This is the big news about birds from the week.
Peacock escapes Central Park Zoo
In yet another case of animals getting out of their exhibits at the zoo, a peacock managed to roam around New York City after escaping the Central Park Zoo, according to the NY Daily News.
The large bird spent a few hours Tuesday hanging out on a ledge at Fifth Avenue where passersby were able to enjoy an exotic break from the mundane cityscape.
He got out after laboriously pecking a tunnel out of his enclosure, but isn’t the only peafowl seen walking around New York City. A while back a peahen got out of her exhibit in the Bronx.
Here’s how one young professional from CBS viewed the break out:
Anyway, all’s well that end’s well, and the peacock is home safe and sound back inside the park. His adventure was fun, but like so many who have spent a lifetime behind aviary walls, he knew life outside wasn’t for him. On days when he’s feeling glum or frustrated, he can comfort himself in his memories of the day he stole the spotlight from that smug Bronx peahen and lived it up, Gossip Girl style.
US officials conduct test to determine number of bird deaths in the Gulf
It’s been more than a year since the horrific BP oil spill that devastated wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico and researchers are still trying to determine the death count of birds.
They’re trying to find out how many bird carcasses didn’t make it to shore by conducting the “Carcass Drift Study.”
Basically, what they’re doing is taking bodies of birds (both real and fake), attaching tracking devices and seeing where they end up.
Here’s how the Miami Herald described the project:
Researchers hope this study will determine how many dead birds never made it to shore. Researchers will combine this study with several others to estimate the total number of birds killed by the months-long spill.
Scientists believe many dead birds are likely to be eaten by sharks or simply sink into the water.
Hundreds of birds are victim of animal cruelty in two separate incidents
One man in Troy, Ohio, and another woman in Portland, Tenn., were found hoarding hundreds of animals, including exotic birds.
In Troy, the birds were left to starve while the conditions in Portland were disgusting for the birds to live in. Each owner had more than a 100 birds, some of which were deceased.
Now, bird enthusiasts are scrambling to find homes for the numerous parrots rescued from the houses.
Check out this great article from Elizabeth Opperman for more information on how to help.
