Interview with Joseph Bell, Bronx Zoo Assistant Curator of Birds
On this episode of World of the Arts, Dr. Ezra William (E.W.) Doty interviews Mr. Joseph L. Bell Assistant Curator of Birds at the Bronx Zoo. They discuss a newly constructed house of aquatic birds featuring a tree-top exhibit, tropical lagoon, cypress swamp, South Florida seashore and jungle stream habitats. These habitats feature several birds living together, and four have an open-fronted viewing, meaning no barrier between the viewer and the habitat. The building has replaced the previous aquatic birdhouse, built in 1899, which was the oldest building in Park.
They discuss two birds in particular: the Emu and the Hammer Head (Hamerkop). They also discuss how they obtain specimens, care in captivity and recent efforts to preserve endangered wildlife such as the [Blane-Blauvelt] Act.
Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection
WNYC archives id: 150513
Municipal archives id: T772
