Salisbury Zoo

02/14/2025

Lots of people have turned to birdwatching during the past few years, seeking enjoyment and relaxation. The Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo is a great opportunity to learn about birding and to put those new skills to use to help conservation efforts.

02/13/2025

❄️ Salisbury Zoo is clear of snow and ready to welcome you once again! – February 13, 2025 ❄️

A huge thank you to all of our essential staff who worked tirelessly to clear the grounds and ensure the comfort and safety of our animals during the winter storm. Your dedication makes all the difference!

Come visit and see how the animals are settling in, in the snow. We can’t wait to see you!

02/13/2025

Keep an eye out for the striking Common Merganser at the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo! With their sharp bills and vibrant heads, these beauties are sure to catch your attention as they make their winter appearance.

Young Common Mergansers leave their nest hole within a day or so of hatching. The flightless chicks leap from the nest entrance and tumble to the forest floor. The mother protects the chicks, but they catch all of their own food. They start by diving for aquatic insects and switch over to fish at about 12 days old.

Common Merganser Overview, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Merganser/overview

02/12/2025

Keep your eyes peeled, both high and low, for the Turkey Vulture at the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo this Saturday!

The Turkey Vulture uses its sense of smell to locate carrion. The part of its brain responsible for processing smells is particularly large, compared to other birds. Its heightened ability to detect odors—it can detect just a few parts per trillion—allows it to find dead animals below a forest canopy. The Turkey Vulture maintains stability and lift at low altitudes by holding its wings up in a slight dihedral (V-shape) and teetering from side to side while flying. It flies low to the ground to pick up the scent of dead animals.
Turkey vulture overview, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/overview

02/12/2025

❄️ Weather Closure Update – February 11, 2025 ❄️

Attention visitors! Due to the ongoing winter storm, the Salisbury Zoo will be closed on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, during normal business hours.

We appreciate your understanding and will keep you updated on when we plan to reopen. Stay safe, warm, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! ❄️

02/11/2025

❄️ Weather Closure Update - February 12, 2025 ❄️

Attention visitors! Due to the continuing winter storm, the zoo will remain closed on Wednesday, February 12th.

❄️ Weather Closure Alert - February 11, 2025 ❄️

In preparation for the winter storm heading our way, we will be closing the zoo early today, Tuesday, February 11th, starting at 1:00 P.M. Our top priority is the safety and care of both our animals and visitors, and we will be ensuring all of our animals are well taken care of during the storm.

We appreciate your understanding and will keep you updated on when we plan to reopen. Stay safe, warm, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! ❄️

Thank you for your support! 💙

02/11/2025

I may be hard to spot, but if you listen closely, you might hear me! Tune in this Saturday at the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo —you might just hear the Red-bellied Woodpecker!

You may sometimes see Red-bellied Woodpeckers wedge large nuts into bark crevices, then whack them into manageable pieces using their beaks. They also use cracks in trees and fence posts to store food for later in the year, a habit it shares with other woodpeckers in its genus.

Red-bellied woodpecker overview, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/overview

02/10/2025

The Salisbury Zoo's annual Zoo Stampede 5K is set for Saturday, May 3rd, at 9 a.m. The race kicks off from the Salisbury Zoo's East Gate (across from the Elks Golf Club). The race will go through the Zoo and along the Salisbury City Park's greenway. The course is primarily along a crushed-stone path.

This year's event is themed for our Bison, and a portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit their exhibit. Let your imagination run wild and dress in your favorite animal costume for the stampede! Runners with the most creative costume will receive a prize. 100% of proceeds go to the Salisbury Zoo.

To learn about the 2025 Zoo Stampede and purchase tickets, visit: https://runsignup.com/zoostampede2025

Share your photos with the hashtag .

https://www.facebook.com/share/15v4a1EpEf/

The Zoo Stampede 5K Run/Walk is on Saturday May 3, 2025.

02/09/2025

This weekend, come be a part of something special at the Salisbury Zoo! We’re excited to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo — a fun and educational way to get involved in conservation efforts. 🐦

Learn about biofacts, help track migrating species and contribute to crucial conservation data. Whether you're an experienced birdwatcher or just starting out, there’s something for everyone.

02/08/2025

🐾🌯 TODAY is the Day! Support the Salisbury Zoo at Chipotle Mexican Grill! 🌯🐾

It’s happening TODAY, Saturday, February 8th, from 4-8 PM! 🕓 Head over to Chipotle and enjoy a meal that helps our local Salisbury Zoo!

Whether you’re dining in or ordering online, 25% of your purchase will go directly to the zoo, supporting their incredible conservation and education efforts.

📍 Location: Chipotle (South), 1016 S. Salisbury Blvd, Salisbury, MD
🕓 Time: 4 PM – 8 PM

Remember to mention you’re supporting the Salisbury Zoo at checkout or use the code AQ9L7PE when ordering online! 🙌

Let’s make today a huge success for the animals and a tasty treat for you! See you there! 🐒💚

02/07/2025

What birds are you seeing next week during the Great Backyard Bird Count? Share them with us!

02/06/2025

🐾🌯 Support the Salisbury Zoo at Chipotle Mexican Grill! 🌯🐾

Join us this Saturday, February 8th from 4-8 PM at Chipotle for a delicious way to support our local Salisbury Zoo!

Simply dine in or order online, and 25% of your purchase will go directly to the zoo. It's an easy and tasty way to help fund their amazing conservation and education programs. So bring your appetite, bring your friends, and let’s make this a fundraiser to remember! 💚

📍 Location: Chipotle (South), 1016 S. Salisbury Blvd, Salisbury, Md 🕓 Time: 4 PM – 8 PM

Don’t forget to tell them you’re supporting the Salisbury Zoo at checkout, or order online using the code AQ9L7PE! 🙌

See you there, and thanks for helping us support the animals! 🐒

02/05/2025

Join us next week for the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo from 10 AM to 2 PM.

We’ll be at three locations: Salisbury City Park, the Zoo, and the Urban Walkway. Stop by our check-in tables for maps, birding sheets, ID packs, and learn more about birding and conservation.

02/03/2025

The Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo is happening next week! One of the exciting highlights of this winter’s count is the elusive Eastern Screech Owl! 🦉

Like most raptors, male Eastern Screech-Owls are smaller than females, and are more agile fliers and hunters. The female doesn’t hunt while on the nest; she and the chicks depend on food brought them by the male. Though the male is smaller, his voice is deeper than the female’s

Eastern screech-owl overview, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Screech-Owl/overview

02/02/2025

The Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo is less than one week away!
Are you ready to spot some feathered friends? One of the stars of this winter's count is the Junco!

Juncos are the "snowbirds" of the middle latitudes. Over most of the eastern United States, they appear as winter sets in, and then retreat northward each spring. Other juncos are year-round residents, retreating into woodlands during the breeding season, or, like those of the Appalachian Mountains, moving to higher elevations during the warmer months.

Dark-eyed junco overview, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/overview

02/01/2025

Join the us as we come together to celebrate and count birds in February during the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo on February 15th.

01/31/2025

How many Birds can you find at the Salisbury Zoo?

In addition to our amazing resident bird species, the Salisbury Zoo and Wicomico River provide a temporary homes to many migrating birds!

Join us February 15th for the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo and help us track visiting species during their migration. Your participation supports vital conservation efforts!

01/24/2025

Celebrate the arrival of spring migration on February 15th, as we participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Salisbury Zoo!

This national citizen science event invites birdwatchers of all ages to help track bird populations. Whether you're spotting one bird or hundreds, your participation counts! It’s an easy and fun way to connect with nature, learn about local species, and contribute to important scientific research. Bring your family, friends, and a pair of binoculars as we count birds together and enjoy the beauty of nature! All ages welcome. Free event.
https://www.birdcount.org