boundless budgies: a parakeet adventure

spring 2009
boundless budgies: a parakeet adventure
president’s message
spring 2009
Table of Contents
President’s Message .................................................................1
Cover Story: Boundless Budgies .......................................3
3
Where There’s A Will ...
Responsible estate planning ...................................................10
Dear Members:
Zoo Atlanta takes pride in our ability to provide our Members and guests
with personal encounters with mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians
from around the world. But no matter how close or naturalistic the view,
the vast majority of animals in our collection aren’t candidates for hands-on
interactions with visitors. Therefore, we know you’ll be as excited as we are
about Boundless Budgies: A Parakeet Adventure.
Wild Buzz ...............................................................................11
7
Staff Profile: Hayley Weston Murphy, DVM .....................13
Wally’s Wild World ...............................................................16
Mark Your Calendar .............................................................17
Our new aviary is an opportunity that has never existed in the Zoo’s 120-year history. Here’s a habitat
where the animals come as close as they possibly can – to the seed stick in your hand, to your shoulder, or
flying just centimeters over your head. This is an intimate experience unlike any other in Georgia.
Most of all, Boundless Budgies personifies our new spring tagline, REAL LIVE FUN. Zoo Atlanta is an organization
committed to preserving species, and we and our peers in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums grapple
daily with serious conservation issues and challenges. But it’s important never to forget the elements of fun
and joy zoos bring to our lives, and we’re proud to be able to illustrate that fact in living color.
Conservation from the Ground Up:
Zoo Horticulturists take restoration by the roots ...................7
Meet the Animals ..................................................................18
13
Look for this symbol throughout Wild Times for special Member tips!
Bring your family to meet the flock! Enjoy the spring.
Zoo Atlanta thanks our Wild Times staff:
Managing Editor: Rachel MacNabb
Dennis W. Kelly
President and CEO
1
Wild Times Designer: Kathy Cahill
Creative Director, Zoo Atlanta: Richard Hezlep
18
Contributing Writers: Laurel Askue, Brigitte Clifton, Rachel MacNabb, Blythe Randolph,
Lani Schoedler, Carolyn Wynens
Contributing Editor: Zoe Nieminen
Staff Photographer:
Adam K. Thompson
Boundless Budgies Graphic Design:
Becky Scheel
Contributing Photographers: Jim Fitts, Danielle Green, Robert Taylor
On the cover: Boundless Budgies. Photo by Adam K. Thompson.
2
Boundless Budgies
by Rachel MacNabb
Photos by Adam K. Thompson
3
The parakeets have landed.
F
ictional characters the world over must be seething with indignation. Used to be, one had to be possessed
of imaginary powers, an implausible oneness with wild
animals and an operatic soprano voice to get birds to land on one’s
shoulder. Sorry, Snow White, and better take another spoonful
of the sweet stuff, Mary Poppins, because you may have lost your
edge with the debut of Boundless Budgies: A Parakeet Adventure.
The product of more than a year of design and construction,
Zoo Atlanta’s newest attraction is better referred to as an
experience. The habitat itself – a 2,200 square-foot, 20-foot
tall aviary complete with rippling water features – would be
beautiful uninhabited. But it is the aviary’s residents – some
500 chattering parakeets plumed in primary colors and
pastels – that steal the show.
“We’re tremendously proud of the aviary, and the birds make the
experience so cheerful,” says James Ballance, Curator of Birds.
“Even if 200 are flying, 100 are sleeping and 200 are chatting, it’s
action, action, action … you’d have to have one foot in the grave
not to enjoy this.”
Rainbow in motion
When the Zoo’s parakeets decide to fly as a flock, the senses
don’t stand a chance: moving en masse in variations on green,
blue, mauve, yellow and white, the birds are an astonishing
rainbow in motion. Found in flocks as large as 10,000 in their
native Australia, budgerigars, as they’re scientifically named,
would create an equally exciting, if less multicolored, spectacle.
Bird watchers won’t see banana yellow, azure blue, mottled
amethyst or white in the wild: the natives are green. Color
derivations and deviations can and do occur, but these
mutations rarely have an opportunity to be passed to
subsequent generations; they’re too attractive to predators.
“If you’re in a flock of 1,000 birds, and you’re blue, and the other
999 are green, guess who’s going to get snatched by the hawk
first?” Ballance asks.
The myriad colors observed today are instead the result of
generations of selective breeding by humans ever since the
parakeet pet hobby burst into general popularity over a century
ago. (As it turns out, humans may have had other designs on
budgies before they became obsessed with keeping the birds
in their homes. While the origin of the word “budgerigar” is
disputed, it is widely believed to be derivative of the Australian
aboriginal betcherrygah, meaning “good eating.”)
5
Pets and peeves
Largely referred to by the general term “parakeets” in the U.S.,
budgerigars actually comprise just one of numerous species of
parakeets, all of which are members of the parrot family.
Regardless of nomenclature, budgerigars are the world’s most
popular winged pets, beloved for their beauty, interactive
behavior and trainability. (One famous budgie, Sparkie, a pet in
Newcastle, England, reportedly knew more than 500 words and
hundreds of sentences.) But with popularity come responsibilities
not always realized by excited first-time bird owners.
Not only can budgies live up to 15 years in captivity, but their social
tendencies also lend them best to homes either with other birds
or with highly committed humans willing to devote extensive time
to enrichment. As a result, it’s not uncommon for parakeet owners
to tire of long-lived pets or to unknowingly house singletons
in arrangements that prove miserable for the birds. As with
ownership of any animal, would-be parakeet owners are
encouraged to research and familiarize themselves extensively
with the species before adding new members to the family.
A parakeet adventure
Like their wild counterparts, the Zoo’s budgies are nomadic
followers of food and resources – in the aviary’s case, those
scrumptious seed sticks. Wooden sticks festooned with clumps of
spray millet – a treat on par with candy in the eyes of seed eaters
– are just one part of the birds’ daily diets. But while they’re eager
to consume everything their keepers offer, the rest of the carefully-planned nutritional regimen isn’t quite as attractive.
“The budgies get a variety of fruits, browse and other foods on
a daily basis,” Ballance explains, “but the seed sticks are the good
stuff … what the guests have got in their hands is what the birds
like most.”
The result is an unprecedented human-animal interaction unlike
any other in the Zoo’s long history. (The only exception being,
of course, the friendly creatures of the Outback Station petting
zoo, whom visitors may pet but are not allowed to feed.) And
from the first moments following the debut of Boundless Budgies
on April 3, Zoo Members and guests have given their newfound
opportunity an enthusiastic, seed stick-waving thumbs up.
“This is absolutely different from anything else that’s going on in
the Zoo right now,” Ballance says. “You can walk up the path and
see a tiger, and that’s pretty amazing. But you can’t have a tiger
sitting on your hand.”
Who’s to say that the world’s next great
conservationist won’t someday admit that
his or her deepest passions began with the
brazenness of a beautiful little bird? The possibilities
are endless when the scene is unscripted, and the
players are children and animals.
Conservation
from the ground up
Zoo Horticulturists take restoration by the roots
by Rachel MacNabb
Photos by Danielle Green and Adam K. Thompson
Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture Department is best known for its
showier handiwork. The spectacular colors of the Butterfly
Garden, the lavish foliage along the main spine and the ancient
shade of massive hardwoods routinely elicit commentary that
the Zoo is a botanical oasis as much as it is a wildlife park.
Lesser known to the admiring layman are the programs behind
the seasonal splendor. Most guests consider giant pandas a
must-see on their Zoo visits; many guests also know the Zoo
is involved in giant panda conservation. Most guests notice the
Zoo’s gorgeous botanicals; virtually no guests know the Zoo is
involved in plant conservation.
Yes, plant conservation. Why on Earth not? One doesn’t have to
be of the ilk that talks to potted ferns to appreciate the relationship
of the planet’s flora to the planet’s fauna, according to Danielle
Green, Curator of Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives.
“Plants make or break the suitability of most ecosystems,” Green
says. “Animals eat plants, and the animals that don’t eat plants eat
the animals that do. The connection’s so basic that we tend to
forget how critical it really is.”
Left: A pitcher plant thrives in Doerun Bog.
Above: The endangered bog turtle is a flagship species for a vanishing ecosystem.
Baptism by fire
Early in 2009, Green and Hal O’Kelley, Horticulture Technician
III, became certified Type 2 Firefighters through the National
Wildfire Coordinating Group. Graduates of 30 hours of online
coursework and a three-day, hands-on training in Coffee County,
the Zoo Horticulturists are now qualified to assist the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Georgia Plant
Conservation Alliance (GPCA) with prescribed burns in natural
areas of the state.
Wait a minute. Isn’t fire … well, bad? While we’ll never hear
Smokey the Bear advocating a blaze, fire is an element important
to the natural growth and re-growth of many woodland habitats.
In fact, fire can even prevent fire. Occasional burns decrease the
volume of dead stumps, sticks, grasses and leaves, all of which
can fuel brushfires, and help to make areas more manageable in
the event of a pop-up blaze.
Left to her own devices, nature might take care of these processes,
were it not for those pesky invasives – non-native species planted
by humans for their aesthetic properties. The most famous of
Back to nature
these is kudzu. Capable of overtaking entire buildings, the notoriously aggressive creeper is now almost universally
recognized as a symbol of the American South. Hardly southern
in its origins, the Asian vine made its debut as an ornamental
plant at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. A second
not-so-home-grown classic is Chinese wisteria, another serial
strangler known for its fragrant, grape-like spring blossoms. The
species was introduced to the U.S. in the early 19th century.
(Chinese wisteria’s native cousin, the less frequently seen
American wisteria, is nowhere near as invasive.)
Just as releasing a non-native animal predator disrupts an
ecosystem’s food chain, non-native upstarts like kudzu, Chinese
wisteria and a large cast of other sneaky characters rob naturallyoccurring plants of sunlight, nutrients and, ultimately, life. Hardy,
greedy and sometimes deceptively pretty, invasives inevitably do
the locals a nasty turn. One such victim is Rhus michauxii,
commonly known as false poison sumac. Only two populations of
this rare species remain in Georgia. A prescribed burn attended
by Green and O’Kelley in Elberton, Ga., in February 2009 will
hopefully enable remnants of this vanishing variety to continue to
exist in a dwindling home range.
A prescribed burn near Georgia’s Broad River blazes the trail for species survival.
7
Zoo Curator turned firefighter Danielle Green can take the heat.
“Prescribed burns are an example of actions by humans to restore
ecosystems damaged by our own interruption,” Green says.
“Sometimes we have to tear things down in order to get them
working as they were meant to work.” (It goes without saying,
Green adds, that agency-run burns are managed by experts and
are neither legal nor recommended for private individuals.)
Deep in the sinks of one of Georgia’s rarest habitats, the muck
parts for a moment, and out crawls one of the state’s most
endangered turtles. There largely on behalf of Sarracenia purpurea,
the purple pitcher plant, plant conservationists unexpectedly see
the deep interconnectedness of an entire ecosystem.
Just like animals, fish, insects and plants, ecosystems can also
be classified as endangered. High on the list in Georgia is the
mountain bog, an extremely rare habitat found in only a few
hundred isolated pockets in the state. Of these, fewer than 20
are capable of being restored to their original function.
Bog restoration is another state-run initiative assisted by
Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture Team (Green, O’Kelley, Lead
Horticulture Technician Darryl Windham and Horticulture
Technicians Sydrick Heard and Carl Ruckert). Thermal imaging
conducted by DNR locates mountain bogs, some of which are
candidates for restoration. Others are located on private
properties, and owners are approached, educated and encouraged
to sign conservation easements enforcing permanent preservation
of their lands.
The purple pitcher plant and the bog turtle are inextricably
linked. The pitcher plant is a carnivore that drowns unwary
insects in pools of rainwater collected in its vase-like leaves.
Encroaching non-native plants out-compete the pitcher plant for
resources, resulting in the eventual drying of the bog’s water. If
the purple pitcher plant goes, so will the bog turtle, and Georgia
is in danger of losing both.
“In some cases, we don’t even know the interweaving needs and
relationships of the species that share these areas,” Green says.
“We’re attempting to reverse the effects of a total alteration of an
entire biological system.”
8
Where there’s a will …
Responsible estate planning today
ensures that your intentions are realized tomorrow.
By Blythe Randolph, Vice President and Chief Development Officer
Believe it or not, seven out of 10 Americans die without a valid will. As difficult as it may seem to have to think about the “d word,” it’s much
worse to contemplate problems for your family, friends or favorite charity in the event that you die without having made appropriate provisions.
Keep a few things in mind as you begin thinking about this topic:
1. Consult an attorney. He or she can help you use proper legal language and save you and your heirs money by suggesting ways to reduce estate taxes, probate cost and other legal expenses. Be sure to select an attorney who is knowledgeable in the area of estate planning.
Zoo Horticulture staff and partners work to restore the Hale Ridge Bog.
Restoration by the roots
Can the state’s botanical Humpty Dumpties be put together
again? As is often the case with saving endangered animal
species, plant conservation programs also involve expert
management of captive populations, sometimes with the goal
of returning compatible individuals to the wild. The Atlanta
Botanical Garden holds the national collection of pitcher plants,
and Zoo Horticulturists visit weekly to help specialists maintain
their conservation greenhouse. The Horticulture Team also
partners with GPCA on outplanting of rare plants, such as the
smooth coneflower and Georgia aster, and regularly collaborates
with the Georgia Exotic Plant Pest Council and other state
organizations on programs to raise awareness of the importance
of safeguarding native species.
“Stewardship of the natural world is an integral part of the Zoo’s
mission, and these relationships and associations enable us to
offer one more outstanding educational opportunity for Members
and guests,” Green believes. “It’s not a resource our general
visitors are aware of, but it’s a resource nonetheless.”
The Georgia aster benefits from outplanting projects by Zoo Horticulturists.
Amazingly, suiting up for prescribed forest fires, slogging
through muck to restore a mountain bog, or traveling offsite
to plant Georgia asters are merely sideline projects for these
green thumbs, whose main responsibility is the care, maintenance
and creativity behind the Zoo’s own diverse plant collection.
(Did we mention that Green and O’Kelley are also certified
beekeepers? That’s a tale for another time.) Congratulations are
always in order for Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture Team – for the
fiery azaleas, the vibrant butterfly bushes, the century-old elms
and beeches and entire inner city vistas magically transformed
into Africa and Asia.
The accolades are abundantly deserved, even more so now,
when we recognize that each time this crew of experts pockets
their shears, stows their shovels or coils their hoses, they just
might be on their way to preserving Georgia’s ecological heritage.
Our respect grows by leaps and bounds … only kudzu could
keep up.
2. Update your estate plan regularly. Events like marriages, births, deaths, property changes and changes in tax laws can affect your will needs. Promise yourself to examine your will at least every five years.
3. Name an alternate. After you’ve chosen your personal representative or executor, it’s smart to name an alternate in case that representative is for any reason unable to fulfill those duties.
4. Remember the significance of memorials. Specifying a memorial gift in your will is a wonderful way to honor the memory of a special friend or loved one.
5. Consider a percentage. Since most of us have no way of knowing exactly how much we’ll be worth at the time of our death, a pre-determined percentage toward a worthy cause is a means of ensuring that your gift is in proportion to those you leave to family or friends.
6. Consider gifts of stocks, bonds and personal property. These make excellent gifts and may provide significant tax
benefits. Some gifts of this type can be put to direct use; others may be sold or held to sell later if there is an anticipated
increase in value.
7. Name final beneficiaries. After you’ve listed all of the persons you wish to remember, ask yourself this question:
“What if none of them is alive to benefit?” Your final beneficiary could be an organization or institution that will be around
to receive your generosity.
8. Communicate your plans. The institution you’ve chosen to gift may be able to articulate a specific need that will fit your
giving plans precisely or make other suggestions that would enhance the value of your estate and your gift. Moreover, many
organizations have legacy societies with events or vehicles that celebrate your generosity while you can still enjoy the recognition!
9. Maintain flexibility. Remember that the needs of organizations change. Generally, the less restrictive you are, the more helpful your gift will be in the future.
9
Wild Times goes digital!
10. Use the organization’s proper name. Give your attorney the institution’s full legal name; the use of nicknames or
abbreviations can cause confusion.
Did you know you now also have the option of reading Wild Times
online at zooatlanta.org/wildtimes? Upper-level Green Members
will receive a notice by email when a new digital edition is available.
To send us your preferences for receiving print or digital copies,
email [email protected].
The Legacy Society recognizes the generosity of individuals who establish a planned gift arrangement with Zoo Atlanta. For questions on including Zoo Atlanta in your estate planning, contact Blythe Randolph, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, at 404.624.5901 or at [email protected].
10
Wild Buzz
News of Zoo Atlanta’s Animals and Staff
new faces
Ron Gagliardo is now based at Zoo Atlanta as Training Officer
of the Amphibian ARK.
Longtime Docent and Volunteer Janelle Nord recently joined the
Zoo family full-time as Docent and Public Programs Supervisor.
STAFF EXTRAS
Laurel Askue, Manager of Education Marketing and
Development, and Jason Taylor, Manager of School and
Family Programs, represented the Zoo at the Environmental
Education Alliance of Georgia conference in March.
Katie Bagley, Keeper III, Birds, is the national keeper
representative for the Kori Bustard Species Survival Plan (SSP)
and the editor of The Gompou, the group’s official newsletter.
Research Biologist Dr. Ben Charlton attended the Giant Panda
SSP Meeting in San Diego in January.
Horticulture Technician II Carl Ruckert is now qualified as a
Certified Plant Professional by the Georgia Green Industry
Association.
Manager of Conservation Partnerships Dr. Tara Stoinski
attended the Primate Life History meeting at Duke University in
January. Stoinski also led the meeting of the Ape Taxon Advisory
Group in Oklahoma City, March 22-26.
TRAINING ADVANCES
Lions and tigers and bears, oh, my: kudos to the Carnivore
Department on recent training accomplishments.
Congratulations to Keeper II Jenny Brink and African lion
Farasi; Keeper II Layla Dampier and Sumatran tigers
Chelsea and Kavi; and Keeper III J.T. Svoke and giant panda
Mei Lan on successful training for voluntary vaccinations. Brink
and Dampier also collaborated on voluntary blood draw training
for African lion Kamau.
Ford Motor Company returns as Presenting Sponsor for its
24th consecutive year. The Beastly Feast Executive Committee is
headed by Co-Chairs Lovette Russell, Jack Sawyer and
Dr. Bill Torres.
Erin Delahunty, Overnight Programs Supervisor, and Cary
Ann Nixon, Daytime Group Programs Manager, exhibited at
the Georgia Science Teachers Association in February.
Large Mammal Keeper II Nate Elgart will attend the Protected
Contact Elephant Training and Enrichment Workshop at the
Performing Animal Welfare Society in Galt, Calif., in May.
Curator of Program Animals John Elmore recently attended the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Regional Conference
in Oklahoma City.
Assistant Curator of Birds Sprina Liu has been selected by
the AZA Board of Regents as the recipient of the 2009 Diversity
Advancement Award. Liu and Jay Pratte, Lead Keeper, Program
Animals, both attended AZA Management School in Wheeling,
W.V., in February.
Assistant Curator of Herpetology Dr. Brad Lock chaired the
reptile sessions of the North American Veterinary Conference in
Orlando, Fla., in January. Lock also served as the guest editor of
the October 2008 edition of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine.
Curator of Herpetology Dr. Joe Mendelson has been elected
President of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Mendelson also co-organized an international workshop on
controlling amphibian disease in living collections hosted by San
Diego Zoo in February.
11
Join friends on Saturday, May 16 for Zoo Atlanta’s most beautiful
and exciting night of the year at Kongomana, the 2009 Beastly
Feast. Highlights of the Southeast’s most talked-about black-tie
gala will include a twilight stroll through the Zoo at its best, evening
animal viewing, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres from Atlanta’s best
restaurants, fabulous live and silent auctions, dinner by Proof of
the Pudding and dancing to the sounds of The Class Act Band.
The Beastly Feast generates critical support for Zoo Atlanta’s
award-winning education and conservation programs. Individual
tickets begin at $450. Tables for 10 are available from $5,000.
published
Lawson, D.P., Ogden, J. and Snyder, R.J. 2008. Maximizing
the contribution of science in zoos and aquariums: organizational
models and perceptions. Zoo Biology, 27, 6, 458-469.
Lock, B. 2008. Venomous snake restraint and handling. Journal of
Exotic Pet Medicine, 17, 4, 273-284.
Mendelson, J.R. III, Savage, J.M., Griffith, E., Ross, H., Kubicki,
B., and Gagliardo, R. 2008. A spectacular new gliding species of
Ecnomiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Central Panama. Journal of
Herpetology, 42, 750-759.
Moore, R.D. and Mendelson, J.R. III. 2008. Amphibian
conservation at the global, regional and national level. In
F. Andreone (Ed.), A Conservation Strategy for the Amphibians
of Madagascar.
Rivera, S. 2008. Health assessment of the reptilian reproductive
tract. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 17, 4, 259-266.
For more information on various levels of support and associated
benefits, or to donate auction items and services, please contact
Carolyn Wynens at 404.624.5820 or [email protected].
Members of the 2009 Beastly Feast Executive Committee include (left to right)
Dr. Bill Torres, Lovette Russell, Tony Brewer, Jack Sawyer, Mark Street, Ginny
Brewer and Dennis Kelly. Not pictured: Jane Barron, Kathi Goddard, Mary Lynn
Jones, Louise Mulherin, Janelle Nord, Elizabeth Correll Richards, Susan Smith,
Joanne Truffelman.
Staff profile:
Hayley Weston Murphy, DVM
Director of Veterinary Services
Getting to know the quirks, preferences, strengths and weaknesses
of 22 very distinct individuals can take a while. The tail on the learning
curve gets longer when the personalities belong to western lowland
gorillas ranging in age from 2 to 50. Dr. Hayley Murphy recognizes
that even with almost daily morning visits to animal areas, it might be
a few more months before she’s on a first-name basis with everyone
in the collection. But the Zoo’s gentle giants would do well to be
nice to the new Director of Veterinary Services: she’s one of the
nation’s leading experts on gorilla cardiac health.
After nearly 20 years in the field of zoological veterinary medicine,
Murphy definitely knows what zoos are about. She served most
recently as Director of Veterinary Services for Zoo New England,
which manages Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo in
Stoneham, Mass. Her background also includes work as Consulting
Veterinarian at Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, Mass., and Relief
Veterinarian at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I.
Having just joined Zoo staff in January 2009, Murphy hasn’t yet had
time to accumulate any “best-of” moments, but her career already
contains its share of definitive episodes. Happiest is the story of
Beau, a male giraffe at Franklin Park who fell seriously ill in 2004. A
tall order in more ways than one, Beau had practically stopped eating
and seemed well on his way to an unhappy ending. Murphy and her
team determined that the giraffe’s ailments were dietary in nature,
and they made radical alterations to his foods and supplements.
(Murphy even went so far as to prepare Beau’s meals herself from
home.) Their insights saved the animal’s life, and Beau’s recovery
achieved national recognition in the zoological community.
More harrowing was the tale of Little Joe, the 11-year-old male gorilla
who attracted international attention with his high-profile escape at
Franklin Park in September 2003. Zoo New England’s chief veterinarian
at the time, Murphy was part of the emergency response unit that
eventually succeeded in returning the 300-pound adolescent to his
home. Murphy, who has made considerable contributions to the
topic of emergency responses in zoos, was made chair of the Special
Species section of the State of Massachusetts’ Animal Response Team.
13
“There was a time when zoos didn’t have geriatric animals,” she
explains. “It’s a challenge, but it’s one that’s good to have. If we have
geriatric animals, that means that they’ve benefited from wonderful
care. And while it’s bittersweet knowing they’ve entered the last
stages of their lives, we can feel good knowing they’ve always had
the best of everything we had to offer.”
The recipient of the 2004 Presidential Service Award from the
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians for her guidelines on
working with non-human primates, Murphy also serves as the
national veterinary advisor for both the Gorilla and Baboon Species
Survival Plans. As a result of an awarded Conservation Endowment
Fund Grant from AZA, she additionally manages the Gorilla Health
Project, a database which tracks gorillas throughout the AZA
community.
The best, in fact, seems to be the prevailing theme of Murphy’s vision
for the future of medical care at Zoo Atlanta. Her excitement when
she discusses the Zoo’s future veterinary hospital is nothing short
of electric. State-of-the-art diagnostic features like digital X-rays and
links to institutions like the University of Georgia, Emory University
and the Georgia Aquarium will not only place the Zoo at the top of
its field, but it will also enable the facility’s capabilities as a teaching
hospital, serving a larger number of veterinary students throughout
the state.
Just as Murphy is introduced to the nation’s second-largest collection of
gorillas, she is initiated simultaneously to a community with a relatively
large geriatric population – four individuals over the age of 45. As
with humans, Choomba, Ivan, Ozzie and Shamba face age-related
complaints with their joints, teeth and the like. While Murphy is
prepared to address these challenges, she believes the Zoo’s
beloved elders’ advanced years are owed to their superior care.
Murphy can’t recall when she got interested in working with wildlife;
she was more nearly born interested in working with wildlife, and
she’s never held a job that didn’t include animals. (Her first foray into
animal care was as a Humane Society volunteer at the age of 13.) A
native of Palmyra, N.Y., she credits a childhood trip to Smithsonian’s
National Zoo with defining the course of her career.
“Zoos have the ability to grab people and change their lives,” Murphy
says. “I always try to emphasize the nature of what zoos are about
these days, as opposed to decades ago.”
author of more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, presentations
and symposium proceedings on exotic animal veterinary care, Murphy
has focused the lion’s share of her research on gorillas, particularly
gorilla heart health. In other words, while she might still be learning
what makes the Zoo’s 22 gorillas tick, she comes prepared with
extensive expertise in the area of their tickers.
Now four months into her new position at the helm of Zoo Atlanta’s
Veterinary Department, Murphy admits she’s still getting used to the
differences between a Deep South zoo and a New England zoo.
“It’s amazing to me that there are places in the Zoo that are green
year-round, and that even during winter, people and animals can be
outside year-round,” she says. “In Boston, we were limited by snow
and more extreme temperatures.”
Murphy’s transition won’t be complete until her loved ones are
finally able to join her in her new city. Her husband, Dave, a small
animal veterinarian; their children, Grace, 9, and Peter, 7; and their
dogs, Bobo and Norman, remain for the time being in North
Attleboro, Mass. The family will rejoin her in Atlanta after closing on
their house, a pre-Revolutionary homestead built in 1718 that the
Murphys spent 10 years restoring.
Geography, however, isn’t the only surprise in Murphy’s estimation
of her new zoo. While she was initially drawn to Zoo Atlanta’s
commitment to conservation, she finds herself equally impressed
by the direct involvement of the Zoo’s Veterinary Team in their
patients’ day-to-day training.
“The veterinary staff is incredibly involved, and they work very
closely with the keepers, so that the animals become familiar with
them as people,” Murphy says. “The result is that in many cases
we’re able to do procedures like blood draws and injections with
the animals’ voluntary participation.”
Like so many Zoo staff, Murphy is hard-pressed to name a favorite
animal. But she does have a specialty: gorillas. The author or co-
At the end of the day – and after just four months, a day still means
regular house calls to patients who don’t know her yet – Murphy
remains refreshingly down-to-earth about assuming the role of doctor
to the city’s wildest celebrities.
“People always say ‘oh, wow, that’s a really cool job … you must
love your job,’” she says. “And I always have the same answer: I do.”
Zoo Atlanta hosts
Leap into Spring SPARKS Fair
by Laurel Askue, Manager of Education Marketing and Development
Zoo Atlanta hosted its first Leap into Spring SPARKS Fair on Saturday,
March 7. More than 300 children and adults descended on Base Camp
Discovery for the event, which was led exclusively by parents introduced
to the program during two SPARKS Leadership Workshops held at the
Zoo in January and February.
Developed by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, SPARKS
(Supporting Parents in Advocacy, Reform and Knowledge) utilizes the
unique resources of zoos to empower parents to enrich their children’s
lives through science education. Zoo Atlanta is one of 28 institutions
currently participating in SPARKS Across America, which encourages
parents to use their natural potential to be advocates of education in
the home and in the community.
Stay tuned for updates on upcoming SPARKS events! Visit zooatlanta.org to learn more. all-new in 2009
by Brigitte Clifton,
Membership Promotions Manager
Hi, l’m Wally!
Find me in each issue of WILD Times so I can share some really ssssuper stuff
with you! In this issue, I’ll be ssssending a sssspectacular sssshout-out to some of my
favorite animal friends – the birds!
Ssssee if you can find me on another page of this magazine. If you can, email
[email protected] with your name, address, age and page number
and be registered to win your very own plush Wally!
We think our closest friends should get to come a little closer.
Introducing Member Mornings!
2009 Discovery Talk Series
If you’re the type of Member who always makes the most of
your typical visits, but finds yourself wanting to know more about
the Zoo, Member Mornings were made for you! Set to launch
on select second Saturdays this summer, this completely NEW
program offers small, Member-exclusive tours focused on specific
Zoo subjects. 2009 topics will include great apes, horticulture
and veterinary rounds.
Zoo Atlanta’s Conservation Lecture Series has a new name and
format! The all-new Discovery Talk Series brings you the same
great conservation topics you’ve come to expect, but in 2009,
we’ll show you how our work affects animals right here at the Zoo.
Begin your Discovery Talk evening at the World of Reptiles, parakeet
aviary or Tiger Forest, where a keeper will offer special insights
into how Zoo wildlife fits into the big picture. Then, stroll up to the
ARC for an intimate presentation detailing our latest conservation
and research work here at home and around the world.
Visit the Member News page of zooatlanta.org for details and schedule.
SAVE THE DATE for Discovery Talks starting this summer!
by Lani Schoedler,
Individual and Family Programs Supervisor
book nook
➤ Ages 4 and under: Ollie by Oliver Dunrea
➤ Ages 4-8: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr
Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo and Harry Bliss
Migration: Migration is the seasonal movement of animals from one place
to another. Animals migrate to escape winter or summer temperatures, find
food or find mates. Birds, butterflies, fish, whales, elephants and caribou
are just a few examples of animals that migrate.
➤ Ages 8-12: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
➤ Ages 13 and up: Alex and Me by Irene Pepperberg
Beastly bookmarks
Thursday, June 18 – Reptiles and amphibians
Thursday, July 16 – Birds
Thursday, October 15 – Gorillas
Stay tuned to zooatlanta.org for more details on Discovery Talk Series speakers, dates and topics.
How do YOU Zoo? Membership made simple
Zoo Atlanta’s Membership structure has been simplified to offer even more flexibility and ease of use. Don’t worry! You won’t lose any
benefits. In fact, some levels will enjoy even more!
Make your own
backyard bird feeder!
Materials
• Empty milk or juice carton
• Hole punch
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Markers
• Wire or paper clip
• Small tree branch
Instructions
1.Cut two large rectangles out of two opposite sides of the carton.
2.Cover the carton by gluing construction paper to the sides and the top.
3.Punch a hole through the top of the carton. Use the wire or paper clip to
make a hanger, and thread the hanger through the hole.
Current Family Escape, Serengeti, Patron, Keeper and Curator Members: Look for new Membership cards in your mailboxes
this month.
Individual, Dual and Family Members: The Zoo will continue to honor your current cards and benefits until your Membership expires.
When it’s time to renew, visit zooatlanta.org/membership or call 404.624.WILD to review how your family can best take advantage of
these exciting changes.
15
4.Color your bird feeder with the markers, or add your own personal flair
with more construction paper.
5.Punch holes through the carton just below each opening. Place a small
tree branch through the holes. The branch should stick out on both sides
so your feathered friends have someplace to sit.
6.Place seeds in the bottom of the feeder, and hang your creation outside.
The birds will appreciate the snack!
Spotlight
common Name:
Red-tailed hawk
Scientific name:
Buteo jamaicensis
Cut out this cool bookmark!
Thursday, August 13 – Carnivores
16
Mark
your
Calendar
for these Wild Times!
Meet the Animals:
Jill and Jasiri
SCHMIDT’S GUENONS
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Party for the Planet Earth Day Celebration – Celebrate with us at a wild, green bash for that poster planet for wildlife
preservation and resource conservation – Earth! Recycle, reuse and re-imagine your view of your planet. Browse a super lineup of exhibitors,
meet Zoo mascots, make your own recycled paper, go on an earthworm dig, and more. FREE for Zoo Members and children under 3;
FREE with general admission.
zoo Plant Sale – Glorify your grounds with lush native varieties and drought-resistant species, and wow your neighbors with
unusual Zoo plants you won’t find at your local nursery! Take home hardy beauties for your yard, and get planting and design tips from Zoo
Horticulturists at the annual Plant Sale hosted by the Zoo Atlanta Guild. Sale takes place at Gate C-5 in front of the ARC; proceeds benefit
Zoo Atlanta’s Horticulture program.
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 9:30 A.M.*, 11:30 A.M., 1:30 P.M., 3 P.M.
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 11 A.M., 1:30 P.M. AND 3 P.M.
Beastly bookmarks
Red-tailed hawk
Red-tailed hawks are found
right here in Georgia, as well as
throughout the U.S., Canada
and Mexico. Red-tailed hawks
that live in the northern United
States and Canada migrate south
in the fall and winter to avoid cold
temperatures and find food.
Hawks are birds of prey and
eat meat. Red-tailed hawks eat
small mammals, such as squirrels
and rabbits. These winged
predators use their sharp talons
to catch their food and their
sharp, hooked beaks to rip the
meat apart. The Zoo’s red-tailed
hawk, Nate, eats rats, chicken
and a special bird of prey diet.
Red-tailed hawks are at risk
from habitat loss and collisions
with cars. Here’s one more
reason to keep our environment
clean! Trash on the side of the
road attracts mice and rats, and
birds of prey trying to catch food
are often killed or permanently
injured by cars.
You’ve probably heard the
sound of a red-tailed hawk
without even realizing what
you’re hearing! The red-tailed
hawk’s recognizable cry is often
used in movies, television shows
and commercials.
17
(female) was born at Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
Range in the wild: Rainforests and woodlands of
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 8 A.M. TO 2 P.M.
Place of origin: Jasiri (male) was born in Africa; Jill
Little People LIVE® Musical Show – A fun-filled extravaganza celebrating
one of the world’s best-known toy brands lands at one of Georgia’s most beloved
destinations for kids with six performances of the Fisher-Price musical Little People
LIVE. Loaded with entertaining characters, songs, dancing and surprises for younger
children, the traveling show commemorates the 50th anniversary of the launch of
the classic Little People® toys. Shows run in the Coca-Cola World Studio in the ARC.
FREE for Zoo Members and children under 3; FREE with general admission.
* 9:30 a.m. show on Saturday, May 9 is for Zoo Atlanta Members only.
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 5:30 P.M. TO 8:30 P.M.
Members Only Night – Members, it’s your night, and the animals stay out
until dusk as an exclusive gesture of appreciation. Highlights include live entertainment,
fun family activities and special keeper talks and feedings. FREE for current Zoo
Members.
FAMILY NIGHTCRAWLERS
Spend the night in the Zoo! Share a nocturnal adventure for the entire family.
NightCrawler overnights feature themed games and activities, animal encounters,
scavenger hunts and exclusive tours. Sleep in climate-controlled facilities, and wake to
a continental breakfast and a private guided tour of the Zoo. NightCrawlers run from
6 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. the following morning. Visit zooatlanta.org or call 404.624.
WILD for reservations. Got a group of 10 or more? Book your own Group
NightCrawler!
sub-Saharan Africa
Status in the wild: Wild populations have declined significantly in recent years, predominantly due to
the illegal bushmeat trade.
Foods in the wild: Wild diet includes fruits, leaves,
seeds and occasional insects
Diet at the Zoo: Vegetables, fruit and commerciallyprepared monkey chow
DISTINGUISHING characteristics:
Schmidt’s guenons are among the most colorful of the guenon
species, characterized by large cheek pouches, extremely long
tails and distinctive bright blue skin around the eyes.
BEHAVIOR: Schmidt’s guenons are arboreal, often found
in groups in the forest canopy. The animals use vocalizations
and several distinct head movements to communicate and
warn others of predators.
Reproduction: Females typically give birth to only
one offspring at a time; newborn infants cling to their mother’s
stomachs until they are mobile.
Lifespan: Lifespan is around 30 years; Jasiri is 7 and Jill is 17.
Mother’s Day After Dark Family NightCrawler – Saturday, May 9
Father’s Day After Dark Family NightCrawler – Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20
Natural enemies: Predatory birds, leopards and
WEEKLY, MAY 26 – AUGUST 7, 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M.
Summer Safari Day Camp – Sign the kids up NOW for animal fun, games,
crafts and new friends. Camp runs weekly for 4-year-olds (must be potty-trained)
to rising 5th graders. Every week is different! Register for one or multiple weeks.
NEW in 2009: Summer Safari Quest for rising 6th-9th graders! Older
kids explore age-appropriate conservation adventures. Optional Quest overnights
available for specific sessions. Register now on zooatlanta.org.
Meet Jill and Jasiri (pictured) in The Ford African Rain Forest!
chimpanzees
Primary care staff: Jessica Macauley,
Amanda Nichols, Lynn Yakubinis and Tom Heitz
Can we help you?
Stop by Member Services, formerly the WILDLine, for answers to
all of your Membership questions. Member Services is conveniently
located on the plaza outside the Front Gate, and is open daily, 9:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reach us by phone at 404.624.WILD, or email us
at [email protected].
18
800 Cherokee Avenue, SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
404.624.WILD
zooatlanta.org
contact us!
Get in the know … get eUpdate!
Have you moved? Need to update your Membership card?
Want to increase your benefits? Do we have your email address?
If you enjoy reading the latest Zoo news in Wild Times, but aren’t
currently signed up for eUpdate, subscribe to our biweekly email
newsletter today! Sharing your email address with us also enables
you to receive timely Membership notices, renewal reminders,
early bird discounts, breaking news alerts and special offers. We
respect your privacy and will never share your information with
third parties. Subscribe today by calling 404.624.WILD or
emailing [email protected].
Help us serve you better by updating your records at membership@
zooatlanta.org or 404.624.WILD, or use the online form on the
Membership page of zooatlanta.org.
Stay in touch with Zoo Atlanta! Find us on Facebook! Join as our
MySpace friend: www.myspace.com/zooATL.
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/ZooATL.