birds

In the pink: scarlet birds have red letter day

One of the most striking birds in the world has bred at Paignton Zoo. The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) is famous for its bright red feathers – although, as you can see, the chicks are anything but scarlet.

There’s no other wading bird as scarlet as a scarlet ibis, but it takes time for juveniles to grow into the colour. It’s not until their second moult that the birds begin to take...

Happy bird-day at Living Coasts…

It’s an expensive time of year for birthday presents among the kittiwakes at Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo. The five adult birds all have birthdays between July 17th and August 7th. And now a chick has hatched on its mother’s birthday.

The kittiwake also hatched in the same nest and to the same parents as last year, when Living Coasts recorded its first ever breeding of this...

Aviary appeal takes off at Plymouth animal rescue sanctuary

A Plymouth animal charity is appealing for sponsorship to fund a purpose-built aviary for the soaring number of birds in its care.

In the last three years, Woodside Animal Welfare Trust at Elfordleigh has seen a sharp rise in the number of birds being brought into the sanctuary.

As the only charity in the Plymouth area taking in unwanted and rescued birds for rehoming, the...

Paignton Zoo keeper hatches conservation success

This is the extraordinary moment the hatching of a rare Mauritius pink pigeon chick was caught on video – and the moment the hard work started in earnest for Paignton Zoo bird keeper Tom Tooley. Senior Bird Keeper Tom is currently 6,000 miles away on the island of Mauritius. But if you think he’s dodged the English winter to relax on a tropical island, think again. He’s spending time with...

Ruff play at Living Coasts

Unassuming in the winter, male ruffs transform in the Spring with eye-catching plumage - and it's all for the benefit of the females...

Keepers at Torquay’s coastal zoo are preparing the ground for some fierce competition. They are cutting the grass and clearing undergrowth so that one species of bird can indulge in its extraordinary mating ritual.

The ruff (Calidris...

Join the nation in discovering what birds are visiting your Plymouth gardens

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is set to bring more than half-a-million people together this weekend (27, 28, 29 January) as they uncover what is happening in their garden, helping to create an annual snapshot of how UK birds are doing. Now in its 39th year, the Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden to help the RSPB build up a picture...

Devon Birds launches photo contest

Devon Birds is providing a great opportunity for amateur photographers with the launch of a new photo competition this Summer which is open to the general public. Devon Birds is a charity which supports the study and conservation of wild birds. Amateur photographers are invited to submit their bird photographs which must have been taken in Devon, and the winning entries will be displayed at...

Get out, get wild and uncover the nature on your doorstep

The RSPB and ALDI are challenging families in Plymouth to get out and get wild in nature this Easter and be in with a chance of winning a bumper pack of prizes worth £500 as it launches its new and exciting Wild Challenge.

With the amount of time children and their families are spending outside in nature on the decline, Europe’s biggest nature conservation charity and discount...

Fill up your feeders: It’s time for RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2017 in Plymouth!

More than half a million people are expected to watch and count their garden birds for this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB.

The world’s largest garden wildlife survey (now in its 38th year!) takes place on the 28th, 29th and 30th January 2017. In response to popular demand, this will be the first time ever that the Birdwatch will take place over three days. This...

Playing Cupid for Zoo's love birds

These love birds at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park are doing what comes naturally, but there can be a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make sure rare species continue to breed.

Paignton Zoo curator of birds Jo Gregson holds the European Studbook for the wrinkled hornbill. “It’s my job to collect and collate information from other zoos on hatchings, matchings and dispatchings for...

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