I already have mentioned this pack in the mangrove post, but originally i wanted to put two packs in one, but decided to split them into two seperate ones.
While the other pack was focused on tropical regions and the mangrove biom, this one will be about the northern coasts, more specificly about the nothern parts of the atlantic ocean.
For the building theme i would like a mix of respectful traditional and modern inuit architecture, as well as a part of the set that represents the region of frisia in northern germany and netherlands, with both their unique building style aswell as some more modern harbour pieces. Personally i would prefer a focus on frisia with some props referring to the inuit culture, but thats personal preference.
But now onto the animals!
The first one is common on both the american and the european coasts and are deeply ingrained in the frisian cutlure, having multiple wildlife stations just dedicated to caring and rewildering their orphaned youngs, as well as grey seal youngs.
Im talking about the harbour seal, a cute and small pinniped that is more then common in most european zoos.
Generally percieved as cuter then the gray seals with their dog like snouts and apperance they would be in both size and looks diffrent enough to be a worthwhile inclusion.
Especally in combination with the funfact, that because of their smaller size and less aggressive nature its not an uncommon sight to see them sharing their habitats with warm water penguins.
And who doesnt want cute sea doggos playing around in the water with our penguins?
The second globetrotter on the list would be the atlantic puffin.
These birds have become quite iconic to popculture, mostly because of their striking, colorful beaks and docile nature.
Spending most of their live on the sea, they are both excellent swimmers and divers, catching small fish and dodging bigger predators in the progress.
In zoos they are commonly seen on puffing rocks, often similar to penguin exhibits.
In the zoo of my home town they even life in the old penguin exhibit since the renovation, while the penguins moved over into the old seal habitat.
The exhibit animal was again a tough choice, this time between the european lobster and the common octopus.
Again we have the choice between a crustacean and a mollusk, and both would be great and unique new additions, and that not only because they would live in an aquarium.
I kind of do prefer the lobster right now, as they fit better for the current exhibit system, while the octopus would be way more fun if they could move around and interact with enritchment, but its not like that would be impossible, so hes still a cool and valid choice.
But now funfact time! Did you know, that lobsters are actually blue to black? The red color of the boiled lobster is produced by boiling the lobster, splitting up the molecules of the blue dye, coloring it red in the process. Not that thats a problem with me, they look way cooler in blue imo.
Also i chose the european subspecies, as we dont have designated exhibits from europe, while they can still easily pose as the american species.
The second bird on our list is the european golden plover, a small, sexually dimorphed bird and a staple of the eurasian coasts and tundra.
I chose the eurasian variant over the american, as these birds are larger then their american cousins and also have a further range, living in the mediteranian during non breeding season and traveling up to skandinavia, western russia and greenland for their breeding seasons, while living all year in the areas in between.
They are an odd case, as they are at the same time not threathend globally, least concern even, while fighting in middle europe for survival and being one of our bigger conservation efforts, making it a very special opportunity to expand on the conservational message of the game.
Other great things about them are, that they are as mentioned tundra birds, a very underrepresented region that could use some love and would make them fit right in with the animals of the arctic pack, as they still look similar to their american cousins.
Another thing that they would be great for would be as smaller birds in aviaries, as they are commonly mixed with other species because of their more ground dwelling nature, as well as being great assets for wadden sea themed aviaries, an unique and highly diverse biome thats exclusive to frisia.
But when im already talking about the beautiful wadden sea, there is one bird that shouldnt be missing. It was the inspiration for the whole idear of another coastal pack and the sole avian representetive in the mixed pack, something that has changed quite alot as you can see with this pack.
Im talking about the oystercatcher an iconic bird of the wadden sea and a beautiful yet quiet addition to the pack.
I again chose the eurasian version for pretty much the same reason as with the golden plover above, just that these bad boys extend to the coasts of northern africa and southern asia.
I feel like the distribution map alone is an argument for why they should be chosen over the american version (yellow breeding, blue non breeding, green all year)
As a wading bird they would fit right into beach themed scenes or even just a pond with waterfowl.
I personally would love to see them in the game and build wadden sea themed aviaries for them and the golden plover, while having a little beach themed harbour seal habitat next to it.
And thats my list, absolutely not biased by the fact that im living in frisia for almost a year by now.
The end result has quite a lot of birds, but that just feels like a given for a coastal region, as their arnt that many noteworthy mammals that arnt seals in thouse areas.
I played with the idear of the sea otter, but i honestly didnt feel like another otter, and also just think that 3 birds might seem like overkill, but that we are in desperate need for some as this would almost double the bird count ingame, which is kinda sad, ngl.
So yeah, thats my list, in the after thought maybe scrap the part of the inuit all thogether, but on the other hand all creatures are stilly living in northern northamerica, or atleast have a cousin up there so it could still be fitting, especally when animals like the polarbear are also included in thouse themed items.
I hope you liked the list and have fun sharing your own feedback or idears on this quite specific but still atleast in my opinion pretty cool pack, even though not as awesome as the mangrove one
While the other pack was focused on tropical regions and the mangrove biom, this one will be about the northern coasts, more specificly about the nothern parts of the atlantic ocean.
For the building theme i would like a mix of respectful traditional and modern inuit architecture, as well as a part of the set that represents the region of frisia in northern germany and netherlands, with both their unique building style aswell as some more modern harbour pieces. Personally i would prefer a focus on frisia with some props referring to the inuit culture, but thats personal preference.
But now onto the animals!
The first one is common on both the american and the european coasts and are deeply ingrained in the frisian cutlure, having multiple wildlife stations just dedicated to caring and rewildering their orphaned youngs, as well as grey seal youngs.
Im talking about the harbour seal, a cute and small pinniped that is more then common in most european zoos.
Generally percieved as cuter then the gray seals with their dog like snouts and apperance they would be in both size and looks diffrent enough to be a worthwhile inclusion.
Especally in combination with the funfact, that because of their smaller size and less aggressive nature its not an uncommon sight to see them sharing their habitats with warm water penguins.
And who doesnt want cute sea doggos playing around in the water with our penguins?
The second globetrotter on the list would be the atlantic puffin.
These birds have become quite iconic to popculture, mostly because of their striking, colorful beaks and docile nature.
Spending most of their live on the sea, they are both excellent swimmers and divers, catching small fish and dodging bigger predators in the progress.
In zoos they are commonly seen on puffing rocks, often similar to penguin exhibits.
In the zoo of my home town they even life in the old penguin exhibit since the renovation, while the penguins moved over into the old seal habitat.
The exhibit animal was again a tough choice, this time between the european lobster and the common octopus.
Again we have the choice between a crustacean and a mollusk, and both would be great and unique new additions, and that not only because they would live in an aquarium.
I kind of do prefer the lobster right now, as they fit better for the current exhibit system, while the octopus would be way more fun if they could move around and interact with enritchment, but its not like that would be impossible, so hes still a cool and valid choice.
But now funfact time! Did you know, that lobsters are actually blue to black? The red color of the boiled lobster is produced by boiling the lobster, splitting up the molecules of the blue dye, coloring it red in the process. Not that thats a problem with me, they look way cooler in blue imo.
Also i chose the european subspecies, as we dont have designated exhibits from europe, while they can still easily pose as the american species.
The second bird on our list is the european golden plover, a small, sexually dimorphed bird and a staple of the eurasian coasts and tundra.
I chose the eurasian variant over the american, as these birds are larger then their american cousins and also have a further range, living in the mediteranian during non breeding season and traveling up to skandinavia, western russia and greenland for their breeding seasons, while living all year in the areas in between.
They are an odd case, as they are at the same time not threathend globally, least concern even, while fighting in middle europe for survival and being one of our bigger conservation efforts, making it a very special opportunity to expand on the conservational message of the game.
Other great things about them are, that they are as mentioned tundra birds, a very underrepresented region that could use some love and would make them fit right in with the animals of the arctic pack, as they still look similar to their american cousins.
Another thing that they would be great for would be as smaller birds in aviaries, as they are commonly mixed with other species because of their more ground dwelling nature, as well as being great assets for wadden sea themed aviaries, an unique and highly diverse biome thats exclusive to frisia.
But when im already talking about the beautiful wadden sea, there is one bird that shouldnt be missing. It was the inspiration for the whole idear of another coastal pack and the sole avian representetive in the mixed pack, something that has changed quite alot as you can see with this pack.
Im talking about the oystercatcher an iconic bird of the wadden sea and a beautiful yet quiet addition to the pack.
I again chose the eurasian version for pretty much the same reason as with the golden plover above, just that these bad boys extend to the coasts of northern africa and southern asia.
I feel like the distribution map alone is an argument for why they should be chosen over the american version (yellow breeding, blue non breeding, green all year)
As a wading bird they would fit right into beach themed scenes or even just a pond with waterfowl.
I personally would love to see them in the game and build wadden sea themed aviaries for them and the golden plover, while having a little beach themed harbour seal habitat next to it.
And thats my list, absolutely not biased by the fact that im living in frisia for almost a year by now.
The end result has quite a lot of birds, but that just feels like a given for a coastal region, as their arnt that many noteworthy mammals that arnt seals in thouse areas.
I played with the idear of the sea otter, but i honestly didnt feel like another otter, and also just think that 3 birds might seem like overkill, but that we are in desperate need for some as this would almost double the bird count ingame, which is kinda sad, ngl.
So yeah, thats my list, in the after thought maybe scrap the part of the inuit all thogether, but on the other hand all creatures are stilly living in northern northamerica, or atleast have a cousin up there so it could still be fitting, especally when animals like the polarbear are also included in thouse themed items.
I hope you liked the list and have fun sharing your own feedback or idears on this quite specific but still atleast in my opinion pretty cool pack, even though not as awesome as the mangrove one
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