Spotlight on Parrots

Since it is Cinco De Mayo today, we thought this was a great day to highlight some of our fine feathered ambassadors. Wildlife Ambassadors actually started 15 years ago and was called Animal Ambassadors. I started with the help of my then 3 month old African grey parrot, Mowgli. Things have grown incredibly since then!


Mowgli is one of our most animated parrots- he loves to wave, sing, call the kitty, laugh, ring like a cell phone and make chicken noises. Mowgli is a very outgoing African grey and seems to enjoy children the most and as a matter of fact most times he will not talk to adults at programs which is quite funny! If you ask him if he wants to go to a school today, he shakes his head up and down with excitement. African greys are one of the most amazing of the parrot family. Their intelligence has been compared to dolphins and chimpanzees and their ability to mimic words and sounds is astounding. These beautiful grey birds can be found in tropical areas, wooded riverine habitats and oil-palm plantations in areas such as Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon and Congo. They love the oil-palm nut, various fruits and also grains.

Sarah, the umbrella cockatoo, is another one of our feathered ambassadors. Sarah was donated by her owners years ago when they felt she needed more attention. She is the oldest of our birds, in her early twenties. Sarah loves the limelight too and is a huge hit with her big "umbrella" of feathers on her head. A few years after Sarah came to Wildlife Ambassadors, it became quite evident that she had strongly bonded with our Wildlife Educator, Penny. She wanted to be with Penny all the time and so the decision was made for her to live with Penny but she continues to be a wonderful ambassador at schools, libraries and more. Umbrella cockatoos are found on several islands in Indonesia.

Our majestic macaws are the final two of our four beautiful avian ambassadors. Oliver, a greenwing macaw, came to Wildlife Ambassadors from the famous Rainforest Cafe restaurant in Tysons Corner when it changed hands and they had to find homes for all of the parrots residing there. Greenwings are stunning macaws and are the second largest parrot of the more than 350 different parrots in the world. Oliver turns 15 this summer along with Mowgli but that is truly just a teenager as these gentle giants can live 75 years or more! Oliver is the most important ambassador in our Journey to the Jungle program as he helps educate folks about the importance of tropical rain forests and how to help this severely endangered ecosystem. Balou, our blue and gold macaw was donated by a family when her owner died suddenly. She was just a baby at the time so she has spent most of her life with us. Blue and Golds are also native to Central and South American tropical rain forests. Macaws are the largest members of the parrot family and the most boldly colored. They live high in the canopy of the rain forest and feed on a variety of nuts and fruits such as Brazil nuts, guava, mangos and bananas. Their beaks are so strong they can crack a broomstick in half. Balou is considered the baby of our group but she will be 12 next month.
Balou is our clown, laying on her back, playing tug of war and showing off for anyone and everyone while Oliver is quite regal and handsome and loves to whisper HI and give big smooches. Balou and Oliver often play together outside in their aviary where Balou can be seen taunting Oliver and then he will go after her but a minute later they are cuddling and preening each other.
Parrots are amazing creatures and are truly the most intelligent animals we care for here at Wildlife Ambassador. They all have hook bills and special feet with two toes in front and two toes in back. They can use their feet like you use your hands- to hold food and to climb. They are also very social animals that mate for life and both parents are actively involved in rearing and protecting their young. Parrots are protected both through CITES and the Wild Bird Conservation Act. Habitat destruction and the pet trade have led to diminishing numbers and endangered status for most parrots of the world. Parrots are loud, VERY LOUD, messy and have the social skills of a 2 year old. We will provide for our 4 avian ambassadors for a lifetime which can honestly be anywhere from 50-80 years. They are destructive and we provide them with new toys, things to shred, exercise and playtime every single day. Parrots are not for most people and many parrots will bounce from home to home over the course of their lives. We feel fortunate to be able to share our lives with these amazing and intelligent birds. Look for all four of our birds this summer in the many libraries, camps and festivals where they will be appearing. Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Easter and spring always mean lots of baby chicks, ducks and of course bunnies. Everybody loves bunnies- they are so endearing with their sweet pink noses, long, goofy ears and fluffy white tail, but there is so much more to rabbits than meets the eye.
Wildlife Ambassadors is home to three bunnies. Simon a tan netherland dwarf mix came to us via the animal shelter when his owners dumped him outside. This occurred soon after Easter, Simon was just a baby. Domestic rabbits are far different from our native Eastern cottontails and could not survive out in the wild. Ella, is a big black lionhead mix rabbit that was given up as well. And then there is Thumper who is a real favorite with everyone. At less than 2 pounds this adorable pure white bunny with blue eyes could steal anyone's heart. He was bought for a 2 year old and soon found himself unwanted. In the 15 years that we have presented wildlife programs we have always had bunnies and their stories are quite similar. While bunnies are cute there is so much more to them. They are extremely social and love human interaction. They are also quite smart. Thumper has learned to walk on a harness and lead and loves it. They can also live an average of 10 years, so while they can be outstanding pets, they need a lot of love and healthy food to thrive.

Rabbits are outstanding athletes and can run quickly as well as zig zag to confuse predators. They can jump an average of 12 feet in one single bound. Perhaps their senses are one of the most impressive things about them. Rabbit eyes are monocular- they are on the sides of their heads. This means they can see two things at one time to help them avoid danger. We, on the other hand have binocular vision and focus on one thing at a time. Everyone loves those large rabbit ears but aside from excellent hearing, they actually work like air conditioning, radiating heat away from the rabbit's body, thus cooling the animal. Rabbits also have adorable wiggly noses that never seem to stop twitching. Humans have about 1 million scent cells in their nose. Rabbits have around 100 million scent cells in their noses! Every time their noses twitch, folds in their nose can open and take in scents allowing the rabbit to "read" what is going on around him.

Wild Rabbits.
April is the time when Eastern cottontail babies are born. The mother makes a shallow nest sometimes right out in the open. Babies are born blind, hairless and helpless. In the spring, please check brush piles before burning and walk through long grass before mowing, many baby rabbits are killed each year as people start their spring yard cleaning. Rabbit nests are carefully watched over by the mama rabbit but you will not see her at the nest with the babies. This often leads people to believe the babies are abandoned. Most often they are not and should be left alone. Unless you are certain the mother rabbit has been killed, babies should be left alone as they are fragile and humans cannot ever raise them as well as their mother can. Mother rabbits typically feed babies early in the morning and late at night but stay away during the day so her scent does not attract predators to her nest. It is also a myth that if a human has touched her babies, she will abandon them. Instead she will probably move them to a new nest in the middle of the night.

Rabbits are very adaptive, smart and interesting animals. Their adaptations for survival are very impressive. Pet rabbits can be amazing and rewarding companions, but like all companion animals, they need a lot of care and attention and may have a fairly long life span. Ella, Thumper and Simon have had a very busy week appearing at Bunny Bonanza, Ballentine Farm's Eggstravaganza and today's event at Morven Park. They made many children smile and as always are wonderful ambassadors. As the third most given up pet in the country, we also hope many people listened to their stories this week and give rabbits the credit they are due. We hope you and yours have a truly Hoppy Easter!

Wild Mamas

This Mother's Day we celebrate all the amazing mamas out there- feathered, furry and scaly!
1. Virginia opossum. Thought you came from a big family? The opossum mama raises anywhere from 7-12 babies at one time in her pouch. Once it becomes too crowded these babies then get to take a "opossum- back ride" to learn the ways of this wild world.
2. Hornbill. You've heard of moms who have been ordered to bed rest during a difficult pregnancy. The hornbill literally seals herself into the nest for the whole duration of the eggs incubation. She leaves only a tiny hole where her loyal mate can feed her daily.
3. Alligators. Most people don't typically think of reptiles as nurturing mothers but the alligator is a most protective mama. Not only will she protect the nest from predators but once the babies begin to hatch, she will assist them and carry them gently down to the water. Alligators have been known to lookout for their young and protect them if they are distressed for long periods of time. That's a mom most wouldn't want to mess with.
4. African Elephants. 9 months might seem like a long time to carry a baby but elephants carry their calf for over a year and a half! Once the calf is born, they will nurse anywhere from 4-6 years.
5. Black Bears. These excellent mothers give birth to cubs that usually only weigh around 10 ounces. While the cubs are so small, they nurse every 10 minutes! That's a dedicated mom.
6. Chickens. They saying "mother hen" is due to a hen's dedication to her young. She does not feed the chicks once they hatch as they are able to immediately eat on their own but she finds good foods for them, runs to their distress calls and will lay down and let them climb up under her feathers for security and warmth.

Moms are amazing, nurturing and protective beings. There is nothing like a mom. Here's wishing all the moms a most wonderful Mother's Day. You deserve it.

Keeping wildlife Wild

Spring has finally arrived and with the warm temperatures and blooming flowers also come lots of spring babies. Wild spring babies. Most people love the sight of baby birds in a nest or the sight of baby cottontails hopping around their yard but there is a really important line between helping wildlife and not hurting wildlife.

Many wildlife myths are still passed around today and cause great harm to wild babies. I always pass on to kids and adults that just as your mom is a wonderful mom to you, so are wild mamas. We are quick to think babies are in trouble and need our help when in fact wild mothers are just as dedicated and nurturing as your own mother. So here are a few wild myths and helpful tips to keep those amazing critters safe and WILD this spring.

Baby cottontails. These adorable native rabbits of our region are perhaps the number one "victim" each spring of human help. In most cases, rabbits DO NOT need our help. They make their nests very shallow and often times in very visible areas. Mother rabbits have very rich milk and the babies fill up fast. They feed their babies in the morning and again at night, so chances are quite good that you will never see the mother near the nest. The babies are safest this way as the mother's scent would draw predator's to her nest. Even if a rabbit nest is disturbed by humans or a dog, the mother WILL return to her babies. She may even move them to a new nest site. If you have a nest in your yard, keep dogs and cats indoors. When you go out to mow for the first time in the spring, walk the area first to look for nests- many babies die due to lawn mowers.

Fawns are another animal that end up "kidnapped" each spring by well meaning wildlife lovers. Mother deer purposely lay their fawns in a spot where they will be safe. Again, most often fawns are not in need of our help unless you have actually seen the mother killed. In unfortunate cases like those, only a wildlife rehabilitator is legally able to care for these animals. They will give them the best chance of returning to a wild life.

Everyone has a baby bird story but it is again important to know whether or not to intervene. Baby birds fall out of nests fairly often especially depending on the species of bird and where they have made their nests. Many people believe that once you have touched that baby bird on the ground, the mother will refuse to take her young back. Ironically, most birds have limited to no sense of smell! The very best thing to do for a fallen bird is to return him to his nest. The mother will come back as soon as you leave the area. Fledgelings that are taking their first flight lessons are sometimes thought to be in trouble. If you see a young, feathered bird on the ground trying to fly- look closely and you will spot eager parents trying to encourage their young.

Box turtles. These amazing native turtles are beautiful and endearing especially when you happen to spot a hatchling. We provide permanent sanctuary for 4 box turtles here. All four were wild turtles that became pets. Often times people believe these young turtles are in danger or in trouble but these awesome reptiles have natural instincts for survival. One of our turtles was kept for years in a guinea pig cage and stopped eating for her owners for several months. As soon as she came here, she gulped down earthworms and slugs on her own in her outdoor habitat and hibernated this winter. They are born knowing everything they need to know and they are very difficult to keep as pets.

Snakes. These poor guys seem to always get the short end of the stick or sadly a shovel. They don't get the sympathy that baby bunnies or baby rabbits do but they are just as important and vital to our ecosystem. The easiest rule of thumb with these guys is to leave them alone. Do not try to move or handle them and above all do not harm them. Lots of our area snakes have patterns on them and this leads to incorrect assumptions that they are dangerous. Baby black rat snakes are a common sighting and they are patterned when young. Remember a snake in your garden is your best friend-he wants nothing to do with you but he will spare your crops from naughty little mice or keep your children safer by eliminating rats that can spread diseases. Often times we don't think of it that way.

If you truly love wildlife, the very best rule to follow is snap as many pictures as you want but leave wildlife alone. Happy spring to all and enjoy this beautiful season!

St. Patrick and the snakes of Ireland

March 17th is one of my favorite times of the year. My Grandmother was born in Ireland and had beautiful red hair and green eyes. I've always considered myself quite lucky to be Irish, after all we tell the best stories, have a great sense of humor and we know how to eat and drink and be merry. So I do make the traditional corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and irish soda bread on St.Patrick's Day and Sean the naughty Leprechaun always visits our house much to the joy of our children who awake to all the mischief and chocolate he leaves behind. But one of my favorite parts of being Irish are storytelling and the wonderful legends that have come from Ireland.
One of the best known of course is the legend of St. Patrick and how he drove the snakes from Ireland. Legend has it that St. Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland and drove them into the sea where they drowned. Thus today, there are no snakes in Ireland. Snakes or serpents represented pagan beliefs and rituals that St. Patrick removed from Ireland. It even goes on to say that shamrocks were planted everywhere because snakes could not live in the shamrocks and it kept them out.
The other side of this legend is the scientific fact that there probably were never snakes in Ireland. When snakes evolved 100 million years ago, Ireland was actually under water. Then there was the ice age and once the last glacial ice fell, Ireland was an island separated from England and Europe by the North Channel ocean water. No snake could ever cross this icy and long span of ocean water and so there are no snakes in Ireland.
I love this Irish tale but I also love that we have an amazing array of these magnificent reptiles in the United States. Wildlife Ambassadors currently cares for 2 corn snakes, 1 king snake, 1 boa constrictor and 2 ball pythons. We also have lots of shamrock plants.
Whether you believe St. Patrick or you think its a bunch of blarney, it certainly is interesting and afterall don't we all need a bit o' blarney in our lives? Happy St. Patrick's Day Lads and Lassies!

Winter Bird Bingo!

The days are a little warmer, the snow is not as deep and the kids have played every game indoors and outdoors. Perhaps you are looking for some different things to play with the kids? One favorite that i have played with my three kids and during some of our wildlife camps is Bird Bingo. Winter is such an amazing time to spot lots of different types of birds especially if you have a bird feeder. Playing Bird Bingo is fun and you can play from your window if its terrible weather like our recent blizzard or better yet, bundle up and play outside!
First you need to have the kids make the bingo sheet and this is half the fun. All you need is a piece of construction paper and some crayons. Divide the sheet of paper so there are nine boxes. Pick nine birds that are commonly seen right now and easy for children to identify. Some good examples are the cardinal, the blue jay, woodpecker, black capped chickadee, crow, sparrow, hawk, house finch, tufted titmouse and the Eastern bluebird.
You might want to show the kids some of the different birds first so they are familiar with them. You can either color pictures of the different birds, one in each square or if you have nature magazines, cut them out and paste them in the boxes. Once the kids have done this, you are ready to play. Hand everyone a marker and head outside! When you or child spot the bird, call out its name and put a check mark next to it on your bingo sheet. The first one to get all nine birds says BINGO! For really young children you can have the bingo sheet show bird "actions" instead of species. For example, you can make pictures of birds singing, birds eating, birds bathing, birds flying and so on. You can be as creative as you want, have fun!

Snow Blizzard 2010!

Well we all made it through this crazy snow blizzard but not without the help of many wonderful people! We lost power for 4 days and so while our wonderful neighbors fed us and took us in, the Hamilton Fire and Rescue was kind enough to take in all of our reptiles, invertebrates and one very elderly hedgehog. We are so grateful to them for taking care of them during this time and keeping them warm and fed. Our generator was able to keep our animal building warm enough for the mammals and birds but not the heat lamps and heat pads needed for the others.
We moved some animal indoors and are so glad we did as the outdoor enclosures got heavily snowed in. We worked around the clock to keep the animals outdoors safe and dry. It sure is peaceful to watch the snow at 3 a.m. My husband was out in the middle of the blizzard shoveling off animal roofs and reattaching tarps that were being ripped off in the winds.

Thank you to everyone for your donations of blankets, dog beds and tarps- all have been used and very appreciated! Here's hoping for an early spring!!