Bronx Zoo acquires Falkland Islands! Well, two Falkland islands, anyway, as a gift from wealthy philanthropist Michael H. Steinhardt. Says the New York Times:

In one fell swoop, the donation increases the group’s bird holdings hundreds of times over.

The zoo has 1,125 birds. Just on six- mile-long Steeple Jason, the smaller of the islands, 157,000 pairs of black- browed albatrosses nest, along with 89,000 pairs of rockhopper penguins.

A cheering story, with pictures. (Via Melissa Singer.) [10:42 AM]