move quite unafraid amongst the zoo visitors. Those shown on today’s photos were feeding in the Emu enclosure, along with a few Spotted Turtledoves for good measure.
Emu with Crested Pigeons and Spotted Turtledoves in the Adelaide Zoo
Crested Pigeon in the Adelaide Zoo
130 Years achieved for Adelaide Zoo
Entrance to Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Zoo in South Australia is celebrating its 130th birthday today.
This is a wonderful achievement, showing a commitment on the part of South Australians to keep this wonderful establishment going. I should admit here that am a long time Life Member of the Zoo, and visit as much as I can during the year. I am a member because I firmly believe in what the zoo is doing in preserving endangered species. Not only do they have an active breeding programme for such species, there have been a number of recent examples of zoo animals being released into wild populations to boost numbers in the natural environment.
One thing that keeps me returning regularly to visit is the excellent collection of birds. I’ve frequently photographed many of the birds in their collection and featured them here on this site. You can read these articles and see the photos by trolling through my Archives (see link above) or going to the categories on the side bar and clicking on “Adelaide Zoo” or “zoos“.
Meanwhile, below are some bird photos I have taken there recently.
That’s me getting friendly with the zoo “pandas”
Gold and Blue Macaw, Adelaide Zoo
Stone Curlew, Adelaide Zoo
One of the famous and well-loved flamingos at Adelaide Zoo