The creatures coming out this month for Thrills, Gills & Chills at the Tennessee Aquarium include bright new birds and a big-eyed gecko.
The birds are galahs, also known as rose-breasted cockatoos, a pink-crested species native to Australia. The Aquarium’s two males are “very colorful and chatty birds,” said senior aviculturist Amy Graves.
They also are high-energy with a bit of an attitude.
“When they get excited their crest will come up, followed by head bobs and some very sharp and very shrill squeaks and screeches,” she said.
Visitors also can expect to see a New Caledonian gecko, characterized by oversize eyes, during the monthlong look at spooky, mysterious and misunderstood creatures.