Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Max (Tawny Eagle)

Max's Story

Species: Tawny Eagle
Hatched: 2002

Max was hatched by a pair of tawny eagles that WBS has on loan in Florida. Max was brought to St. Louis, along with his brother Diablo, to become a part of the World Bird Sanctuary's education team. Max is a very calm bird who has participated in many education programs throughout the Midwest.

This beautiful bird, native to Africa, Asia, and India, can be seen sunning himself most days in the weathering area at WBS headquarters in Valley Park, Missouri. Your adoption donation helps keep Max on display so that those who have never seen a Tawny Eagle in its native habitat can learn about this majestic and beautiful species.

To adopt Max, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: MAX. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

tawny eagle
Aquila rapax

Description medium to large bird with a variably tawny head and upper body; hooked bill and fully feathered legs; rounded tail and long wings

Sex: the females are larger than the males; the females may be darker and more streaked

Age: immature birds are paler then the adults

Length: 24-28”

Wingspan: 5.4-6.1’

Weight: 4.29-5.5 lbs.

Habitat: desert, semi-desert, steppes, open savannah; not found in forests or deserts

Status: common resident but locally threatened

Range: Rumania east through the south Russian, south Siberian and Kirghi steppes east through Transbaikalia to Mongolia; south through Arabia, India and in most of Africa

Behavior: nest between March and July on a large stick platform in trees, usually Acacia; usually lay 2 eggs that are white, plain or blotchy with rusty red and gray; the incubation period is 42-44 days with one chick usually killing the other; only the northern populations are migratory; can be found in concentrations where food is plentiful

Diet: mostly fresh carrion; mammals up to rabbit size, small to medium rodents, lizards, snakes, seasonal insects, birds up to the size of a guinea fowl; often pirates food from other raptors; kills prey on the ground

Vocalization: hoarse, sharp barking “kyow”; rather silent except in nuptial display or aggression

√ Also known as the steppes eagle


Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Owl thrives in postion of authority

Our new boss runs a tight ship. Here you see Sid at work monitoring staff phone calls:



At first this avian surveillance was resented by, well, everyone, but productivity is up! up! up! Way to go Sid.

Just how delicious is a rat tail anyway?

As promised, Lee the seriema purrs over his rat tail:



In the wild, seriemas eat snakes and small lizards. They usually kill their prey by slamming it on the ground a few times and then...down the hatch. The rat tails seem to have a similar appeal and are the seriema treat of choice. And, well, YUM!

Seriemas: Loudest. Birds. Ever.

Though I cannot adequately capture the earsplitting call of a seriema (we wear protective ear gear), I can at least give you an idea of the pitch:



Ouch. But useful for keeping in touch across long distances! Tune in tomorrow for another seriema vocalization, The Rat Tail Purr!

Beak of the Week!

In no time at all a new anonymous solved last week's riddle of the tawny eagle. Great detective work!

This week's beak makes its home in the western United States. Unlike many raptors, these birds live and hunt in groups. They like to "stack" themselves on tall cacti and as many as four birds can be seen standing one on top of the other like a totem pole!


This eye is always on the lookout for small mammals, such as rats and rabbits, as well as birds, reptiles and even insects:

These feet are currently endangered in New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California due to human encroachment and habitat destruction:

Good luck, happy guessing, and I'll be back next week with the answer!

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Nemo (Congo African Grey Parrot)

Nemo's Story

Species: African Grey Parrot
Hatched: 11/2/2003

Nemo was hatched by a local breeder and aquired by World Bird Sanctuary in May 2004 to become a member of our Care For Critters program. From May until September 2005, he was a part of the Milwaukee County Zoo Bird Fair where he returned for a repeat performance this year.

Nemo has a very sweet, happy-go-lucky personality and is a favorite of all who work with him. True to the African grey's reputation of being one of the most intelligent of the psitticines, Nemo learns very quickly. He has a vocabulary that increases almost daily and learns new behaviors in an incredibly short period of time. He learned to wave in less than week!

Nemo loves unusual sounds and whistles, and his favorite foods are grapes, bananas, and peanuts (treats).

To adopt Nemo, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: NEMO. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

Congo African grey parrot
Psittacus erithacus erithacus

Description medium sized parrot; dark grey wings; pale grey rump; featherless rim of skin around the eyes is whitish to light grey; head and neck feathers have paler margins giving a scalloped appearance; short red tail feathers; black beak

Sex: reliable only via endoscopy or DNA sexing

Age: 50-70+ years

Length: 12-14”

Wingspan: approximately 28”

Weight: 14-23 oz.

Habitat: rainforests, cultivated land, mangroves, wooded savannas, and gardens

Status: listed as “NT” (near threatened) in large part due to trapping for the pet trade; in the U.S. importation is prohibited under the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992

Range: lowland forests of central Africa, Guinea Island, Kenya & Tanzania

Behavior: form lifelong monogamous bonds; nests in tree hollows and cavities; during breeding season the male feeds his mate and both sing soft monotonous notes; the female will sleep in the nest cavity while the male guards it; female lays 3-5 eggs at intervals of 2-5 days; female incubates the eggs; male feeds the incubating female; incubation lasts 30 days; males feeds both the female and young; young fledge at 12 weeks after which both parents feed young;

Diet: in the wild, a variety of fruits & vegetables; in captivity quality pelleted diet, a variety of vegetables, fruits, and occasionally nuts

Vocalization: screams less than most parrots; considered the best mimic of all parrots;

√ Considered by many to be the most intelligent of all birds. Some individuals have been documented as having a 500-800 word vocabulary, and amazing cognitive abilities.

√ Like most parrots, African Greys are high maintenance pets, requiring a great deal of personal attention if they are to remain happy and healthy. When not given enough attention, they develop a host of health and personality problems.

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Wow Little Guy!

I managed to get one "Wow" out of Little Guy yesterday. She was busy with the whole bath thing. At the end of the video, if you listen carefully, you can hear Othello the crow in the mew next door telling himself to "go to your perch" over and over.

Adopt a Snake spotlight (Monty the Ball Python)

Monty's Story

Species: Ball Python (sometimes known as Royal Python)

Acquired: 11/20/2000

Aquired from a private individual, Monty is a very easy going snake. He is comfortable around people and easy to handle, unlike many others of his species. Ball pythons curl up in a tight ball when they are frightened, tense or uneasy--a trait which gave the species its name. Monty rarely, if ever, does this.

Monty is a good eater, consuming 4-6 mice per week!

Like all tropical snakes, Monty needs his environment kept between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and needs to be misted regularly to maintain the humidity in his enclosure. Ball pythons are egg layers.

To adopt Monty, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: MONTY PYTHON. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the snake of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird (and snake) Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the snake you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the snake
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

ball python (royal python)
Python regius

Description non-venomous python species; smallest of the African pythons; color pattern typically black with light brown-green side and dorsal blotches; belly is white or cream that may or may not have scattered black markings; stocky build; head relatively small; scales are smooth;

Sex: both sexes have anal spurs on either side of the vent; males have larger spurs; sexual maturity reached at 12-18 months for male, 24-36 months for female; second factor for sexual maturity is weight (32 oz. for males) (53 oz. for females)

Age: 20-40 years; oldest captive specimen was 48 years; wild caught specimens have great difficulty adapting to captivity and often refuse to feed and are subject to parasitic infections

Length: generally 3-4 feet; rarely 5-6 foot individuals

Weight:

Habitat: grasslands, savannahs and sparsely wooded areas; prefers mammal burrows and other underground hiding places where it aestivates during dry seasons

Status:

Range: Africa

Behavior: curls into a ball when stressed or frightened, with head and neck tucked into the middle so tightly that it can be literally rolled around; reproduction is oviparous with anywhere from 3-11 large eggs being laid (more commonly 4-6); incubated by the female underground; hatch after 90 days; young grow about a foot a year for the first three years

Diet: small mammals and rodents; occasionally birds

√ The name Royal Python is based in part on the story that Cleopatra supposedly wore the snake around her wrist
√ Revered by the Igbo people of southern Nigeria. If a Ball Python is accidentally killed they will guild a coffin for the snake’s remains and give it a short funeral

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

More wet animals

The eagle owl chicks have reminded me (not very politely) that they, too, take regular baths:

Corvid beauty tips

Sometimes when I am chatting with the corvids, I ask how they get their feathers so glossy and shiny. Surely they spend a fortune on product! They all look a little bit sorry for me as they explain that their beauty is natural. All they need is a bath.

I've never known birds that take as much pleasure in bathing as crows and ravens. The moment I've refilled the water bowls, they dive right in! After their bath, they spend hours preening and grooming their feathers until they gleam.

Here you seen Einstein the pied crow and Little Guy the white naped raven just after bathing:



And the results:


Wow!

Oh Niles you shine in my firmament

I've never met a human who didn't love Niles to distraction. Niles, our African southern ground hornbill, has recently returned from entertaining the people at the Stone Zoo in Boston. For the next few months he'll be maxing and relaxing at the Sanctuary's Education Training Center. He appreciates the downtime, but doesn't shy away from paparazzi or petting.

Beak of the Week!

Last week's fish-loving beak of the week was correctly identified by anonymous as a pelican. I don't know if this is the same anonymous who won the B.O.W. of the week before, but if so, you are on a roll! Either way, excellent guess. The beak of the American White Pelican belongs to Scoop, or, as he likes to be called, His Majesty. Scoop is an awesome guy.

This week's beak is native to Africa as well as India, Russia, Siberia, portions of the middle east, and more! The sound that comes out of this particular beak is hoarse, sharp barking “kyow” and boy do I hear it a lot at the ETC. Sometimes he talks with his mouth full. Here's a rare picture of his beak closed:



In the wild, these beautiful eyes search the desert, semi-desert, steppes, and open savannah for food:

These powerful talons often pirate food from other raptors. They kill their prey on the ground as opposed to in the air:

This week's bird is extra difficult, in my opinion, so I'll give you a little cheat. The scientific name for this bird is Aquila rapax. How well do you know your Latin?

Good luck, happy guessing, and I'll see you here next week!

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Chrys (Long Crested Eagle)

Chrys's Story

Species: Long Crested Eagle
Received: 12/9/87


Chrys was captured in the wild in his native Africa to be sold on the U.S. black market pet trade. When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discovered and confiscated him, they found that his beautiful, distinctive crest had been cut off to disguise him. He was eventually turned over to the World Bird Sanctuary, and is still with us.

When he first arrived, Chrys was not at all accustomed to people. However, with a lot of patience and training on the part of his handlers, he began going to programs and became comfortable around large crowds. Even though Chrys has a very nice disposition, he is still a little wary of sudden movements in his vicinity, and definitely has a mind of his own. He is a prime example of the consequences of habitat loss and the evils of the black market pet trade.

To adopt Chrys, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: CHRYS. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the snake of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird (and snake) Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the snake you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the snake
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

long crested eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis

Description small for an eagle; very dark brown or black body; white patches at the wing joints; long, broad wings with white underwing coverts spotted with black; broad tail with a white base; grayish white tarsi; fully feathered legs with slender talons; long crest; golden to reddish brown eyes; yellow cere and feet

Sex: they are alike except the female is slightly larger

Age: juveniles have whiter tips to their neck feathers, a less prominent crest, and a more mottled appearance in general; their eyes are a dark olive-brown and their feet and cere a pale ochre-yellow

Length: 21-22”

Wingspan: 3.7-4.2’

Weight: 2.9 lbs.

Habitat: mostly seen in moist savannahs and riverine strips through drier country; cleared forests that are now cultivated; wherever large trees and open country are mixed; prefers inhabited areas to uninhabited bush

Status: not globally threatened

Range: sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to the Cape

Behavior: nests in large, leafy trees; build large stick nests, the deep central cup lined with green leaves; lay 1-2 eggs; dull white with cloudy brown, gray, and lilac marks; only the female incubates; fully feathered at 28 days; fledge at 55 days; parents feed for 2 weeks after it leaves the nest; generally only 1 chick survives; does most of it’s hunting from a tree or telegraph pole during the early morning and dusk hours

Diet: small mammals caught on the ground; lizards and small snakes; small rodents and occasionally young poultry

Vocalization: a loud clear ringing “keeee-eh” or “keeee-ee-af”; “kik-kik-kik-kik-keeee”; calls frequently

Hello (again) Othello

Othello the crow has returned home to the sanctuary and would like to say hi to his fans:

Owl seeks promotion

A certain European barn owl (one of this season's hatches) has clearly decided that self-promotion is the best route for the ambitious owl. As you can see, he's found a great vantage point for supervising office activity. How is he as a boss? Tough. Really tough.

Behold...

The rumors you've heard are true. Niles is home from Boston!

Behind the scenes: summer cleaning part two

Every summer at the sanctuary's lower (non-public) site, we do a massive cleaning of the facilities. In addition to cleaning the buildings themselves, our breeder birds get their yearly check-up and grooming session. Breeder birds are a special set at WBS. They are not acclimated to humans and we minimize our contact with them. Once a year, at the end of breeding season, they are caught, weighed, manicured, and sprayed for insects. This process is moderately stressful for the bird, but necessary for maintaining good health. A bird with overgrown talons or beak can suffer from a variety of problems, some of which are life-threatening, so we take care to maintain good grooming. Likewise, a bird's weight is recorded to be sure that she or he hasn't lost or gained substantially, another indicator of illness. While all of our birds are carefully monitored for additional indications of illness, this is our opportunity to get up close and tend to their needs.

In this video, you see Mariner, our sea eagle, getting his yearly makeover. In the beginning, you can see that we put a towel over his head. This helps to keep him calm and under control while his feet are examined. Check out that wingspan and the size of those feet! He's in great health.

Another native New Zealander

Another amazing bird from New Zealand, courtesy of Gay Schroer:





Natural History

Weka
Gallirallus australis

Description flightless member of the rail family; endemic to New Zealand; about the size of a chicken; rich brown mottled with black and grey; sturdy legs with long unwebbed toes; short pointed tail is constantly being flicked;

Sex: male larger then female

Age:

Length: approx. 20 inches

Wingspan: short stubby wings; flightless

Weight: male 2.25 lbs.; female 1.5 lbs

Habitat: forests, sub-alpine grassland, sand dunes, rocky shores and modified semi-urban areas

Status: vulnerable; conservation efforts have been problematic for this species; they thrive where conditions are favorable; however, have been very susceptible to predation by introduced mammals, habitat destruction, and poisons baits meant to control introduced species of pests

Range: four subspecies inhabit both the North and South Islands of New Zealand

Behavior: breeding season varies; when conditions are favorable can raise up to four broods in a year; nests on ground under thick vegetation; nests are built by forming grass or similar material into a bowl; female lays three creamy to pinkish eggs blotched with brown and mauve; both birds incubate; chicks hatch after a month; fed by both parents until fully grown between six to twelve weeks

Diet: omnivorous; 30% animal foods such as earthworms, larvae, beetles, ants, frogs, spiders, rats, mice, small birds; 70% plant foods include leaves, grass, berries and seeds

Vocalization: shrill far carrying double note “coo-eet”; normally heard in early evening

√ Folklore abounds with tales of Weka stealing shiny items and bags of sugar
√ Used by the Maori as food, perfume, oil to treat inflammations, and feathers used for clothing

Beak of the Week!

Last week's bird was correctly identified as a vulture by anonymous! Great job! I thought that one would be too tough. Fred is a hooded vulture from Africa. He sometimes has his own way of doing things, but we love him anyway!

This week's bird is native to the U.S. You may have seen one near a river or lake.

The bird attached to this particular beak is a character. He's one of my favorite birds to feed:


Still guessing? Check out these big webbed feet.


If you even think about fish, this eye is on you!

Is that a fish I see in your hand?

Good luck with the guessing. See you next week!

Adopt a Snake spotlight (Rusty the Red Tailed Boa)

That's right, I said snake! In addition to our birds and mammals, we also have some gorgeous reptiles. Like Rusty, for example:

Rusty's Story

Species: Red Tailed Boa Constrictor
Acquired: 2003


Rusty was given to WBS by a private individual. As of 10/2005 he was 7 feet long and weighed 27 pounds. He's definitely grown since then.

Unlike some snakes, Rusty is an eager eater. He gets two large rats every week and is an easy going guy who never gets upset.

Boas are a tropical species who like temperatures in the mid 80s to low 90s. Rusty has his enclosure misted twice daily to mimic the humidity of a tropical region. He's a valued member of our Office of Wildlife Learning. Children, in particular, are fascinated by him. They all want to touch him and find out what a snake feels like!

To adopt Rusty, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: RUSTY BOA. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the snake of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird (and snake) Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the snake you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the snake
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

red tailed boa constrictor

Description non-venomous boa species; may grow to become quite large; ten sub-species recognized; color pattern is a ruddy brown ground color, becoming rich brick red on the tail; dorsally, ground color is overlaid with a series of large tan-colored saddles that become lighter toward the tail where the saddles break up into half rings of a pale cream color in vivid contrast to the red

Sex: no significant differences; females appear to be longer and heavier, however, since they continue to grow throughout their lifetime this is a difficult differentiation

Age: 20-30 years in captivity, rarely 40 years

Length: varies among sub-species; on average 10 feet considered large; record length 18.5 feet (Trinidad)

Weight: can reach over 100 pounds; average adult specimens 60 pounds

Habitat: wide variety of environmental conditions, from tropical to arid country

Status: some sub-species endangered; most have protected status in their range

Range: Central and South America, and some Caribbean islands

Behavior: small individuals may climb into trees and shrubs to forage; become mostly terrestrial as the become older and heavier; females give birth to up to 60 live young (ovoviviparous); young average 15-20 inches at birth and grow continually during their life span; jaws lined with small hooked teeth for grabbing and holding prey while they wrap their muscular bodies around the victim, squeezing until it suffocates; jaws can stretch wide to swallow large prey whole;

Diet: wide variety of mammals and birds, mostly rodents, but larger lizards and mammals as big as ocelots also reported to be consumed

A bird I've never heard of...

Gay Schroer sent these amazing photographs of a New Zealand bird called the pukeko. This one is new to me!




Natural History

Pukeko
Porphyrio porphyrio melanotis

Description subspecies of the Purple Swamphen; the name “Pukeko” is of Maori origin; deep almost iridescent indigo blue back and wings black with a greenish gloss, undertail coverts pure white; scarlet bill extends to above the eyes so that it appears to have a “cap”; orange red legs and feet with long toes

Sex: Males slightly larger than females

Age:

Length: 20 inches

Wingspan: 39 inches

Weight: males 2.3 lbs; females 1.9 lbs.

Habitat: believed to have become established in New Zealand about 1000 years ago; unclear if introduced by Maori ancestors or self introduced

Status: Abundant throughout New Zealand

Range: native to New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania; also found in Indonesia and a number of islands between New Zealand and Australia

Behavior: able to fly, but prefer to run or swim from danger; believed they are losing their ablity to fly; breed in New Zealand between August and March; known to breed in groups – both sexes breeding with several mates during a breeding season (polygynandrous); nest near water in a clump of New Zealand raupo; untidy, cup shaped nests are built by the males; sometimes 2-3 females will share the same nest; six buff colored eggs with blotches of brown or purple are laid by each female; hatch asynchronously after 23-27 days; both sexes incubate; young offspring help to feed and care for chicks;

Diet: omnivorous; swamp and pasture vegetation, insects, frogs, small birds and eggs

Vocalization: group together and shriek loudly when attempting to drive off predators

√ Are regarded as a pest in farming areas for their damage to grain and vegetable crops, and given a chance will eat the eggs of fowl and ducks
√ Have been reported to hunt stoats off their territory with all Pukekos in the neighborhood joining in

Hard at work

Can you guess which is the real owl?



This is one of our three European barn owl chicks from this season hanging around the office.

Welcome home!

Between April and September, things are relatively quiet at the Sanctuary's Education Training Center. Many of our favorite birds and people spend these months in different parts of the country, educating and entertaining people at our summer programs. This year we had programs at the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Stone Zoo in Boston, and the response was wonderful! Still, it is a little bit lonely here without them and I can't wait for September to bring our friends back home.

Can you guess who I saw on Friday when I walked into the ETC?

Little Guy! Little Guy! Little Guy!

Little Guy (who's really a girl) the white-naped raven is home from Milwaukee. We've missed her! I was also thrilled to see...

Rojo the turaco!!!! (I gave him some grapes to say welcome back.)

And then I stopped in to ask Einstein the pied crow how the summer went. She was full of news:



Welcome home Liz and Lindsay! And Astar and Lee and Nemo! Welcome home all you birds and humans! And thanks for all your hard work this summer.

Behind the scenes: summer cleaning

Some time ago, a reader asked to see some video of our day to day life behind the scenes at WBS. Finding something exciting enough to film was a challenge, but when the annual summer cleaning came around, it seemed a perfect subject.

Every summer at the sanctuary's lower (non-public) site, we do a massive cleaning of the facilities. In addition to cleaning the buildings themselves, our breeder birds get their yearly check-up and grooming session. Breeder birds are a special set at WBS. They are not acclimated to humans and we minimize our contact with them. Once a year, at the end of breeding season, they are caught, weighed, manicured, and sprayed for insects. This process is moderately stressful for the bird, but necessary for maintaining good health. A bird with overgrown talons or beak can suffer from a variety of problems, some of which are life-threatening, so we take care to maintain good grooming. Likewise, a bird's weight is recorded to be sure that she or he hasn't lost or gained substantially, another indicator of illness. While all of our birds are carefully monitored for additional indications of illness, this is our opportunity to get up close and tend to their needs.

This video begins with a shot of a breeder room which, as you can see, is huge! At the corner near the ceiling is the nesting platform. Each breeding pair has its own room. Next you see our propagation specialists Jen and Roger handling Arusha, an augur buzzard. Arusha is being weighed, having his talons and beak filed down and, finally, being sprayed for insects. Arusha was none too pleased with the process, but he was returned to his room no worse for wear and good to go for another year. I'm proud to say he is in excellent health!

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Junior (Great Horned Owl)

Junior's Story

Species: Great Horned Owl
Hatched: 1986

Junior came to us in a very unusual way. His mother laid an egg on a coal conveyor belt leading up from the river at an electricity plant. This was the second year in a row that this happened, and we can only assume it was the same female. The power plant staff gave us the egg and, as we had done the year before for his brother Coal, we incubated the egg at our breeding facility.

Junior has been a valued member of our education department for many years and has entertained and educated people all over the country. When he's not travelling, he resides at our Education Training Center (ETC) in Valley Park. He likes to shred things, prefers men, is a great "hooter," and loves to hoot to his friend Carmelita, who lives in a nearby mew.

To adopt Junior, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: JUNIOR. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

great horned owl
bubo virginianus

Description largest owl native to North America; adults have large ear tufts which are not actually ears, but large tufts of feathers; face is reddish, brown or gray with a white patch on the throat; iris is yellow; underparts are light with brown barring; upper parts are mottled brown; legs and feet are feathered up to the talons; owls have binocular vision and the ability to turn their heads a full 270 degrees; an owl’s hearing is as good as, if not better, than it’s vision; owls have stereo hearing which allows them to triangulate the location of prey

Sex: females larger than males

Age: 5-20 years in the wild once past the critical first year

Length: 18-25” (average is 22”)

Wingspan: up to 5’ (average is 49”)

Weight: 2-5 lbs. (average is 3.1 lbs.)

Habitat: wide variety of wooded habitat; forests, swamps, deserts, rocky areas, farmland, and urban areas from sea level to 12,000 feet

Status: listed as “Least Concern”

Range: throughout most of North and South America

Behavior: hunts at dusk and during the night from a perch, while flying low over the ground, walking on the ground, or wading into water; among the earliest-breeding birds in North America; territories are claimed in the fall, and breeding takes place in January or early February; nesting is done in other birds’ stick nests, natural tree hollows, man-made platforms, or on cliff ledges or cave entrances; female lays 1-3 eggs and incubates for 26-35 days; young birds start to wander away from the nest in 6-7 weeks at which point they are called “branchers”; they are fully flighted at 10-12 weeks; fledglings are tended by the parents for up to 5 months; maturity is reached at 2 years

Diet: wide variety of small to medium mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish insects, and occasionally carrion if other food is scarce; one of the few animals known to prey on skunks

Vocalization: low pitched, loud, monotone “ho-ho-hoo hoo hoo”; females call is higher pitched

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Beak of the Week!

Last week's beak was a stumper! Lindsay came close with her guess of another native owl, the screech owl, but those eyes belong to the world's grumpiest owl: the great horned owl. Check back tomorrow to read about everyone's favorite grouch, Junior!

This week we are moving all the way to the continent of Africa, south of the Sahara, where this week's mystery bird makes his home. This particular bird loves to ride the thermals, and, thanks to its ability to adapt to the behaviors of humans, is considered to have stable populations.


This is a beak with a strong jaw for tearing its food:


We call these "turkey toes" because they are not designed to kill its prey. (Hint: he's not a turkey.)


If you live in sub-Saharan Africa, this bird may have his eye on your garbage:


Happy guessing! I'll see you again next week with the answer.

Just when you thought there were no more...

babies! Here's a video of our newest arrival. Our flock of thick-billed parrots is thriving. This little one is being raised in the nestbox by his parents.



A little information on the thick billed parrot:

Status: once inhabited the mountains of southern Arizona and south through the Sierra Madre mountains in western Mexico; extirpated from the U.S. by about 1920 through hunting activity; logging of large stands of old-growth forests in Mexico has taken a further toll on the remaining Mexican population; it is estimated that there now remains only 1000-4000 Thick-billed parrots in the wild; status is ENDANGERED; attempts to reestablish a population in Arizona during the 1980s was unsuccessful due to the birds’ inability to elude a well established population of predator species

Behavior: social birds that live in large flocks; an adult pair may stay together for life; nesting pairs have been known to share trees with up to three nests in one tree; breeding occurs in mid-summer to mid-fall to coincide with the peak of pine seed production; one clutch of 1-4 eggs is laid in a cavity next in a large conifer (old woodpecker holes are preferred); incubation is 28 days; hatchlings attempt their first flights at approximately 2 months, but remain dependent on parents until about 7 months

The Thick-billed parrot is one of only two parrots formerly native to the U.S. The other (the Carolina Parakeet) is extinct

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Our favorite photographer, Gay Schroer, sent me these amazing photographs of a yellow crowned night heron hunting crawfish, taken on her recent birding adventure. They are breathtaking!

Mmm...

Adopt a Bird Spotlight: Scoop (American White Pelican)

Scoop's Story

Species: American white pelican
Rescued: October 2004

Scoop was rescued from a pond in West Alton, MO near Ameren UE's Portage des Sioux power plant in October 2004. Even though he was unable to fly due to an old shoulder injury that had already healed, he had survived in this small pond for approximately three months. However, due to approaching winter weather, he had to be rescued. Upon examining the injured wing, the veterinarian found that it had been badly broken, healed improperly, and now required the tip of the wing to be amputated.

Scoop now has his own enclosure on our upper trail. He has adapted well to life at WBS and is fast becoming a visitor favorite. If you visit him and are lucky enough to see him fully open his beak, you will quickly understand how he got his name. It takes a lot of fish to fill the pouch below that bill!

Your adoption donation will help fill his pouch with lots of yummy fish, as well as defray the cost of his housing, medical care, etc.

To adopt Scoop, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: SCOOP. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!

Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:

• *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
• your personal visit.
• * Certificate of Adoption
• * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
• * Sponsorship Card
• * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
• * Life History and Natural History of the bird
• * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
• * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
• * Discounts on WBS Special Events
• * WBS Decal

Natural History

American white pelican
Pelecanus erythorhynchos

Description Adults—white with black primaries and outer secondaries; yellowish pouch connected to the lower mandible that stretches up to six inches; webbed feet are bright orange; legs are orange and extremely short Immature—mostly white wing coverts mottled head and neck grayish; Juvenile—dusky overall

Sex: sexes indistinguishable except during breeding season when the male develops a fibrous plate on the upper part of the beak, the crest becomes bright yellow, and the bill becomes bright orange; the “horn” is shed after the eggs are laid

Age: 12-34 years

Length: 60 in.

Wingspan: 8-9.5 ft.

Weight: 15-20 lbs.

Habitat: brackish and freshwater lakes, salt bays, marshes, beaches and rivers

Status: not currently threatened, but is “listed” as a “species of special concern”

Range: northern California, western Nevada, Utah, Colorado, ortheastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota and occasionally the central coast of Texas; they winter along the Pacific in Central California, south along the Mexican coast to Guatemala and Nicaragua; also along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico; occasionally found along the Mississippi River

Behavior: they nest in colonies of several hundred pairs on islands in remote lakes of inland North America; female lays 2-3 chalky white eggs in a shallow depression on the ground; both parents incubate and feed the young by regurgitation; young are dependent for about 5 months

Diet: more than 4 pounds of fish per day; American white pelicans do not dive to catch prey—it simply floats along the water and scoops up fish with it’s enormous bill; the bill can hold 3 gallons of water; after fish are caught, the bill is pointed downward allowing the water to drain out; often fish in groups

Vocalization: adults rarely make any noise, but when they do it is usually a low grunt

√ Pelicans have a vertebra in their necks which prevents them from ever raising their face

Adopt A Bird spotlights are written and photographed by Gay Schroer.

Sandhill cranes

If you visit the World Bird Sanctuary, be sure to check out the sandhill cranes on the exhibit line. These birds were rescued and unable to be released, so they've joined the WBS family.