March has been a banner month for the Bird Department at Zoo Miami! Several species of unique birds have hatched since the beginning of the month as the zoo prepares to welcome the Spring season! It began on March 10th when a blue-faced honeyeater hatched in the zoo’s Avian Propagation Center. That chick is being raised by zookeepers within the center after being artificially incubated to avoid the risk of loss to predation. The chick is fed a carefully prepared diet consisting of papaya, pinkie mouse parts, and worms every two hours. It is presently doing very well. Blue faced honeyeaters are social birds from Australia and New Guinea. They get their name from the vibrant blue markings that surround their eyes. In the wild, adults feed on nectar, pollen, flowers, berries, banana fruit, and insects. On March 13th, a tawny frogmouth also hatched out at the Avian Propagation Center. This chick was naturally incubated and is being raised by its parents. Tawny frogmouths are found in Australia and Tasmania where they are masters of disguise. They will often stand perfectly still on a branch pointing their head straight up utilizing their earth tones coloring to resemble the trunk or thick branch of a tree. Often confused with owls to which they have no relation, they get their name from the wide, froglike mouth that they use to capture the insects, frogs, and other small animals they feed on. Also on the 13th of March, a Marabou stork hatched followed by a second chick that hatched on March 19th! These chicks were naturally incubated and are being raised by their parents in an off-exhibit habitat. There is one other egg in the nest which could hatch very soon. Commonly found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Marabou stork is an imposing bird that stands 5 feet tall with a wingspan that can exceed 8 feet. It is often called the “Undertaker Bird” due to its posture and appearance along with its propensity to be alongside dead animals to feed on carrion. However, when given the opportunity, it will also feed on smaller live animals and fish. ✨ Tawny frogmouth ✨ Marabou stork ✨ Blue faced honeyeaters 📸: Ron Magill
