Wading Conservation: Engaging zookeepers and guests

Myria Johnson, Zookeeper Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lake Buena Vista, Florida

268 │ ANIMAL KEEPERS’ FORUM American Association of Keepers, Inc. CONSERVATION STATION

As zookeepers, we want to fit nocturnal human activity due to the conservation research and guest construction of Pandora - The World of education into our daily routines but it Avatar. (Eudocimus can be difficult. In addition to creating albus) these experiences around collection The animals, guests need to be educated is a medium-sized (Ardea alba) white bird with about the animals that they encounter dark wing tips and a pink face, legs, and every day. Native wading have bill. Great egrets are all- long been associated with the many white birds with long black legs and feet; waterways of Florida and can be they have a long neck and a yellow bill. White ibis. Photo by G. Mueller. observed daily around the Walt Disney Both species use a variety of freshwater World Resort (WDW). In 2016, I was and marine environments. The ibis has a tasked with® being the zookeeper liaison long decurved bill which it uses to probe for a wild ibis study at Disney’s Animal for aquatic crustaceans, insects, and fish Kingdom . I had worked with our avian in shallow water. Great egrets hunt by (Smith, 1995). They are nomadic with collection for the past two years and bill thrusting and eat fish, invertebrates, frequent shifts in roost and rookery sites. am passionate about . amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small They also exhibit a variable breeding Over the past three years, this study mammals. In , ibis can season in response to fluctuating water has evolved from a count of birds to a be found from coastal Virginia through levels and prey availability, with colonies breakdown by species of the seasonal Louisiana and Texas and inland from the disbanding and reforming in less than shifts in population of American white coast of South Carolina through Florida a year (Frederick, Bildstein, Fleury, & ibis and great egrets at this roost location. (Kushlan & Bildstein, 2009) while great Ogden, 1996; Frederick & Ogden, 1997; I was able to use my experience with egrets are found throughout most of the Kushlan, 1986; Kushlan & Bildstein, designing and leading the research study country. White ibis are more often found 2009). Nest building is usually seen to create a guest interaction that teaches traveling and foraging in groups than in late February to June when large guests about research methods, threats great egrets, but both species will land numbers of ibis gather to form colonial to wading birds, and avian conservation. near other wading birds at foraging sites nesting rookeries (Kushlan & Bildstein, (Smith, 1995). 2009; Rumbold, Morrison, & Bruner, WDW has a total size of 10360 hectares 2009). Egrets are migratory with a and supports both non-breeding roosts Colonial waterbirds serve as indicators of breeding season lasting from December through September (McCrimmon Jr, and rookeries of ®wading birds in the habitat suitability (Gawlik, Slack, Thomas, Ogden, & Bancroft, 2011); they are also undeveloped areas of the resort. Disney’s & Harpole, 1998), which is one reason® colonial nesters and are often observed Animal Kingdom occupies 2.3% of that it is important to study(Eudocimus native wading albus) , space and has the only ibis and egret birds at Disney’s Animal Kingdom . The nesting with other species of waterbirds. roost that is located on the developed American white ibis Since white ibis respond quickly to portion of WDW. Beginning in March in particular, has become a symbol for changes in water levels and are also 2016, native wading birds (primarily conservation and restoration nomadic, they are excellent indicators of habitat quality and ideal for monitoring white ibis and great egrets) from this ® (Kushlan & Bildstein, 2009). Large flocks roost were monitored to determine of white wading birds are an indicator the effects of restoration attempts the value of Disney’s Animal Kingdom to visitors that they have arrived in (Frederick, Gawlik, Ogden, Cook, & Lusk, as habitat for wading birds and how Florida. Ibis are gregarious and roost 2009; Gawlik et al., 1998; Melvin, Gawlik, Greatthese egret. birds (left) would respond to increased together, usually in the tops of dead trees, & Scharff, 1999). Studying the population Photo by A. Rogerson and often are found in close proximity dynamics of birds like these helps to to other wading birds like great egrets inform conservation strategies for long-

AAZK.ORG September 2020 │ Vol. 47 No.9 │ 269 ® Researcher in action. Photo by M. Johnson.

A non-breeding roost at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was historically found on the canal system directly next to where Pandora was being built, but after construction began the birds moved closer to Dinoland. lived, nomadic, and far-ranging species of the Conservation team. They only white and golden and I like (Frederick & Ogden, 1997). recorded the number of birds without a that they are often found in proximity subdivision into species. Although this to bovids, which is my other favorite Threats to the white ibis include land location gave an estimate of the birds group of animals. The study site has development, water management coming to roost each night, a significant changed locations a few times. After the issues, and water contaminants portion of the canal was not visible. In Pandora construction was complete, (Kushlan & Bildstein, 2009). In fact, March of 2016, keepers from the Night the majority of the birds moved back to the ibis population in Florida declined team were asked to take over the survey. the original roost site for a short time. by over 50% between the late 1970s This team has more access to the canal Due to visibility issues, two keepers and late 1980s due to loss of habitat bank where there is better visibility of were needed for each study time frame. (Frederick et al., 1996; Frederick & the roost; they are also able to identify The best visibility for this location Ogden, 1997). Current threats to the birds by species to provide more was on the two bridges going into the great egret include habitat loss and comprehensive data. Oasis area and Pandora but each only degradation, exposure, and th th afforded a view of half the roosting area. ingestion of mercury (McCrimmon Jr. et Twice a month (15 and 30 ), one or al., 2011). Development continues to be more keepers heads to the canal to common throughout the state of Florida, record the current roost population of including theme park improvements, ibis and great egrets. The study time which highlights the importance of starts at 30 minutes before sunset and designing developments in a manner ends at 15 minutes post-sunset. We that supports wading bird habitat if include any birds already roosted when their populations are to be conserved in we arrive then add in all those who fly the long-term. in. I was trained on bird identification ® and study protocols by a member of the This non-breeding roost at Disney’s Conservation team. I then facilitated Animal Kingdom was historically found the training of the other researchers on the canal system directly next to using a bird identification PowerPoint, where Pandora was being built, but after practice studies, and direct observation. construction began the birds moved We focus specifically on white ibis, great closer to Dinoland; construction took egrets, and little blue herons but record place from February 2014 through May all avian species. We occasionally see 2017. From February 2014 until April anhingas, hawks, , , cattle 2016, retail employees counted the egrets, green herons, and snowy egrets. Guest interaction supplies. number of wading birds that landed Many of the zookeepers have a favorite Photo by M. Johnson in the roosting area from the Dinoland among the rarer species; mine is the bridge; they were doing this on behalf . I am drawn to the mix of is the year-round availability of food from The persistence of this roost is unusual theme park guests and animal exhibits. In for a nomadic species like the white ibis. the absence of humans, food availability However, food availability, consistent (consisting primarily of freshwater water levels, and absence of predators crustaceans) is driven by short-term all likely play a role in the stability of the rainfall events and the seasonal wet and roost. Even though the numbers of birds dry periods (Beerens et al., 2011) but fluctuates, the fact that both species are food is always available to birds which are present throughout the year make it ideal willing to scavenge, beg, or steal food from for guest interactions. I have turned my other animals or humans. Also,® there is an passion for birds and my commitment to absence of large mammalian predators this research study into an activity that at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as these engages both zookeepers and guests in animals are prevented from entering the wadingReferences bird conservation. park by an electric fence system. There are ibis at the roost year-round, though it is unknown whether the same individuals Bancroft, G.T., Gawlik, D.E., and Rutchey, are present throughout the year. K. 2002. Distribution of wading birds Waterbirdsrelative to vegetation 25(3) and water depths in Additionally, large numbers of juvenile ibis the northern Everglades of Florida, USA. are observed coming in after the breeding :265-391. Night vision picture of the roost. season which points to the suitability and Beerens, J.M., Gawlik, D.E., Herring, G, Photo by M. Johnson. security that this location provides. and Cook, M.I. 2011. Dynamic habitat selection by two wading bird speciesAmerican Ornithologicalwith divergent Society foraging 128(4) strategies in a I want to share the enthusiasm my team seasonally fluctuating wetland. has for these birds with guests by involving :651-662. them in our research and sharing our Frederick, P.C., Bildstein, K.L., Fleury, B., and While the Dinoland canal bank is tucked personal history with the roost. I designed Ogden,Eudocimus J. 1996. albus Conservation of Large, down in the trees, these bridge locations ConservationNomadic Populations Biology 10(1) of White Ibises a presentation in Keynote - that uses an were in guest areas. This is where the ( ) in the United States. iPad - along with binoculars, a laminated :203-216. idea of teaching guests about our study study sheet, and a dry erase marker. My Frederick, P.C. and Ogden, J.C. 1997. Philopatry was born as there was a lot of interest goal is to show that science is not hard and and nomadism: contrasting long-term in what we were doing on the bridges movement behavior and population can be accessible to everyone. We engage Colonial Waterbirds 20(2) with our binoculars. After five months dynamics of white ibises and wood . guests on the Dinoland bridge because in this location, the ibis returned to the :316-322. it affords the closest view of the birds Frederick, P., Gawlik, D.E., Ogden, J.C., Cook, Dinoland location. coming in to roost. Zookeepers highlight M.I., and Lusk, M. 2009. The whiteEcological ibis and the physical differences between the white Indicatorswood 9(6) as indicators for restoration We recorded anywhere from 0 to a high of the everglades ecosystem. ibis and the great egret. Then they talk of 949 white ibis and 107 great egrets. :S83-S95. about how we count birds of various sized Gawlik, D.E., Slack, D., Thomas, J.A., and The lowest days were attributable to cold groups using the sampling method. Guests Harpole, D. 1998. Long-term trends in or inclement weather. This same pattern are given the survey sheet and writing population andColonial community Waterbirds measures 21(2): of was observed while monitoring a roost at colonial-nesting waterbirds in Galveston implement and allowed to participate as another location; the ibis failed to show Bay estuary. long as they are interested. When time up during unusually cold or rainy weather. 143-151. is a constraint, we take our night vision Kushlan, J.A. 1986. Responses of wadingColonial The ebb and flow of the population unit to the bridge location and allow Waterbirdsbirds to seasonally 9(2) fluctuating water matches up with ®the breeding season guests to view the roost in a different way. levels: strategies and their limits. for each species. The roost at Disney’s :155-162. I’ve noticed that adults are more likely Animal Kingdom has persisted for over Kushlan, J.A. and Bildstein, K.L. (2009, to engage with keepers while they are February 11). White Ibis. Retrieved from five years which is unusual for such a doing research on the bridges. This is an https://birdsna.org/ nomadic species. This may be related to interesting observation because many of McCrimmon Jr., D.A., Ogden, J.C., and Bancroft, the constant water levels in the canal as G.T. (2011, April 21). Great Egret. Retrieved our other guest interactions are geared Beerens, Gawlik, Herring, and Cook (2011) from https://birdsna.org/ at children. It is an important reminder showed that habitat selection is heavily Melvin, S.L., Gawlik, D.E., andWaterbird Scharff, T.Society 1999. to make sure the conservation messages 22(3)Long-term movement patterns for seven predicted by water depth and Bancroft, appeal to a broad audience. The takeaway species of wading birds. Gawlik, and Rutchey (2002) found that conservation message is that we do not :411-416. water depth and vegetation community Rumbold, D.G., Morrison, M., and Bruner, know where these birds feed during the affects the abundance of wading birds. M.C. 2009. Assessing the ecological risk day or where their breeding location is of a municipal solid waste landfill to Less than 30% of ibis colonies are active Environmental Indicators 4 so it is important to conserve all types of surrounding wildlife: a case study in Florida. for more than five years, due to the food habitats. :246-279. supply, habitat degradation, and predation Smith, J.P. 1995. ForagingThe sociability Wilson Bulletin of nesting risk (Frederick & Ogden, 1997; Rumbold 107(3)wading birds (ciconiiformes) at Lake et al., 2009). Another reason for the Okeechobee, Florida. :437,451. consistent presence of these wading birds