TAG Annual Report

Anseriformes TAG Annual Report Date: 7/15/19

*** Please note that Annual Reports must be digitally submitted to the AZA Conservation & Science Department ([email protected]) and the TAG’s WCMC Liaison no later than July 15. *** Please adjust the tables as necessary to accommodate complete answers. *** This template is available in a digitized Word form at https://www.aza.org/templates-and-applications

1. Please provide a list of the most current TAG Steering Committee members and Advisors.

NAME ROLE INSTITUTION EMAIL Keith Lovett Chair Buttonwood Park Zoo [email protected] Steve Sarro Vice-Chair National Zoo [email protected] Ian Gereg Vice-Chair Philadelphia Zoo [email protected] Vacant Secretary Vacant Treasurer Tammy Stanton SC Member Busch Gardens Tampa [email protected] Sunny Nelson SC Member Lincoln Park Zoo [email protected] Jamie Toste SC Member Minnesota Zoo [email protected] Charles Cerbini SC Member Toledo Zoo [email protected] Yvonne Stainback SC Member Caldwell Zoo [email protected] Michael Quavillon SC Member Brevard Zoo [email protected] Aquarium of the Bill Robles SC Member [email protected] Americas Joanna Klass SC Member Woodland Park Zoo [email protected] Andrea DeMuth SC Member Brookgreen Gardens [email protected] Charlotte Carruth SC Member Knoxville Zoo [email protected] Ian Shelley SC Member Maryland Zoo [email protected] Jacob Kraemer SC Member Pinola Conservancy [email protected]

Michael Lubbock Advisor Sylvan Heights [email protected]

Michael Mace Conservation Advisor San Diego Zoo Global [email protected] Kim Cook, DVM Veterinary Advisor Akron Zoo [email protected] Chris Dold APM Committee Liaison SeaWorld [email protected]

2. Please list any new or revised statements or guidelines that the TAG has adopted in the past year (note that new or revised Policies, Position Statements, White Papers, and Guidelines must be approved by the AZA Board of Directors). N/A

3. Please attach an updated, Programs Summary Table (See Table 3 in the TAG Handbook, p. 47-51 for more information).

Animal Programs Summary Table

Common Name Date of Current Current Projected % SSP 5 Year Space Recent 5 USFWS ( ) Last Population Number of GD at 100 Program Target Needed Year IUCN PVA/B&T Size (N) Participating years or 10 Designation Population (target Population CITES Plan AZA generations** Size population Trend Member size (increasing, Institutions minus decreasing, current or stable) space)

Swan 2019 44.58 14 71% Yellow SSP 100 -2 Increasing Not Listed ( Vulnerable cygnoides) Not Listed African pygmy 2018 52.44.13 28 67% Yellow SSP 150 41 Increasing Not Listed goose Least (Nettapus auritus) Concern Not Listed Indian pygmy 2018 26.21 11 54.2% Red SSP 75 28 Stable Not Listed goose (Nettapus Least coromandelianus) Concern Not Listed Marbled teal 2018 153.125.8 41 Cannot Yellow SSP 250 -36 Increasing Not Listed (Marmaronetta Calculate Vulnerable angustirostris) Not Listed Madagascar teal 2019 52.53 18 70% Yellow SSP 100 -5 Increasing Not Listed (Anas bernieri) Endangered Appendix II

Red-breasted 2019 77.58 22 79.7% Yellow SSP 100 -35 Increasing Not Listed goose ( Vulnerable ruficollis) Appendix II

Orinoco goose Never 26.19.1 18 NA Red SSP 100 54 Decreasing Not Listed (Neochen jubata) planned Near Threatened Not Listed

Southern 2018 51.42.4 44 88.5% Yellow SSP 150 53 Decreasing Not Listed Screamer Least (Chauna Concern torquata) Not Listed

West Indian 2017 40.41 20 NA Yellow SSP 100 19 Increasing Not Listed whistling duck Cant ZIMS – Vulnerable (Dendrocygna update 26.22 Appendix II arborea)

Spotted whistling 2019 55.55.8 19 NA Yellow SSP 60 -27 Increasing Not Listed duck Least (Dendrocygna Concern guttata) Not Listed

Coscoroba Never 12.11 3 in 35 NA Yellow SSP 75 49 Increasing Not Listed (Coscoroba planned ZIMS Least coscoroba) Concern Appendix II

Trumpeter swan 2018 40.44.2 33 Cannot Yellow SSP 150 64 Decreasing Not Listed (Cygnus calculate Least buccinator) Concern Not Listed

Nene goose 2018 36.34.3 19 50.1% Yellow SSP 150 77 Decreasing Endangered (Branta Vulnerable sandvicensis) Appendix I

White-winged 2016 36.41 10 Cannot Yellow SSP 150 73 Decreasing Endangered duck (Asarcornis Calculate Endangered scutulata) Appendix I

Baer’s pochard Never 53.50 21 TBD Candidate TBD TBD Increasing Not Listed (Aythya baeri) Planned Program Not Listed

Scaly-sided Never 30.39.12 13 TBD Candidate TBD TBD Increasing Not Listed merganser Planned Program Endangered ( Not Listed squamatus)

** Data for GD at 100 years was taken from the most recent Breeding and Transfer Plan listed on the chart

4. Please attach an updated Animal Program Summary Table with Roles, Goals, and Essential Action items. (see Table 4 in the TAG Handbook, p. 47-51 for more information). Please provide the action steps the TAG/SSP is taking, or intends to take, in order to achieve each identified goal, and indicate an approximate timeline for these actions.

Program Roles, Goals and Essential Actions Table

Common Name/Scientific Name Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Post interim Breed and Transfer plan (I am currently on a wait list with the PMC) Progress towards Goal #1 Swan goose studbook and Breeding and Transfer Plan published June 2019 Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Continue to work with AZA institutions to identify new spaces for breeding and same sex flocks Progress Toward Goal #2 Added 1 new participating institution Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Progress toward Goal #3 ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goa l#1/Essential Action 2019 Recruit at least 2 new institutions to participate in the SSP program Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Update studbook Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Continue to work on encouraging zoos to replace domestic goose exhibits with swan geese

Common Name/Scientific Name African pygmy goose (Nettapus auritus) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Increase reproductive output via dissemination of husbandry survey results and hand-rearing resources by developing a hand-rearing survey by December 2018 Progress towards Goal #1 Husbandry survey results have been summarized and are now being formatted for dissemination. Hand-rearing survey is in development. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Increase/avoid loss of genetic diversity via improved communication with IRs to create timely transfer recommendations and minimize moves not recommended by the SSP Progress Toward Goal #2 Almost all transfers have been coordinated through the SSP. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Compile information on morbidity and mortality trends by soliciting necropsy/histopath information from holding institutions Progress toward Goal #3 No progress ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Increase reproductive output via dissemination of husbandry survey results by August 2019 and hand-rearing resources by distributing a hand-rearing survey by September 2019. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Retain in the SSP/managed population by making more timely transfer recommendations and minimizing moves not recommended by the SSP by soliciting new holders and updating the wait list by July 2019. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Compile information on morbidity and mortality trends by soliciting necropsy/histopath information from holding institutions starting in June 2019 with monthly follow-up emails.

Common Name/Scientific Name Indian pygmy goose (Nettapus coromandelianus) Animal Program Designation Red SSP Primary Role Education Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Increase reproductive output via dissemination of husbandry survey results and hand-rearing resources by developing a hand-rearing survey by December 2018 Progress towards Goal #1 Husbandry survey results have been summarized and are now being formatted for dissemination. Hand-rearing survey is in development.

Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Increase/avoid loss of genetic diversity via improved communication with IRs to create timely transfer recommendations and minimize moves not recommended by the SSP Progress Toward Goal #2 Almost all transfers have been coordinated through the SSP. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Compile information on morbidity and mortality trends by soliciting necropsy/histopath information from holding institutions Progress toward Goal #3 No progress ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Increase reproductive output via dissemination of husbandry survey results by August 2019 and hand-rearing resources by distributing a hand-rearing survey by September 2019. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Retain animals in the SSP/managed population by making more timely transfer recommendations and minimizing moves not recommended by the SSP by soliciting new holders and updating the wait list by July 2019. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Compile information on morbidity and mortality trends by soliciting necropsy/histopath information from holding institutions starting in June 2019 with monthly follow-up emails.

Common Name/Scientific Name Marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Recruit four additional holders, ideally for single-sex flocks, able to hold 6-10 each. Progress towards Goal #1 Five new holders have come online during/since the most recent Plan. We still lack a Vice Coordinator for this program Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Work with San Diego Zoo Global genetics team to identify potential differences in teal from different region in Mediterranean: if we continue to treat the eastern and western populations of this species as distinct populations, can we verify that there are genetic differences? This will necessitate identification and collection of appropriate genetic samples, likely from museum specimens, so that analysis may be performed (at a cost to the SSP, necessitating identification of a funding source) Progress Toward Goal #2 No progress has been made utilizing SDZG genetics team, but genetic work in Europe may allow us to accomplish the same objective; see Goal 3. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 If/once we can identify any genetic variation between the two wild populations, we should consider testing some captive birds; this will allow us to identify the most likely wild source of SSP birds, with long-term implications for SSP strategic planning Progress toward Goal #3 Recent contacts with Kolner Zoo, Opel Zoo, and nonprofit partners on Mallorca indicate that AZA zoos may be able to participate in future release of Marbled Teal to the wild, pending verification of the genetic origins of the North American population. We are talking to the genetics laboratory of the University of the Balearic Islands to have a genetic study of some breeding pairs of the entities that want to participate in the project. When the laboratory tells us what kind of samples they need for the analysis, we will ask you to provide us with some samples of your reproducers that we will compare with Western Mediterranean specimens ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Identify a Vice Coordinator for this SSP Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Follow up with Mallorcan colleagues, once parameters are set, with the hopes of submitting required genetic samples so that AZA zoos can send birds to the wild. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Once parameters are set, I would like to identify five AZA institutions willing to both collect the requested samples, and breed/provide birds (if appropriate) to EAZA for release.

Common Name/Scientific Name Madagascar teal (Anas bernieri) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Finding new facilities to house Mad Teals. Needing non-breeding holding facilities Progress towards Goal #1 Several Facilities have joined the Mad Teal SSP, however several current facilities have dropped the species or looking to remove the species from their collection. There is very little interest in breeding from most facilities, Most of the population is currently being housed in non-breeding situations. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Placing surplus offspring. Non-breeding or same sex flocks Progress Toward Goal #2 Very little progress has been made in finding placement for the surplus population of Mad Teals. Several facilities have switched to same sex flocks with great success, however the aggression from same sex pairs is still present. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Progress toward Goal #3 ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Discuss with Waterfowl TAG and/or Curators better housing and management strategies for the species. Convince facilities to exhibit the species with larger species (animals that can hold their own with other aggressive species), this is not limited to just species. Convince facilities to exhibit the species in areas with a varied temperature (outdoor setting) to prevent the species from being in a full breeding mode year round (to reduce the aggression during breeding). Within the next 2 years, have a new management plan for institutions to utilize. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Summit and complete The Madagascar Teal Breeding and Transfer Plan By December 2019 Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Continue over the next year looking for new facilities to participate in the Mad Teal SSP. Both non-breeding and breeding

Common Name/Scientific Name Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Initiate ASAG website Red-breasted goose page to compile husbandry and breeding reference material and photos. Recruit SSP participants to contribute information Progress towards Goal #1 Reference material and photos were worked into the studbook instead. Continuing to gather information from SSP participants and will update the studbook accordingly. Will revisit creation of PDF for ASAG website at a later date. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Develop in situ goal for SSP: Support The Action Plan for Conservation of Red-breasted Goose in Bulgaria by providing financial support or other resources. Add Action Plan information to the ASAG Red-breasted Goose site. Progress Toward Goal #2 The SSP Program Leader will be going to Bulgaria in January/February 2020 to help with monitoring efforts in situ. <$2,000 total has been granted from both the Woodland Park Zoo and the Puget Sound AAZK Chapter to aid in the LIFE for Safe Flight project and anti-poaching patrols in Bulgaria. A presentation on work currently being done by the AEWA IWG was given at both IWWA’s 2018 Future of Waterfowl Conservation Workshop and AZA Midyear 2019. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Complete annual update of the studbook by 1 January 2019, send and schedule update of breeding and transfer plan. Include Non AZA institutions that meet AZA requirements. Progress toward Goal #3 Completed studbook update and B&T plan in February 2019. Hemker GF, LRWC, and Clayton Botkin were included in this plan. New Population Biologist taking population on, so planning will occur again after this 2019 breeding season. Scheduled for 22 September 2019 with Colleen Lynch. ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Work with Dr. Nicky Petkov of the AEWA RBGO IWG to complete the AZA Research Proposal Form at Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) in order to assist in testing of new GPS collar models with the WPZ flock in conjunction with Durrell. Complete and submit form to WPZ by 1 June 2019. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Add at least 2 new holders to the program in order to allow for increased reproduction. Send out AIG Listserv feeler email by 1 July 2019, and reach out to select facilities by 1 August 2019 if initial email does not drum up any interest. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Secure Sustainability Partnership with Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy (LRWC). Hemker GF will be dropped for now and Clayton Botkin will be used as an occasional transfer partner but will not be included in the formal BTP. Complete application for LRWC by 1 June 2019 and submit materials by 1 July 2019.

Common Name/Scientific Name (Neochen jubata) Animal Program Designation Red SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Breeding/transfer planning session (September 10, 2018) Progress towards Goal #1 Completed Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Establish breeding pairs at institutions so next breeding season we can start increasing population size. Progress Toward Goal #2 Breeding pairs have been established Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Continue to try and make contact with institutions I have not heard from Progress toward Goal #3 Have not heard from some institutions after several attempts. Those institutions are on ZIMs so I can at least track any deaths. ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Touch base with institutions who are involved in transfers, to ensure that transfers are moving ahead. If transfers are not, follow up on their plans. Check in beginning of June and end of August (before shipments start to slow down due to weather). Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Work on getting familiar with ZIMs for studbooks throughout this year as studbook has been put in for early testing. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Contact non-accredited partner to start process for them to become a sustainable partner. Have necessary paper work completed for submittal by September.

Common Name/Scientific Name Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Continue working to recruit new holders in order for the SSP to grow closer to target size of 150. Progress towards Goal #1 Every time a new holder is identified, an institution is looking to exit the program, so increasing facilities has been difficult. Will be losing 4 non-AZA facilities when Sustainability Partnership regulations are fully implemented, but birds will be kept in the studbook. Added Texas State Aquarium and Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy (LRWC) to the holders list. Lost Denver, Atlanta, and Santa Barbara. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Continue working with refining in ovo sexing techniques for this species and encouraging facilities to try same-sex bachelor groups in an attempt to even out the male-biased sex ratio. Progress Toward Goal #2 Woodland Park Zoo, Birmingham Zoo, and San Diego Zoo have all successfully utilized this technique to select for female offspring. A bias towards males still exists, but it is lessening. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Compile data related to chick mortality within the SSP and identify potential improvements to husbandry and chick rearing. It has proven challenging for multiple institutions. Eventually publish in next couple years. Progress toward Goal #3 Began soliciting necropsy reports for chicks that died before reaching ~8-12 weeks of age. Sent out survey to holders regarding chick diet and their success with rearing techniques. Received a response rate of ~75% from facilities with experience breeding screamers (~50% of total holders). ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Continue working to recruit new holders in order for the SSP to grow closer to target size of 150. Identify at least 2 new holders by 31 December 2019. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Complete Sustainability Partnership applications for LRWC, Hemker GF, and BREC by 31 December 2019 or when a deadline is determined by AZA. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Continue chick mortality research. Reach out to Dr. Michael Garner, DVM at Northwest ZooPath by 1 July 2019 to possibly visit the lab and gauge interest in partnering on this project.

Common Name/Scientific Name West Indian whistling duck (Dendrocygna arborea) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Compile breeding and husbandry info from institutions that have successful breeding Progress towards Goal #1 Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Look into EAZA WIWD population viability and import options Progress Toward Goal #2 Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Complete studbook update and publication Progress toward Goal #3 ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Attend studbook school by the end of 2020 and update the studbook by May 15th 2021 Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Solicit information on nests, incubation, and rearing from successful breeding institutions and compile it into a master document by February 15th 2020 Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Assess full-winged vs. pinioned birds within the current population and track needs for the future of the population. Communicate with current facilities on whether they can house full-winged birds or require pinioned birds to assess future needs of the population. This information will be compiled in a document by December 15th 2019. Record within the studbook whether each bird is pinioned of full-winged. To be completed as the studbook is updated by May 15th 2021

Common Name/Scientific Name Spotted whistling duck (Dendrocygna guttata) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Update the studbook (including Pinola for the first time). Progress towards Goal #1 Completed - updated studbook has been published. Breeding and transfer plan was also published, elevating this species to Yellow SSP Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Discuss the possibility of beginning an Animal Care Manual for Dendrocygna with the WIWD program. Progress Toward Goal #2 Discussion about ACMs was initiated at midyear meeting. The TAG is deciding what approach to take with ACMs - Ian Gereg has taken the lead on that project, and I have expressed my willingness to help with Waterfowl ACMs when he feels ready to move forward Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Progress toward Goal #3 ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Maintain AZA population at current level of 100-120 birds so as not to take up exhibit spaces that could potentially go to other AZA managed small/medium- sized Asian waterfowl species in greater need of exhibit spaces. When approached by new facilities, ask if they have considered those species (white-winged wood duck, Indian pygmy goose, scaly-sided merganser, Baer's pochard) first. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Collect data from current and historic holders to develop a list of mixed- species combinations that this species has been maintained in (noting successes and failures) for inclusion as an appendix in the next Studbook to serve as a resource for facilities planning on adding this species to aviaries. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 By June 2020, make the transition from the studbook being maintained on PopLink to being maintained on ZIMS in order to improve the accuracy and timeliness of future updates.

Common Name/Scientific Name Coscoroba swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Get all zoos to comply with our recommendations. Transfer birds to and from their new facilities to set up breeding pairs. Progress towards Goal #1 Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Breed as many female birds as possible (if sexing is possible) otherwise we will take males too. Progress Toward Goal #2 Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Get institutions involved that might have room for a pair. There seems to be a lot of interest. Progress toward Goal #3 ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Switch my studbook over to ZIMS in the next couple months.

Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Grow my population and extend out to other Zoos over the next year. Look at the possibility of growing my population by bringing birds in from zoos in South America. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Add sustainability partners to my studbook, if possible by the end of the year.

Common Name/Scientific Name Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Publish the studbook by November 2018 Progress towards Goal #1 Studbook published in September 2018 Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Continue the genetic testing project and secure funding for the second phase of the project by fundraising and applying for grants. Progress Toward Goal #2 Funding for the second phase of the genetic testing project fully secured. Received ASAG Grant in January 2019. There are still several Zoos that need to submit samples by spring 2020. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 I would like to try to seek out more facilities that have the potential to hold young /rehab swans that can be placed in the population at any time so the SSP is not always relying on the current years hatch to provide birds to interested stakeholders. This would also allow facilities to potentially acquire older birds that are closer to breeding age. Progress toward Goal #3 I have identified two institutions that could hold extra swans. One is non-AZA so this could create future challenges until they are certified as a sustainability partner. ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Try to get as many zoos as possible to collect blood samples in 2019 to make sure the genetic testing project is completed by spring 2020. Participating institutions will continue to be reminded about sample collection, I will continue to fill out all necessary paperwork to move collection forward (collections protocols, IUCAC forms), I will continue to touch base with geneticist to make sure things are moving forward with analysis. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Attend the 2019 Trumpeter Swan Society conference in November 2019. Present on Zoo Conservation and the Trumpeter Swan SSP Program. Network with DNR’s/USFWS to form a stronger partnership with these organizations to move conservation efforts forward. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Place as many swans as possible in 2019 at institutions that have either a lone swan or are interested in acquiring a pair. This will be completed by holding back 2019 hatch cygnets from SSP population, working with rehabs and working with SSP partners that have surplus swans. Continue working with SSP partners to acquire Rocky Mountain Population swans when available to get more of the pure bloodline in zoos.

Common Name/Scientific Name Nene goose (Branta sandvicensis) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Increase interest in the species across the board and bring on facilities as non-AZA Sustainability partners. Progress towards Goal #1 Hempker Park & Zoo and Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will be joining the SSP this year and beyond. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Keep pushing this species in AZA facilities, more have dropped the species. Progress Toward Goal #2 Struggling to keep this population sustainable in AZA facilities, breeding is not the problem, it is finding new facilities to hold. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Speak to USFW of HI about Nene goose populations/ breeding and releasing programs. Progress toward Goal #3 USFW has made the decision to no longer breed and release birds UFN. Populations are not sustaining themselves on their own and need help. Hawaii does not allow birds to be imported and as of early 2018 Honolulu Zoo is not allowed to export to the mainland US. Have collaborated with the Trumpeter Swan program to find the best way to do this. Currently writing up an action plan and will be reaching out to Hawaii USFW with hopes of receiving good news. ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Bring on Hempker Park & Zoo and Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo as sustainable partners by 12/1/19 Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Reach out and propose a breed and release program with Hawaii USFW for AZA and Wild birds by 9/1/19 Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Increase the number of participating AZA institutions by at least two by 9/1/19

Common Name/Scientific Name White-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata) Animal Program Designation Yellow SSP Primary Role Research, Education & Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Increase breeding success outside of Sylvan Heights. Progress towards Goal #1 Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Continue TB and add genetic studies of the captive population. Progress Toward Goal #2 Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Bring together stakeholders for a formal planning meeting in Assam with CPSG. Progress toward Goal #3 ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 No response from Program Leader Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 No response from Program Leader Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 No response from Program Leader

Common Name/Scientific Name Baer’s pochard (Aythya baeri) Animal Program Designation Candidate Program Primary Role Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Full funding of DNA study. Progress towards Goal #1 Study has been fully funded by holders of Baer’s Pochard in North America. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Acquire most of the blood sampling prior to submission of CGF for increased leverage. Progress Toward Goal #2 Sampling is now complete, a total of 2 birds were not sampled, one at PPZ, one at Sylvan Heights. DNA has been abstracted from all samples. A total of 141 living birds will be sent to the sequencing lab the week of June 17 for analyzing. We no longer need to pursue CGF. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Publish the husbandry manual joint with WWT for BAPO to offer globally. Progress toward Goal #3 Unfortunately no progress has been made on this goal ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Using the results of the DNA analysis, analyze the data against studbook pedigree with PMC adjunct Tom Ness in order to publish a breeding and transfer plan to be released prior to the 2020 breeding season (Feb/Mar 2020). Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Produce a husbandry manual joint with WWT and EU studbook keeper to offer globally. By June 2020, have chapters written on general husbandry guidelines to assist a holder of the species ex situ. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Publish the studbook, transfer to ZIMS, and submit sustainability partners as required.

Common Name/Scientific Name Scaly-sided merganser (Mergus squamatus) Animal Program Designation Candidate Program Primary Role Conservation Goal #1/Essential Actions 2018 Complete publication of first Scaly-sided Merganser studbook before the end of the year. Progress towards Goal #1 The first Scaly-sided Merganser Studbook was published earlier this year. Goal #2/Essential Actions 2018 Identify two new institutions willing to house and breed this species. Progress Toward Goal #2 Two new institutions have been identified, but transfers are pending. Goal #3/Essential Actions 2018 Increase collaborative work with private holders to incorporate these birds into the studbook and import more birds into the AZA population from private holdings. Progress toward Goal #3 Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy is interested in collaborating as a non-AZA sustainability partner for this species. I will be working with this facility on this. ADD NEW GOALS BELOW: Goal #1/Essential Action 2019 Complete a husbandry document for the species to offer to new institutions joining the program by the end of 2019. The document will include all aspects of husbandry including housing, feeding, breeding management, hand-rearing, etc. Goal #2/Essential Action 2019 Increase participating facilities. Identify three new AZA-accredited institutions to house and breed the Scaly-sided Merganser by September 2019. Goal #3/Essential Action 2019 Increase participating institution support for the Scaly-sided Merganser Task Force. Receive TAG endorsement by the end of July 2019. Encourage financial support from two additional institutions by the end of 2019.

5. Optional: Please list any field conservation, research projects, and/or special accomplishments that have been supported and/or conducted by the TAG in the past year.

 The red-breasted goose SSP Program Leader will be going to Bulgaria in January/February 2020 to help with monitoring efforts in situ. ~$2,000 total has been granted from both the Woodland Park Zoo and the Puget Sound AAZK Chapter to aid in the LIFE for Safe Flight project and anti-poaching patrols in Bulgaria. This work is endorsed by the TAG. A presentation on work currently being done by the AEWA IWG was given at both IWWA’s 2018 Future of Waterfowl Conservation Workshop and AZA Midyear 2019. A research request for testing GPS harnesses on birds held in zoological institutions is currently in the works for late 2019-early 2020.

 $5,000 from the Minnesota Zoo Foundation’s Ulysses S. Seal Grant was sent for a project in Myanmar titled “Monitoring the status of Baer’s Pochard in Myanmar: wintering numbers and distribution.” As well as $1,000 from the Puget Sound AAZK Chapter Conservation Grant Committee (via Joanna Klass) was sent to support the project and to cover the Bank transfer fees.

 In 2019, nine Zoos in the Trumpeter Swan SSP provided cygnets for release supporting the Iowa restoration program. Eight Zoos attended the release along with hundreds of school children and the general public. There were three releases at different lakes in southern Iowa with a total of twenty swans released. Currently, southern Iowa has two nesting pairs with the goal of eight nesting pairs. In addition to the releases, several Zoos along with the Iowa DNR visited a local elementary school to help teach second and fifth graders about swan conservation. Educational activities were brought by Kansas City Zoo with other Zoos assisting in the facilitation. The ASAG Grant was awarded to secure the remaining funds needed to complete the trumpeter swan genetic testing project. This project is a collaboration between the Trumpeter Swan SSP and The Trumpeter Swan Society to potentially give Zoos the opportunity to participate in a restoration program in the Greater Yellowstone area that is in critical need. Thirteen Zoos have submitted samples for genetic testing and there is an estimated thirteen more Zoos that need to submit samples by spring of 2020. Genetic analysis of the samples already submitted has begun and will be completed by late spring 2020.

 The TAG supports efforts to save the Brazilian Merganser, a critically with a wild population under 250 birds. As part of this recovery project, conservation teams have been continuing their efforts to locate and track breeding Brazilian mergansers through some of the most remote river habitat. When a healthy nest is discovered, the teams remove a few of the and transport them back to Zooparque Itatiba in , leaving the rest to hatch with the parents in the wild. In 2015, the teams were able to collect a total of eight eggs from two different nest sites, and successfully raised all eight ducklings back at the zoo. Should the habitat for wild Brazilian Mergansers continue to degrade, the birds housed at Zooparque Itatiba will ensure that this species does not disappear altogether. Ideally, their offspring may also help bolster wild populations in the future. The first breeding of Brazilian Merganser in human care produced four parent- hatched ducklings on 8 July 2017 at Zooparque Itatiba. $4,500 from the Minnesota Zoo Foundation’s Ulysses S. Seal Grant at was sent for a project titled “Brazilian Merganser Captive Reproduction Project” in 2017.

 White-winged duck (WWD) avian tuberculosis (TB) research, Kim Cook, Akron Zoo. Dr. Cook continues to test and monitor the captive WWD populations in AZA with particular emphasis on the birds at Sylvan Heights Bird Park and Hiram College. Dr. Cook assesses the overall health of the population while working to develop a more effective testing program for TB in WWD.

 Akron Zoo is supporting Dustin Foote with Sylvan Heights and East Carolina University, PhD genetic work through grant funding and provision of genetic materials. The project entails the preparation of a genomic library and sequencing of captive population of White-Winged Wood ducks in the USA and Europe, and also in the wild. Efforts to captive breed this species for conservation has been hampered by its high susceptibility to avian TB infection, and this project seeks to understand the causes for this high susceptibility.

 Akron Zoo also continues to support ongoing field conservation efforts in India which involves community awareness building and field surveys. Dr. Cook travelled to Assam early in 2018 to survey the study area, to talk with the community, and to begin to bring together a number of stakeholders. Grant applications have been submitted in an effort to convene a formal planning group involving multiple stakeholders and CPSG in 2019.

6. I have conducted an annual review of all SSP Sustainability Reports under my purview.