Safari Magazine: Our Voice by The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

SAFARI OUR VOICE

The Official Magazine of the Toledo Zoo

Volume 28 |

Issue 3

Fall 2019

WELCOME LETTER

ABOUT AAZK

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.” Maya Angelou Cover photo: Gorilla

Safari is an exclusive benefit to Toledo Zoo members. Membership also includes free, unlimited, year-round admission and parking during regular Zoo hours; a subscription to the Zoo’s e-newsletter; early access to Summer Concert Series tickets; discounts on Zoo merchandise, classes, programs and more; and discounted admission to 150+ zoos and aquariums nationwide. toledozoo.org/membership

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Toledo Zoo is home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 720 species from around the world. While our animals can communicate in a variety of ways, they depend on their human caretakers and supporters to voice their problems and needs. As animal advocates and conservationists, this is a responsibility we take very seriously. From the smallest insect to the largest elephant, the Zoo and its employees, donors and followers strive every day to ensure our voice is speaking for the betterment of the natural world on platforms heard around the globe. It is not only a core

COMPANIES FOR KIDS

Fits of giggles, eyes wide with wonder and smiles filled with excitement are common expressions on the faces of children who visit the Toledo Zoo each year. Through the gracious support of Companies for Kids member organizations, laughter and learning abound at the Zoo!

2 Hippo Way • P.O. Box 140130 Toledo, Ohio 43614-0130 419-385-5721 • fax 419-389-8670

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Contact the editor at 419-385-5721, ext. 2145 or kim.haddix@toledozoo.org

HERD OF ELEPHANTS Owens-Illinois, Inc.

CONNECT WITH US!

An accredited member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums | W A Z A United for Conservation

EDITORS: JEFF SAILER & SHAYLA MORIARTY WRITER: KIM HADDIX DESIGNER: ANN KINSMAN PRINTER: HOMEWOOD PRESS Safari is published quarterly by the Toledo Zoo, P.O. Box 140130, Toledo, OH 43614-0130. Second-class postage paid at Toledo, Ohio and at additional mailing offices.

PRIDE OF LIONS Art Iron Ernst & Young SCHOOL OF HIPPOS Hoover Wells, Inc. Dana Foundation Jerl Machine, Inc. Kwest Group LLC FAMILY OF GORILLAS Michigan International Speedway AK Tube LLC Miller Bros. Construction, Inc. John C. Bates Foundation OCP Contractors La-Z-Boy Foundation Proservice Machine, Ltd. The Snell Group at Morgan Stanley Real Quality Services, Inc. The Toledo Ticket Co. Schultz & Williams Toledo Refining Company Signature Bank, N.A. Swint Consulting Services LLC Taylor Automotive Family The Collaborative, Inc. Thermeq Co.

value of our mission, but a fiber of our very being. Read on to discover all the ways your Zoo is using its voice to make positive impacts for our animals, our community and our world. We appreciate you being a part of our extended choir and hope you will continue raising our voice for many years to come.

Sincerely,

JEFF SAILER President & CEO, Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Thank you to our 2018 Companies for Kids donors for the generous support. Last year, more than 4,000 tickets were distributed to local community organizations and schools through the Companies for Kids program.

PACK OF WOLVES 1 Natural Way Associated General Contractors of NWO, Inc. Complete Refrigeration LLC I.B.E.W. Local Union No. 8 Impact Products LLC Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd. Kroger Lee Terry Holdings, LLC/ Terry Bossert Mail It Corporation Michigan CAT Palmer Energy Company, Inc. State Bank Tri-State Expedited Services UAW Local 2021 William Vaughan Company

FLOCK OF PENGUINS Anderson, Idczak & Konesky, Inc. Bath Fitter Bennett Enterprises Brenda A. Ray Law Offices Builder’s Steel Service Inc. Carpenters Local Union 351 Clamps Inc. Duffey Concrete Cutting, Inc. Eastman & Smith Ltd. Franklin Park Lincoln, Inc. Genoa Bank Hylant JDRM Engineering, Inc. Kuhlman Corporation Marathon Classic Metro by T-Mobile Midwest Church Construction

Nephrology Associates of Toledo OmniSource Corporation Rachel Wixey & Associates Rayner, Foos, Kruse & Irwin CPAs Reineke Ford Lincoln, Inc. Sam Okun Produce Company The Florian Insurance Agency, Inc. UAW Local 12 – Johnson Controls Waterford Bank Weber & Sterling, LLC Wilkinson FundRaising Imprinted Sportswear Wurtec, Inc.

with Nick Gordon, herpetology keeper and Kristin Farley, primate/small mammal keeper

Talking about topics is one thing, action is a whole other and much better. This is the theory of the Toledo Zoo chapter of American Association of Zoo Keepers, or AAZK. According to their website, AAZK is a membership association for animal care professionals to exchange information and network. The mission of the non-profit organization that began in 1967 in San Diego, California is to advance excellence in the animal keeping profession, foster effective communication beneficial to animal care, support deserving conservation projects and promote the preservation of our natural resources and animal life. Current membership to the national organization is about 2,800 and includes individuals at all levels of zoo staff from directors, curators and veterinarians to zoo keepers, animal health technicians, volunteers and students. The website boasts that members are from 48 states, five Canadian Provinces and 24 foreign countries. Toledo Zoo’s AAZK chapter originated in 1985 but somehow fell by the wayside until it was reorganized about four years ago. According to AAZK president, Nick Gordon, the chapter has had an interesting history but the current iteration is driving forward, raising their profile and has a passion to do more. “We see AAZK as a way to do even more with the Zoo’s mission and our passion for animals. It allows us to build relationships within the chapter and out. It’s been really neat to see the perspective change as we have started holding

monthly meetings and our numbers have risen to the highest ever at 35 individuals from all aspects of the Zoo including maintenance, vet staff, group sales, graphics and more. Basically, we are expanding the Zoo’s mission through expanding our knowledge of husbandry and animal care, volunteering, networking, creating public events to raise awareness and contributing to the national organization.” According to Kristin Farley, chapter vice president, AAZK is not just a fun networking opportunity, it is an important way to connect to the conservation world. “AAZK tries to better the internal Zoo and general public understanding of conservation issues here and around the world. I hope that people understand conservation as saving the natural world and ensuring species will be here for their grandkids to enjoy. While the initial ideas may come from the animals we keepers love best, we try to discuss and highlight a variety of species at events like Grapes for Apes, a wine tasting that last year benefitted orangutan conservation and this year gorilla conservation. Another example is Local Brews for Local Species that we host in conjunction with Black Cloister Brewery that has benefitted Kirtland’s snakes and hellbenders. Bowling for Rhinos is one of my favorite events that I have been involved in for the last ten years. Proceeds from a night of bowling with friends and co-workers help save rhinos from poachers and provide training and supplies for park rangers in Africa. As an officer though, it has been fun to

Above: AAZK‘s annual Bowling for Rhinos fundrasing event supported the Indian Rhino.

coordinate field research and expand our reach beyond fundraisers too. I like networking with others outside my area at the Zoo but more so knowing that we are doing as much good as we can for our beloved animals and their habitats in our little part of the world.” AAZK invites the public to get involved with their efforts by attending their external fundraising events, which can be found at toledozoo.org/aazk. LEARN MORE ABOUT AAZK FUNDRAISING EVENTS

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

ZOOTEEN ALUMNI

with Bill Davis, volunteer manager and Brittanie Kuhr, VP of Philanthropy

Teenage voices, the brunt of many jokes… almost impossible to shush… but they can also be some of the most insightful and infectious—just ask director of volunteers, Bill Davis. As the biggest cheerleader of the Zoo’s teenage volunteer corps, ZOOTeens, Davis has heard it all. But his goal is not to quiet their collective sound, instead to continue pumping the volume and enthusiasm, especially as they grow, become fluent in new occupational jargon and begin babbling at the next generation! The ZOOTeen program, supported by the Conda family, began in the fall of 1999 as the brain child of Janet

Smith, program coordinator in the education department. In its first year, the program had 16 teenagers ages 13 to 17 that volunteered at and with the Zoo year-round. This year the program will celebrate its 20th anniversary and encompasses 525 teenagers during the Zoo’s busy season, May to October, and 150 year-round participants. Toledo Zoo’s ZOOTeen program is the largest seasonal and year-round program of the 231 Association of Zoos and Aquariums that have similar programs. “Our program is also the most diverse in programs/activities/efforts we offer and participate in. We have more teens doing more outreach in one week than most zoo-affiliated (and non,

for that matter) teenage volunteer programs do in one year.” As Davis explained ZOOTeens is not just what we (the Zoo) can get from the teens; we are making an investment in these students. “It is more about what we do with and for the teens: the traits we aim to instill like compassionate leadership, the personality characteristics we bring out like self-confidence and selfworth, the opportunities we give them to gain life skills like time management, personal responsibility, friend and professional networking, the trust we have in them to give them big goals and hard projects they have to work together to problem solve and complete. These are the reasons we have a ZOOTeen program, why it’s a model for similar organizations and why we keep going and growing. The truth is, there are so few opportunities for teenagers who can’t drive or may not fit in with other groups to get involved in the community in a meaningful way. We don’t want to turn anyone away so we find more ways to give, more projects to take on and more ways to continue making a difference.” Toledo’s ZOOTeen program has been lauded by teens, parents and other organizations alike for their inclusiveness. “In 2008, we interviewed a young man, Jordan, who was on the Autism spectrum. Although high-functioning, he still struggled during the group interview, and we were not comfortable accepting him into the program, because we knew that independence would be a challenge. However, one of the ZOOTeens

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

in the interview process, Alicia, was quite vocal about her disappointment and actually worked with us and the young man’s mother to create an initiative we call SNAP or Special Needs Advocate and Partner. The following year, Alicia became Jordan’s advocate to help him through tough situations, such as engaging in focused conversations and reading social cues. The initiative grew from that first partnership and now we have 42 students in our program who benefit from some type of supportive accommodations. We have heard from many teens and parents that these relationships and bonds have been some of the best formative experiences for all involved.” The other unique aspect of our ZOOTeen program is their on-going interconnectedness. “In the early 2000s we started the ZOOTeen Alumni program to keep up with the students after they have graduated from our program and gone on to pursue higher education, careers and families. We use social media to keep in touch and maintain the relationships we invested so much time in cultivating and shaping. After spending approximately four years together, especially those

in the year-round program, strong bonds are created not only among the teens but with Zoo volunteer staff too. To keep up with their lives, we also host an annual reunion during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, an alumni trip to explore a new city (and, of course visit a zoo or aquarium) over the MLK holiday weekend and Gecko Fest, a summer homecoming event all designed to re-connect the Teens to the Zoo and to other generations of Teens.” “We are working on our 21st generation of ZOOTeens and one of our on-going goals with the program is to promote a long-term relationship with the Zoo and commitment to conserving the natural world. It is always fun to see where our Teens take those ideas. Just off the top of my head, Dan Chudzinski, joined the ZOOTeen program in 2002 and he is currently the curator of the Mazza Museum at the University of Findlay and an accomplished artist that created the leaf cutter ant log in Nature’s Neighborhood. I also know of two previous Teens pursuing doctorates at Notre Dame University: Katie O’Reilly joined the program in 2008 and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology,

with a focus on Great Lakes wetlands and Ben Gombash who joined ZOOTeens in 2003 is working toward his Ph.D. in Biology, studying the disease ecology of long-tailed macaques in Indonesia. We have several alumni who are veterinarians, zoo keepers, nurses and conservation field researchers too. In addition, there are several Toledo Zoo full-time staff members who were ZOOTeens, including herpetology keepers, Nick Gordon and Pat Turksi, primate keeper, Koral Stoddard and bird keeper, Jeff Lenfestey. ZOOTeen involvement goes beyond the science fields though, as we have lots of teachers, several serving those with developmental disabilities, attorneys, architects, factory workers and more. We could not be more proud of our program participants, past and present. We can only take a little credit in helping them find their voices, but hope we helped them learn to continue to speak up for all that matters to them.” LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ZOOTEEN PROGRAM

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

CONSERVATION MAP Your Zoo’s voice travels across the globe through our conservation efforts to save endangered species and disappearing habitats. Here is a snap shot of our current efforts. LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION

NORTHEAST CHINA

Managing the US assurance population of critically endangered Amur leopards.

ARCTIC & CANADA

Supporting Polar Bear International’s work conserving the Polar bear and partnering with the Alaska SeaLife Center to assist with research and recovery efforts for the Steller’s Eider.

WYOMING

Surveying and monitoring Wyoming toad populations in Laramie Basin, Albany County.

INDIANA & MICHIGAN

OHIO

Reintroducing Lake sturgeon to the Maumee River with the help of partner organizations.

MEXICO & OHIO

Researching Ohio’s imperiled turtle species, including Blanding’s turtles, for 12+ years.

CUBA

Working with the US Navy to use radio telemetry to track the habitat use and activity patterns of the largest snake in the Caribbean, the Cuban boa.

ARUBA

Conserving the Aruba Island rattlesnake through research and education for the last 27+ years.

Assisting with Snow leopard conservation.

PACIFIC ISLANDS

Conserving several species of imperiled Pacific birds, including translocation efforts to sanctuary islands.

Installing more than 40+ acres of native prairies on Zoo grounds and at partner organizations throughout n orthwest Ohio.

Breeding and reintroducing endangered Mitchell’s Satyr butterflies to restored wetland sites.

Assisting threatened Monarch butterfly populations by creating summer habitats in our native prairies and rearing a nd releasing approximately 1,000 butterflies for their annual migration to over-wintering areas in Mexico.

ASIA

Rearing more than 500 Hellbender salamanders in conjunction with Penta Career Center for release into portions of their f ormer range in eastern and southern Ohio.

Researching Ohio’s rare snake species, including Kirtland’s snakes.

LAKE STURGEON CONSERVATION

MICHIGAN

Rescue-rearing and releasing Piping Plovers from abandoned nests at Sleeping Bear Dunes State Park where the endangered birds c ongregate prior to migration.

MICHIGAN & OHIO

Captive breeding, reintroduction and research of the endangered Karner blue butterfly.

Many colored fruit dove

MARIANAS ISLAND TANZANIA

Utilizing our captive breeding program to reintroduce more than 600 Kihansi spray toads into their native Kihansi Gorge.

AMERICAN SAMOA SOLOMON ISLANDS

CHINA

Supporting the Scaly-sided Merganser Task Force in efforts to bolster population n umbers and increase healthy habitat for this endangered bird.

TASMANIA

Partnering with Save the Tasmanian Devil Program to support species recovery from Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

NEW ZEALAND

Aiding Kiwis for Kiwi efforts to conserve this iconic nocturnal bird species.

TASMANIAN DEVIL EXPEDITION

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

YPAC : YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FOR ANIMALS AND CONSERVATION

POWER OF THE PEN

with Katherine Lonsbrough, donor relations manager

with Jay Hemdal, Aquarium curator

try to offer a variety of ideas to highlight the Zoo as a location to not only get involved in the community but also enjoy an evening out.”

One voice is all it takes to spark a conversation. The Zoo’s Aquarium curator, Jay Hemdal, has used his voice to start and continue important conversations about working smarter with fish since 1981. “I began writing about caring for fish because it was what I knew and was passionate about. In the age before internships were mainstream, writing professionally was a good way to build experience on a resume. In fact, my writing actually helped me get my first job and it was good money at the time so I continued.” “For many years, on my own time I wrote for Popular Press. I chose this route over the typical peer-reviewed scientific journal articles of the Zoo field, because I could reach the non-scientist. I did co-author a few research articles, but my theory was if I wrote about how to care for aquarium animals from a professional perspective and gave information in laymen’s terms on how to keep fish and other aquatic animals alive better, I was aiding sustainability, even before it became a hot topic. Basically, if information in my article allows a home aquarist to double the life span of their fish, they are purchasing less which helps stabilize captive and wild populations, thus making them both more sustainable.” Taking that idea a step further, Hemdal has also written extensively about what animals home aquarists should avoid. “Many people have a naïve notion that despite the research, they will be the first to succeed raising a notoriously delicate species. The more likely reality is they will be one of the many that have tried and failed. Instead of subjecting the fish (or other animal) to improper care, Hemdal discussed the species that

Overall, YPAC is meant to bring together an active group of passionate people to move the mission of the organization and the Zoo forward. “We hope YPAC is a forum for making natural connections, whether it be professional, friends or with the Zoo’s animals and efforts. Our 65+ active members don’t just give of their time, they have also become vocal advocates for the Zoo by collecting items for our Terracycle program at their home and office, promoting and participating in the Zoo’s events and fundraisers and engaging with the Zoo on social media.”

Moorish idol

outgrow home aquarium sizes, (Pacu) are too delicate to sustain in a captive setting (Cleaner Wrasse) or pose a danger to humans, like Stonefish. Throughout his writing career, Hemdal has also served as a co-author to numerous articles, published seven books and even wrote a computer program where users could input questions about fish care and be presented with solutions. “I have always said, I write about what I know and have direct experience with. I understand that can be narrow but I know me and I have to have enthusiasm about a topic or writing becomes work. The challenge with writing for the non-science community is that the impact is hard to measure. There is no direct feedback loop to print articles. I just try to put out the best information I can, help make it available to all and hope.” The changing of times and his new job title of General Curator has caused Hemdal to recently retire from professional writing but he is still contributing to the

conversation as the Victorian Cichlid Species Survival Plan manager and through the legacy of his articles and discussion boards on the internet. Despite his own admission that sometimes a single voice may not carry a lot of weight, Hemdal’s voice has certainly created and perpetuated more than a few waves of conversation.

YPAC Wild Games event on the Africa! overlook.

Your Zoo aims to be a place for all ages to connect with nature and appreciate animals from around the globe. Connecting our mission to families with young children and grandparents is a no-brainer, however, connecting to the recent college graduates, gettingestablished young professionals and those who have not started families yet, is more of a challenge. In the fall of 2016, Katherine Lonsbrough, donor relations manager, launched Young Professionals for Animals and Conservation, or YPAC, as a way to engage that hard to target demographic. YPAC is a group of motivated and adventurous young professionals ages 21-mid 40s with a passion to think globally and volunteer locally on behalf of the natural

world. According to Lonsbrough, the mission is to inspire and engage young professionals to join us in caring for animals and conserving the natural world. “The group holds signature quarterly events to engage our members, promote networking and volunteerism. At these events we offer interesting programming that goes beyond a Zoo visit. We have presentations by Zoo keepers, conservation staff and others to provide insights, perspectives and conversation to animal and nature related topics. We also offer unique volunteer opportunities for our members to get involved with the Zoo, including assisting conservation staff with turtle tracking, getting their hands dirty maintaining native prairies, working along side our volunteer program and even pruning and weeding in our greenhouses. We

“

YPAC is a great organization which I have had the pleasure of being involved with for the past two years. Through it, I have learned so much about the zoo’s conservation efforts and have met other young adults with a similar passion for animals. Since becoming a YPAC member, I

have also visited the Toledo Zoo more often and have experienced things that I would normally be hesitant to try- like the Aerial Adventure Course!

– LIZ LATTA, YPAC MEMBER

”

Thank you YPAC for being another collection of voices coming together to raise up the Toledo Zoo. LEARN MORE OR JOIN YPAC

Walleye

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

feels threatened or if a mother giraffe thinks something might get in between her and her calf, giraffe have been known to belt out what sounds like a deep growl that is sure to make any would be predator think twice.” “In the multi-species Africa! exhibit, it is actually the smallest animal that makes the most noise. The Helmeted Guinea Fowl, which roam the exhibit in a large flock, sound off with a volley of blood curdling chirps and screeches whenever they see something they consider to be a potential threat.”

ANIMAL SOUNDS

with Michael Frushour, curator of mammals Any vet would tell you their job would be a lot easier if only animals could tell them what’s wrong. Many of us have, at one time or another, wanted our pets to be able to talk to us. While this type of communication is not possible, animals do communicate in their own ways, including a full range of sounds. Many species utilize vocalizations as a way to locate group members

or to establish territorial boundaries to approaching outsiders. Michael Frushour, the Zoo’s curator of mammals, provided a few fast facts to help visitors better understand animal speak. “If you see our grey wolves on exhibit you will not normally hear a peep. But if you are around the exhibit

when an ambulance rolls down the adjacent Anthony Wayne Trail, you will be serenaded by the trio of male wolves as they run and howl along with the sirens. “I bet you cannot even imagine what the vocal sound of a giraffe might sound like. That is because giraffe are not known for making noise of any kind. But if a giraffe

“Actually, many of the animals here at the Toledo Zoo would surprise you with the myriad of vocalizations and sounds they can make. If you have not made it to our Tasmanian devil exhibit to hear the devils scream at each other over a favored enrichment or diet item, it is an experience not to be missed. The area is equipped with a microphone that amplifies sounds coming from within the exhibit and then projects them into the viewing area for guests. If you are lucky enough to be around during feeding time, you will be in for a treat.” “The gibbons in primate forest are not monkeys but rather apes with a siren-like vocalization that can be heard more than a mile away. If you are in the Zoo in the early morning, the chorus can be heard outside the building, while the animals are still in their overnight holding areas.”

“Another ape with impressive vocal chords is the Western lowland gorilla. But even more interesting is how the male communicates by beating cupped hands on his chest and on the ground in order to intimidate the others and show that he is the boss. He never even needs to open his mouth to get his point across.” “Ever wonder what is the purpose for that large droopy air sac is that hangs below a male orangutans chin? That air sac acts as a resonator which allows the male orangutan to project deep throaty calls long distances across the rain forest. This call helps repel other male rivals and advertises his availability to any females in his vicinity.” “One vocalization we can almost guarantee you have not heard is the low frequency of an elephant’s infrasound. The rumble is so low it is actually below the range humans are capable of hearing but can be heard by other elephants and animals for miles.” When visiting the Zoo, listen carefully to hear all the notes created by our choir of creatures! ANIMAL SOUNDS

Tasmanian devil

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

GENERATIONS OF ZOO SUPPORT

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

HEARING ANIMAL VOICES

with Beth Posta, curator of behavioral husbandry

with Carl Schaffer

The voice of experience can be a powerful motivator of men. “The Zoo was a big part of my life as a child. My brother, parents and I were there all the time as visitors and members. At the time I had no concept that my dad was so involved,” remembers Carl Schaffer. Turns out, Mark Schaffer, who passed away in 2011 was close friends with then Zoo director, Bill Denler. As an attorney specializing in intellectual property, the elder Schaffer had a vested interest in Zoo operations and how it integrated with the city at the time. “Over the years, I have learned how instrumental my dad was in helping the Zoo through some clashes with neighbors and other community issues. As a child, I had no idea he was so involved, just that we got to go to the Zoo a lot and my brother and I enjoyed it.” As he tells us, it was that enjoyment and connection that helped get Carl his first work experience. “My first real work experience came when I volunteered in the old Aquarium for the summer. I was really lucky; I worked side-by-side with two keepers, even taking breaks and lunches with them. I learned a lot, met a lot of people and got to experience the day to day flow of the Aquarium. Truthfully, it not only changed my opinion of the Aquarium, but how I interacted with the Zoo in general. It was the first time I realized there was more to the Zoo than being a visitor. It is a summer that has stayed with me. I’ll always remember it.”

Another Zoo-related experience Carl remembers fondly and vividly is a safari excursion to southern Africa with Denler and members of the Zoo board in the late 90s. “It was dad’s relationship with the Zoo director that allowed

my brother, my mom Rubena (Beany) and me to tag along on such an amazing experience. Being in Africa with experts in the Zoo field and seeing animals in their wild habitat was very educational, as well as a great family vacation.” As his life progressed, so did Carl’s Zoo involvement. “I came back to Toledo after college and was urged by many to get involved in the community. Growing up in the Zoo, it was the obvious choice to support. I started with the ZOOtoDO Corporate Fundraising Committee and then moved to the Foundation Board, where I am in my second term. In my opinion and experience, there are few institutions that keep it together like the Zoo. To me, the Zoo is integral in the growth, survival and success of our community.” At age 37, Carl hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and impress the importance of the Zoo on his own sons. “My oldest, George, is very into animals and wildlife and my wife, Tory, and I hope to pass along our generational love of the Zoo to him and his younger brother, Edward, as soon as they are old enough to understand. Right now, at ages four and two, Zoo visits are a great outlet for the kids to burn off some energy while learning too. I look forward to their participation in Zoo camps, maybe even ZooTeens and hopefully well beyond their childhood years.” Like father, like sons.

“As zoo professionals, we know what is important for our animals, but it is up to the animal to tell us what is important to them,” said Beth Posta, curator of behavioral husbandry. Posta and her team of interns are responsible for the animal collection’s welfare and enrichment, as part of the Zoo’s animal care team. “Part of my job is giving our animals a voice in daily life. We help them voice their opinions by giving them choices and differing opportunities and observing how, where and what they choose to do.” “When we learn the Zoo will be getting a new species, we immediately begin researching its natural history. We look at what part of the world are they native to, what the climate and weather are like, what habitat do they live in, what do they eat, what eats them, what is their social structure, what is the role of parents, what other animals would they encounter, where do they sleep, any and everything that is known about that species.” Posta went on to explain that after that process is concluded, they also look at the individual animal. “We go back through medical records and notes from keepers at their previous homes to help us compile an individual profile. Then, we simply observe and collect data to recognize patterns and abnormalities. Our next step is to dive further into the motivation behind the activity. We want to make sure our research is not just based on time spent doing an activity, but also considers the effort involved.”

Data collected helps Posta and her team assess the welfare of each animal. “We conduct yearly welfare assessments on every animal housed at the Zoo. We look at their overall wellbeing, everything from physical health, to behavior and even emotional health. In addition to observations from Posta’s staff, keepers and vet staff input is also added to get the inside scoop on individual personalities and conditions. All of this information helps Posta ask better questions of our animals. “Currently, we are delving more into the sensory world of our animals. For example, elephants have a range of hearing much of which goes lower than humans can perceive. We know they communicate through low rumbles, called infrasound, but we do not know what they are saying. Our challenge is to try to put behaviors with what’s going on to put the puzzle pieces together.” “Everything we do is to help our animals have control over their daily lives. Animals tell us a lot through their activities, if we just take the time to listen.” LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ANIMALS

Our ZOOTeen of the Year joined the ZOOTeen Program in May of 2014. As he passes the half-way mark in his final ZOOTeen year, he can look back at a truly impressive career. While many ZOOTeens start out shy and become talkative, he started out loud and became louder! Along the way, he has inspired many people with his energy and enthusiasm. He has supported almost every project and activity in the ZOOTeen canon, specializing in education activities, including Summer Camps and Zoo Snoozes, as well as a host of on-grounds stations. He has supported concerts and our recycling efforts, made enrichment for the animals, helped with special events and even done filing work in our office. He also has supported a range of conservation and community service projects, from cleaning rivers to socializing with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He has also made a point to share that knowledge and passion with his peers, serving as a BIG, helping train new ZOOTeens and a Snooze Leader, teaching his peers how to survive the overnight adventures at the Zoo, and now serves as ZOOTeen President. At the ripe old age of 17, he has donated almost 3,000 hours of service to the Zoo, supporting not only his community in service, but also his peers in friendship, and we recognize him for his dedication, our Volunteer of the Year: Ryan Kruse.

The Schaffer family

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

BIOLOGY OF BIRD CALLS with Chuck Cerbini, curator of birds

While each human voice is unique, bird voices, known for calls and/or songs can be mimicked or copied. To understand the intricacies of one of nature’s most melodious choirs, we sat down with curator of birds, Chuck Cerbini. Read on to become fluent in bird… According to Cerbini, many birds have a unique organ known as a syrinx that creates sound. It is similar in form and function to a voice box, but located below the larynx, closer to the heart and lungs. Anatomically, it has two chambers that actually allow some song birds to create two different sounds at once. Scientists do not know why the syrinx evolved, but there is evidence it existed over 60 million years ago in dinosaurs that are closely related to today’s ducks and geese. Not all birds have a syrinx with Cassowaries being the most notable exception. The exact physiology remains unknown, but Cassowaries’ whole bodies vibrate when they create their unique low frequency vocalizations. “Like many birds that create low frequency sounds, Cassowaries are native to dense forests, while birds that have high frequency vocalizations are found in more open habitats,” explained Cerbini.

Above: Pink-necked Fruit Dove

Above: Grey Parrot

Cerbini went on to detail two main types of bird vocalizations: songs and calls. “Songs are typically made up of lots of notes and are used in courtship/mating. To a female songbird, a rhythmic male may be viewed as healthy and experienced, making it more desirable.

What most know as songbirds, are actually Passerines, or perching birds categorized by the position of their toes. This group includes sparrows, finches and canaries and has the greatest number of existing species of any group of birds. The young of these species learn songs shortly after hatching by listening to their parents. They pick up their own tones as juveniles, and continue to add different noises and songs throughout their life. Calls, on the other hand, are usually one or just a few notes and simply used to identify a bird’s position. For example, the laugh of the Laughing Kookaburra is actually a territorial call.”

“

Songs are typically made up of lots of notes and are used in courtship/mating. To a female songbird, a rhythmic male may be viewed as healthy and experienced, making it more desirable...

”

– CHUCK CERBINI, CURATOR OF BIRDS Many birds are known to mimic or copy the vocalizations of other birds. While the exact reason for the popularity of mimicry is unknown, one theory is more songs equates to more mate possibilities. “Lots of birds mimic, including magpies and mockingbirds which are found in Ohio year-round. Male Northern Mockingbirds can learn up to 200 different songs and not only mimic other birds, but also car alarms and other unnatural sounds.”

Parrots are another group known for their ability to mimic. “A lot of African gray parrots are kept as pets and are known to have large ‘vocabularies’ or sounds they can imitate.” Want to learn to identify birds by their vocalizations? Albeit self-promotingly, Cerbini encourages aspiring birders to pay a visit to the Zoo’s Aviary. “Stop and listen in the birdhouse and you will hear amazing sounds. Everything from the very melodious song of the Robinchat, the low guttural sound of the Rhinoceros Hornbills, the high-pitched scream of a Fireback Pheasant and the soft coo of a Pink-necked Fruit Dove. We have a really neat variety!” Cerbini offers these other tips to become a brilliant birder: 1 Go online and study the various libraries of bird calls 2 Spend time with an experienced birder. Many are able to identify unique species by sound better than sight due to incredibly similar physical characteristics. 3 Pay special attention to tone, rhythm and pitch. “There are many tricks of the trade to help beginners, such as the Barred Owl’s hoot sounds like “Who cooks for you. Who cooks for you all.” 4 Practice your skills in the Aviary, where you can check yourself with graphics or staff. Happy listening!

Left: Rhinocerous Hornbill

Safari Magazine • Fall 2019

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Toledo, OH Permit No. 707

P.O. Box 140130 • Toledo, OH 43614-0130 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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January through April Memorial Day to Labor Day Monday-Friday • May & September Weekends • May & September October 1 - November 21

Lights Before Christmas Hours: November 22 - December 31 10 a.m. - 2:59 p.m. | Zoo Daytime hours Sun -Thu 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Lights Before Christmas activities Fri & Sat 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Lights Before Christmas activities All Lucas County residents receive free Zoo admission every non-holiday Monday 10 a.m. - noon. (Must show valid proof of residency.) The Zoo remains open for one additional hour after gates close to allow visitors to complete their visit. However, many animals may be off exhibit during the last hour.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUGUST 3-4 9 20

Wild About Art toledozoo.org/wildaboutart Zoo Friends’ Night Garden Tour toledozoo.org/gardens

23 24

Feast with the Beasts presented by PNC toledozoo.org/feast BUGFest

SEPTEMBER 3, 10, 17, 24 Senior Discovery Days toledozoo.org/seniors 5 Silverback Society Dinner 8 Day of Honor sponsored by Medical Mutual toledozoo.org/dayofhonor 8 Grandparents’ Day

14 17 17 18 18

Enrichment Day: Paws & Play toledozoo.org/enrichmentday Senior Safari toledozoo.org/seniors Garden Tour toledozoo.org/garden-tours Homeschool Open House Conservation Series: Lake sturgeon

OCTOBER

NOW OPEN!

1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Senior Discovery Days toledozoo.org/seniors 12 25 Year Member Appreciation Day 17-18 Little Boo presented by Meijer toledozoo.org/boo

19-20 26

Pumpkin Path presented by UTMC toledozoo.org/pumpkin Pumpkin Stomp & Chomp toledozoo.org/stompandchomp

For more information about these and other events, visit toledozoo.org/events