Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 24

Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 24

THE OWL CAGES.—After the completion of the Eagle and Vulture Aviary, the

ten large cages on the exterior of the Aquatic-Bird House, which have

been occupied temporarily by the birds of prey, will be used for the owl

collection.

 

The Giant Eagle Owl, (_Bubo bubo_), is a true giant among the owls. It

is found throughout continental Europe, keeping mostly to the deep

forests, and feeding on grouse, rabbits, etc. It is unusually long-lived

in captivity, and breeds freely.

 

The Milky Eagle Owl, (_Bubo lacteus_), has the same general characters

as its congener, but its feathers are of a beautiful, soft gray. It is

very rare in collections.

 

The Great Horned Owl, (_Bubo virginianus_).—These nocturnal birds of

prey inhabit heavily wooded regions, feeding on mice, and poultry when

it is obtainable. The bright yellow iris, the conspicuous feather horns,

and the apparently pivoted neck are curious features of these birds.

Their reputation for wisdom is founded only on their external

appearance, for in reality they are rather dull birds.

 

The Snowy Owl, (_Nyctea nyctea_), of the Arctic regions, migrating in

winter to the northern United States, sometimes remains for several

seasons in succession so far north that no specimens are obtainable.

During 1899, 1900, and the first half of 1901, not one specimen could be

procured, but in the late autumn of 1901 a southward migration began. On

June 1, 1911, the Park exhibited six fine specimens, one of which was

almost pure white. During the three hottest months of summer, these

birds would suffer considerably, so during this period they are confined

in a cool, dark cellar, thus keeping in perfect health and comfort

throughout the year.

 

[Illustration: GREAT HORNED OWL.]

 

[Illustration: SPECTACLED OWL.]

 

The Screech Owl, (_Otus asio_).—This little horned owl is our commonest

species, and frequents the neighborhood of dwellings and orchards. Being

nocturnal it is more common than is generally supposed, and its curious

cry, which is not a screech, but a musical, quavering series of notes,

is the cause most frequently leading to its discovery. Its two phases of

plumage, red and gray, occur independently of sex, age or season. Its

food consists of mice and insects.

 

The Barred Owl, (_Syrnium varium_).—This owl is more diurnal than its

nearest relatives, and often hunts its prey in bright moonshine. Its

deep, penetrating call, “woo-o-o, whoo-o-o,” is one of the most weird

and striking cries of the bird world. Another peculiarity, common to all

owls, but more noticeable in this less nocturnal species, is the

absolutely noiseless flight. The soft, downy feathers of the owl permit

it to wing its way through the air with as little noise as a falling

leaf.

 

 

THE EAGLE AND VULTURE AVIARY, No. 11.

 

[Illustration: EARED VULTURE.]

 

[Illustration: LAMMERGEYER.]

 

The Eagle and Vulture Aviary stands in an open glade, but well

surrounded by forest trees, in Bird Valley, between the Aquatic Bird

House and the new Zebra House. It is a commodious and pleasant

installation, well adapted to exhibit the Society’s collection of

rapacious birds. Its length over all is 210 feet. It has seven very

large flight cages and six smaller ones. The largest cages are 24 feet

wide, 33 feet deep and 31 feet high. In the rear of the great wire

structure will stand a very comfortable brick building to serve as a

winter shelter for the tropical birds of the collection; but it will not

be open to the public.

 

Now that our eagles and vultures are to be brought together, visitors

will find that the collection is a large one, and contains many fine

species.

 

The Condor, (_Sarcorhamphus gryphus_), of the Andes, is the largest of

the birds of prey, having a wing-spread of over nine feet. It feeds

entirely on carrion, rarely attacking living animals. In the male, the

head is adorned with a large fleshy comb, much like that of a barn-yard

cock. The Society at present possesses several specimens of this great

bird.

 

The King Vulture, (_Gypagus papa_), is as its proud name implies, the

one member of the Vulture Family which really is clad in royal robes,

and color-decked to match. Its range extends from Mexico and Central

America to Trinidad and Brazil. The visitor should not fail to see this

gorgeously caparisoned body of white, cream-yellow and black, and head

of orange, purple and crimson.

 

Black Vulture, (_Catharista urubu_).—These ill-favored but very useful

birds are quite abundant, and even semi-domesticated, in some of our

southern cities. This is due to the protection accorded them, because of

their valuable services as scavengers. They are said to devour every

particle of exposed organic refuse, and in a warm climate these services

are of more value than we in the north can realize.

 

The Yellow-Headed Vulture, (_Cathartes urobitinga_), of northern South

America, is a much handsomer bird than its two preceding relatives. It

has much the same feeding habits, but is very rare and delicate in

captivity.

 

The California Condor, (_Gymnogyps californianus_).—This is one of the

rarest, and to all Americans the most interesting, bird of prey in the

Park. The species is confined to a very small area in the rugged

mountains of southern and lower California, and beyond all doubt, the

skin-collecting ornithologists will exterminate it within the next

twenty years, or less.

 

The Griffon Vulture, (_Gyps pulvus_), and the Kolbe Vulture, (_G.

kolbi_), are Old World birds and although more closely related to the

eagles than to the vultures of the New World, resemble the latter in

general habits.

 

Differing strongly from its congeners in general appearance, is the

Eared Vulture, (_Otogyps auricularis_). This rare bird is a native of

North Africa, where it feeds on such carrion as it is able to find. Its

bare, wrinkled head and neck and great bill give it a decidedly gruesome

appearance.

 

The Red-Tailed Hawk, (_Buteo borealis_).—The “Hen Hawk,” or “Chicken

Hawk,” is one of our commonest birds of prey. It hardly merits its

common name, as its favorite food is mice and other small mammals. This

is the hawk seen, in the fall of the year, going south in flocks,

sometimes of one hundred or more.

 

One of the most splendid members of the collection is the Harpy Eagle,

(_Thrasaetus harpyia_), of South America. The remarkably large legs and

claws indicate the great strength which enables the bird to prey upon

sloths, monkeys, and other fairly large animals.

 

[Illustration: KING VULTURE.]

 

[Illustration: BLACK VULTURE.]

 

The Lammergeyer or Bearded Vulture, (_Gypaetus barbatus_), is now

probably extinct in Europe, but is still found in parts of Asia. It

feeds largely on lambs.

 

A nearly cosmopolitan bird is the Golden Eagle, (_Aquila chrysaetos_).

It is equally at home in the highlands of Scotland and the mountains of

North America, nesting on the highest cliffs.

 

The Bateleur Eagle, of Africa, (_Helotarsus ecaudatus_), has narrowly

missed the distinction of being the most beautiful of all birds of prey.

Its plumage is charmingly colored but it is out of proportion. Its tail

is so absurdly short that its wings quite conceal it, and make it appear

as if altogether tailless.

 

[Illustration: HARPY EAGLE.]

 

[Illustration: GRIFFON VULTURE.]

 

Bald Eagle, (_Haliaëtus leucocephalus_).—The appearance of the adult

Bald Eagle, our National emblem, with its conspicuous white head and

tail, is familiar to all; but the immature birds, as shown by several of

the specimens, lack the white in their plumage. These birds are found

usually near water, and their food is chiefly fish. These they sometimes

catch for themselves, but if ospreys are found in the vicinity, they are

watched by the eagles, and often robbed of their hard-earned prey.

 

Perhaps the fiercest among all the hawks is the White Gyrfalcon, (_Falco

islandus_). A native of the far north, it descends to a more equable

clime only when forced to do so by scarcity of food. It is so swift of

wing that it is able to capture a duck in full flight.

 

Sea snakes form the rather unusual food of the White-Breasted Sea Eagle,

(_Haliaëtus leucogaster_), of the East Indies, while the

strikingly-colored Vulturine Sea Eagle, (_Gypohierax angolensis_), a

native of Africa, feeds on fish, crabs, and the fruit of the oil palm.

 

 

THE WILD TURKEY ENCLOSURE, No. 33.

 

At the northern end of Squirrel Ridge, where the Alligator Walk

intersects the Rodent Walk, an ideal quarter of an acre, of oak and

hickory trees, underbrush, and bare rock, has been dedicated to the king

of game birds.

 

The Wild Turkey, (_Meleagris gallopavo silvestris_), is a bird of

magnificent size and presence, and the splendid metallic luster of his

plumage—a mixture of burnished bronze copper, lapis lazuli, and fire

opal iridescence—backed up by a great bulk of savory flesh, all combine

to make this the finest game bird on earth. It was once fairly abundant

throughout the eastern United States, and still is found in

Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, Virginia and other southern states as far

west as Texas. Three other species of _Meleagris_ are now recognized—one

in Florida, one in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, and the

fourth in Mexico, extending to western Texas and Arizona.