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Red-Tailed Hawk

Physical Description

Red-tailed hawks have a wingspan of 41-53 in. All adult red-tailed hawks have a copper-colored tail. The rest of their plumage varies greatly, though generally the back and wings are darker than the rest of the body, ranging from a light auburn to a dark brown. Their beaks are short and hooked, and they have large, curved talons.

Predators

Being an apex predator, red-tailed hawks do not have many predators. Owls and crows may attack their nests.

Lifespan

They live on average 12 years in the wild, and up to 29 years under human care.

Reproduction

Red-tails pair up for life. Both parents build a nest, usually in a tall tree. The nest can be up to three feet (one meter) across. The female lays 1-5 grayish-white, speckled eggs at two-day intervals. Both parents incubate the eggs, but when it’s the female’s turn, the male provides her meals. Young hawks begin to fledge in 42 to 48 days but remain with the parents for another 30 to 70 days.

Fun Facts

  • The powerful cry of a red-tailed hawk is the same cry used in TV commercials depicting bald eagles.
  • Red-tailed hawk eggshells are tinted green on the inside.

Conservation Messaging

Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.

Eastern Screech Owl

General Information

The Eastern screech owl is an average sized bird with a 19-24 inch wingspan. As is common with many birds of prey, the females of this species tend to be larger than the males. They can be either gray or rufous (a red/brown coloration), with darker streaking of color covering the body. Eastern screech owls also have feathered tufts on their heads and feathered feet as well. They are carnivores that prey on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even smaller birds.

Breeding season occurs in late winter early spring. Females lay clutches of 2-6 eggs, which will incubate for about 26 days. Chicks will fledge – i.e. leave the nest and start to fly – after about four weeks, but will remain dependent on their parents for food for another five to six weeks. Maturity occurs around 1 year.

Diet

Eastern screech-owls in the wild have a greatly varied diet. They catch and eat most things smaller than them including insects, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. These amazing little owls are even agile enough in flight to prey on finches, jays, and doves among other birds. When it comes to mammals, screech-owls frequently consume rats and mice as well as moles and rabbits.

Eastern screech owls are sit-and-wait hunters that swoop down silently on their next meal from low-lying branches. They usually hunt in the dim light of dusk and dawn or at night. If an eastern screech-owl catches more food than it can eat, it may cache excess food in tree cavities to save for other days when hunting isn’t as successful. After eating, screech owls (like other owls) expel small pellets of indigestible prey parts: bones, fur, feathers, and even teeth. The average screech owl regurgitates two to four pellets per day.

Habitat and Range

Due to their ability to easily adjust to many habitat types, the eastern screech owl has a large ecological niche. These small owls can be found all along the eastern part of North America from the bottom of Canada to the top of Mexico. They can readily adapt to living near humans in urban and suburban areas, although they prefer to be located in wooded regions.

Eastern screech-owls do not build nests and thus must find already made nest cavities to occupy. They will use anything from woodpecker holes to nest boxes meant for wood ducks and kestrels. Eastern screech-owls are not migratory birds.

Common Physical Features

Eastern screech owls are a smaller owl ranging in size from 6-10 inches and a wingspan of 19-24 inches. As is common with many birds of prey, the females of this species tend to be larger than the males. Eastern screech owls are a mix of white, gray, and reddish-brown—coloration that helps them blend into the branches and trees. Eastern screech owls have feathered tufts on their heads and feathered feet as well. Juveniles of the species closely resemble adults, but have ear tufts that are not fully developed and may also have light and dark barring on the head, mantle, and under parts.

In areas where both western and eastern screech owls are found, it is easiest to tell the two apart by sound. Also, the Eastern Screech-Owl is slightly smaller than the Western Screech-owl. The two most common calls of the eastern screech owl are the even-pitched trill and the descending whinny. Both of these calls can be heard at night as this animal is primarily a nocturnal hunter.

Adaptations: Eastern screech owls are ambush predators that swoop down silently on their next meal from low-lying branches. The soft edges on their serrated flying feathers help muffle the sound of their flapping wings, enabling them to sneak up on their prey silently. Most hunting is done during the first 4 hours after sunset.

These owls have symmetrical ears, which suggest that they hunt primarily using their vision. They do, however, have excellent hearing as they often capture prey hidden by leaf litter. Disc feathers around eyes serve as sound collectors. Wide set ear tufts, which are feathers and not the actual ears, can stand up totally when alert or lay flat against head to help funnel sounds into ear slits which are located on the sides of the head.

The Eastern screech owl’s yellow eyes are so large that they can’t move in their sockets. In order to look around, these owls have to turn their neck, which can rotate up to 270 degrees in either direction. They have excellent vision in both the light and dark.

Like other owls, the screech owl also has a strong curved beak and talons to help it catch its prey.

Behavior and Life Cycle

Once they’ve reached sexual maturity, Eastern screech-owls will select a mate and pair bond to that bird. Like many birds of prey, most eastern screech-owls mate for life after successful breeding. If breeding isn’t successful, however, the pair may switch and re-pair with other birds until they form a successful breeding pair.
Breeding occurs in late winter early spring.

To court a female, the male screech-owl will give a trill call while running up and down branches. Once mated, the female will select a nest location. Eastern screech owls don’t build a nest. Instead, thy will look for natural tree cavities or the abandoned nests of other animals. Females lay their eggs directly on the layer of fur and feathers left over from their previous meals that lines the bottom of their den.

Females lay clutches of 2-6 eggs in early spring and incubate the eggs for about 26 days. After hatching, chicks are covered in white down and their eyes are sealed shut. The female will brood them (i.e. keep them safe and warm) while the male provides food. Chicks will fledge – i.e. leave the nest and start to fly – after about 4 weeks, but will remain dependent on their parents for food for another 5-6 weeks. Chick will fully mature around 1 year of age.

Conservation Messaging

Together with Nature
Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming.

What can we do?: One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels. Ecosystems have a natural balance so it’s important for us as humans to leave no trace! Once you leave nature, no one should know that you’ve been there. This means bringing out anything that you’ve brought in. Additionally, leaving the environment unaltered is equally important.

Never remove an animal from the wild! Some well-meaning people may think its a good idea to try and aid injured animals or relocate “pest” animals, but the truth is, trapping rarely ends well for wildlife and is not a long term solution.

While you might be thinking you are helping that animal, most people don’t realize the amount of care and time that goes in to caring for these animals, and removing them from their natural environment can be detrimental to the wild populations. If wild animals are not causing damage or posing danger, the best solution is to coexist! If you come across injured wildlife please call your local wildlife rehabilitation center as they are better equipped to handle and care for that animal.

Fun Facts

  • The eggs generally hatch in the order they were laid, so that all the young are not born at the same time.
  • Regurgitate pellets (castings) of feathers, bones and fur several hours after they’ve eaten. It’s believed that pellet formation and regurgitation are necessary for a bird’s good health.
  • The screech owl is the most abundant and familiar of all North American owls, ranging throughout the United States and northern Mexico and are the smallest “eared” owls east of the Rocky Mountains.

Bibliography

Black Vulture

Physical Description

Vultures are very large birds with sharp, hooked beaks for tearing apart meat and wide wingspans. New World vultures have a distinctive bald head, an adaptation that helps reduce the risk of disease. Their strong immune system allows vultures to eat rotting and possibly infected meat without getting sick. They have long, horizontal nostrils with a space between them and lack a voice box, so they cannot make any sound except hisses and grunts.

Predators

Jaguars, mountain lions, hawks, eagles, and raccoons.

Lifespan

In the wild vultures live around 20 years. Under human care they can live into their 30s.

Reproduction

Vultures form monogamous pairs for life, and males will court females by showing off their flying skills, almost touching the females’ wing tip as they fly by. New World vultures lay their egg(s) in a cave or under a rocky overhang, under bushes or rock piles, or in tree hollows or fallen logs. Females lay one egg if she is a larger vulture and two eggs if she is smaller. Both parents incubate and feed the chicks. Chicks remain in the nest for 2-3 months until they learn how to find and compete for food.

Fun Facts

  • Black vultures maintain close social ties with their extended families throughout their lives.
  • When a vulture is upset, its head turns red and it looks like it is blushing.

Conservation Messaging

Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.

Barred Owl

Physical Description

A barred owl is the second largest owl in Pennsylvania. It is easily recognized by its stocky body, large dark brown eyes, and the puffy round head with no ear tufts. The horizontal bars on the throat and upper breast, and the vertical streaks on the belly give this owl its name.

Predators

Foxes, bobcats, coyotes, bears, and occasionally snakes and other birds of prey.

Lifespan

In the wild, owls live on average around 5-10 years. Under human care they can live up to 30 years.

Reproduction

Owls are usually solitary outside of breeding season. Male owls may bring offerings of food, dropping the item near the female, who is usually much larger, to catch her interest. If prey is scarce, only two or three eggs may be laid; if food is easily available, then six or more eggs may be laid. Chicks generally hatch two days apart, with the oldest chicks getting the most food. Young owl chicks are cared for by their mother for about three months.

Fun Facts

  • Young Barred Owls can climb trees by grasping the bark with their bill and talons, flapping their wings, and walking their way up the trunk.
  • Barred owls are one of the most vocal owl species.

Conservation Messaging

Most of the Bird of Prey here at the zoo are all rehabilitated birds who have sustained different injuries deeming them unreleasable. These birds fall victim to debris found on the side of the road. If it’s an apple core, banana peel, or some discarded trash it will attract their prey items which will then attract the bird of prey. Birds of prey have tunnel vision when hunting and will often not see a car coming. One simple way we can help is to dispose of all your trash properly, even natural items like apple cores and banana peels.

White’s Tree Frog

Program and General Information

White’s tree frogs are an adaptable species native to Australia and New Guinea. They are rather large ranging from 3-5 inches in length. Although they can live in both dry and wet habitats, white’s tree frogs prefer damper tropical forests and scrublands. They are commonly a light bluish-green to emerald green color, but they do have the ability to change their color to a more brownish color or darker green. White’s tree frogs have a thick cuticle and can secrete a milky-white substance called “caerviein” to keep moisture in; both adaptations allow the frog to survive in more arid environments. Breeding occurs in summer in grassy, rain- filled marshes. Females can lay clutches of 150-300 eggs, which hatch 1-3 days after fertilization and metamorphose 2-3 weeks later.

Diet
White’s tree frog’s diet consists of insects, spiders, moths, roaches, and even smaller mammals and amphibians. As long as they can fit it in their mouth, a frog will try to eat it!

White’s tree frogs don’t use their tongue to catch prey like other frog species do, but instead ambush prey and use their front limbs to shove the prey into their mouth. Frogs will actually use their eyes in order to swallow their prey.

Frog saliva is very thick and while it aids in keeping prey items in their mouth, it also makes swallowing more difficult. So in order to swallow frogs will push their eyeballs into their mouth cavity and push down on the prey against the tongue. This will increase the pressure inside the mouth liquifying that super thick saliva, which releases the prey from the tongue and forces that prey down the throat.

Habitat and Range

White’s tree frogs are an arboreal (tree-dwelling) species native to Northern, Eastern, and Southern Australia, as well as, Southern New Guinea. They can live in seasonally dry and wet habitats but prefer moist forested and scrubland environments. Because they are so adapted to living in more arid regions, white’s tree frogs can also be found living in suburban and agricultural areas with humans.

While primarily nocturnal, white’s tree frogs have been known to be active during the daytime. Being an arboreal species, these frogs spend the majority of their time higher up in the trees.

Common Physical Features

White’s tree frogs are one of the larger species of frogs ranging from 3-5 inches in length. Females do tend to be bigger than males. They are typically a light bluish-green to emerald but do have the ability to alter their color to a darker brown or green. White’s tree frogs have large webbed toes and a second finger that is longer than the first. Their pupils are horizontal and they have a distinctive fatty ridge over the eyes, often giving them a sleepy look. Males are more slender in appearance than females and have a grayish wrinkled vocal sac that is located underneath the throat region.

Adaptations: White’s tree frogs are excellent climbers. Large adhesive pads on their toes and fingertips, sticky webbing between their toes and finger, and loose skin on their bellies all enable the White’s tree frog to cling to surfaces for climbing. Extra cartilage between the last 2 bones of each toe allows for greater mobility to grip onto thin twigs.

White’s tree frogs have binocular vision. Their nostrils and large eyes sit high on the head, so when the frog is sitting in the water it can breath and watch for food and predators with the rest of its body hidden in the water out of view.

They are well adapted to living in more arid environments. Their skin is covered in a thick cuticle to help with water retention making these frogs fairly drought resistant. To further aid in keeping in moisture, White’s tree frogs secrete a milky-white substance called “caerviein,” which they will coat their body in. This coating acts like sunscreen to protect the frog from drying out in the heat.
During the dry season, White’s tree frogs will cover themselves in a cocoon of shed skin and mucus and burrow to keep moist.

Behavior and Life Cycle

For most of the year, White’s tree frogs call from high positions, such as trees and gutters. During their summer breeding season, the frogs descend, although they remain slightly elevated, and call close to still-water sources. Females can lay clutches of 150-300 eggs. These eggs will hatch 1-3 days after fertilization and metamorphose from tadpole to froglet within 2-3 weeks.

Like many frog species, White’s tree frogs call not only to attract mates but also to advertise their location outside the breeding season, usually after rain, for reasons that are uncertain to researchers. They will emit a stress call whenever they are in danger, such as when a predator is close or when a person steps on a log the frog resides in.

Conservation Messaging

Conservation of the Natural World
Although population numbers are stable, habitat loss and pollution are a concern for the White’s tree frog and could lead to future decline. Human activities, such as residential and commercial development, farming and ranching, construction of roads and railways, and fishing have all contributed to habitat destruction for the White’s tree frog.

Pollution is another big concern for frog species. Amphibian’s permeable skin can easily allow toxins and pollutants to enter their bodies, therefore, they cannot survive in polluted habitats. Tree frogs are considered an important indicator species that warns of future environmental degradation. If population numbers begin to decline then there is a strong possibility that that habitat could be polluted.

What can we do?: Supporting local conservation efforts and organizations is a great way to help ensure species such as the White’s tree frog continue to thrive. Switching to a more sustainable lifestyle can also help. By using public transport, turning off lights that are not in use, reducing the use of plastic, and using more organic cleaning products we can help to reduce pollution in our environments. Remember the phrase, “reduce, reuse, recycle!”

Never remove an animal from the wild! You might think you are helping it, but most people don’t realize the amount of care and time that goes into caring for these animals, and removing them from their natural environment can be detrimental to the wild populations. And while you may think they would make a cute pet, amphibians have a lot of special requirements, such as heating, humidity, nutrition, light, that all need to be considered before purchasing; and always be sure you are buying from a reputable breeder.

Fun Facts

  • While not all tree frog species are affected, the widespread infectious fungal disease chytridiomycosis has devastated many wild populations worldwide. Chytrid fungus can infect waterways and can cause the keratinized areas of the frogs to thicken. This hinders the ability to pass oxygen and other gasses through the skin and causes the frog to dry out. We can help prevent the spread of the Chytrid fungus by washing items we take into waterways, rinsing off our boots and shoes after being in waterways, and by not handling any wild animals.
  • Said to be able to alter how much water evaporates from their skin, White’s tree frogs may be able to slightly control their temperature (impressive for a cold-blooded animal).
  • Extracts from the skin have medical uses such as fighting staphylococcus bacteria that can cause abscesses, lowering blood pressure, and treating cold sores caused by the herpes virus.

Bibliography

African Penguins

Physical Description

African penguins, like all penguin species, are flightless birds. Instead, penguins use their small, dense feathers for insulation, repelling water, and protecting their skin. They are stiff contour feathers which overlap each other like shingles on a roof and help keep their skin dry. Underneath them is a thin layer of down feathers which hold a pocket of air. The contour feathers help trap that air and its heat next to the skin.

Having a body shaped like a torpedo or bowling pin helps make them more hydrodynamic so they can swim faster. Their belly is white and may have some black flecks on it, while their back is black. This is called countershading and provides them with camouflage in the water.

Predators

African Penguins have two main predators in the wild; these include sharks and sea lions. Their eggs are preyed upon by kelp gulls and sacred ibis as well as as well as large herons, Cape genet, mongoose, rats, domestic cats, and leopards. Humans also have been known to collect penguin eggs because they have been considered a delicacy.

Lifespan

The average life span for African penguins in the wild is 10-15 years. In human care, the average is 20-30 years.

Reproduction

Large colonies gather together on land when it is time to breed, molt, or rest. African penguins breed year-round, but it can vary depending on the year, season and colony. Primarily monogamous, African penguins will often form the same pair bonds every year. Males will court females with various physical displays, which she will respond to if she is receptive to his courting.

The female will then lay 1-2 eggs about 2-4 days apart. Incubation will last about 40 days. The parents will alternate incubating the eggs and foraging for food in the ocean. When penguin chicks hatch, they will be reliant on their parents for warmth, food, and protection for several weeks. When they are about 70-90 days old, they will finally grow their waterproof contours they need to begin heading into the water on their own.

Fun Facts

  • African penguins experience an annual catastrophic molt. Over a period of approximately 18 days, they will replace all of their feathers, and during this time, they will be unable to feed because their downy feathers exposed during the molt are not waterproof.
  • While diving for food, they average depths of 16-80 feet but can reach depths of up to 300 feet! Having solid, heavy bones (unlike most birds, which have hollow bones), also helps them with be able to dive deeper.

Conservation Messaging

South African penguins are considered endangered but there are many ways we can help their populations in the wild. One easy way to do this is to choose sustainable seafood options. You can download the Seafood Watch smartphone application by Monterey Bay Aquarium to ensure the seafood you’re purchasing is sustainably sourced. You can also download their pamphlet which will provide you with the best fish choices, appropriate alternatives, and certain fish species to avoid when fishing or purchasing food. Making smart and sustainable choices will help ensure that penguins in the wild are left with plenty of fish to eat!

To learn more about the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch App, visit: seafoodwatch.org.

Another great organization to support is the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds or (SANCCOB). SANCCOB is located in South Africa and actually helps rescue, rehab, and release South African Penguins which is helping their wild populations. You can help SANCCOB sustain their mission by donating or by “adopting” a penguin that is currently undergoing care. To learn more or to make a donation, visit: www.sancobb.org.