Recent News
Bermuda hailed for turtle conservation roleSaturday, April 23, 2016
Green turtles have been removed from the endangered species list in Florida, with a researcher saying Bermuda played an important role.
College Class Visits Trunk Island ‘Classroom’
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
The Bermuda College’s Introduction to Biology students were given the special treat of having a ‘hands-on’ class on Trunk Island, the Bermuda Zoological Society’s “Living Classroom”.
Author Mykkal to share butterfly photos
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Author Ras Mykkal will be sharing his spectacular collection of butterfly photographs when he talks at the latest Bermuda Zoological Society lecture next week.
Stitches removed from loggerhead turtle
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
A loggerhead turtle that underwent life-saving surgery to have a rusting hook removed from her throat could be released to the wild later this spring.
Photos: Injured Turtle Has Stitches Removed
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Daisy — the loggerhead turtle that has been residing at the Bermuda Museum, Aquarium & Zoo since she underwent life-saving surgery to remove a rusting hook in her throat three months ago — has had her stitches removed and it is hoped she can be released back into the wild in late spring/early summer.
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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.