Recent News
Goodbye to CliffyThursday, October 23, 2014
There’s a longtail named Cliffy exploring the world, thanks to the efforts of a Paget couple
BAMZ Opens Following Hurricane Gonzalo
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo [BAMZ] remains open following Hurricane Gonzalo’s visit to Bermuda over the weekend, following its midday opening yesterday [Oct 19] as the island worked to repair the damage caused by the storm.
Aquarium and zoo open for visitors
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) is open for business — and has been since Sunday, in spite of sustaining some damage over the weekend from Hurricane Gonzalo.
Aquarium gets overdue facelift
Monday, October 13, 2014
BAMZ will be renovating their roof and their tanks to the Aquarium. The building, which was orginally constructed in the 1920's, will be getting an update and makeover in the next six months, to improve the facility. Wildlife from the tanks have been moved to holding tanks outside.
Injured turtle released into wild
Thursday, October 09, 2014
A turtle that had to have its flipper amputated after getting tangled up in fishing line has been released back into the wild.
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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.