Brooklyn, N.Y. – Dec. 29, 2014: The zoo is home to six red-faced parrot finches (Erythrura psittacea). They have strikingly colorful plumage with green feathers on their bodies and red faces and throats. Two other finch species, Gouldian and owl finches, share their habitat at the zoo. All three are native to Australia and surrounding islands.
Finches are an extremely diverse group of seed-eating songbirds. They have specialized vocal organs that allow them to sing elaborate songs. They are also known for their perching style. Their arrangement of three toes pointing forward and one pointing back allows them to easily grip tree branches.
The Prospect Park Zoo’s finch flock can be found in the Hall of Animals building where dwarf mongoose, meerkats, turtles, and many other animals live.
CONTACT: Barbara Russo – 718-265-3428; brusso@wcs.org Max Pulsinelli – 718-220-5182; mpulsinelli@wcs.org Steve Fairchild – 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org
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The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo – $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. weekdays, and to 5:30 P.M. on weekends and holidays, April through October. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March. The Prospect Park Zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. For further information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) – MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. VISION: WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in more than 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: www.wcs.org; http://www.facebook.com/TheWCS; www.youtube.com/user/WCSMedia Follow: @thewcs.
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