Birds from Down Under

Construction is underway and this Memorial Day Weekend the Buffalo Zoo will open its newest exhibit, Boomerang Island. This temporary interactive exhibit is only here for the summer and will feature more than 300 birds native to the Australian Outback.

Boomerang Island is more than just an exhibit.  It is a guest experience that will give you as well as all of our members and visitors the chance to get up close and personal with budgies, cockatiels, Princess of Wales parrots, superb parrots and kookaburras.  We can’t wait for you to visit! We know you’ll be captivated as you walk through this 1,200-square-foot aviary full of friendly, colorful, free-flying birds. For just $2 you’ll receive a small food stick to help us feed our flock of feathered friends.  To get their fair share of food, you’ll find the birds gently perching on your arm to eat right from your hand.

After having fun in the exhibit, we hope you will walk away with a greater appreciation for and knowledge about these birds and birds throughout the world. While these critters may seem like the perfect pet for you, we want to emphasize that owning exotic birds like these is a tremendous commitment that takes experience, patience, and plenty of time. Boomerang Island is the perfect place for everyone to experience these wonderful birds without the immense responsibility it takes to own one.

We also hope to educate our guest about the important role birds play in our world. Birds are everywhere and provide one of the most exciting ways to connect with the natural world. They also keep our ecosystem in balance: they help pollinate plants, disperse seeds, scavenge carcasses and recycle nutrients back into the earth.

Find out more about each of the fascinating birds that will be featured in Boomerang Island:

 

The Budgerigar or Budgie

The budgerigar is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot that is found in the wild throughout Australia. Budgerigars are usually green and yellow with black markings on the back of their neck, back and wings, but have been bred through the years to produce blues, whites, yellows, greys and even with small crests. “

Cockatiels

Cockatiels are native to Australia and are found largely in dry habitats. The head crest of a cockatiel will lay in a relaxed state when they feel comfortable but will stand up tall when the cockatiel is startled or excited.  It will lay flat and close to the head when the animal is angry or defensive. Cockatiels are relatively vocal birds with the calls of the male being more varied than that of the female.

Princess of Wales Parrots

This colorful parrot is widely distributed across central Australia but tends to live towards scrubland and arid woodlands. It is a medium to large parrot that is about 16 inches tall with a long tail. It is mostly pastel-olive green in color with green patches on the shoulder. It has a lilac forehead and rump, and a pink throat. The eyes are orange, and the beak is a coral color. Females and young birds tend to have a paler coloration with a shorter tail.

Superb Parrots

Native to south-eastern Australia, the superb parrot is a medium-sized, bright green parrot that has long tail feathers, a yellow-green neck, and yellow-orange irises. It is pretty easy to tell males and females apart.  The adult male has a scarlet band on its upper chest and a bright yellow face and throat. The adult female has a pale blue-green face, greyish-green throat, and orange thighs.

 

Kookaburras

Found throughout Australia, they are the largest of the kingfishers. Their heads and bellies are white; they have brown wings, brown backs, and dark brown eye-stripes. Their short, round bodies grow to 18 inches long. They have short and stocky legs. The females are larger than the males. Their loud call gives them their nickname of the “bushman’s alarm clock.”