Birds of a Father: the ABQ BioPark’s Bird Team is Celebrating New Chicks and Their Amazing Dads!

This summer inside the Birds of the Islands habitats at the ABQ BioPark Zoo, stories of two different families have been unfolding. While one 31-year-old watched his third fledgling greet a brand new world, another became a first-time father at 20. Both have ensured their legacy will continue beyond their golden years, and guests can now see their beautiful offspring exploring their habitats. 

Wrinkled hornbills Fred, 31, and Ginger, 24, have been mates for 20 years. These fascinating birds are native to parts of Asia and form life-long monogamous pairs. Thanks in part to that strong bond, they use a unique strategy to keep their eggs and hatchlings safe from predators. The female seals herself inside of a tree cavity, or a specially-designed nest box in human care, leaving a small opening that’s just big enough for the male to pass her food. From the time she lays the eggs until the chick is old enough to leave the nest, an average of 70 days, they are completely reliant on Dad. Thanks to Fred’s dedication and experience, Ginger and their new chick broke out of their nest on August 31! They’ve successfully fledged two other chicks in previous years, who have since moved to other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for this Endangered species. 

Meanwhile in a neighboring habitat, a Nicobar pigeon hatched July 13. New father Nico was the last fledgling of this species hatched at the ABQ BioPark, on June 19, 2006! He was introduced to his mate Dory in July of 2025, and this is the first offspring for both of them. Like the hornbills, Nicobar pigeons are typically monogamous, however, usually both parents share the duties of incubating and feeding the chick. Not this time! 20-year-old Nico took it upon himself to do the bulk of the work and has been the primary caregiver since the egg-sitting began. He has done a fantastic job, and guests may see the youngster exploring the main habitat, learning from dad how to become more and more independent! In their native range on the namesake Nicobar and surrounding islands, their population is sadly decreasing and they’re currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Coordinated programs like the SSPs organized by AZA are vital to conservation, and every single birth or hatch is a cause for celebration. Fred and Nico have been ambassadors for their wild counterparts for decades, inspiring guests from our local community and beyond to connect with and care about unique, vibrant species from the other side of the world. Through their hard work and devotion to their new babies, they’ve also contributed to the health and genetic diversity of their species as a whole, leaving a legacy that will endure. We are honored to care for the next generation of these magnificent birds, and for our guests to share in the wonder of seeing them grow up and make their own impact in this great ongoing story! 

Media: More photos and b-roll are available here