Kookaburra Chick Hatched at the Cape May County Zoo

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ -- What's that noise? It's not the waves or gulls. It's our four Laughing Kookaburras!Cape May County Park and Zoo is pleased to announce a new kookaburra chick. The chick hatched around May 25, 2025, but didn't fully fledge into his flight feathers until June 28. This is the first chick to this set of parents here at the Zoo, and both parents take part in making sure it's well cared for. Young kookaburras look extremely similar to adults, but you can tell them apart by their smaller beak and tail feather sizes. Come see if you can tell them apart.

"We welcome the arrival of the new hatchling and look forward to hearing the four-part harmony of their distinctive laughing cackle as they greet visitors to the Zoo", said Commissioner Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski.

Kookaburras are native to Australia and are part of the kingfisher family. They are predatory birds and maintain territories. Both parents participate in rearing the chicks, and young kookaburras will stick around to help their parents raise the next set of chicks.

They have a very distinctive song/call, that parents must teach to the chicks after they fledge. The County Parks are open daily from 7 a.m. until dusk, the Zoo is currently open from 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. So come see the kookaburras and more than 550 animals that call the Zoo home every day of the week. CMCZoo.com