Let’s learn from the birds and lift our wings high!
Once again, Houston Zoo in Hermann Park surprises locals and visitors with another unique exhibit, Birds of the World, which opened its doors to the public on August 30. Birds are fascinating creatures! In addition to their ecosystem roles, they bring us joy and inspiration. Ready to get inspired?
Take the entire family and invite your friends to explore the incredible diversity and beauty of bird species from around the globe. Birds of the World features three spacious aviaries, each meticulously designed to replicate distinct global ecosystems and showcase the Zoo’s ongoing commitment to conservation and education. Discover how the roseate spoonbill (photo above) gets its pink color, the easiest bird sound to learn, how to help keep migrating birds flying over Houston safe, and many more details about the birds' world.
African Savanna
This aviary spotlights the majestic grey crowned cranes and highlights the Zoo’s conservation partnership with Dr. Olivier Nsengimana of the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, which aims to save these endangered birds. Grey crowned cranes stomp their feet as they walk across grasslands. This flushes out insects and other potential prey that the cranes quickly catch and eat. Cranes are also often seen moving among herds of large mammals to feed on the insects frightened by herd movement.
For the first time in the Zoo's history, you can see a committee of vultures. Now, the Zoo has two cape vultures, one Ruppell’s griffon vulture, and three hooded vultures. All three are Old World vultures, the same as eagles and hawks. Cape vultures’ wingspan can reach up to 8.5 feet. They can consume 10% of their body weight in a single feeding.
Hamerkops build the largest nest of any bird in Africa! Pairs build their large, dome-shaped nest together. It is completely enclosed with one entrance hole. The nests are made using up to 8,000 different items and can weigh up to 50 pounds. In addition, many other species of small mammals, birds, and reptiles may take up residence in or around hamerkop nests as well.
North American Woodlands
Songbirds have successfully colonized almost every habitat around the world, except for Antarctica's extreme cold. This exhibit focuses on American songbirds, including blue grosbeaks and indigo buntings. It connects visitors to the beautiful birds found in their backyards. The Houston Zoo, in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, works to protect these songbirds from the illicit wild bird trade.
Bobwhites are relatively small ground-dwelling gallinaceous (chicken-like) birds. Adults are six to seven inches tall and typically weigh about six ounces. The male can be most easily identified by a prominent white stripe above the eye, whereas hens (females) have cream or buff-colored head stripes. Their call is one of the easiest to learn of all bird sounds. The two sharp, whistled notes really do sound like “bob-white!”—and the call carries a long distance in grassy fields or piney woods, so if bobwhites are around, you will probably know it long before you see them.
South American Wetlands
This immersive aviary allows you to walk among several South American birds, including the perennial favorite, Chilean flamingos. The pink color of flamingos comes from their diet. In the wild, the small crustaceans they eat give them their color. Chilean flamingos have bristle-like projections on their tongues to filter water and food. In the wild, flocks can be as large as 10,000 birds! A flock of Chilean flamingos will all lay eggs around the same time of year to aid in the survival of the chicks. Like flamingos, roseate spoonbills get their pink coloration from their food. Crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates contain pigments called carotenoids that help turn their feathers pink. The roseate spoonbill you'll see at the new exhibit is one of six species of spoonbills in the world and the only one found in the Americas.
The Zoo also serves Bird Friendly® coffee, demonstrating support for healthy bird habitats in South America. When you purchase Bird Friendly® certified coffee or cocoa, you preserve critical habitat for birds and wildlife, fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and support farmers committed to farming sustainably.
Saving Birds in the Wild
Birds from all over the world travel through Houston during their migration. Houston is on an international route for migrating birds. A billion birds fly through Houston’s night skies each migration season. Bright lights can cause confusion and collision with windows. One small way to help keep migrating birds safe is to turn out lights from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. during bird migration season.
The Houston Zoo encourages all visitors to engage in interactive workshops, meet bird care professionals, and learn how to contribute to bird conservation efforts. You can do it even in your own backyard.
These fascinating creatures have inspired artists, poets, writers, musicians, and regular folks for centuries. In pop culture, the lesson is simple, like in this anonymous saying: “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch but on her own wings.” Let’s learn from the birds and lift our wings high!
This exhibit is included with general admission to the Houston Zoo. Get your tickets here.
Photos: Courtesy of Houston Zoo
