Recent News
Lionfish-zapping robots come to islandWednesday, April 19, 2017
The underwater war being waged on Bermuda’s lionfish took a giant leap forward yesterday morning as a prototype submersible robot caught one of the invasive predators via remote access.
Photos: BZS “Zoom Around The Sound” Event
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
On Saturday, 25th March, the Bermuda Zoological Society held their 25th Annual Zoom Around the Sound event. Funds raised from the walk, run, ride event assist with programmes run by the Bermuda Zoological Society run out of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.
BHS students give back Trash-a-Thon
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
Florence Graham-Welton, Layla Kurt, and Elena Wright were inspired to clear Pilchards Bay in Somerset, as two of the girls who live in the area observed how much trash had accumulated in the mangroves.
BZS wins the KBB Environmental Partner Award
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
On Wednesday, 22nd February the Bermuda Zoological Society's Education department was awarded the KBB Environmental Partner Award for the 2016 Environmental Youth Conference and the Aqua Explorers Camps at the KBB Awards Presentation and AGM.
Environmentalist’s new role at Bios
Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences has hired environmentalist Chris Flook as its new Small Boat and Docks Supervisor.
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All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Owain Johnston-Barnes
Published Aug 9, 2013 at 8:00 am
A bird in the hand: Principal curator for the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, Dr Ian Walker
examines a Longtail that was found stranded on Horseshoe Beach last week. Dr. Walker (center)
is pictured with curator of BAMZ Patrick Talbot and Kamille Minors, a summer student who has
worked with BAMZ for many years and is studying to become a veterinary technician.
The Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) is calling for the public to look out for stranded Longtail chicks as the birds prepare for their first flights.
A spokeswoman said that during August and September Longtail chicks are sometimes found seemingly abandoned, either on land or floating in water, but often the “abandonment” is a normal part of their development.
“Nevertheless, the BAMZ would still encourage the public to bring in a bird they believe is abandoned so that technical staff can assess the animal,” the spokeswoman added.
Over the summer months, Longtail chicks go through a eight-to-ten-week fledging process, losing their down feathers and growing flight feathers.
During this process, Longtail parents feed the chicks until they are ‘supersized’. While an adult Longtail typically weighs between 350g and 400g, the fledglings can weigh as much as 600g.
“When the chicks are ready to leave the nest they stop eating, which is a signal to the parents to stop feeding,” she said.
“Hatching and fledging in a hole in a cliff restricts the young bird’s ability to exercise its wings and take practice flights as woodland birds or those that nest in the open might do. Therefore, a Longtail chick’s first flight presents an almost ‘do or die’ scenario for the chick.
“It is at this point the public sometimes bring in chicks because they think they have been abandoned. However, the chick is actually slowly losing weight and building up courage to fly. This process can take over a week, hence the seeming abandonment.
“During the summer boating season more people get out on the water and come across Longtails they believe are in trouble. So far this year [BAMZ] have received six Longtails — three adults and three chicks.”
Anyone who finds a Longtail (adult or chick) injured or compromised in some way is asked to contact BAMZ at 293-2727.