Archive for the ‘Spotlight on Species’ Category

May
04

Bird Of Prey – Spotlight on Series Keeper Talk Schedule

Posted by in Spotlight on Species

Our Bird of Prey Spotlight on Series is happening this weekend! Below are all the special keeper talks we’ll have available:

Catori, the Houston Zoo's Eastern Screech Owl. Photo by Ali Striggow.

Reptiles

Saturday:

  • 10:00 a.m. – Python keep talk (reptile house)
  •  10:30 a.m. – Komodo Dragon keeper talk (reptile house)

Sunday:

  • 10:00 a.m. – Cuban Crocodile keeper talk (reptile house)
  • 10:30 a.m. – American Alligator keeper talk (reptile house)

 

Carnivores:

Saturday:

  • 11:30 a.m. – Tiger keeper talk (at tiger window)

Sunday:

  •   11:30 a.m. – Lion keeper talk (at lion window)

 

Birds:

Saturday:

  • 11:30 a.m. – Meet Zuri the pygmy falcon
  • 11:40 a.m. – Vulture keeper talk (vulture exhibit)
  • 1:00 p.m. – Meet Ariel the owl
  • 2:30 p.m. – Owl keeper talk (tropical bird house)
  • 4:00 p.m. – Meet Zuri the pygmy falcon
Sunday:
  • 11:00 a.m. – Meet Ariel the owl
  •  2:00 p.m. – Meet Zuri the pygmy falcon
  •  4:00 p.m. – Meet Ariel the owl

 

Children’s Zoo

Saturday & Sunday:

  • 11:00 a.m. – Meet a bird of prey
  •    1:15 p.m. – Meet a bird of prey

 

Aquarium

Saturday & Sunday:

  • 10:30 a.m. – Piranha keeper talk

 

Wortham World of Primates

Saturday & Sunday:

  • 12:00 p.m. – Primate keeper talk
  • 12:30 p.m. – Primate keeper talk ( at chimpanzee exhibit)
  •   3:30 p.m. – Primate keeper talk

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May
04

The Results Are In, and Jeffery’s Right Here in Houston!

Posted by in Birds,Conservation,Contest,Spotlight on Species

We’ve reached the end of our blog contest! We’ve followed Jeffery to Italy, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Singapore and all over the US! I have to say, that’s one well-traveled puppet.
 
We believe this contest and Jeffery accomplished our goal of increasing awareness in the States of the declining population of the Philippine Eagle. 
Raising a thousand dollars for Philippine Eagle conservation is amazing, but the possibilities created by raising a thousand voices for this cause is staggering.What if you tell a friend about this puppet and what he stands for, and she tells her cousin? What if that cousin tells all his friends and somewhere down the line, through the power of social connections, people begin talking, minds start to change, legislation is passed, ecotourism enriches the country, habitats are saved along with the human lives that depend on them, and the 52,177 species in the Philippines, our favorite eagle included, flourish?It’s a very serious thing, the welfare of a biodiversity hotspot like the Philippines, but we’re using the internet and a puppet to get the word out.

You can’t save the eagle without saving its habitat, and Jeffery is here to make people want to save the Philippine Eagle, whether they ever get to see one in person or not.

Along the way, Jeffery has made a ton of friends with the same goals.  We’d like to thank the talented artists at Jeepney Projects Worldwide, Hazel Dawes, one of the eagle’s most avid, talented and generous supporters, local Houston band, The Presidents, and Karlene Co.  Thank you for all your support!

So, now you must be thinking, “I’m really going to miss Jeffery! What will I do without my weekly Jeffery updates?” 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! You can always find Jeffery on Facebook, Twitter, and now, his very own blog! I’m sure Jeffery will also pop up on Houston Zoo’s blogs as well.  The puppet will continue to travel and cheer for the Philippine Eagle Foundation.
 

"I think White Sands is a fantastic place to visit, but no aerial tour for me thanks, there are waaaayyy to many missiles and rockets to dodge!!" Linda

 
 
 
 

"I’ve always wanted granite counter tops, but this may be a little too much over the top!" Linda

 

"I love to paint, but now it’s time to get off the road and back to the Houston Zoo for the “Bird of Prey” days this weekend. Please join me to celebrate my friends and raise money for conservation!" Tess

 
Tomorrow starts our Birds of Prey Days!  Please come by and learn about the biodiversity of the Philippines and Texas native birds of prey, check out our Philippine Eagle art, and meet some of our resident birds of prey!
 

Liberty, the Houston Zoo's Bald Eagle. Photo by Ali Striggow.

 
 

Catori, the Houston Zoo's Eastern Screech Owl. Photo by Ali Striggow.

 

Artwork by Hazel Dawes

 
 
Come by and visit!  Oh, and drumroll please…the grand prize winner of our contest is….
Tess with 134 points!  Linda came in second with 124 points and Melissa ended the contest with 112 points!  All three of you have a prize to claim! Thank you all so much for participating, and please contact me at mneal@houstonzoo.org to arrange a way to claim your prizes!
 

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Apr
30

Where in the World is Jeffery? The FINAL Week!

Posted by in Birds,Conservation,Contest,Endangered,Spotlight on Species

Melissa, Tess and Linda, it’s been a great pleasure!  Thanks for sticking with Jeffery this entire time, and I will be in touch with each of you on Friday, after the final total is announced.  I hope to see you on Saturday or Sunday for our Birds of Prey Days! We plan to have lots of games, keeper chats and opportunities to learn about raptors and the Philippines!

Right now, it’s time to reveal the final photo in our contest!!!

Jeffery visited this public art installation originally created by the art group Ant Farm that encourages visitors to add to the art by spray painting vehicles half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Where in the world is Jeffery?

 

You have until Friday at 10 AM to submit your final captions!

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Apr
16

This Contest is Intense!

Posted by in Birds,Conservation,Endangered,Spotlight on Species

I prefer tasty mice, so I’m sending this to Ara, my BFF in Bolivia. He’s a Blue-throated Macaw, another critically endangered bird. Think he’ll like it?--Tess

 

So I thought last week’s photo was a little tough, but within 3 minutes, each of our contestants had submitted the correct answers! I’m so happy each of you ladies is excited about Jeffery and this contest!

Before I get to this week’s (the second to last!) photo, I’d like to share some wonderful news with you from the Philippine Eagle Foundation!

Our favorite eagle saviors in the Philippines just announced another first in bird conservation–the first captive breeding of the Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle! With some feathers mimicking a large spike on their heads, these eagles are the punk rock answer to the adorable Philippine Eagle! Just like the Philippine Eagle, this endemic species is threatened by loss of habitat. Guess what? Husbandry practices developed at the foundation for breeding of the Philippine Eagle helped in the breeding of the Pinsker’s! It’s not just one eagle we are trying to save; it’s an entire habitat, and everything that depends on it.

 

Now onto our current standings:

Tess came in third with the answer, but won the caption contest, to leave her with 102 points

Melissa has 90 points

Linda had 88 points

 

It’s still anybody’s game!

 

**Jeffery visited the largest military installation in the United States, where is he?**

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Apr
09

Where in the World is Jeffery? Week 11!

Posted by in Birds,Endangered,Spotlight on Species

Hello Philippine Eagle fans! I have some very exciting news!  Our friends at the Philippine Eagle Foundation recently located an eagle population in the Cordillera Mountain Ranges. Just for reference, this is the first sighting of a wild Philippine Eagle outside of their normal mountain range, the Sierra Madre Range, much further to the south of the Cordillera Mountains.  Jayson Ibanez is our primary contact at the Philippine Eagle Foundation, and has been leading the recent expanded searches for additional wild populations of the eagle.  Funds we raise will help them in these efforts, as well as the foundation’s conservation education efforts in the communities surrounding known eagle nest sites.  Please join us in congratulating Jayson and his team on this incredible discovery! 

There’s quite a bit of pressure on our contestants as the weeks tick away and the point totals just get closer and closer! This one may require a bit of searching, but where in the world is Jeffery?

This monument is dedicated to the lasting memory of Thomas Michael McGinn (1929 – 2007), the founder of Pistachio Tree Ranch. 

The caption contest is going to be the key to winning first place!

 

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Apr
06

A Three Week Wrap Up for Jeffery, the Well-traveled Puppet!

Posted by in Birds,Endangered,Spotlight on Species

Did you follow Jeffery’s recent road trip through the southwest on twitter or facebook?

Did you happen to get a glimpse of Jeffery during the Houston Zoo’s Call of the Wild Speaker Series last night?

Jeffery letting the public know about the amazing Philippine Eagle!
Have you been following this very CLOSE contest???  Let’s do a wrap up and see where everyone stands!
 

Are you on the endangered species list too?? --Linda

 

Hooray – I get to ride on Herbie the elephant into the jungle! --Tess

 
 

Elevating the Philippine Eagle Foundation Pride! --Melissa

 
The current totals are….(drumroll, please!)
 
Tess is in the lead with 89 points!
Linda is right behind her with 81 points!
Melissa has 80 points! 
 
This is one close contest and anyone could win!  There are only THREE contest Mondays left, and guess what?  It’s time to reveal another prize!
 
The first place winner will have a Philippine Eagle adopted in their name.  The adoption kit will include a personalized adoption certificate, a fact sheet, a photo of your adopted bird and an update letter about the Philippine Eagle Foundation at the end of the year.
 

One of the many eagles that will be available for adoption during our Birds of Prey Days!

Minalwang and many other Philippine Eagles will be available for adoption during our Birds of Prey Days on May 5th and 6th!  There will be games for kids and adults of all ages, prizes, meet the keeper opportunities, chances to see our birds of prey up close, and much more! 

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Apr
02

Where in the World is Jeffery: Week 10!

Posted by in Birds,Endangered,Spotlight on Species

According to mythology, Enceladus (the giant, not the moon of Saturn) was buried under this:

 

Showing some Philippine Eagle Foundation pride!

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Mar
26

Where in the World is Jeffery: Week 9!

Posted by in Birds,Conservation,Spotlight on Species

Jeffery’s currently cruising around the country!  Follow his road trip adventures on Facebook and  Twitter!

 

A famous incident in 1947 put this town on the map despite the fact that the incident actually occured almost 100 miles away!

This caption contest should be hilarious!

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Mar
19

That Puppet is Traveling Again! Week 8

Posted by in Birds,Conservation,Contest,Spotlight on Species

For weeks now, I’ve been writing about the wonderful biodiversity of the Philippines.  Did you know you can see witness some of that biodiversity just by visiting the Houston Zoo?

In the bird department alone we have:

Palawan Peacock Pheasants

Emerald Doves

Nicobar Pigeons

Black-naped Fruit Doves

Pied Imperial Pigeons

Luzon Bleeding Heart Doves

Chestnut-breasted Malkohas

White-throated Kingfishers

Japanese White-eyes

Please visit the zoo on May 5th and 6th to help us celebrate the beautiful animals of the Philippines and the majesty of raptors!  We will als be featuring our own birds of prey with several species of owl, hawks, and Liberty, our Bald Eagle!

Time for another installment of Where in the World is Jeffery?  Please leave a caption for the first photo for a chance to win an extra 8 points! 

Recently, Jeffery visited the only Southeast Asian country that has never been taken over by a European power.

An elephant?!

 

Where am I?

 

There will be no wrap up blog this Friday the 23rd, as I will be traveling…with the puppet.  There WILL be another contest blog on Monday the 26th!

Follow Jeffery’s road trip antics on Facebook and  Twitter!

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Mar
16

That’s One Patriotic Puppet! Week 7 Wrap Up!

Posted by in Birds,Endangered,Spotlight on Species

It wasn’t easy at all to pick the caption this week, because I really liked both of them!  In the end, though, Linda’s caption spoke of a common and unfortunate problem facing our favorite eagle, conflict with humans.

“I have a dream, that one day the Philippine Eagle will be free to fly the skies without fear!”
 
Our Birds of Prey Days will be funding community based conservation efforts in the area of the Philippines the eagles need it most.  Philippine Eagles often nest on the edge of forests near upland, bringing them in close contact with humans.  If they are pressed for food, an eagle will prey on domestic animals in these communities, and the human wildlife conflict can be very tense.   Because Philippine Eagles are loyal to a nest site and return year after year to the same nest, this community conservation education is vital to the survival of the species. 
So, thanks Linda!  We have that dream too! 
 
Melissa has taken the lead with a whopping 57 point total.
Hot on her trail is Tess, who took a week off from the contest and stands with 54 points. 
Linda is right behind with 49 points!
 
The Philippine Eagle isn’t the only beautiful bird on the islands.  There is over 600 species of bird in the Philippines, and all of them are threatened with extensive habitat loss!
 

Spotted Wood Kingfisher by Hazel Dawis

Above is another wonderful piece of art by my friend Hazel Dawis that will be available for raffle during our event.  Hazel is a very talented artist, but also one of the kindest and most generous people out there!  We are so glad to have her helping us help the eagle!
 
Don’t forget to stop by Monday to see where Jeffery ends up next week! 
 
Get more Jeffery updates on Facebook and follow him on Twitter!

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