Wildlife Wonders Fall 2018

Wildlife Wonders LINDSAY WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE | FALL 2018

Inside:

Lindsay opens its natural history collection to the public

WELCOME

H

ow is climate change affecting pollinators and plants? How do we make

crops more resilient to environmental change? How do we combat diseases like malaria?

Natural history collections can help address some of the world’s greatest challenges. Researchers

study specimens in natural history collections to develop extraordinary insights into the world.

My love affair with ecology began the instant I laid eyes on a specimen of Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal)—a desert locust in the Acrididae (swarm-

“

The environment is where we all meet, where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.

”

—Lady Bird Johnson

ing grasshoppers) family. It was beautifully mounted in an acrylic case at a South Carolina roadside stand teeming with oddball tchotchkes. I was 5 years old, but even at that tender age, I sensed that this insect was a poignant and humbling symbol of the interdependent relationship between humans and natural processes.

So began a lifelong obsession.

The allure of my beloved locust is not unusual— millions of natural history specimens are cataloged in collections all over the globe, waiting to ignite a child’s

Connecting people with wildlife to inspire responsibility and respect for the world we share.

insatiable curiosity. Museum collections are important and represent the richness and diversity of our shared history. In many cases, they are the only way of understanding the complexity of life on our planet.

Contemporary species can tell us a lot about extinct progenitors from fragmentary remains. Museum scientists are charged with the awesome responsibility of preserving a record of past and present life on this planet for posterity—and they take that responsibility very seriously. It makes my heart sing to see children of all ages exploring Lindsay’s natural history collection; I consider it sacred ground—a wellspring where future scientists are made. If you haven’t visited Lindsay’s Natural History room in a while, I invite you to stop by soon—you’ll be astounded!

Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D. Executive Director | Lindsay Wildlife Experience

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 General email: social media@lindsaywildlife.org­ — 1931 First Avenue Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Executive Director Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D. Creative Staff Editor: Elisabeth Nardi Contributors: Heather Haas, Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D, and Tabitha Wadsworth Produced by DCP dcpubs.com

Photography by Paul Hara and Margaret Kowalick-Hara Board of Directors Rosanne Siino, Ph.D., President Julie Ross, Secretary Lou Eber, Esq., Interim Treasurer Laura Johnson Matt Lawson Elizabeth McWhorter, Ph.D. Ryan Misasi Jeremy Seymour, Esq. Heather Stead Emeritus Board Members (Honorary nonvoting board members) Gary Bogue Marilyn Fowler Barney Howard Nan Hudson Marc Kaplan James A. Pezzaglia Michael Stead Gabe Togneri

On the cover: Dragon, Lindsay's white-tailed kite.

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TRACKS

Save the Date

WILD@NIGHT:

HOLIDAY GAME NIGHT!

Celebrate Frosty, or just have a frosty cold beer among the animals, on Dec. 15 from 6–9 p.m.! Come to Lindsay’s 21-plus evening event, featuring CaliCraft beer, food, desserts, live music, contests and up-close encounters with all your favorite animals. It’s the wildest party in the Easy Bay!

MEET OUR NEW WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR: VIRGINIA OPOSSUM This petite girl came to Lindsay’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital in July after she was found tail-less and alone under a deck in Richmond. After examination, it was clear her missing tail was the result of trauma or injury. Opossums have prehensile tails adapted for grasping and wrapping around objects like tree limbs. Because this opossum has no tail, which is necessary in the wild for balance and nest-building, she would not have

FUN FACT

R I G H T: E M M A M O L I N A R E

60 The number of times our wildlife ambassador Button shakes his rattle per second.

survived and cannot be returned to the wild. But without it, she makes a perfect wildlife ambassador. About a half-pound when she came to Lindsay, she will be 10 times that once she is fully grown.

Iconic News

Come join us as we explore the world of conservation through the eyes of the experts during our speaker series, Conservation Icons.

Our all-star lineup includes famed anthropologist and author Dr. Wade Davis (Jan. 5) and animal expert Jack Hanna (Feb. 28).

Each icon takes us on a unique journey, sharing his or her amazing experiences, adventures and battles in the fight for our planet.

To purchase tickets and learn more about this amazing series, visit lindsaywildlife.org/conservationicons.

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Once-Living Library LINDSAY OPENS ITS ENTIRE NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION TO THE PUBLIC

N

ot all the animals at Lindsay Wildlife are in the Exhibit Hall. In fact, on the first floor, there is a room filled with animals, including

mountain lions, foxes, butterflies and sea turtles.

They live harmoniously with 16,000 friends.

Lindsay Wildlife’s extensive natural history

collection—with some specimens rarely seen by the public—is now the wildlife education center’s newest exhibit. Modeled after the Naturalist Center at the California Academy of Sciences, Lindsay’s Natural History room offers guests the ability to see and touch animals they would likely never encounter in the wild.

“People should visit Natural History to learn about California native wildlife, because hundreds of examples await them,” says Lindsay Director of Education James Madden. “Guests are encouraged to touch, examine, sketch and even conduct research a

on the specimens that we have presented. Engaging staff and volunteers help people explore and guide them toward satisfying their curiosity.”

And each specimen shares a conservation message, a key part of Lindsay’s mission.

“Think of a museum’s natural history collection as a once-living library that documents both the biotic and abiotic conditions over space and time,” says Madden. “Collections can help monitor ecosystem

a: Natural History Technician Tree Datar holds a shark’s jaw for a young visitor in Lindsay’s Natural History room. b: A group of Lindsay Wildlife guests check out a multitude of specimens in Lindsay’s Natural History room.

changes over time. Lindsay’s collection has also made

Madden and his team cleaned and organized the Natural History lobby to offer a new daily program at Lindsay: Curious Collections. Every day, a set of specimens is presented with a central theme. The popularity of this program led Lindsay’s education team to realize that visitors wanted greater access to the specimens hiding behind closed cabinet doors.

At the 2018 Faces of Wildlife event—Lindsay’s

contributions to science. For example, one of our

largest annual fundraiser—the new Natural History

carnivore mounts is being used to test the reaction of

Department was unveiled. Reactions have been

ground squirrels to a predator’s presence.”

incredible, with visitors shocked and pleased at the

These up-close interactions help the public appreciate and ultimately respect wildlife. These speci-

sheer number of specimens Lindsay has.

“The most common reaction when we open the

mens have been used for years by wildlife educators

double doors and flick on the lights is a stunned look,

during Lindsay field trips and outreach. But in 2017,

complete with wide eyes and jaws agape, as people say,

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What to See in Natural History • EXTINCT: Passenger pigeon • MOST UNIQUE USE: Brown pelican used by Pixar to model Nigel for Finding Nemo • SMALLEST: Some of our fleas and ticks

• LARGEST: By area, grizzly bear; by weight, a dinosaur bone still locked up in rock • MOST POPULAR: The mountain lions, raptor wings and touchable owl specimens

‘Wow! I never knew you had all of this!’” says

Lindsay’s most high-profile specimen is the now-extinct passenger pigeon. “It’s in excel-

Madden.

lent condition, and it serves as an example of the importance of fully understanding an

Marty Buxton—who started volunteering in Natural History in 1976, then became the

animal’s ecology before it is too late,” says Madden.

To ensure that these important specimens are taken care of, Lindsay applied for

head of the department from 1994 to 2014

and received a grant from the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation

and developed a computer database for the

of Historic and Artistic Works, as part of its Collections Assessment Program. The grant

collection—has stayed on as a volunteer even

provided money for Lindsay to host consulting teams to assess the current state of the

after her retirement. In the past, when Natural

collection and the facility that houses it. The teams will ultimately provide a report with

History was less open to the public, Buxton often

their recommendations on how to improve the condition of the collection, which will

invited people in to see the specimens or helped

guide Lindsay in properly protecting the collection while making it accessible to visitors.

identify what people brought in.

“Specimens can allow the public to see whole

To see the Natural History Department, stop by between 1:30 and 2:25 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, or call (925) 935-1978 to make a special appointment.

or parts of nature that would be hard to see or hard to get close to,” she says.

This includes animals that may be extinct.

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BEHIND THE SCENES

UNLEASH THE DRAGON One of Lindsay’s newest animal ambassadors offers visitors a rare opportunity a: Dragon when she was brought to the Rehabilitation Hospital. b: As a juvenile, Dragon was gray and copper. c: Dragon is now fully white and will develop red eyes soon. d: Lindsay veterinarian Allison Daugherty, veterinary ophthalmologist Tomo Wiggans and Lindsay's Curator of Animal Encounters Emma Molinare with Dragon.

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T

c

d

heir unmistakable call—perhaps more appropriately

placed with Lindsay’s Curator of Animal Encounters Emma

described as a scream—and their exuberant person-

Molinare. Under Molinare’s care and training, Dragon became

alities usually make white-tailed kites less-than-ideal

more comfortable with humans.

educational wildlife ambassadors. But in 2017, a two-time

“Due to her brain damage, Dragon has no fear response,

patient at Lindsay’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital gave

which would prove problematic in the wild because she can’t

the 63-year-old animal institution a rare opportunity: a

perceive threats,” Molinare says. “Unlike other wild white-tailed

white-tailed kite who could educate the public about these

kites that would have high stress around humans because of

fascinating raptors as a permanent ambassador!

our noise, she is actually calmed by humans and is not afraid.”

There are few other places in the United States where visitors can see, meet and hear a white-tailed kite. Dragon— named last year because of her “fiery” and “spunky”

Dragon likes to be the center of attention, according to her animal keepers.

“She is very spunky and has a lot of chutzpah,” Molinare

personality—originally came to Lindsay in June 2017 after

says. “She likes holding and tearing things. She is a fiery little

she fell out of her nest as a fledgling. She was returned to

dragon, and that’s how she got her name.”

the wild in July 2017, but just one month later, a white-tailed

A white-tailed kite is an intriguing addition to the Lindsay

kite was brought to the hospital after it was observed

lineup, because while they're not endangered, kites face

repeatedly flying into windows at an office building in

increasing habitat loss, Molinare says. In fact, the white-tailed

Walnut Creek.

kite was almost extinct in California in the 1940s due to shoot-

“She had fluffed feathers, head tremors and inappropriate behavior around humans,” says Dr. Allison Daugherty.

Lindsay's vet staff saw that one of the bird’s nails was

ing and egg collecting. Thanks to conservation efforts, they are now more common.

White-tailed kites are also fascinating birds to watch as they

painted orange; painting nails is a way Lindsay color-codes

mature. At Lindsay, Dragon lost her youthful caramel feathers

patients while in care. After checking records, it was clear

and turned all white with gray tail feathers, as is distinctive of

this kite had been a patient before. Her neurological issues

her species. And this charismatic ambassador will be one to

are permanent and caused by repeated window strikes,

continue watching: Within the next two years, her eyes will

which means she cannot be returned to the wild.

turn red as well, completing the signature kite look!

Because she was only a few months old and a good candidate to be an animal ambassador, she was immediately

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B & C : E M M A M O L I N A R E ; D : PAU L H A R A

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FAC E S A N D P L AC E S

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AN EVENING TO REMEMBER! The ninth annual Evening at the Bistro on Sept. 23 was the most successful in Lindsay’s history!

Supporters raised more than $78,000 for wildlife rehabilitation! Thanks to all who came, and a big thank you to Nan and John Walz and the partners of Va de Vi! a c

DA N R O S E N S T R AU C H / B AY A R E A N E W S G R O U P

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f

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a: Lindsay Youth Programs Coordinator, Shelby McCoy (right) shows off Lindsay’s newest common chuckwalla to Erica Misasi (left). b: The bidding gets lively. c: Former Lindsay Board Member Jim Pezzaglia, Jo Howard, Marla Lev, Board President Rosanne Siino, Erica Misasi and Board Member Ryan Misasi. d: Donna and Robert Covert check out a goshawk from Diablo Creek Falcons Abatement Services, held

by Lindsay volunteer Darlene Silver. e: Hostess Nan Walz poses with Debbie Cohen. f: A guest stares into the eyes of Lindsay’s great gray owl.

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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

Event Calendar October 13: Conservation Icons: Raabia Hawa, Unbound Project 20: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Creepy Critters!

25: Howl-ooo-ween! (Exhibit Hall closes early at 4 p.m.)

November 10: Conservation Icons: Dr. Dan Simberloff, invasive species 12: Mini Monday: Amazing Animal Appetites 18: Insects, Spiders and Other Invertebrates Workshop 22: Closed for Thanksgiving Day 24: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Reindeer Games!

December 10: Mini Monday: Cozy Critters 15: Wild@Night Holiday Game Night 15: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition: Merry Slothmas 23: Only Owls Workshop 24: Exhibit Hall closes at 2 p.m. for Christmas Eve 25: Closed for Christmas Day 31: Exhibit Hall closes at 2 p.m. for New Year’s Eve

January 2019

Free, one-year family membership to Lindsay Wildlife Experience

1: Closed for New Year’s Day 5: Conservation Icons: Dr. Wade Davis, life’s diversity (at the Lesher Center for the Arts) 19: Live.Wild.Animal Exhibition

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF UPCOMING EVENTS,

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VISIT LINDSAYWILDLIFE.ORG.