Recent News
Students get virtual lessons on ocean conservationFriday, April 09, 2021
Students have been able to participate virtually in a programme teaching them about ocean conservation and how to be confident in the water.
“Kids On The Reef” Programme Held Virtually
Monday, April 05, 2021
Bermuda Zoological Society’s Kids On The Reef [KOTR] programme — sponsored by AXA XL — was held virtually due to the Island under lockdown last spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tributes to Eric Clee, former president of the Bermuda Zoological Society
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
A founding member and former president of the Bermuda Zoological Society who steered the finances of the Aquarium has died at 92.
Teachers skills boost from Bermuda Zoological Society
Monday, February 22, 2021
Teachers went back to school as part of a two-day professional development workshop designed to boost skills.
Workshop For Middle School Science Teachers
Monday, February 22, 2021
A two-day teacher professional development workshop for middle school science teachers was held on 8th and 9th February. Sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the workshop was facilitated by Dr. Stephanie Toro of Academic Independence Coaching, assisted by Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] staff and materials from the BZS GASS programmes.
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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 Jessie Moniz Hardy
Published Oct 23, 2014 at 8:00 am (Updated Oct 22, 2014 at 10:32 pm)
Settled: Cliffy the longtail after a failed attempt by Lisa and Dennis Whitehead to put him back in
his nest at Grape Bay in Paget. He is about one month old here
There’s a longtail named Cliffy exploring the world, thanks to the efforts of a Paget couple.
Dennis and Lisa Whitehead said a tearful goodbye this week to the longtail chick they rescued from drowning over a month ago.
“There was a nest in the cliffs just below our house,” said Mrs Whitehead, whose house overlooks Grape Bay. “We knew there was a chick in there and we saw the parents flying in and out of the nest.”
They suspected the birds were new to parenthood because the nest was a little too low in the cliff and too close to the ocean.
“A storm came up in late September and the waves were washing right into the nest,” said Mrs Whitehead. “We knew we had to do something or the chick would drown.
Safe hands: Dennis Whitehead rescuing
Cliffy the longtail during a storm that
flooded his burrow with seawater
Cliffy the longtail: All grown up and ready
to take on the world?
Longtail chicks normally take two months to fledge and leave the nest in August.“It was very late for longtail chicks. If it had been earlier in the season the proximity to the ocean would not have been a problem.”
Her husband clambered down to the nest and put the chick in a cat carrier.
“We put him back the next day when the sea had calmed down but the parents never returned,” said Mrs Whitehead.
They eventually fished the chick out again, fearing he would die.
“We took him to the Aquarium because we couldn’t feed him,” said Mrs Whitehead. “We did the right thing, because it turns out it is illegal to keep a longtail chick.”
Cliffy became one of six longtails being rehabilitated at the Aquarium. The Whiteheads visited him every week and were amazed to see how quickly he grew.
“I think he recognised Dennis,” said Mrs Whitehead. “Cliffy definitely would start to squawk and hop around when we visited.”
Just before Hurricane Gonzalo struck, Cliffy lost his appetite, a sign that he was ready to go off into the world.
Aquarium staff waited for the monster storm to pass, then released Cliffy from the roof of the Aquarium on Tuesday.