No Spring Chickens: Aquarium Birds Set Age Records
FEBRUARY 2009
The Monterey Bay Aquarium breaks a record in animal healthcare. Two special shorebirds that have lived at the Aquarium since the mid 1980s are the oldest individuals of their species at any U.S. zoo or aquarium.
The two mature female birds, one sanderling and one willet, enjoy good veterinary care, regular meals and are safe from predators, all of which contributes to their longevity. They live in the Aquarium's
aviary, which represents the coastal dune and marsh habitats of California's central coast. Both were rescued as adults, with injuries that prevented their return to the wild.
View our live aviary cam
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