Recent News
Ocean Tech Marine Project To Help Save OceansThursday, July 07, 2016
This week, a team of leading scientists, conservationists and media specialists launched a global marine research project called Ocean Tech to help save the world’s oceans, and their first port of call is Bermuda next year.
Building up a head of STEAM
Thursday, July 07, 2016
Secondary students took part in various activities and projects during the second annual STEAM Week at the end of term; each one encouraging students to seek new solutions to complex problems through the five components of STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.
Window on an underwater kingdom
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Bermuda will play host to the first stage of a groundbreaking new research project designed to help save the world’s oceans.
Eight teams line up for ‘Benched 2.0’ event
Monday, July 04, 2016
Eight teams will compete in this year’s Institute of Bermuda Architects “Benched 2.0” event — a design-build contest aimed at students at the high school and university level.
BAMZ Celebrates Grand Re-Opening of Front Entrance and Shop
Friday, July 01, 2016
The legendary Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo announces the debut of its renovated Aquarium Hall and its new retail shop, Scales and Tales. A cocktail hour and an official opening ceremony, showcasing the new setting to invited guests, was held on Thursday, 9th June. The Hon. N. H. Cole Simons, JP, MP, Minister of Environment, was on hand to cut the ribbon and declare the Aquarium Hall, front entrance and shop officially open.
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Latest News
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.