Chick, Chick, Chick, Hooray!

We’ve got exciting news — three spur-winged lapwing chicks hatched last month in our African Rainforest Aviary!

Meet the adorable trio — the first of their species to successfully hatch here since 2004! A huge milestone for our team and a big win for this striking bird species.

Two chicks hatched on their own on April 16, and the third made its debut the next day with a little help from the gentle hands of our Animal Care, Health & Welfare (ACHW) team. Since spur-winged lapwing chicks are up and moving within 24 hours, all three were safely relocated behind the scenes.

After the move, parents ‘Gloria’ (mom) and ‘Kotu’ (dad) didn’t attempt to reunite with the chicks, so our ACHW team stepped in to lead their care. Luckily, this species is highly self-sufficient from day one — able to walk and feed on their own almost immediately! Through their natural instincts, social interactions with each other, and minimal intervention from the ACHW team, we’re hopeful these tiny chicks will continue growing strong. We’re happy to share that the chicks are bright, alert, eating and drinking well, and recently graduated from their brooder to a larger pen — all encouraging signs!

While Gloria and Kotu remain viewable in the aviary, their chicks will stay cozy and cared for off-view for a few more weeks. Stay tuned for more updates as they grow!