Magazine of the NC Zoo Society www.nczoo.com

Summer 2018 :: 1 THIS ISSUE...

Summer 2018 Issue No. 93

­SOCIETY BOARD MICHAEL J. FISHER Chair Dear Readers: Greensboro MARJORIE M. RANKIN This issue is about Animals and the Outdoors. Secretary Asheboro f you like either or both, you JOHN RUFFIN can find lots of reasons to visit Treasurer the North Carolina Zoo. Always Winston-Salem Iremarkable for its wildlife, vistas, and RICHARD W. CARROLL Cary natural habitats, the Zoo becomes NICOLE CRAWFORD even more spectacular during its “high Durham season,” when warm temperatures BILL CURRENS, JR. Charlotte open up possibilities for cozying up SUMNER FINCH to wildlife or taking on a few outdoor High Point challenges. SCOTT JONES The first four pages of this issue Further into the magazine, the Zoo’s Clemmons SCOTT E. REED outline some of these seasonal Big new Natural Science Curator talks Winston-Salem Happenings and supply Insider Tips about two formal education programs DAVID K. ROBB on the best ways to take advantage that the Zoo plans to implement this Charlotte­­­­ of these options. When it comes to fall. These programs—both made BARRY C. SAFRIT Greensboro pleasing toddlers and grandparents, as possible by a grant from Wells Fargo— MARGERY SPRINGER well as all the tweens, teens, and adults will enhance the Zoo’s educational Raleigh in between, our Zoo supplies a varied outreach by opening up structured KENT A. VARNER Charlotte menu of adventures and experiences discovery learning experiences at the DON F. WELLINGTON that families and friends can take on Zoo and by broadcasting educational Asheboro and enjoy together. programs using a social media plat- CHARLES M. WINSTON, JR. This issue also highlights some of form. As always, we also provide dates, Raleigh the animal encounters that the Zoo times, and descriptions of special CHERYL TURNER Executive Director opens up to visitors through its VIP events that the Zoo and the Zoo Society Assistant Secretary tour program (page 9) or through have placed on their high season chance encounters with a growing list calendars. EDITORIAL BOARD of animal ambassadors (page 10). Both Thank you for the support your Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Managing Editor stories also provide fascinating insights membership provides the Zoo. We De Potter, Design & Layout into the Zoo’s extensive animal enrich- hope to see you at the Zoo soon. John D. Groves ment and animal welfare programs. Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Managing Editor Corinne Kendall, Ph.D. Mark MacAllister

Tonya Miller ­The North Carolina Zoo is open every day of the year, except on Christmas Jb Minter, DVM Day. Summer admission hours begin on April 1 and extend from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Winter admission hours begin on November 1 and extend from 9 a.m. FPO/FSC Pat Simmons through 3 p.m. Standard admission prices are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors Dustin Smith and $11 for children. Zoo Society members and registered North Carolina school groups are admitted free. The Zoo offers free parking, free tram and Cheryl Turner shuttle service between parking lots, picnic areas, visitor rest areas, food Diane Villa service and gift shops. Financial information about the NC Zoo Angie Kahn,­­ Proofreader For information, call 1-800-488-0444. Society and a copy of its license are available The Zoo is a program of the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. The NC Zoo from the Charitable Solicitation Licensing Printed by Hickory Printing Solutions Society is the non-profit organization that supports the North Carolina Zoological Park Section at 888-830-4989. The license is not and its programs. Society offices are open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 336-879-7250 or logon to the Society’s Web page at nczoo.com. an endorsement by the State. 2 :: ALIVE TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 Big Happenings at the Zoo Exciting Zoo extras for all ages . . . . .Diane Villa, Contributing Editor 8 Save the Date: Zoo To Do 2018 Promises to be an "Enchanted Evening" 9 What’s All the Fuss About the VIP Aviary Tour? ...... Bria Stambaugh, Guest Contributor 10 Training Tales: A Prickly Situation Meet our Cape Porcupine ...... Cat Clauson, Guest Contributor 13 Spring Request You are the wind ...... Cheryl Turner, Contributing Editor 4 14 A Blueprint for Education New educational programming . . . Elizabeth Folta, Guest Contributor 17 All Aboard the Polar Bear Express! Coming to the Zoo depot again this November and December 17 Veterinary and Wild Science Camps for 2018 18 The Discovery Page: Eggs-ellent Design and Architecture Eggs come in a multitude of colors and shapes. Jayne Owen Parker, Editor BC More Zoo Extras and Add-Ons

Regular Features 8 Thank Yous 12 Travel 12 2018 Events 17 16 VIP Tours

14

COVER PHOTO

Cape Porcupine Natalie LeDonne

BIGSTOCK Summer 2018 :: 3 Big Happenings at the Zoo Diane Villa, Director of Communicationsiiiii

                              

oo-made memories belong in a class all by themselves. Nothing Dragonflyi says “fantastic” like watching a little Zone’s face light up when he or she stares into iPaddle Boatsi the eye of a giraffe or sees an elephant raise Audience: Appropriate for all ages its trunk and blare out a trumpet. These Requirements: Maximum weight allowed is 250 pounds moments stay fresh and warm throughout Cost: $3 per person (or one section of a Fun Ticket) a lifetime. Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily, April through October Already renowned for its quality guest (weather permitting) services; spacious natural habitats; and ..... remarkable and well cared for giants (African A cool and easy way for families to grab some quality time Elephants, White Rhinos, and Grizzly, Black with the kids! This trip works best if guests power down their and Polar bears­­), the North Carolina Zoo phones, pull on their life vests, climb aboard a 4-seater paddle is gaining a new reputation, too. It’s taking boat, and row, row, row across the beautiful North America on the mantle of a family-friendly place for lake. teens, tweens, and active adults who want to Comfortable and stable, our pontoon-style boats make dive into some exotic, often challenging, and boarding and paddling easy and come equipped with awnings that supply plenty of shade. Guests who want to drive or always fun outdoor adventures. paddle need to grab one of the two front seats. Guests more These add-on exploits pack variety into a interested in resting should settle into a back seat. typical Zoo visit and ensure that guests can tailor their experiences to meet the expec- tations of different ages, tastes, and activity levels. And, as the list of offerings continues to grow, Zoo administrators are finding ways to bundle some costs together to make them more affordable for families. Throughout the season, guests can buy a “Fun Ticket” package for $9 to acquire four tickets for the price of three. Guests are free to use these tickets in any order or combi- nation to ride the Carousel, enter the 4-D Theater, sail on the Paddle Boats, or climb up the Giraffe Deck. The following stories offer  Insider Tip: Guests seeking a leisurely paddle should a quick overview of the attractions currently schedule a morning boat trip. Crowds begin to gather around available at the Zoo. the boats in the afternoon.  4 :: ALIVE Zoofarii

Activity level: Easy and Exciting Audience: Everyone, but an adult must accompany anyone younger than 12. Shutterbugs—bring your cameras! Cost: $20 per person Hours: Thursday through Sunday, April through October; Zoofari departs the junction plaza at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and Kidzonei again at noon (weather permitting) Activity Level: Calm to High Energy ..... Audience: A premier, protected play space The open-air Zoofari ride takes visitors for 2- to 10-year old explorers and inside the Zoo’s Watani Grasslands to get playmates. Babies need to wear close to the antelopes, rhinoceros, and swim diapers. birds that occupy this 40-acre grassland habitat. An experienced guide Cost: Included with Zoo admission enriches every excursion with stories and facts about the elephants and Open: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day except other animals that guests encounter during this hour-long tour. Christmas Day (weather permitting)  ..... Insider Tips: • Tickets go on sale in Kidzone is the Zoo’s way of supporting the the Junction Plaza at national movement to reconnect children with 9 a.m. and usually sell nature by letting them play outside. This play- out early. Staff recom- ground encourages kids to just be kids by mends that guests buy laying out play zones that tempt them to climb their tickets first thing in up treetop trails, construct forts from sticks, the morning to ensure a splash around in a stream, or run through a place on the truck. rock maze. • Ticketed guests should Close encounters with Zoo animal ambas- go to the Junction Plaza sadors occur throughout the day (weather 30 minutes before their permitting). These keeper directed meet-and- tour time to ensure that greets introduce youngsters to the wildlife that they are seated in time for the vehicle’s departure. shares their neighborhoods. Youngsters learn • The animals tend to be most active during the morning, so staff recom- what these animals eat, where they shelter, mends that guests buy tickets for the 10 a.m. ride if possible.  how they protect themselves, and what people can do to help keep wildlife safe.  4-D Theatrei

Activity Level: Relaxed, Cool, & Comfortable Audience: Everyone that loves fun Cost: $3 per person or one section of a Fun Ticket Open 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily, April through October ..... Settle down in the Junction Plaza’s 42-seat special- effects theater to follow the adventures of Blu and Jewel, the world’s last two surviving Blue Macaws. When Blu and Jewel are captured by a gang of greedy bird smugglers, the birds work together to pull off a rip-roaring escape. Even though Blu cannot fly, the pair leads theater-goers on a thrilling 4-D journey through Rio de Janeiro to find courage, friendship and, maybe, even love along the way.  Summer 2018 :: 5 Air Hikei

Activity Level: Medium to High Audience: Active tweeners to healthy, fit adults Requirements: Must be 60 inches tall, or 48 inches tall and accompanied by someone at least Birds Galore!i 60 inches tall. Maximum weight allowed is 250 pounds. Climbers must wear closed-toed Activity Level: Seated and Excited! shoes and be dressed in shorts or long pants. Audience: Everyone—especially shutterbugs! Cost: $12 per person Cost: $3 per person (children under 2 are free) Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hours: Daily now through the end of October; Showtimes: daily, April through Monday through Friday are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; October (weather Weekends are 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. permitting) ...... This extraordinary, time-limited program, Birds in Flight, is the A safe, physical challenge Zoo’s answer to National Geographic’s declaration of 2018 that can lift spirits and as the Year of the Bird. An intimate and fast-paced 25-minute provide an elevated per- performance that showcases flocks of free-flying macaws, spective of the terrain that falcons, owls, hawks and other stretches between the birds as they voluntarily, and gorilla and lemur habitats. delightfully, take to the skies and to To stay safe, guests strap center stage to demonstrate their on full-body harnesses natural behaviors. before hoisting up to the  Insider Tip: Arrive 30 minutes top of some stately oaks ahead of show time to claim the and winding through a best seats. Located next to the course that cuts across Forest Aviary in the Africa region. 11 central platforms and  around 23 high-flying obstacles. Carouseli Experienced guides oversee the climbers and Activity Level: Serene and offer pointers to them as nostalgic they navigate over the Audience: The young and the Burma bridge, around a young at heart. (Parents spider web, and over a can stand next to a ticketed balance beam. A work out child to hold him or her that builds confidence and securely atop a favorite self-reliance!  animal.) Weight limit for riding an animal figure is 170 pounds. ADA compliant Cost: $3 per person or one section of a Fun Ticket Hours: Daily, April through October, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (weather permitting) ..... The Zoo’s Endangered Species Carousel circles in synchrony with recorded calliope music. Its hand-painted figures include zebras, bears, sea lions, elephants, gorillas and other exotic animal species. Small children can ride in a spinning tub shaped like a bird’s nest. A swan bench accommodates a wheelchair. Use one-fourth of a Fun Ticket for one ride, or the entire ticket to circle through four complete rides.  6 :: ALIVE Giraffe Decki

Activity level: Easy, Slow, and Delightful Audience: Everyone who’s ever dreamed of taking a selfie with a giraffe (Caution: Giraffes are known to slime the hands that feed them.) Cost: $3 per person or one section of Playgroundsi a Fun Ticket Activity level: Low to High Open: Daily now through October; Audience: Everyone with an imagination! 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cost: Included in Zoo admission (weather permitting) ..... Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day except Christmas Day (weather permitting) The Acacia Station Giraffe Deck rises to ..... put guests eye-to-eye with these long- The Zoo takes the business of play seriously. We know chil- legged giants to offer them a leafy treat. dren use play to grow strong, make friends, dream big, solve High and mighty, the deck also provides a problems, and build resilience, so we provide plenty of space to fresh treetop perspective of the lush zebra, encourage kids to climb, run, make-believe, splash, and swing. ostrich, and giraffe habitat. The backdrop The Garden Friends playground, next to Kidzone, is outfitted for makes for an interesting group photo. toddlers and the very young. Its garden ornaments include oversized bugs, giant gourds, and massive leaves, along with a giant spider web begging to be climbed. The playground’s “bouncy-walk” recycled rubber mulch keeps the area fun to walk through and soft to fall on. Another, relatively new playground near the gorilla habitat melds with a fallen 200-year old White Oak to give children a safe climbing place. The idea is to encourage human kids to mirror the play of nearby gorillas by swinging, balancing, and climbing on the tree’s remains. And, human climbers who grow tired are encouraged to curl up and relax inside the gorilla sleeping nest that the Zoo staff placed among the branches. Throughout the Park, large and small bronze, stone, and ceramic sculptures invite children and grownups to touch and wonder. Many of these artworks are  Insider Tips: both accessible and • Giraffes tend to rally around the deck in the suitable for climbing or morning, so staff recommends that guests visit picture posing. Take, early to increase their chances of catching a for example, The Hippo hungry giraffe. Pod clustered near the • The Zoo’s giraffes choose their own feeding Africa picnic area. The schedules and sometimes wander far from the pod’s three life-sized feeding deck. Be patient and look before you hippos are carved from go out on the deck to make sure a giraffe is cool Indiana limestone, waiting to be fed!  making them particu- larly inviting on a warm afternoon. Other cool sculptures serve our guests by spraying out a cooling mist during warmer weather. One walk- through mister sits near the polar bear overlook, and one is near the main elephant overlook.  Summer 2018 :: 7 Save the Date: Zoo To Do, our annual fundraising gala is set for Saturday, September 22.

Suited for the 21-and-older set, Zoo To Do 2018 will unfurl under the banner of Some Enchanted Evening. Guests will once again enjoy gourmet appetizers and dinner, an excellent selection of wines and domestic beers as well as non-alcoholic beverages. This year, too, expect visits from a few Zoo Animal Ambassadors. The evening’s live and silent auction items will include one-of-a-kind treasures from some of the region’s best-known artists as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences that are available only at the North Carolina Zoo.

Tickets are $125 each and will go on sale in August when the invitations will be mailed. Sponsorships are still available for individuals or businesses that want to support this important Zoo fundraiser. We provide Zoo To Do sponsors with reserved seating and recognize them in the event’s printed materials. Call Director of Donor Relations Lisa Smith, 336-879-7250; or Special Events Coordinator Karen Powell, 336-879-7262 to learn more.

NeoNova Network William & Martha Services, Inc. Scarborough Oliver Rubber Company Adah & Clay Shields Thank yous go out to the very generous donors who provided gifts of Pam HIll, Clerk of Court Talmadge and Ian $1,000 or more to the Society, 1/18/18 through 3/31/18. James & Hannah Pao Silversides PEG Contracting Inc. Mrs. Freida Smith & Ms. Advisors Financial Center CommScope, Inc. Gil & Dana Hartis Pfizer Radena Norman - Chris Griffin and Neal Cross Road Retirement Angela & Evan Helms Pinnacle Robert Smith & Brooke Griffin Community Bill & Ann Hoover Poppies International Inc Smith Asheboro Fire & Security Ms. Sue Daughtridge Donna Howard Carl and Mary Porchey Service Systems Mary & Mike Avinger Dr. Natalya Mendez DMD Ideacom Dr. Patricia Lynn Potter Associates SSA Jonathan Wilfong & Wendy Duke Energy Mrs. Martha Johnson & Progressive Business Streetlevel Media Baker Ennis-Flint Ms. Elizabeth Dozier Media Umair & Susan Tariq BB&T Rochelle & Jeff Firestone Brian & Caroline Kelly Pugh Funeral Home The Growing Place at First Mr. & Mrs. E. S. Bessette Food Lion The Law Office of Ben C. Randolph Communications Baptist Church BJ Con-Sew William H. and Muriel J. Morgan Randolph Health Thomas Tire & Automotive Blue Flint Animal Hospital Fox Endowment Fund Lowe’s Home Center of Randolph Health Truliant Federal Credit Boxer Electric Service Genie Frick Asheboro Community Foundation Union The Bridge Family Friends of the Randolph Dr. Lillian H. Macnell Rheem Heating & Cooling Turlington & Company, LLP Foundation County Library Mr. Gregory Marler & Mrs. RTI International Weiler Woods for Wildlife Ron & Cathy Butler Estate of Florence W Bridget Rasmussen Daphne Rupard Monty & Nancy White Fred E. & Jeanette D. Gilkeson Mr. Tom May Sacramento Zoological Rex & Karen Wilson Byerly Halifax County Convention McDowell Lumber Co. Society Robert & Jean Winfrey Capital Bank & Visitors Bureau Robby & Dana Mills Benjamin & Bonnie Mrs. Loti Woods & Mr. Dale ChargePoint Inc. Hampton Inn Asheboro/ Wendy & Danny Mull Sammons Weiler Clapp’s Convalescent Fairfield Inn & Suites Jason & Erin Neal San Diego Zoo Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Nursing Home, Inc. Asheboro San Francisco Zoo Asheboro Zoo Atlanta

8 :: ALIVE What’s All the Fuss About the VIP Aviary Tour? Imagine yourself settled inside a lush tropical rainforest. The air temperature is ideal— humid and holding at 80 degrees. Peaceful and serene, only birdsong and the occasional flapping of wings interrupt the quiet. FAIRY f you believe that such a place exists only BLUEBIRD Yellow-rumped Cacique’s in your dreams, then we have a surprise for elaborate, woven nest dangling you. You can step into this reality without the from a Kapok branch—the aerial Ibother of securing a passport or even packing acrobatics of Blue-bellied Rollers your bags! All you need is a ticket for a VIP Tour —banana flowers blooming of the RJ Reynolds Forest Aviary at the North under an open bract. Carolina Zoo. Best of all, every Aviary tour This VIP Tour begins early in the morning— offers its own unique set of avian before the Aviary opens to the public—and puts encounters, and most tours end tour members in the company of the Aviary with an extraordinary visit to keepers for exclusive access to the building and the Zoo’s Avian Propagation its inhabitants. From the first moment to the last, Center. This is an off-habitat the tour is both educational and enchanting. facility that houses even more The tour begins with birds and species the keepers wheeling a NICOBAR and offers private, PIGEON food cart into the habitat, well-managed spaces and the birds reeling to that support the greet it with excitement. Zoo’s avian breeding They flock and twitter programs. above the food dishes While touring the and alight on railings and building where most pathways in anticipation of the “bird magic” of their morning treats. PARADISE TANAGER happens, guests With more than 100 learn more about the mouths to feed, the keepers proceed through Zoo’s avian breeding programs the habitat, stopping here and there to toss and about the ways that these out meal worms, set out dishes, and talk programs benefit wild popula- about the birds that come and go during the tions of birds. While visiting the procession. All the while, the birds enliven Center, guests also meet sev- the exhibit with their cacophony of calls and eral of the Zoo’s Avian Animal amazing displays of aerial antics. Ambassadors. When time allows Every Aviary tour is different, and (which is often) guests end up tour-goers should expect to see the unex- participating in some hands-on pected. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots may training encounters with these stream down from the canopy to nibble on feathered friends. papaya or grab a morning drink of nectar. To sign up for a VIP Aviary Then again, Green Woodhoopoes might dart Tour—or for any of our other out from the foliage to pursue crickets or behind-the-scenes adventures— streak into a crevice. Or, just as likely, a pair call us at 336-879-7250 or logon of Victoria-crowned Pigeons may parade to nczoo.com and select “VIP down the walkway to investigate their break- Tours” from the “Extraordinary fast or one of the early morning guests. Experiences” menu. Bria Stambaugh, Aviary/Avian As the show unfolds, Zookeepers point ECLECTUS PARROT out often-overlooked wonders—the Propagation Keeper II

Summer 2018 :: 9 Sometimes weighing more than 170 Training Tales: pounds, South America’s Capybara easily grabs first place in the rodent size competition. But, settling on a first runner-up is more of a judgment call. A Prickly Situation If weight is the measure of record, bea- “Look at its quills! I wouldn’t want to tangle with that animal!” vers top the Cape Porcupine. If length “It’s huge! Is it a porcupine? I didn’t know they got that big!” takes precedent, the Cape Porcupine “Aren’t you afraid its gonna shoot its quills at you?” wins by a couple of inches. Of course, quills, not size, stand out Porcupines: Facts and practice slightly different lifestyles. as porcupines’ most notable character- Fantasies All are comfortable lumbering on the istic. Prickly spines—some reaching a Most people think that they know por- ground, and some rely on burrows or length of 20 inches—cover most of a cupines until they see Kelly, the Cape dens for shelter. But, many New World Cape Porcupine’s body. When raised, Porcupine that lives under the dome at species climb trees with alacrity. They these spines create a barrier that is both the Zoo’s Deserts of the World exhibit. head up, not down, to escape predators too spiky to bite into and too hard to When Kelly waddles onto center stage and to gain access to tender stems and swallow. or erects her quills and fans them over leaves. her back, she nearly always sets our guests chattering. They marvel at her Rodents to a “T” size (larger than expected), comment Kelly, like all porcupines, is a rodent—a on her quills (longer than imagined), classification that is more or less and, worry about her ferocity (nearly defined by an animal’s front teeth. always overestimated). Rodents have two sharp and contin- As one of her caretakers, I enjoy uously growing upper incisors that hearing the excitement that Kelly gen- align precisely with a matching pair of erates and answering questions about continuously growing incisors in their her appearance and her lifestyle. Once lower jaws. This matched set is the I explain “yes,” Cape Porcupines do hallmark of a rodent and turns them all grow this large, and “no,” porcupines into highly competent gnawers. cannot shoot their quills, our guests Because these teeth never stop Usually, a simple raising of these usually shift their attention to questions growing, rodents must gnaw in order quills is enough to give a predator about how the Zoo’s staff takes care of to trim and sharpen their incisors. pause. But, sometimes, a curious such a well-armed animal. My answer Their drive to gnaw causes them to youngster or a hungry adult predator is: “very carefully and only after lots nibble on bark, bones, plastic, and —a lion, a hyena, or such—will try of training!” other sturdy substances they encounter. taking down a porcupine. The predator When they eat, they gnaw too, relying will usually regret this decision. Porcupines 101 on their front teeth to slash through From the beginning of such an Kelly is a Cape Porcupine, one of the tubers, such as potatoes or yams, and attack, a porcupine will stand its five or so porcupine species that make to munch through softer fare such as ground. It will square off, raise its their homes on the African continent. leaves and grasses. quills, and rattle them to communi- The Cape variety ranges through Afri- cate a confident, ominous warning. If ca’s southern regions, generally sticking Sizing Them Up the predator continues its pursuit, the to dry grasslands or savannas. Occa- The Cape Porcupine—along with its porcupine will up its game by stomping sionally, though, “Capes” will wander close relative, the African Crested its feet, snorting, and often lunging into forests, as well. Porcupine—grows large and heavy. directly at its adversary. Strictly terrestrial and fossorial, Adult Capes can weigh upwards of 50 If this warning goes unheeded, Cape Porcupines (as well as the other to 60 pounds and may reach lengths the porcupine will raise the stakes Old World porcupines) forage on the of 36 inches. These statistics set them by pacing head-on toward (not away ground and find shelter in extensive in direct competition with beavers from) its enemy. As the gap between underground burrows. Their New to claim the distinction of being the them shrinks, the porcupine will World counterparts—the porcupines second largest member of the Rodent realign its approach, twisting into a that live in North and South America— Order. position that points its quills toward its 10 :: ALIVE antagonist’s face or paws. extend these walks and prepare Kelly Porcupines cannot shoot their quills, to become comfortable enough with but they can align them toward a guests to become an animal ambassa- vulnerable patch of an opponent’s flesh. dor for her species. Once embedded, these quills easily dis- lodge from the porcupine and grapple Kelly’s Training under the predator’s skin. Usually, the Kelly’s training has gone particularly battle ends there—with a predator in well, in no small part, because her pain and a porcupine lumbering away. former caretakers trained her well before she came to us. Kelly arrived Getting Close to a Porcupine responding to cues that asked her to So how do we, as mere animal caretak- enter a crate, to sit still, or to follow ers, get close enough to a porcupine to a moving target (a stick with a buoy keep it healthy and provide it with a attached to its end). When she fol- rich and interesting life? We do it with lows these commands, she earns tasty patience, persistence, and years of solid treats—sweet potatoes or peanuts. training and practice. We started work- Because she targets so well, we can ing with Kelly the same way that all the lead her almost anywhere—as long as Zoo’s caretakers approach the animals she does not become distracted along they care for: by understanding the the way. To help her ignore distrac- species’ natural history, by getting to tions, we have spent the last two years know the personality and quirks of getting her comfortable with a range of each individual, and by relying on new and interesting experiences. positive reinforcements to build and For example, early on we took her maintain a trusting relationship with on short strolls inside the Deserts of each animal. the World exhibit. Later, we extended Kelly’s travels by putting her in a crate Getting to Know Kelly and taking her on wagon rides around Kelly and her sister, Barbie, came the Zoo. We started her out on short to the North Carolina Zoo in 2015. trips, and gradually extended them When Kelly arrived, she was over- until she was eager and comfortable to Kelly the Porcupine follows her trainer by weight, which worried us because of ride all the way to the Animal Encoun- touching the target buoy with her nose. her advanced age (she is currently 12). ter Area. So we placed her on a healthy, propor- During this training, we also worked Kelly’s walks and meet-and-greets tion-controlled diet of sweet potatoes, with Zoo staff—and eventually with have become an essential part of her carrots, apples, bananas, leafy greens, Zoo guests—to acquaint Kelly with care. The interactions, the activities, the alfalfa hay, and a nutritionally balanced people noises—the sounds people new sights, and, of course, the treats kibble mix made for rodents. make when they talk, laugh, rustle enrich her life and add complexity and As she lost weight, she became more paper, drop things, and so on. exciting surprises to her daily routine. active, and her personality blossomed. By using her favorite foods as rein- And, her laid-back attitude is changing She revealed herself as laid-back and forcers, these lessons have seen Kelly visitors’ minds about her role in nature. comfortable around her caretakers. blossom into a confident traveler and Zoo guests stop seeing her as some When we entered her habitat to clean, ambassador. So far, we have seen her scary, strange animal and start looking she would often tag along behind us, raise her quills only once—when I at her as a remarkable, intelligent crea- like a puppy hoping for a treat. We dropped a handful of peanuts near her! ture that is interesting in her own right. never saw her raise her quills or act Now, Kelly is completely comfort- uncomfortable. able when meeting new guests as a Zoo n your next Zoo visit, keep an eye Soon, all of Kelly’s caretakers were ambassador. So comfortable, in fact, out for Kelly and her caretakers. collaborating to find ways to enrich her that she has welcomed a few strangers OYou might just run into us during an life and keep her fit. We took her on on some behind-the-scenes encounters, animal encounter or when we take daily walks outside of her habitat. We including one that introduced her to her out for a casual stroll in the desert worked with other Zoo staff and the some of our state’s field representatives. exhibit. Stop by and look for us. Zoo’s behavioral training consultant to (She was the highlight of the tour!) Cat Clauson, Zookeeper I Summer 2018 :: 11 TRAVEL SAFARI Zoo EVENTS 2018

SEPTEMBER av2018 DESTINATION 8 Saving Species Across Africa :: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The North Carolina Zoo has been leading field conservation programs in Africa for more than a quarter of a century. Visit the Zoo to find out what Zoo researchers are doing and have done to save the lives of wild elephants, gorillas, vultures and other animals. Learn, too, how your visits to the Zoo help the Zoo staff protect wildlife around the world! 22 Zoo To Do :: The North Carolina Zoo Society’s fabulous, starlit annual gala! Always an enchanting mix of fine dining, friendly conversation, dancing, and competing for exclusive auction items. (Where else can you find an original painting by an elephant?) Mix and mingle with people who share your love of A Wildlife Expedition to Madagascar wildlife and who care about supporting the Zoo. August 17 - September 2, 2018 $11,985 per/person For ticket information, contact: Karen Powell at 336.879.7262 or by email: [email protected] Includes international airfare from Greensboro. Another luxury travel expedition hosted by Classic Escapes and OCTOBER Director Emeritus David Jones and his wife, Janet. Travelers will 20 Celebrating Senses :: leave Greensboro and land in Paris to connect with their flight Tasting, touching, listening, to Antananarivo, Madagascar. From the moment of their arrival, smelling, looking: Birds do it. guests will remain in the care of a professional guide and natu- Bees do it. Elephants and ralist as they explore one of the Earth’s most unusual and exotic Bears do it, too. Visit the Zoo island nations. Expect to savor the culture and the natural land- to gain a new perspective on the ways that animals’ scapes that define the island ecosystems that shelter nearly all perceptions differ from yours. The staff will make of the world’s remaining prosimian species. Ring-tailed Lemurs, special accommodations so that human visitors can Sifakas, magnificent birds, and strange and exotic plants will sense the world differently. greet and amaze our travelers as they traverse this island to see 27 & 28 BOO at the ZOO :: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. landscapes, vistas, and wildlife that cannot be seen anywhere Additional $3 per person admission charge to attend. else on Earth. Celebrate Halloween during a weekend special presentation packed with safe daytime, seasonally A post-extension trip to Kenya is available for $5,455. Prices are spooky fun. Admission to Boo provides access to trick- based on double occupancy and a tour size of 10 participants. or-treat games, storytelling, live entertainment, and a costume contest for children. Costumes must be family-friendly and age appropriate. Even if you choose not to attend Boo at the Zoo, visit anyway just to see the carved pumpkins scattered throughout the Park. It will be a Pumpkin Palooza. Adults (ages 16 and up) may visit in appropriate costumes, but their faces must remain visible. Adults wearing heavy makeup or masks will not be admitted into the Zoo.

Full itineraries are available for download at nczoo. COM, under “Extraordinary Experiences.”

INGIMAGES 12 :: ALIVE Dear Zoo Society member, Because of you, a new and extraordinary program—Birds in Flight—will be enchanting Zoo guests from now until the end of October. This special production showcases the Zoo’s educational missions by drawing on the grace and the power of birds in free flight to inspire a love for nature and a renewed commitment to conservation. The rise and return of these untethered birds offer insights, too, into the values that underlie the Zoo’s relationship with wildlife. At the Zoo, staff draws on a broad knowledge of natural history and a mastery of operant training techniques to build trusting, cooperative relationships with the animals in its care. As a result, animals in the Zoo’s sphere—from the birds in Birds in Flight to wildlife living in the Park, to animals made safe by international conservation programs—all benefit from the Zoo’s overarching commitment to the well-being and long- term survival of animals and wild species. This commitment beats at the heart of the Zoo and continues to flourish because of the loyal support that the Zoo receives from you, our members and donors, and from the citizens of North Carolina. Together, you provide the resources the Zoo depends on to ensure exemplary care for its animals in residence and protection for wild creatures—elephants in Cameroon, Gorillas in Nigeria, and Gopher Frogs in the Sandhills—sheltering in conservation programs. We thank you for your important support, and hope that you will visit soon—both to enjoy the changes your donations have helped to make at the Zoo and to see how these changes have DUSTIN SMITH further strengthened the bonds between our staff and the animals they care for.

We hope, too, that you will continue to support the Zoo’s growth OWL & PARROT: INGIMAGES and success by donating now to the Zoo Society’s annual fund. Your gift will keep the Zoo moving forward as it works to 9 I want to help keep the Zoo’s education improve the well-being of wildlife and the conservation of Yes, endangered species. conservation and programs flying high. Please accept my donation of: Thank you. Sincerely, 9 $1,000 9 $500 9 $150 9 Other ______Name______Address______City/State/Zip______Cheryl Turner Email ______Executive Director Phone (D)______Member ID#______Please make checks payable to the NC Zoo Society or charge to: 9 MasterCard 9 AMEX 9 Visa 9 Discover­ 2047-18S Acct. No.______Security Code______Financial information about the NC Zoo Society and a copy of its license are available from the Exp.Date______Signature______Charitable Solicitation Licensing Section at 888-830-4989. The license is not an endorsement by the State. Mail to: NC Zoo Society; 4403 Zoo Parkway; Asheboro, NC 27205 Summer 2018 :: 13 A Blueprint for Education

REACHING OUT: Enhancing Field Trips and Distance Learning decided to submit a grant proposal to Wells Fargo that asked for its support Experiences at the North Carolina Zoo in testing some of our best ideas. Every year, more than 70,000 school educators traveled to 50 schools and We are very grateful that Wells students arrive at the Zoo on field trips. more than 100 homeschools. Also, we Fargo responded to our proposal by As significant as this number seems, reached students through our rela- providing a $75,000 grant to support it disappoints us because we wish that tionship with the North Carolina Zoo two new education programs. One will every child in North Carolina could School (an Asheboro High School sat- strengthen the quality of the educa- visit the Zoo and benefit from our ellite facility at the Zoo), through Zoo tional experiences available to kinder- education programs. Of course, we career programs, and through clean-up garten through fifth-grade students, understand the constraints—distance, and county beautification partnerships who come here on field trips. The other funding, time, and classroom require- we formed with schools. will launch a distance learning pro- ments—that make it difficult for many Accepting the fact that Zoo educa- gram suited for older students who find teachers to schedule visits to the North tors cannot reach all of North Caroli- it more difficult to come to the Zoo on Carolina Zoo. na’s students has not stopped us from field trips. Since receiving the grant, We try to overcome some of these looking for innovative ways to teach the Zoo’s education staff has been busy barriers by taking Zoo education pro- more students than we currently do. developing both of these programs grams out to classrooms that cannot Last year, with help from the North with the intent of having them in place visit here. Last year, for example, Zoo Carolina Zoological Society, we when students return to school this fall.

INVESTIGATING THE WORLD: How it will Work The Zoo will loan these Inquiry Packs Inquiry Packs for Kindergarten through out on a first-come-first-served basis, making them available to North Car- Fifth-grade Field Trips (available Fall 2018) olina school and homeschool teachers This program will give kindergarten tion for mastering a related standard in who have registered to visit the Zoo on through fifth-grade teachers the mate- the following year. a field trip. rials and the instructions they need Beginning this fall, the Zoo will As an example, if a third-grade to engage their students in grade-ap- facilitate student mastery of some of teacher—let’s call her Ms. Wheeler— propriate, discovery learning projects these standards by loaning teachers wants to use an Inquiry Pack, she on the Zoo grounds. The lessons and grade-appropriate Inquiry Packs to use would first go online to pre-register her materials we provide will align with inside the Zoo. Each pack (a backpack class for a Zoo field trip. Then, on the the Essential Standards defined in the stuffed with educational props) will day of her visit, she can ask to borrow North Carolina Department of Public provide teachers with supplies and an Inquiry Pack when she checks Instruction’s Standard Course of Study. tools to use to help students meet their her class into the Zoo. Assuming a These “Essential Standards” list the grade-appropriate learning objectives. third-grade pack is still available, Ms. concepts that students should master These activities will mostly focus on Wheeler can check it out and use its in each subject as they pass from one developing students’ skills in science contents to carry out a grade-appropri- grade level to the next. Test developers and math, but some packs may occa- ate science lesson in botany. The pack use these essential standards, too, to sionally touch on essential standards will provide tools (magnifying glasses, generate the questions that appear on in other subjects as well. To keep the plant field guides) and materials (jour- year-end achievement tests. A different packs flexible, we will supply them with nal pages, directions) that teach to the set of standards exists for each grade at least one lesson option for both the Standard Course of Study. level, and many standards build in a Zoo’s African section and for its North These lessons will involve her stu- stair-step fashion. That is, mastery of a American section. dents in identifying parts of different standard one year provides the founda- plants and comparing the physical 14 :: ALIVE characteristics of plants that live in rainforests (in the Forest Aviary) and students have completed their assign- strikingly different environments. plants growing as natives inside the ments, Ms. Wheeler would return her For this particular lesson, students Zoo. Ms. Wheeler’s students would use Inquiry Pack on her way out of the who complete the North American magnifying glasses for close observa- Zoo. version will compare plants growing in tions and would draw and write about There will be several Inquiry Packs wet soils (in the Cypress Swamp) or in what they see on their journal pages. (all exactly the same) available for each arid regions (in Deserts of the World) During their plant anatomy lesson, grade level. We hope these Inquiry with plants adapted to grow as natives Ms. Wheeler’s students would identify Packs will increase the educational along the wooded paths inside the Zoo. specific parts of a cactus, a tree, and value of Zoo field trips in ways that Students completing the Africa version a flower in the North America ver- make learning fun for the students of this lesson would conduct the same sion and of a bromeliad, a tree, and a while making the process easy for the comparisons using plants adapted for flower in the Africa version. Once her teachers.

BRINGING CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE TO YOU: Distance Learning Events for Middle School and High School Hellbenders, or with both. The sustain- To offer more opportunities for to these conversations as they unfold. able practices event, on the other hand, older North Carolina students, we Additionally, we will provide teachers will highlight the Zoo’s green practices. will use a portion of the Wells Fargo with supplementary materials and As an example, narrators might talk grant to produce a series of interactive lesson plans to help them prepare their about the Zoo’s success in reducing social media events that can be used in students for these events or to use in waste through composting and then conjunction with classroom and out- following up after the experiences. discuss how the Zoo staff is promot- door activities that staff will design for Living with Nature will theme its ing composting and waste reduction teachers to use at their schools. We are social media events around actual case in Uganda, as part of its longstanding calling this series Living with Nature, studies that relate to critical environ- conservation program UNITE for the and we plan to produce four of these mental and wildlife issues. Four of Environment. Finally, the international learning events each year. these one-hour events will be produced wildlife conservation event may focus each year, and we will also record these on some of the Zoo’s conservation How it Will Work events and keep the recordings avail- work with African vultures or gorillas. Unlike traditional distance-learning able online for classes to use in the programs, which usually involve one future. Through these events, we hope to educator interacting with a single share more about the Zoo’s conserva- classroom, our Social Media events For the 2018-2019 academic year, tion and animal welfare efforts while will put several educators and several our scientists and educators have we enrich the learning experience of scientists in contact with many classes chosen the following four topics for students who may not have the oppor- all at once. Although these large virtual presentation: tunity to visit the Zoo. gatherings will reduce the one-to-one The staff working in the Zoo’s newly interchanges common in traditional • Sustainable Practices formed Conservation, Education, and distance settings, our proposed events • North Carolina Wildlife Science section is excited by these new will gather large groups of students Conservation opportunities to reach more school together to visit virtually with Zoo • International Wildlife students in North Carolina. We hope scientists working in their study sites Conservation our new programs will make virtual or at the Zoo or in nearby locations. At in-person school field trips to the Zoo times, we will also broadcast videos of • Animal Behavior and Biology more educational and meaningful for Zoo scientists working in the field in Each event will focus on one of these the students, the chaperones, and the foreign countries. topics and will link the topic to several teachers. If you would like additional During the live presentations, case studies. For example, the North information about these programs, students can ask questions and get Carolina wildlife conservation event please check out the Zoo’s website at answers from these scientists and edu- might highlight the Zoo’s conservation nczoo.org. cators. And everyone will be privy work with Pine Barrens Treefrogs, with Elizabeth Folta, Ph.D., Curator of Education Summer 2018 :: 15 “Very Important Patron” Tours* of the Zoo These Close Encounters Make Magnificent, Memorable Gifts for Any Occasion We keep group sizes small, which enhances your experience, but causes tours to fill up quickly. Please note the age requirements for attending programs; children younger than 15 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Prices quoted are per person and are for NC Zoo Society members. Add $15 for non-member tickets and be aware that prices do not include General Admission to the Zoo. Ticket prices are all, or nearly all, tax-deductible as a donation to support the North Carolina Zoo’s conservation programs. Buy your tickets by clicking on Extraordinary Experiences at the Zoo Society’s website (nczoo.COM) or call the Zoo Society during regular business hours (336-879-7250). Meet & Feed the Aviary Birds — 8:15 a.m. Must be at least 10 years old* $90 June 30 Sept. 15 Bison Ride Through the Plains — 1:30 p.m. Must be at least 8 years old* $100 June 30 Sept. 22 Backstage with Chimps: See How They’re Trained — 3 p.m. Must be at least 12 years old* $100 July 28 Oct. 13 How to Entertain a Cougar — 1:30 p.m. Must be at least 7 years old* $90 June 2 Oct. 6 Behind the Scenes at the Desert & Ocelots — 11 a.m. Must be at least 5 years old* $90 August 11 Meet & Feed the Elephant — 1:15 p.m. Must be at least 12 years old* $100 June 2 July 28 Oct. 13 Meet & Feed the Giraffes — 5:30 p.m. Must be at least 6 years old* $100 Aug. 25 Oct. 6 Meet & Feed the Gorillas — 1:15 p.m. Must be at least 8 years old* & 5 feet tall $100 August 4 Sept. 29 Oct. 13 Get Close to a Grizzly Bear — 1:30 p.m. Not ADA accessible Must be at least 10 years old* $100 Oct. 27 Meet & Feed the Otters — 11 a.m. Must be at least 5 years old* $100 July 14 Sept. 29 Oct. 27 Meet & Feed the Puffins — 1:30 p.m. Not ADA accessible Must be at least 5 years old* $90 July 28 Aug. 25 Sept. 29 Oct. 27 Schooling Seals & Polar Bears — 1:30 p.m. Not ADA accessible Must be at least 12 years old* $90 July 14 Aug. 4 Sept. 15 Lion Encounter: See How They’re Trained — 3 p.m. Must be at least 12 years old* $100 June 30 Sept. 22 VIP Encounter with a Rhino — 10:30 a.m. Must be at least 8 years old* $100 July 14 Sept. 15

Got questions? Call or send an email to [email protected]. Don’t see a date that works for you? Call us to schedule a private tour for up to 6 people. Zoo Society members can schedule private tours for $525, non-member private tour programs are $579. Proceeds from these tours support the Zoo’s conservation programs and are deductible as a donation to the NC Zoo Society.

*Children younger than 15 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

16 :: ALIVE Y 8 U VETERINARY, WILD SCIENCE AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ANIMAL CAMPS FOR 2018 Offered by the North Carolina Zoo Society and the North Carolina Zoo “Wild and Wonderful” learning experiences for young people. Logon to nczoo.COM and click on Extraordinary Experiences to learn more or to submit an application. The majority of camp fees are tax deductible as a donation to the Zoo’s veterinary, conservation, or other programs. VETERINARY CAMPS These camps introduce campers to zoo veterinary medicine. Classes are held in the Zoo’s veterinary hospital and are taught by Zoo veterinary staff. Aalll Abooarrrd! JUNIOR VETERINARY CAMPS: Suitable for rising 7th - 9th graders Hop on the August 18 Coeducational Polar Bear Express! SENIOR VETERINARY CAMPS: Join us on November 16 or 17 or on Suitable for 10th graders - college freshmen December 1 or 8 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. for a June 15 – 17 Girls-only camp jolly old evening lifted right out of the pages July 20 – 22 Coeducational of a favorite Christmas tale. To enjoy the fun, snug everyone up in their flannel PJs, tug WILD ANIMAL SCIENCE CAMPS on some warm slippers, and head out to the These hands-on camps explore careers related to protecting and conserving Zoo to hitch a ride on its magical Polar Bear endangered species and studying animals living in the wild. Campers spend one night camping inside the park. Classes are taught by Zoo conserva- Express. tion biologists and field researchers. Qualified applicants are accepted as Bells and lights will twinkle from the buses, soon as their applications are completed and approved. All field camps are and riders can carol their way deep into the coeducational. Zoo to claim a souvenir cup (filled with hot JUNIOR CAMPS: 6th-8th grades June 9 – 10; September 8 – 9 cocoa) and a special cookie, circle time after time on the carousel, and claim a Golden SENIOR CAMPS: 9th-college freshmen June 23 – 24 Ticket to board the SimEx iWerks 4-D Polar SO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO WORK WITH ANIMALS Express. At each 13-minute showing, one October 20 - Suitable for middle school students guest will receive the First Gift of Christmas This camp is coeducational and qualified campers are admitted when their from Santa and, when the show ends, every applications are completed. guest will receive a shiny silver bell from A day-long camp exploring careers that allow people to work with or for Santa’s sleigh. animals. Campers move around the zoo to engage in hands-on activities that Throughout the evening, the plaza will bus- introduce them to zoo veterinary medicine; to tracking, training, and caring tle with other fun: conversations with Santa for animals; and to becoming ambassadors for wildlife. and Mrs. Claus, face painters, free photos from FotoFX, roaming costumed characters, SHADOW A VETERINARIAN Holiday storytelling—and, if you listen hard Once a month, the Zoo offers the opportunity for two people to shadow enough—maybe even the sounds of Red Senior Veterinarian, Dr. Jb Minter, for an entire morning while he makes Wolves, elk, or lions singing in the season. rounds inside the Zoo. When rounds are completed, join Dr. Minter for lunch Tickets: $15 per person for both adults and and then enjoy a golf cart tour of the Zoo. Dates are flexible and are arranged children. (Zoo Society members receive a $3 on mutually agreed upon Saturdays. Visit nczoo.COM to learn more. discount on their children’s tickets.) Tickets FOR MORE INFORMATION: available by pre-sale only on the Web (nczoo. Visit the NC Zoo Society’s web page at nczoo.COM to learn more about com). The Polar Bear Express will run, rain or these experiences. If you have questions, please give us a call at 336-879- shine, so come dressed for the weather and 7250. Ask to speak to Jayne Owen Parker or Becca Sigafoos. ready to join the hustle, bustle, and excite- ment of a magical event at the Zoo. Summer 2018 :: 17 The Discovery Page Eggs-ellent Design and Architecture Birds’ eggs come in an amazing variety of shapes and colors.

o get just a taste of this variety, con- huge at one end, small at the other. sider the following: All owls’ eggs are For centuries, scientists have tried to figure white. Some chickens lay only brown out why these shapes, colors, and patterns Teggs; others only white ones. Blue eggs fill occur, but no single explanation ever really the nests of robins and the other thrushes. Cetti's seems to work. Recently, though, scientists at Emus and some tinamou species lay Warbler Princeton University looked at more than 100,000 eggs egg• green eggs (and no ham). from 1,400 different bird species and, using mathe- Shiny pink, blue, or purple eggs glisten from the matics, uncovered a connection between birds’ flying nests of other tinamou species. And, various shades of strengths and the shapes of their eggs. red tint the shells that encase the developing chicks of It turns out that strong fly- some guillemots, some Peregrine Falcons, ers (and strong swimmers) and other species. usually produce long, To complicate matters more, a pointy eggs. uniform color—from white to red to While this may seem blue—washes around the eggs of odd at first, the connec- some species. But, other species tion begins to make sense add a second color and use it to if you take a gander at • Spur-winged dabble splotches, spots, dots, swirls, the body shapes of differ- Robin eggs Lapwing egg• or squiggly lines on their shells. ent kinds of birds. When it The riot of colors and patterns comes to anatomy, strong flyers that appear on birds’ eggs is amazing and confusing (and strong swimmers) tend to —and becomes even more perplexing when eggs’ have streamlined bodies that shapes enter the picture. Owls’ eggs are round, cut effortlessly through air (or chickens’ more oval. Hummingbirds’ eggs take on the water). Their narrow bodies don’t shape of cylinders. Shorebirds’ eggs seem lopsided: have room to hold big, spherical American Kestrel eggs. And, if their eggs have to egg• grow thinner to fit, they also need Tinamou to grow longer to hold all the Emu egg• nutrients a growing embryo needs to develop into a chick.

Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., HOLGER HOLLEMANN/DPA/ALAMY Editor 18 :: ALIVE 1 6 5 3 4 2 shapes theouter The membranethenbecomes themoldthat to theshapeofsturdy eggmembrane. The viscousyolkandegg whiteconform to allthecolorsthatweseeonbirds’ eggs. pigments indifferent proportions givesrise tint whenbruisesstarttoheal.)Mixingthe shows upinpeople,too,creating thegreen responsible forbluesand greens. (Biliverdin dish tobrown colors.Theother(biliverdin) is Onefamily(theporphyrins)produces red - carbon dioxidehavetobeablegetout. oxygen hastocomeinandwatervapor nected withotherpartsoftheenvironment— also havetokeeptheembryoorchickcon- the developingembryoorchickinside.Eggs ment—germs, chemicals—outtoprotect Odd surrounds theyolkandeggwhites. even addpigmentstothemembranethat visible totheoutsideworld.Somespecies under theshell,andthesecolorsare not is laid.But,somebirds laypigmentsdown These colorsare addedjustbefore anegg easily seethecolorsonoutershells. to break outwhenitisready. must alsobeweakenoughtoallowachick that sitandsteponthem.And,theshells 24 hours—forabird tocreate anegg. It takesaboutonefullday—alittleover different layersoftheireggs. We can Different bird speciesaddpigmentsto to supporttheweightofadultbirds Egg shellsmustalsobestrong enough come from onlytwofamilies ofpigments. All ofthecolorsthatappearoneggs They mustkeepmostoftheenviron- Eggs havetodolotsofthingsatonce. its shape—theeggmembrane does. An egg’s shelldoesnotgive theegg

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• • • • • COMMONS LASLOVARGAROBIN EGGS: -CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/WIKIMEDIA CETTI’S WARBLER © FIELDMUSEUM,PHOTO EGG: BY JOHNWEINSTEIN SHUHARI-COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG EMU EGG: ANNAFASOLI.AMERICAN KESTRELEGG: PUBLICDOMAIN. COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG LAPWING &GUILLEMOT/MURRE DIDIERDESCOUENS- EGGS: MICHAEL HAFERKAMP-COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG Thick-billed Murre BOAWORM -COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG Common Murre Common Guillemots simple experiment. by conductingthis determines aneggshape You cantesthowtheeggmembrane EGGS-PERIMENT THIS come back the next morning, come backthenextmorning, the nakedeggwillholdits glass overnight. Whenyou glass overnight. the shellwillbegone,but shape. Picktheeggup vinegar. Leaveitinthe —it willfeelsquidgy Common Common egg inaglassand cover itwithwhite

Murre Murre Put achicken but sturdy. egg • VARIETY OFGUILLEMOTS Summer 2018 • L

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19 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HICKORY, NC PERMIT #104

4403 Zoo Parkway CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Asheboro, NC 27205 www.nczoo.com

Hundreds of Flights Daily!* NOW OPEN at the Zoo* • Zoofari • Giraffe Feeding Deck

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See page 4 for more details on these and other • 4-D Theatre attractions. • Paddle Boats • Air Hike * Additional fees apply for these attractions. L. KUNG INGIMAGES