Interested in helping this local champion? Look for the little yellow bird and vote for Pinello Ranch at the Quarters for Conservation Booth at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birds. Show all posts
September 26, 2012
Teens Making a Difference
May 9, 2012
The Hidden World of African Rift Valley
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill - Jekyll
Our
female Abyssinian ground hornbill, Jekyll, used to be very shy and nervous when
she first came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2007. She was nothing like Petrie,
who we introduced you to last week! She soon became more confident and
comfortable around her keepers, and now is a star in our Wings of Africa Bird
Show!
Zookeepers
are training Jekyll a “retrieve” behavior to add to the foraging behaviors she
already knows and performs for the bird show, like flipping a rock to find food
or sifting through leaf litter where she finds a fake snake and then shakes it
to “kill” it.
Watch
the video clip below of a recent training session with Jekyll.
As the training progresses, keepers will switch out the orange dog toy you see Jekyll carrying in the video for a fake rubber snake. She will be trained to take the snake back to a second keeper (who is located “offstage”) and place it into the black tub for a treat as part of the bird show. This will allow keepers to call her out of the bird yard after her role in the show is finished.
As the training progresses, keepers will switch out the orange dog toy you see Jekyll carrying in the video for a fake rubber snake. She will be trained to take the snake back to a second keeper (who is located “offstage”) and place it into the black tub for a treat as part of the bird show. This will allow keepers to call her out of the bird yard after her role in the show is finished.
Come
learn how handy ground hornbills’ bills are for foraging and see how Jekyll
does with her new behavior in African Rift Valley at our Wings of Africa Bird
Show at 1:00pm daily starting Memorial Day.
Coming
up in the next blog in the series, we’ll meet a docile, small African creature
with LOTS of legs!
May 2, 2012
The Hidden World of African Rift Valley
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill
Meet Petrie, our handsome male Abyssinian ground hornbill.
Petrie spent a lot of time with zookeepers when he was a chick and because of
that, and he now seems to forget he is a hornbill at times! He likes to “share”
his food with us, his current keepers, like hornbills do for each other as a
pair bonding exercise. He also likes to hang out with us to watch what we do.
We have to be extra careful not to accidentally leave scrub brushes or hose
nozzles too close to his enclosure as his long bill is especially handy for
snatching shiny objects, which he then carries around like a treasure! In the
wilds of
Come see Petrie fly over the giraffe exhibit in African Rift
Valley at our Wings of Africa Bird Show at 1pm daily starting on Memorial Day.
Next time we will introduce you to our beautiful female
Abyssinian ground hornbill who also stars in our bird show.
March 20, 2012
What's All the Chirping?
Written by: Thea Etchells
The zoo’s 
Budgie Buddies is home to a colorful array of small birds,
commonly known as parakeets. But, in their native home of 
A budgie’s diet consists of seeds from different plants, as
well as fruits and vegetables. As opportunistic breeders, budgies respond to
rainy weather when the grass seeds become most abundant. Flock mates show signs of affection by
preening and feeding one another. Budgies are naturally green and yellow, but breeders
have created a rainbow of blues, whites, and yellows, along with some grays. These
birds have become popular pets because of their playful nature, ability to mimic
human speech, and their small size.
In Budgie Buddies here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, guests can get
up close and personal to our large flock of budgies, along with their buddies the
princess parrots, a rosella parrot, cockatiels, zebra finches (birds also
native to Australia), and a variety of different finch species from other
continents. During your visit, you might
see the birds taking a bath in the waterfall, chatting with a buddy, popping in
and out of a nest box or having a bite of lunch. Our flocks’ favorite activity however, is snacking
on seed sticks held by zoo guests. February 22, 2012
The Zoo is getting Crafty!
Here at the zoo we are celebrating National Bird Feeding Month
with bird friendly children’s activities. Follow the instructions listed below
to build a backyard bird “tweeder” with a recycled soda bottle or steal some of
your mom’s favorite ribbon to create a festive bird “tweet”. 
Backyard Bird Feeder
Materials
·
Clean 1-liter soda bottle
·
Craft knife
·
2 wooden spoons
·
Small eye screw
·
Length of twine for hanging
Directions
1.
Start by drawing a 1/2-inch asterisk on the side of a
clean 1-liter soda bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom.
2.
Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another asterisk 2 inches from the bottom.
3.
Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each asterisk, as
shown.
4.
Use a craft knife to slit the asterisk lines and cut out
the circles (a parent's job).
5.
Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole
and then through the opposite asterisk, as shown.
6.
Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into
the top of it for hanging.
7.
Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and
use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.
"Tweet" Treats
Materials- 1/4-ounce package of unflavored gelatin
- 2 cups of your favorite wild birdseed
- Three 4-inch mini bundt or fluted pans
- Colorful ribbon
Directions
1. To
make a batch, bring 6 tablespoons of water to a boil. Empty one 1/4-ounce
package of unflavored gelatin into 2 tablespoons of cold water in a large bowl.
2. Let
the gelatin sit for 1 minute, then add the boiling water and stir for 2 to 3
minutes or until the gelatin has dissolved.
3.
Next, stir 2 cups of your favorite wild birdseed into
the gelatin, mixing thoroughly.
4.
Let the mixture set for a few minutes, then stir again.
Repeat this process a few times, if necessary, allowing the seed to absorb the
liquid.
5.
Spoon the seed mixture into three 4-inch mini bundt or
fluted pans
6.
Place the pans in the refrigerator or a cool room and
let them set for at least 3 hours.
7.
Remove the wreaths from the molds by inverting the pans
and tapping along the bottoms.
8.
Allow the wreaths to air-dry overnight.
9.
Finally, tie colorful ribbon around your wreaths and
hang them outside in a protected spot, such as under an awning or eaves, where
the rain won't melt them.
Send
photos of your completed project to kwhite@cmzoo.org,
for a chance to be highlighted on Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Facebook page.
*Check
out http://familyfun.go.com for more kid
crafts.
December 21, 2010
Meet the Penguins at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Most of you know Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private, four cute penguins living in the Central Park Zoo, who were made famous by Dreamwork’s Madagascar movie in 2008. These penguins have created quite a name for themselves and they even have their own show on Nick.
Cute and cuddly…that's exactly what they want people to think. Why? Because this 4-some of placid-looking penguins are actually an elite strike force with unmatched commando skills and a secret headquarters. Their mission? To maintain order in the zoo!
We have our own elite force at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Instead of just 4, we have 11 “cute and cuddly” African penguins that can be seen daily in the Aquatics building.
Roxanna Breitigan, Animal Care Manager and our own African Penguin Quarters for Conservation champion, called these little guys “the ultimate hoarders” at the Zoo.
Sobe, male, 12 years old
Sprocket, male, 12 years old
Murphy, female, 16 years old
Jess, female, 30 years old
Mogley, female, 10 years old
Fudge, female, 24 years old
Colorado, male, 17 years old
Sally, female, 10 years old
Decker, female, 12 years old
Tasselhoff, male, 10 years old
Joe, male, 12 years old
They all have different personalities and behaviors, but the keepers and staff tell them apart by the colored bands that are on each penguin’s leg.
Size: 23-25 inches tall; 5-9 pounds
Diet: Small fishes, such as pilchard, anchovies, horse mackerel and sardines
Range: Africa’s coastal waters and islands, from Namibia through South Africa
Habitat
The Southern coast of Africa is where you will find the majority of the African Penguins. There are 24 known colonies of them around this continent. There is no place else on Earth where this species of penguin is found in the wild.
Predators
Sharks and fur seals hunt penguins in the water. Seagulls, mongoose and cats prey on nesting penguins and their offspring.
Due to the unique patterns of black and white, the African Penguin is less likely to be found by predators in the water during their own hunting efforts. The dark back makes it difficult for birds of prey to see them from above while they are swimming, and the white underbelly prevents water predators from easily seeing them from below.
Relatives
There are 18 penguin species. African penguins are closely related to the Humboldt, Galapagos and Magellanic penguins.
Reproduction
The African Penguin do not have a set breeding season, however, the majority of their breeding takes place in early February.
Family Life
African penguins breed in huge, noisy colonies. They lay two eggs in
burrows, bowl-shaped depressions dug in the sand, which protect the eggs from
the sun. Like all penguins, they form tight pair bonds, and both parents incubate
the eggs and feed the chicks for 2-4 months.
Vocalization
African penguins are also known as jackass penguins, because they make a
sound that is very similar to a donkey's bray. They make this sound in order to interact and communicate with other members of their colony. Watch a video below of our penguins vocalizing.
African Penguin Conservation
African penguins are in danger of extinction. Major reasons include depletion of their food from overfishing, climate change and pollution from incidences such as oil spills.
The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) works to protect and rehabilitate South Africa’s seabird populations. Quarters for Conservation funds support their efforts to rescue, hand raise and release orphaned and abandoned chicks back into the wild. Learn more at www.Sanccob.co.za.
It is estimated that the African Penguin can live 10-15 years in the wild (they can live up to 30 years old in captivity). This isn’t very long given that they don’t mature sexually until they are from 2-4 years of age. In the past 35 years the number of them has dropped from 1.5 million to less than 150,000.
In Africa, the eggs from these penguins are a very common source of food. Due to many people living in poverty in this area there aren’t any controlled efforts or laws prohibiting it. As a result many of the eggs are removed before they have the chance for the young to develop.
Another problem is that their natural habitat continues to be destroyed. More than 19,000 of these penguins were killed due to an oil spill in 2000.
Do You Love Our Penguins?
Get involved by voting for Penguins in our Quarters for Conservation every time you come to the Zoo. You can also adopt a penguin at the Zoo!
You and your family can also do an animal encounter with the penguins and meet them one-on-one, up-close and personal!
Cute and cuddly…that's exactly what they want people to think. Why? Because this 4-some of placid-looking penguins are actually an elite strike force with unmatched commando skills and a secret headquarters. Their mission? To maintain order in the zoo!
We have our own elite force at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Instead of just 4, we have 11 “cute and cuddly” African penguins that can be seen daily in the Aquatics building.
Roxanna Breitigan, Animal Care Manager and our own African Penguin Quarters for Conservation champion, called these little guys “the ultimate hoarders” at the Zoo.
Sobe, male, 12 years old
Sprocket, male, 12 years old
Murphy, female, 16 years old
Jess, female, 30 years old
Mogley, female, 10 years old
Fudge, female, 24 years old
Colorado, male, 17 years old
Sally, female, 10 years old
Decker, female, 12 years old
Tasselhoff, male, 10 years old
Joe, male, 12 years old
They all have different personalities and behaviors, but the keepers and staff tell them apart by the colored bands that are on each penguin’s leg.
Size: 23-25 inches tall; 5-9 pounds
Diet: Small fishes, such as pilchard, anchovies, horse mackerel and sardines
Range: Africa’s coastal waters and islands, from Namibia through South Africa
Habitat
The Southern coast of Africa is where you will find the majority of the African Penguins. There are 24 known colonies of them around this continent. There is no place else on Earth where this species of penguin is found in the wild.
Predators
Sharks and fur seals hunt penguins in the water. Seagulls, mongoose and cats prey on nesting penguins and their offspring.
Due to the unique patterns of black and white, the African Penguin is less likely to be found by predators in the water during their own hunting efforts. The dark back makes it difficult for birds of prey to see them from above while they are swimming, and the white underbelly prevents water predators from easily seeing them from below.
Relatives
There are 18 penguin species. African penguins are closely related to the Humboldt, Galapagos and Magellanic penguins.
Reproduction
The African Penguin do not have a set breeding season, however, the majority of their breeding takes place in early February.
Family Life
African penguins breed in huge, noisy colonies. They lay two eggs in
burrows, bowl-shaped depressions dug in the sand, which protect the eggs from
the sun. Like all penguins, they form tight pair bonds, and both parents incubate
the eggs and feed the chicks for 2-4 months.
Vocalization
African penguins are also known as jackass penguins, because they make a
sound that is very similar to a donkey's bray. They make this sound in order to interact and communicate with other members of their colony. Watch a video below of our penguins vocalizing.
African Penguin Conservation
African penguins are in danger of extinction. Major reasons include depletion of their food from overfishing, climate change and pollution from incidences such as oil spills.
The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) works to protect and rehabilitate South Africa’s seabird populations. Quarters for Conservation funds support their efforts to rescue, hand raise and release orphaned and abandoned chicks back into the wild. Learn more at www.Sanccob.co.za.
It is estimated that the African Penguin can live 10-15 years in the wild (they can live up to 30 years old in captivity). This isn’t very long given that they don’t mature sexually until they are from 2-4 years of age. In the past 35 years the number of them has dropped from 1.5 million to less than 150,000.
In Africa, the eggs from these penguins are a very common source of food. Due to many people living in poverty in this area there aren’t any controlled efforts or laws prohibiting it. As a result many of the eggs are removed before they have the chance for the young to develop.
Another problem is that their natural habitat continues to be destroyed. More than 19,000 of these penguins were killed due to an oil spill in 2000.
Do You Love Our Penguins?
Get involved by voting for Penguins in our Quarters for Conservation every time you come to the Zoo. You can also adopt a penguin at the Zoo!
You and your family can also do an animal encounter with the penguins and meet them one-on-one, up-close and personal!
December 20, 2010
Join Us On A Journey To South Africa (And help us save a species in the process!)
by Jenyva Turner, our own Zoo keeper and vulture enthusiast
Wide-open grasslands, large herds of animals roaming freely, unique animals found nowhere else on earth… these are all reasons people travel to Africa; but what about traveling to help vultures? That is just what I am looking forward to doing January 2011!
I will be participating in a research project I helped conceptualize and organize in conjunction with VulPro (Vulture Programme) in South Africa and BioDiversity Research Institute of the US. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ) has been supporting the research and rehabilitation work of VulPro for a year and a half now through the Quarters for Conservation program.
Cape Vulture
This journey in January will be focusing on the overall health assessment of the Cape vulture and African white-backed vulture populations in the Magaliesburg region of South Africa.
We will be capturing approximately 30 vultures, ringing them (similar to bird banding in the US), tagging them (placing bold wing tags with large numbers on both wings), and taking various non-invasive samples from them vultures: feather, fecal, blood and vomit samples. (And believe me, I do suspect that I will be getting vomited on… a lot!) From those samples we will be able to determine the sex and genetics of the bird as well as test for lead or mercury exposure or exposure to deadly poisons or NSAIDs.
African White-backed Vulture
Poisoning is the #1 threat to vultures in South Africa and is the focus of our study. We hope to determine if it’s possible to detect early-onset kidney failure on vultures due to exposure to poisons or NSAIDs with the use of a hand-held human uric acid meter. If the bird’s uric acid levels are elevated, this could indicate kidney failure and the bird could be taken in for treatment and supportive care before it’s too late. (By the time a vulture shows signs of being sick, it’s usually too late.) This is the first time such a study has been performed on vultures, so this project is very exciting!
Why Save the Vultures?
Vultures are essential to the health of ecosystems around the world. As obligate scavengers, vultures clean up dead animal remains and prevent the spread of disease. Vultures can eat carcasses of animals that died of deadly diseases, such as rabies or anthrax, without getting sick themselves¬– they don’t even spread the disease as their stomach acids kill any pathogens. We need vultures in our world! Unfortunately, vulture populations are declining rapidly around the world due to a number of different factors including poisoning, electrocution, starvation and hunting for the African folk medicine trade. 40 million vultures have died in Asia in recent years.
What Can You Do?
Please help me collect supplies on VulPro’s wish list to take with me to Africa to help further their research and rehabilitation work. Bring your items to the Zoo and drop them off at the front gate, letting an attendant know that the items are for vulture conservation. Last day to donate is January 15th. You can find a list of the needed supplies online.
If you are not able to donate but still want to help, don’t worry! There are so many other ways you can help vultures in Africa, as well as here at home in Colorado. Visit the Quarters for Conservation page for more information on how you can take action.
While I am in South Africa, I will be writing on the Zoo’s blog, In Between the Spots, as to the progress and experiences of our research project. So check back in January and journey with me to Africa!
Wide-open grasslands, large herds of animals roaming freely, unique animals found nowhere else on earth… these are all reasons people travel to Africa; but what about traveling to help vultures? That is just what I am looking forward to doing January 2011!
I will be participating in a research project I helped conceptualize and organize in conjunction with VulPro (Vulture Programme) in South Africa and BioDiversity Research Institute of the US. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZ) has been supporting the research and rehabilitation work of VulPro for a year and a half now through the Quarters for Conservation program.
Cape Vulture
This journey in January will be focusing on the overall health assessment of the Cape vulture and African white-backed vulture populations in the Magaliesburg region of South Africa.
We will be capturing approximately 30 vultures, ringing them (similar to bird banding in the US), tagging them (placing bold wing tags with large numbers on both wings), and taking various non-invasive samples from them vultures: feather, fecal, blood and vomit samples. (And believe me, I do suspect that I will be getting vomited on… a lot!) From those samples we will be able to determine the sex and genetics of the bird as well as test for lead or mercury exposure or exposure to deadly poisons or NSAIDs.
African White-backed Vulture
Poisoning is the #1 threat to vultures in South Africa and is the focus of our study. We hope to determine if it’s possible to detect early-onset kidney failure on vultures due to exposure to poisons or NSAIDs with the use of a hand-held human uric acid meter. If the bird’s uric acid levels are elevated, this could indicate kidney failure and the bird could be taken in for treatment and supportive care before it’s too late. (By the time a vulture shows signs of being sick, it’s usually too late.) This is the first time such a study has been performed on vultures, so this project is very exciting!
Why Save the Vultures?
Vultures are essential to the health of ecosystems around the world. As obligate scavengers, vultures clean up dead animal remains and prevent the spread of disease. Vultures can eat carcasses of animals that died of deadly diseases, such as rabies or anthrax, without getting sick themselves¬– they don’t even spread the disease as their stomach acids kill any pathogens. We need vultures in our world! Unfortunately, vulture populations are declining rapidly around the world due to a number of different factors including poisoning, electrocution, starvation and hunting for the African folk medicine trade. 40 million vultures have died in Asia in recent years.
What Can You Do?
Please help me collect supplies on VulPro’s wish list to take with me to Africa to help further their research and rehabilitation work. Bring your items to the Zoo and drop them off at the front gate, letting an attendant know that the items are for vulture conservation. Last day to donate is January 15th. You can find a list of the needed supplies online.
If you are not able to donate but still want to help, don’t worry! There are so many other ways you can help vultures in Africa, as well as here at home in Colorado. Visit the Quarters for Conservation page for more information on how you can take action.
While I am in South Africa, I will be writing on the Zoo’s blog, In Between the Spots, as to the progress and experiences of our research project. So check back in January and journey with me to Africa!
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