Archive for the ‘Birds’ Category

Jun
03

Backstage Passes to Yellowstone Wildlife on the Houston Zoo Yellowstone Trip

Posted by in Birds,Carnivores,Conservation,Field Research,Travel

Did you know you can come with the Houston Zoo into the wild?  Last week the Houston Zoo Spring Yellowstone travelers had the adventure of a lifetime in Yellowstone!  The Houston Zoo partners with Wildlife Expeditions Teton Science School to provide the best possible wildlife focused experience in Yellowstone.

Wildlife Expeditions biologists escort us to wildlife veiwing opportunities that feel so special it is like we are priviledged backstage pass holders for the rock star wildlife of Yellowstone.

All of the beautiful photos in this post were taken by Keith Kilson, a traveler who captured these beautiful shots on last week’s Houston Zoo Yellowstone trip.  And, here are a few highlights from another Houston Zoo traveler about last week’s trip:

  • Seeing the two large grizzly bears helping themselves to the carcass of an animal with the wolf standing in between them, waiting for his turn to eat!
  • Climbing up the van’s hatch roof to watch Grizzly Bear “Scarface” cross the road in front of our vans completely indifferent to our presence, yet majestic in his movements
  • Seeing the bears (grizzly and black) with the cubs
  • Seeing the mother bison wandering around in search for her calf (probably killed by a wolf or a bear)
  • Seeing Grand Teton (the highest peak of the Tetons) with the Snake River running in front of it (on our final trip back to Jackson Hole)
  • Listening to Wolf Biologist, Rick McIntyre talk about the wolves of Yellowstone

If you love wildlife and have an adventurous heart join the Houston Zoo for our next Yellowstone adventure September 7-11.  Click here for more information on traveling with the Zoo and how to reserve your spot.

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Apr
30

The Houston Zoo is Sending Animals Back to the Wild!

Posted by in amphibians,Attwater's Prairie Chicken,Birds,community-based conservation,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Sea Turtles,Sending animals back to the wild,Series,Texas

The Houston Zoo cares deeply for Texas wildlife.   We are committed to ensuring the recovery and protection of local species and habitats.  We take great pride in our efforts to rehabilitate/assist wild animals and reintroduce zoo-born animals to the wild.   This blog series will keep you up-to-date on our 3 local recovery projects:

The Attwater’s prairie chicken is the rarest native Texas bird. It is estimated that less than 100 of these birds are left in the wild.   The Houston Zoo manages the captive breeding programs for the Attwater’s prairie chicken.  We have breeding facilities both behind the scenes at the Zoo and at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.  When the birds hatch and grow large enough, they are slowly introduced and then released into the wild, where they will support the already existing populations.

There are 5 species of sea turtles inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico, all of which are considered to be either threatened or endangered. They include the Kemp’s ridley, Green, Leatherback, Atlantic hawksbill, and Loggerhead sea turtles. Some of the threats these sea turtles face in the Gulf are drowning in shrimp nets, getting caught in hook and line, vehicle traffic, development of beaches, ocean and light pollution.  The Houston Zoo has treated over 100 sea turtles since 2010 in our vet clinic. The turtles are then brought to the sea turtle barn in Galveston to prepare for reintroduction. You may also catch a glimpse of a recovering sea turtle at the Zoo in the Kipp Aquarium.

The Houston Toad disappeared from Houston in the 1960s following extensive drought and urban expansion.  Today, less than 100 of this Texas amphibian resides in Bastrop, Austin, and Colorado Counties.

Th Houston toad program began in 2007 when the only known egg strands laid by Houston toads that year were delivered to the Zoo for “head starting” – a way to start the toad’s life in captivity and release them when they reach a certain maturity. Since then, we have been building a population at the Zoo to be sure that the toads will not go extinct, as well as releasing toads into the wild to build the population there. So far, we have released more than 20,000 toads! We also monitor and survey existing populations of toads in the wild.

 Stay tuned this spring as we update you on these local efforts to put species back into their homes in the Texas wild!

 

Jan
23

Houston Zoo Attwater’s Prairie Chickens Thriving in the Wild!

Posted by in Attwater's Prairie Chicken,Birds,Conservation,Endangered Species,Field Research,Texas,Uncategorized

Last week, staff from the Houston Zoo conservation, veterinary and bird departments assisted in Attwater’s prairie chicken field work at the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge.  US Fish and Wildlife staff drove us out into the refuge in the dark of the night.  We stopped and parked the vehicles at the precise location they had tracked birds to earlier in the day.  Never having seen an Attwater’s prairie chicken in the wild before, I was very excited to trek off into the dark prairie with the US Fish and Wildlife staff member, Mike Morrow. He carried his radio telemetry equipment, I carried the net and another Houston Zoo staff member followed ready to carry the captured bird back to the vehicles to be processed.   

Each captive bird that is released into the wild is fitted with a radio collar that is used to track the birds movements.  Radio telemetry equipment is then used to track and capture specific individuals.  Each bird that was captured was examined and blood and fecal samples were taken in an effort to monitor their health.   The birds were then re-released where they were captured in the refuge.

Houston Zoo staff holding wild Attwater’s prairie chicken for examination.

It is beautiful on the prairie at night.  No city lights means a clear starry night sky and the only sounds were our feet making contact with the prairie vegetation, the birds’ wings pounding the air as we flushed them from their roosting spots and the eerie coyote calls in the distance.    We captured the first several birds relatively quickly, but the 5th bird proved to be a bit more of a challenge.   This particular bird would not let Mike get within 6 feet of her, and we made 6 attempts before deciding to give up on her.  As we began to reorient ourselves to get back to the vans, Mike revealed his feeling of defeat over the failed mission to capture this bird.  I told him I felt this was a great example of the will of this species to survive.   This animal has a fighting chance with the many predators it will face if we can’t even sneak up on it.  He whole heartedly agreed with this perspective and enthusiastically carried on with this essential species-saving work.

We assisted with the capture of 15 birds and to our delight 2 of them were raised at the Houston Zoo.  The Houston Zoo has been working with the Attwater’s prairie chicken recovery effort since 2004, so seeing an animal that has been raised at the Houston Zoo, thriving in the wild is a magnificent experience.  This is another wonderful reminder of the important role the Houston Zoo plays in the race to save species.  For more about this awesome local recovery program and others at the Houston Zoo click here.

 

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Jan
10

Backyard Wildlife

Posted by in Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Birds,Texas,What You Can Do

Backyard Wildlife. We have blogged and blogged about what you can do to attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your back yard no matter how small. I live in a single family home subdivision – our backyard is small enough to take in with a blink of your eye but over the years everything from hummingbirds to bees, a dog dressed up like a taxi cab, toads and a weird burrowing snake has come through.

But it is not often you hear of front yard wildlife and I am sure it is against homeowners association rules to have animals that do not conform to their guidelines, including the one about grass not to exceed 2.3″ above sea level during a drought. So it was quite a surprise the other day when I looked up to see this perched not in our front yard but what can best be describes as a very small alcove 10 feet above our front door. Remember, I do not live on a big piece of property but in a community subdivision surrounded by other houses with cats, dogs (some dressed in their finest winter gear) and that weird burrowing snake thing.

American Kestrel or Comcast cable repair bird? You decide.

About once or twice a year we see American Kestrels hanging out on the electrical wires near our local detention pond but this is the first time I had one staring down at me every time I walk in and out our door. When you say Wildlife – most people think Lions, Gorillas, Deer, Shark – but people forget we are surrounded by wildlife every day. Yes some of them sting but I told you not to grab bees so that is your own fault. And we do not live far outside Houston – 20 miles south down 288 actually. Our little detention pond is a haven for all types of migratory birds, including Pelicans which surprise me a bit given we are an hour north of Galveston Bay.

This detention pond is literally a birding hotspot. Kingfisher, Black necked Stilt, Ibis, Egret, Cormorant, Osprey, Caracara, Black Vulture, Whistling Duck and a few other ducks I am not very good at identifying, herons, roseate spoonbill and a few others. All within 20 yards of the community. Oh, don’t worry, people are managing to cut down trees adjacent to the pond and build just like everywhere else. If nothing else, humans are good at turning every inch of open land into a concrete parking lot and building. But yet these birds still show up ever year. And for the past two years, these have showed up to nest – successfully raising one chick in 2011:

So whether you have a backyard, front yard, or cable wire over your door – wildlife will find it if you set it aside for them and give them just enough space to feel comfortable. We will be giving tours of our front door every tuesday and thursday between the hours of 4pm and 5pm if you would like to view wildlife and I am only charging $3.00 per tour.

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May
09

Wildlife Heroes is an awesome book, and we have the author coming to the Zoo!

Posted by in Africa,amphibians,Bats,Birds,Borneo,Bumblebees,Carnivores,Central America,Chimpanzee,community-based conservation,Conservation,Cotton-top Tamarin,Elephant,Endangered Species,Field Research,Going Green,Gorilla,Okapi,orangutan,Painted Dog,Panama,Rhino,Sea Turtles,South America,What You Can Do

Join us on May 19th and 20th for Wildlife Heroes weekend at the Houston Zoo.  On May 20th we welcome Jeff Flocken, co-author of Wildlife Heroes: 40 Leading Conservationists and the Animals they are Committed to Saving for a book-signing and presentations by zoo staff on the focus species of the book. Wildlife Heroes will be available for sale at the zoo on May 20th, quantities are limited!  Books are also available for  pre-order on the Houston Zoo website at: http://www.houstonzoo.org/wildlife-heroes/for a dicounted price until May 17th.

My first heroes were animal people.  When I went to zoos my heroes were the zoo keepers and when I watched animal documentaries the researchers were my heroes.  We all need amazing people to inspire us and that is why the new book Wildlife Heroes is so wonderful. 

The book includes 40 people overcoming impossible odds to save endangered species all over the world.  If you are looking for real heroes for your children to look up to look now further! 

The unique stories in this book of local communities becoming involved in anti-poaching, education and research efforts for wildlife in their own back yard are immeasurably inspiring!  In one story a young boy, Thia grew up in Northern Vietnam watching his village hunt the very species he fights to save today.  His passion to help a unique species called the pangolin will warm your heart!
 
I have had the honor of meeting many of the heroes in this book (including the authors) over the years and they inspire me to move forward in my own wildlife conservation work.  These are real people making a real difference! 

This book introduces readers to pollinator and amphibian decline and other environment issues that continue to threaten our world.  But it also offers great messages of hope.  In the last chapter Jack Hannah suggests ways the reader can help, and the good news is that by purchasing the Wildlife Heroes book you are already helping- 100 % of the proceeds go to the projects featured in the book.  A win for everyone!

Hope to see you at the Houston Zoo for our Wildlife Heroes weekend May 19th and 20th!

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Mar
22

The Pollinator: A Superhero of Superheroes

Posted by in Animal Origins & Fun Facts,Bats,Birds,Bumblebees,Conservation,Endangered Species,Featured,Going Green

Dressed in a multitude of colors, this superhero fights crime like no other – the potential of declining food production due to lack of pollination. They leap (flitter above actually) tall buildings, see through walls (sniff through backyard fences), and have super strength (you try flying around all day).

He/She is The Pollinator! Really, right there in the photo below. Yes that green cocoony thing with the three gold dots and as you can see he or she is amassing his or her forces of pollinator buddies in my backyard. 33 of them to be exact as of today.

Monarch Butterfly chrysalids hanging out on a fence post after a feast of Milkweed plants (Asclepia species)

Pollination occurs when pollen is moved within flowers or carried from flower to flower by pollinating animals such as birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles, or other animals, or by the wind. In our case above, a Monarch Butterfly. The transfer of pollen in and between flowers of the same species leads to fertilization, and successful seed and fruit production for plants.  Pollination ensures that a plant will produce full-bodied fruit and a full set of viable seeds.

Here is why it is important according to our friends at the Pollinator Partnership:

  • Worldwide, roughly 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to produce the goods on which we depend.
  • Foods and beverages produced with the help of pollinators include: apples, blueberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, peaches, potatoes, pumpkins, vanilla, almonds, and tequila.
  • In the United States, pollination by honey bees, native bees, and other insects produces $40 billion worth of products annually.

    Monarch Buttrefly Caterpillar finishing breakfast before metamorphosis into chrysalid

It is simple to help pollinators – just plant a small garden – apartment dwellers can also place pollinator plants in pots out on balconies and porches – and before you know it (and I am not sure exactly how they find me, but they do) butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and more will be at your door wearing their little Superhero capes and saving the world through pollination. Get the BEE SMART Pollinator APP for planting tips here.

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