In the late 1940's to early 1950's a tree dwelling, bird eating
snake native to Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands found it's
way to the tropical island paradise of Guam. Upon arrival the brown tree
snake found a rich bird life unaccustomed to predatory snakes and thus easy
prey to the adept nocturnal snake. No one is completely sure how the brown
tree snake got to Guam, however, the most likely carriers were the cargo
holds of military ships or planes.
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Micronesian kingfisher
Guam railLincoln Park Zoo is helping reintroduce the Guam rail and other endangered
species back into the wild, providing hope that the balance of nature will
be returned. The ground-nesting Guam rails tend to live in pairs and prefer
dense brush where they hunt snails, lizards and insects. Micronesian kingfishers
nest in tree hollows and perch on branches that afford good views of ground-level
prey, including lizards and other small animals. The kingfishers often bring
their catch back to the tree to dine. The McCormick Bird House reminds visitors
that protecting and conserving birds means preserving their habitats around
the world. |