Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
A snowy egret takes in the sun in the aviary at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in 2015. The zoo said it is temporarily closing the aviary and other bird exhibits because of the threat of avian flu.
The Lincoln Children's Zoo announced Tuesday night that it is temporarily closing its bird exhibits because of the threat of avian flu.
"The Lincoln Children's Zoo is implementing temporary proactive measures to protect avian species at the zoo from highly pathogenic avian influenza," the zoo said in a statement posted to its Facebook page.
The closures include the zoo's aviary as well as its penguin exhibit and the flamingo yard. The zoo said staff will also be taking additional measures to protect the birds, such as enhanced disinfection measures, increased use of personal protection equipment and limiting access to vulnerable species and behind-the-scenes areas.
"Our top priority is the health and safety of the animals at the Lincoln Children's Zoo," Trent Shrader, director of veterinary medicine, said in the statement.
The zoo said the move came after the discovery of highly pathogenic avian flu in a wild goose near Holmes Lake in Lincoln. It was the first case of the disease found in Nebraska.
Wild birds often carry the disease without getting sick and can pass it to birds in private and commercial flocks, where it usually proves fatal.
Cases have been found in a backyard flock in Pottawattamie County in Iowa and in a commercial turkey flock in northwest Iowa, as well as a mixed commercial flock in southeast South Dakota.
The discovery in Pottawattamie County, across the river from Omaha, prompted Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo last week to close its aviary to the public.
The last time there was a large outbreak of avian flu in Nebraska was 2015. It led to nearly 5 million laying hens being euthanized at six farms in Dixon County. Nationwide, more than 50 million birds were killed in what is considered the worst outbreak on record.
So far this year, 2.8 million commercial and backyard birds across 12 states have been euthanized since early February, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
While the Children's Zoo was being built, Bo the boa constrictor spent his time at the home of zoo president Arnott R. Folsom and his wife.
Zoo founder Arnott Folsom with one of the animals from the zoo.
Lincoln Elks Lodge 80 sponsored a booth selling fresh buttered popcorn at the zoo in 1966. Pictured are (from left) Lori Shelton, Elks past exalted ruler Vince Collura, David Wolatz, Spahnle and Andrea Freeman.
The Lincoln Symphony Orchestra performed ZooMusic pops at the Children's Zoo on June 18, 1988.
Katie Hahn and Courtney Jost were on hand June 2, 1987, to watch zoo volunteer Evon Rinke comb an Angora rabbit as the zoo unveiled the Critter Encounter.
The streets of the zoo were empty during the winter of 1986.
Zoo visitors check out the birds in June of 1970.
Students from Faith Lutheran School watch a zookeeper play with the chimps in 1986.
Visitors make their way through the zoo in 1982.
Mary Manning (left) and Cheri Christensen add finishing touches to renovation work at the Birdcage Theater in 1983.
(From left) Susan Budler, Lynda Fagerberg, Steve Fagerberg and Kim Sandberg were part of the skit "The Bench" in the Birdcage Theater in 1974.
Ron Brown watches as son Ryan rides a pony at the zoo in 1979.
Rain doesn't keep these zoo visitors from checking out the Engine House in 1965.
The Crooked House and the Crooked Barn in 1968.
Mike Garren (left) and Mark Michel check out the zoo's dinosaur fountain as the zoo opened for the first time in July 1965.
The zoo's town square included a blacksmith shop in 1967.
"Frankie the Felon" undergoes inspection by Assistant Police Chief Willie Manchester at the zoo's jail on Aug. 10, 1965.
Kelly Reasoner (left) and his sister Janet mail letters at the zoo's post office in June of 1966.
The zoo's post office in 1967.
The street in the zoo's western town was named Dobson Street in 1964 after the contractor who did the paving.
Pledges at Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity became "gandy dancers" in 1962, laying track for the zoo's narrow-gauge railroad. In the foreground are Gary Rosenbach and Pat Sullivan.
The Iron Horse engine for the Children's Zoo train arrived in Lincoln in December of 1962. The $13,650 replica of the 1862 C.P Huntington engine heads the 27-unit Iron Horse Railroad, which the Lincoln Junior Chamber of Commerce financed for $35,000.
The Iron Horse Railroad heads into the tunnel at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on May 5, 1986.
Steve Badinger of Silver Hammer Construction woks on the new train depot at the zoo in 1988.
The otter cage, which included a slide, was complete in 1966.
Zooville Square attracts people young and old. It's shown here in 1982.
Children's Zoo director Alan Bietz feeds chocolate chip cookies to Gentle Ben as Gov. Bob Kerrey watches Sept. 18, 1984.
Zoo director Alan Bietz interacts with Arthur the camel in Jan. 28, 1984.
Alan Bietz tries to coax Hevlyn the hippo out into the spring air in 1978.
Hannah Lambert checks out the goats at the Children's Zoo while the goats check out volunteers Ken Arellano and Dena Noe of National Bank of Commerce during family day at the zoo for families affected by multiple sclerosis in 1996.
The zoo's new entrance in 1991.
In 1997, volunteer conductor Clint Hoover had been driving the zoo train for six years.
Bryanna Niebrugge (from left), Karissa TeSelle, Katie Hofer, Hannah Hofer and Amanda Bauer check out the eagle's nest at the zoo in 1993.
Randy Scheer, head animal keeper, works with two scarlet macaws in the winter holding room in November of 1992.
Brothers Devin (left) and Brandon Aksamit visit with Capt. Bret Davis of the Lincoln Fire Department during the annual Halloween Hullabaloo in 1993.
Leo the paper-eating lion was refurbished by folks from Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Lincoln Tent and Awning and Salt Valley Signs in 1996.
The Crooked House was a favorite place to hold birthday parties.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
Matt Olberding is a Lincoln native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate who has been covering business for the Journal Star since 2005.
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
The plant is expected to have the capacity to crush 38.5 million bushels of soybeans annually, or 110,000 bushels a day. The plant is expected to employ 50 workers.
The company hopes to have the plant up and running by 2025 and said it will create 60-plus jobs in the area.
When they were arrested, Omaha Police announced they had tied the group to eight robberies in that city. Now, federal investigators have tied the four suspects to 15 robberies, including ones in Lincoln, according to court filings.
The forecast calls for up to 4 inches Wednesday night into Thursday. The city's official total so far this winter is 4.8 inches.
A snowy egret takes in the sun in the aviary at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in 2015. The zoo said it is temporarily closing the aviary and other bird exhibits because of the threat of avian flu.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.