Wildlife Wonders Lindsay Wildlife experience | fall 2017
Inside:
Lindsay’s birds take to the skies with the help of Flight School.
welcome
F
light—one of evolution’s most inspiring achievements. Lindsay’s avian
ambassadors are a reminder that birds have the freedom and mobility that humans can only imagine.
Exactly when birds evolved
flight is a 230-million-year-old mystery. The evolutionary transition from dinosaurs to birds was a magnificent triumph, and over time, birds radiated far and wide, diversifying into over 10,000 species and occupying many niches in the environment. As a taxonomic group, birds are incredibly versatile in their ability to modify the size and shape of their essential flying mechanisms—the wings—an evolutionary marvel shaped over millions of years. It seems fitting that Lindsay’s programming rep-
tracks
“
Look at the bark of a redwood, and you see moss. If you peer beneath the bits and pieces of the moss, you’ll see toads, small insects, a whole host of life that prospers in that miniature environment. A lumberman will look at a forest and see so many board feet of lumber. I see a living city.
—Dr. Sylvia Earle
”
ertoire has also evolved to inspire tens of thousands with the magic and wonder of avian flight through daily raptor Flight School demonstrations. Few things make my heart soar higher than watching our beloved barn owl, Tyto, lift his ghostly wings and silently take to the air, despite an injury that convinced many that he would never fly again. It would
Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D. Executive Director | Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Creative Staff Editor: Elisabeth Nardi Contributors: Julie Clemens, Heather Haas and Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D. Produced by DCP dcpubs.com Photography by Paul Hara and Margaret Kowalick-Hara
Board of Directors Rosanne Siino, Ph.D., President Marilyn Fowler, Vice President David Shunick, Treasurer Julie Ross, Secretary Lou Eber Laura Johnson Marc Kaplan Matt Lawson Elizabeth McWhorter, Ph.D. Ryan Misasi James A. Pezzaglia Kevin Schwartz Heather Stead Gabe Togneri Emeritus Board Members (Honorary nonvoting board members) Gary Bogue Barney Howard Nan Hudson Michael Stead
On the cover: Fire, Lindsay’s female red-tailed hawk
W i l d l i f e Wo n d e r s | l i n d s ay w i l d l i f e . o r g
Hall will now be open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are excited about this new opportunity to allow guests even more days at Lindsay.
Planning a meeting, birthday bash or retirement party?
Meet Our New Animal Ambassador: White-tailed Kite Lindsay has a fantastic new feathered friend: a white-tailed kite! This young bird was a two-time patient at the Rehabilitation Hospital. It (we are unsure of the kite’s gender at time of printing) came in as a nestling after it fell from its nest. It was returned post-release when it was seen flying repeatedly into windows. The kite has medical issues that make it nonreleasable but is the perfect candidate to be an ambassador for its species at Lindsay. We will be naming the bird soon. Since this beauty is only 3 to 4 months old, it is not fully grown yet! When it is older, it will be bright white with red eyes, the signature look of mature kites!
rental spaces at Lindsay Wildlife. Exhibit Hall and Wildlife Hotline (925) 935-1978 Hours: Hall open Tues.–Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hospital open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily — lindsaywildlife.org info@lindsaywildlife.org — 1931 First Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Executive Director Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D.
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guests, Lindsay Wildlife’s Exhibit
Consider one of the unique
and indeed all of our avian ambassadors—should take a leap of faith, we too will soar.
Due to popular demand from our
Connecting people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.
appear that Lindsay, too, has found its wings. Tyto— inspire us to spread our wings and trust that when we
Lindsay Now Open Every Tuesday for Everyone!
Explore the Exhibit Hall and have
Fun Fact
Howl-ooo-ween!
an animal as one of your “guests.”
One 20-pound bucket of formula
Come have a wild Halloween at
Members get 10 percent off rentals!
to feed baby raccoons costs
Lindsay Wildlife’s Howl-ooo-ween!
Want to make your corporate team function more cohesively? Consider an outdoor teambuilding adventure at Lindsay hosted through our partner Paleoventures!
$300
This annual family favorite invites all ages to come in costume, enjoy story time, do crafts, meet Lindsay animals and, of course, trick-or-treat with a Lindsay tote bag. Our normally inviting Exhibit Hall
To learn more, email
is filled with haunted fun! Join us
events@lindsaywildlife.org
Thursday, Oct. 26, 5:30 to 8 p.m.;
or visit lindsaywildlife.org/
a food truck will be in the parking lot
events-rentals.
beginning at 5 p.m. Go to lindsaywildlife.org/ howloooween for more information.
Born to Fly
watch these birds do what they are supposed to do: fly! It takes a special attention to the birds’ diet and tracking their “metabolic burn rate” to make sure they are getting what they need. Jeff Robinson, a member of Lindsay’s raptor team, says it’s a privilege to work
Tyto
with the birds. “It is a natural behavior, [and I] enjoy seeing them exercise. It’s beautiful to see their wings being used,” he says. More animal ambassadors have been added to the mix, including 43-year-old Lindsay icon Lord Richard, the turkey vulture. The keepers had to adjust their training for her because they had to teach an old bird new tricks. Mike Browne, who has been a keeper at Lindsay for 27 years, helped make a breakthrough in Richard’s training by figuring out how to motivate her: placing food directly on the glove to get her to fly to it. While flying the birds is great enrichment for them, it’s also great for the volunteers, says Karen D. Marcus, a nearly 20-year volunteer and raptor team member. When she sees them fly, “Almost always my first thought is ‘this is what he or she was meant to do,’ ” says Marcus. In the future, these birds may fly during outreaches; audience participation and even telemetry equipment for some of the flyers may be added. Lindsay will also focus on acquiring birds that can fly.
Lindsay’s new enrichment program allows resident raptors to stretch their wings
While amazing and awe-inspiring, birds flying has a real message behind it. “If you can create interest for people and get them into the a
W
hen Tyto—one of Lindsay Wildlife’s resident barn owls—releases his talons from the gloved hand of Senior Animal Keeper Emma Molinare and flies to a nearby perch, a watching crowd oohs and
ahhs. For the animal keepers and volunteers showing the bird, who silently and agilely sweeps across Lindsay’s Raptor Redwood Grove, it is an honor. “I cannot speak owl, or hawk. They are not speaking English. We have created our own language together—so we understand each other,” says Molinare. Molinare is the lead on Lindsay’s exciting new program known as Flight School. After years of occasionally flying the birds for their enrichment, staff decided to focus on strict flight training for certain birds as a part of Lindsay’s public programming. While all of Lindsay’s animals are at the wildlife center because they would not survive in the wild, some of the birds have the capability for short flight—and they want to do it, says Molinare. The training program started with Tyto because he has “hood-spa” and was always jumping from perch to perch, she explains. Also, Molinare and Tyto had worked together for years. “A bird’s biology tells them not to fly and then land on you,” she explains. “We had to break that sense of instinct and get them to fly off glove to another glove, or to a perch and then back to us—it takes trust.” It also takes food. Using food as an incentive, along with a whistle—think Pavlov’s dog theory—Molinare and the other keepers worked to retrain these animals. Now, Flight School is part of regular programming at Lindsay. Guests come
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W i l d l i f e Wo n d e r s | l i n d s ay w i l d l i f e . o r g
a: Red-tailed hawk Fire gracefully lands on Animal Keeper Lauren Amy's glove. b: Senior Animal Keeper Emma Molinare demonstrates barn owl Tyto's flight skills to a wowed audience. c: Animal Keeper Rachael Cross gets ready as turkey vulture Lord Richard shows off her impressive wing span as she prepares to take off.
c
Meet the Flyers Species: Barn owl • Age: 13 Story: Tyto was found in Davis with a fractured left wing. Although the wing healed, he cannot fly perfectly and would not be able to successfully hunt in the wild. He has lived at Lindsay since 2004. Flying motivator: Mice heads.
Fire Species: Red-tailed hawk • Age: 22 Story: Our female, Fire (named for her coloration and feisty attitude), was found as a juvenile in Castro Valley. Other than being very thin, there was nothing physically wrong with her. Although our wildlife hospital made several attempts to release her to the wild, she never hunted on her own and approached people for food, indicating she is habituated to human care. Flying motivator: This big girl likes big food, such as half a chicken or a whole mouse!
world of the animal, then they can respect
Falco
and protect what
Species: American kestrel • Estimated age: 6 Story: Our resident kestrel, Falco, is a male. He came to live at Lindsay Wildlife in 2014 after injuring his wing near Clear Lake. He makes a happy little squeak when he flies successfully because he is so proud of himself! Flying motivator: Not too picky, but enjoys mice tails (aka: raptor spaghetti).
those animals are,” Molinare says. b
Lord Richard Species: Turkey vulture • Age: 43 Story: Lord Richard hatched in 1974 and was raised in captivity. Because she (Lord Richard laid an egg several years after her arrival, surprising everyone) developed a strong bond with people, she could not be released to join her fellow turkey vultures in the wild. Flying motivator: Mealworm resting on the glove so she can see it!
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fac e s a n d p l ac e s
fac e s a n d p l ac e s
Conservation Icons
T
Lindsay’s members and donors share a value of environmental stewardship, and Richard Smith started
General” Dr. Sylvia Earle!
greater Bay Area.
Lindsay Wildlife Executive
Lindsay Wildlife has been using CDS to liquidate our gen-
Director Dr. Cheryl McCormick
erous donors’ cars, trucks, RVs and boats since 2005. Smith’s
invited colleagues old and new, personal conservation heroes, and longtime
local roots and extensive network keep the “middleman”
friends to share their life’s work in wildlife conservation—from wolves and
expenses low. Additionally, the owner himself serves as sales-
woodpeckers to oceans and orcas—as a reminder of why the human con-
man and occasionally goes on pickup calls.
nection to wildlife is so vitally connected to our own survival as a species.
He recalls, “Last fall, I went to a donor’s house to pick up
“I guarantee you will leave with your brain engaged, spirit rejuvenated Richard Smith, owner of Car Donation Services, personally prepares cars for sale.
and mind inspired,” says McCormick. “Like me, you will believe there is reason for hope and optimism. It’s time to reawaken the knowledge that we are not apart from nature; we are a part of it. I hope to see you at each presentation!”
years meant that Lindsay would reap the rewards with a high
a transmission repair was required and made that repair as part of his service. Although it took an extended period of time
Purchase tickets and find out more at lindsaywildlife.org/conservationicons.
edgeable, which was important to me for both the car’s next phase and for Lindsay!”
• 6 p.m. Nov. 11 Kent Laudon, wolf
From Smith’s perspective, “the investment in repairing the
specialist (California Department
Sam Labudde, wildlife activist
Denmark, realized a higher sales price, made the donor happy
eagle expert (East Bay Regional
University)
“
and maximized the benefit to Lindsay.
Parks)
• 7 p.m. May 5 Dr. Sylvia Earle,
• 6 p.m. Jan. 13 Dr. John McCosker,
Mission Blue, first female chief
senior scientist at Cal Academy,
scientist at the National Oceanic
great white shark expert*
and Atmospheric Administration
• 6 p.m. Feb. 10 Dr. Walt Koenig, acorn
and first female aquanaut*
—Richard Smith
W i l d l i f e Wo n d e r s | l i n d s ay w i l d l i f e . o r g
lot of integrity in my company and business model, even without a jingle on the radio.”
C o u rtes y of car donation services
Mercedes was in top shape and that the right buyer would
”
•a
l! i ma
Starting at $50, you can adopt an animal and receive a personalized Certificate of Adoption featuring a photo of your animal; you can also upgrade your donation to include great add-ons! Make the gift of an animal
(925) 627-2950 to learn more.
• 6 p.m. Dec. 16 Doug Bell, golden
Smith explains, “It’s important to me that donors know there’s a
Lindsay Wildlife Experience.
lindsaywildlife.org/adopt or call
Eventually, the Mercedes was purchased by a collector in
of yielding the highest value for the charities the business serves.
that are permanently in the care of
whales expert (Oregon State
would bring a high value for Lindsay. “I knew that the
provide superior customer service with a mission-minded focus
medicine, expert care and
habitat improvements for animals
Friedlaender, orcas and humpback
of Fish & Wildlife)
under well-deserved scrutiny, Smith and Car Donation Services
doption fees provide food,
• 6 p.m. April 14 Dr. Ari
Mercedes added significant value beyond the cost of repair.”
In a time when many car donation services and charities are
Adopt an Animal! A
adoption for a loved one. Visit
to find the right buyer, both Cortese and Smith knew the car
It’s important to me that donors know there’s a lot of integrity in my company ... even without a jingle on the radio.
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Money raised supports the care of Lindsay’s animal ambassadors.
come along,” says Cortese. “Rich was accommodating and knowl-
Before the Mercedes went up for sale, Smith noticed that
series will kick off with
tist of NOAA and “Sturgeon
tation recycler, his passion has grown to serve the needs of the
sales price.
vation Icons speaker
ographer, former Chief Scien-
From a one-man/one-trailer initiative to a full-service transpor-
dealership in 1972. Attentive care of his treasured car over the
n
speaker May 5, 2018—ocean-
to see them extend their usefulness and avoid the scrapyard.
bought his brand-new Mercedes 280 SEL at the Walnut Creek
a
on Nov. 11 and offer a premier
(CDS) was born out of Smith’s love for old cars and his desire
best treatment to maintain its value.” The donor, Paul Cortese,
an
an in-depth look at wolves
a business that promotes this value. Car Donation Services
his car because it was very important that the car receive the
he inaugural Conser-
pt
p t an an
P
eople who care about wildlife care about its habitat.
mal! • ado
ado
Not a jingle on the radio
an i
!
speakers who will educate, entertain and motivate change as part of our 2017–18 Conservation Icons Speaker Series
d
an
al
Join Lindsay Wildlife as we present nine awe-inspiring
o
pt
im
Getting the most out of old cars
woodpeckers (Cornell University)
• 6 p.m. June Brian Cypher, urban
• 6 p.m. March 10 Dr. Tim Bean,
carnivores (UC Stanislaus)*
North American porcupine expert
*These presentations will not be held
(Humboldt State University)
at Lindsay Wildlife, but instead at the
• 10 a.m. March 19 Lindsay
Lesher Center for the Arts in down-
Wildlife Alliance Spring Speaker
town Walnut Creek.
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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Walnut Creek CA PERMIT NO. 525 Lindsay Wildlife Museum 1931 First Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597-2540
Our July Happy Owl was such a hit, trivia winners got to actually feed raptors! Come try your luck at Lindsay's "Wild @ Night" happy hour on Dec. 8!
Event Calendar October 15, 22 and 29: Neon Scorpion Hikes 3–Jan. 2: Golden Gate Audubon Society Centennial Art Exhibit 14: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Dem Bones! 24–31: Not-So-Scary Animals 26: Howl-ooo-ween! 30: Mini Monday: Nature at Night
November 10: Member Movie Night: Disney’s Nature 11: Conservation Icons Speaker Series: Kent Laudon, wolves 13: Mini Monday: Crunch and Munch 18: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Reindeer Games!
December 1 and 2: Lindsay Wildlife Alliance Holiday Boutique 1 and 2: Lindsay Wildlife Experience Gift Shop 8: “Wild @ Night: Christmas Edition” Lindsay's 21-plus happy hour event 9: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Santa Brings a Sloth 2.0! 11: Mini Monday: Wonderful Winter Wildlife 16: Conservation Icons Speaker Series: Doug Bell, golden eagles 21: Member Movie Night: Polar Express
January 13: Conservation Icons Speaker Series: Dr. John McCosker, great white sharks 27: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition Members Only
For a complete list of upcoming events,
Follow us!
visit lindsaywildlife.org.