Little egret
Scientific name: Egretta garzetta Irish name: Éigrit bheag Size: 55-65cm long Diet: Carnivore Tips on how to find them: Found closer to the coast than inland; can be found in any type of wetland habitat.
Little tern
Scientific name: Sternula albifrons Irish name: Geabhróg bheag Size: 24-27cm Diet: Carnivore Tips on how to find them: Call includes a loud, rasping sound; can be seen hovering over the water in mid-air as it looks for fish; breeds in … Continued
Cassowary, Southern
Scientific name: Casuarius casuarius Origin: Australasia (New Guinea and Northern Australia) Size: 1.5-1.8m Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: Hunting, deforestation, cyclones (in Australia) Zoos I have seen them: Edinburgh Zoo, Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, Natura Artis Magistra Interesting fact: … Continued
Crane, Red-crowned
Scientific name: Grus japonensis Origin: Asia Diet: Omnivore Size: 1.4-1.5m IUCN status: Vulnerable Threats: Habitat loss, human disturbance, pollution, poaching Zoos I have seen them: Emerald Park, Diergaarde Blijdorp Interesting fact: In China, the red-crowned crane is viewed as a symbol … Continued
Eagle-owl, Bengal
Scientific name: Bubo bengalensis Length: 50-56cm Origin: Asia (Indian subcontinent) Diet: Carnivore IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: No current threats to this species Zoos I have seen them: Coolwood Wildlife Park, Diergaarde Blijdorp. Also at the Birds of Prey centre in Russborough … Continued
Flamingo, Chilean
Scientific name: Phoenicopterus chilensis Origin: South America Height: 1-1.3m Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Near Threatened Threats: Hunting, intensive egg-harvesting, mining Zoos I have seen them: Dublin, Belfast, Fota, Edinburgh, Chester, Welsh Mountain Zoo, Natura Artis Magistra Interesting fact: What looks like the … Continued
Kea
Scientific name: Nestor notabilis Origin: Australasia (New Zealand) Size: 48cm Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Endangered Threats: Persecution over attacks on sheep, habitat loss, introduced species such as stoats and cats, climate change Zoos I have seen them: Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, … Continued
Ostrich, Common
Scientific name: Struthio camelus Origin: Africa Size: 1.7-2.7 metres high Diet: Omnivore IUCN status: Least Concern Threats: Currently no major threats to this species Zoos I have seen them: Quite a lot. Interesting fact: What looks like an ostrich sticking its … Continued