May 08, 2008 06:16 pm
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With more than 40,000 plants, one of the best aviary exhibits in the nation and more than five miles of covered walkways, the N.C. Zoo will offer a natural extravaganza during its second "Birds & Blooms" weekend, May 10 and May 11.
On Sunday (May 11), Mother's Day, all moms will receive a $2 discount off zoo admission with one paid general admission when they present an online coupon (found at the zoo's Web site: www.nczoo.org.)
But this is not your garden-variety Mother's Day weekend.
On both weekend days, the zoo will additionally celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), marking the arrival of the annual migration of millions of birds from winter habitats in southern climates to their summer breeding grounds and habitats across North America.
As part of the IMBD celebration, the zoo will join with more than 100 other zoos and several state and federal agencies to motivate people from all walks of life to learn about birds and their habitats, to discover ways that they can become involved in improving conditions for birds, to raise public awareness of the need for bird conservation and to enjoy watching birds.
A great place to start doing those things is at the zoo's R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary, which has always been among the zoo's most popular exhibits. Within its walls, more than 3,000 tropical plants and dozens of exotic birds recreate the wonders of a tropical rain forest.
The Aviary has been selected as one of the 10 best natural-habitat exhibits in American zoos by the national newspaper USA Today. Along with a wondrous array of birds and tropical plants, a major attraction has been added to the Aviary's lobby. The exhibit features four species of poison dart frogs, highly endangered amphibians that are native to Central and South America.
Aviary visitors can also view one of the world's most endangered birds. Critically endangered in its native home on the Asian island of Bali, Bali mynahs are now thought to number less than 20 in the wild. However, due to captive breeding programs, like those at the N.C. Zoo, the species is holding its own in captivity.
Like so many other bird species, Bali mynahs are losing ground in the wild due to habitat destruction by timber harvesting, the illegal cage-bird trade and poaching. Fortunately, conservation efforts are underway to help save these beautiful and clever birds.
In addition to captive-breeding programs, the Bali Barat National Park-with armed guards who patrol the trails-has been created, and Bali conservationists are trying to make the local people more aware of what is happening to their native birds and to show them ways to help protect their native species.
Additionally, the Aviary is home to one of the few captive populations of the red-faced liocichla (pronounced "lee-o-SICK-la"). The exhibit houses six of the nine captive birds in this species in North America. Considered medium-sized, their native home is the undergrowth and thickets of a range from northeast India to Viet Nam in Southeast Asia.
The Aviary is also one of the few zoo and aviary facilities to both exhibit and breed the golden-headed manakin, a compact, brightly colored forest bird found in much of tropical South America.
But there's more than just birds in the Aviary. Visitors can enjoy the sights and aromas of an expanded orchid collection and plumeria; learn more about tropical fruits such as papaya, guava, Surinam cherry, Brazilian grape and the macadamia nut; marvel at unique ginger species; and just enjoy "showy" flowers such as flame-of-the-woods, shrimp plant, lobster claw heliconia, cardinal's guard, justicia and much more.
So come for the Mother's Day festivities but stay for the flowers and birds when the N.C. Zoo welcomes in spring.
Tom Gillespie lives in Trinity and is a journalist and public affairs specialist at the N.C. Zoo. For more information on the zoo's plant and animal collections, special events and education programs, go to their Web site at www.nczoo.org
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