Whooping Crane Arrives at Sylvan Heights

Sylvan Heights is proud to introduce one of our newest additions to the Park: a young whooping crane. Only a handful of places in North America work with these birds, and the Park is the only private facility given the privelege to display this endangered species. Hatched last spring at the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin, the young male whooping crane incurred a leg injury and was deemed non-releasable back into the wild. Sylvan Heights is thrilled to be given the opportunity to use this bird as an animal ambassador to educate the public about the plight and resulting programs successfully created for this species.

The rarest of the 15 crane species, whooping cranes are native to North America. In 1941, a bird count revealed that only 16 living birds were left in the wild. Since then, extraordinary conservation efforts have been made, the result of which is that we now have just over 500 birds in the world.

The tallest bird in North America, an adult whooping crane is imposing. They stand between 4 and 5 feet high, with snowy white plumage, except for a brilliant red cap on the top of their heads, and black facial markings and black primary feathers clearly visible in flight. Their long, spear-like beaks and fierce golden eyes make an adult whooping crane quite formidable when protecting its young. 

They get their name from their distinctive "whoop-like" call, which pairs often make in unison. Whoopers are gregarious by nature meaning that they prefer to live in a group, or in their case, family groups. They frequent marshes, shallow lakes and lagoons where there is an abundance of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates for their young to feed on. Sometimes adults may kill larger prey such as rodents, snakes and small birds.

In the wild, whooping cranes naturally migrate 4000 km from their breeding grounds in Canada's Wood Buffalo National Park to their wintering grounds at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

However, scientists became concerned of the potential risk associated with having only one wild population of whoopers. They recognized that the group could easily be wiped out by disease, bad weather or other factors. 

So a successful captive rearing and reintroduction program using ultralight airplanes was implemented. It focuses on raising the chicks of captive pairs and "guiding" them on their first migration southward. Operation Migration has been remarkably successful in its goal to establish an eastern population of migrating whoopers. Each fall, a team of dedicated conservationists, guide a group of young birds from Wisconsin south to Florida.

But OM also works with other species including sandhill cranes and Canada geese. To learn more about their programs, please visit their comprehensive web site. It includes a great deal of information on everything from the natural history of the birds themselves, to video clips about training the young birds to follow the ultralights, to audio bites of vocalizations, and much, much more. 

Then grab your coat and head to the Park for your first encounter with our magnificent whooping crane and see it for yourself!

Calling All Chefs!

Do you have the world's best chili recipe? Does your office, church or organization cook up a mean bowl of five-alarm chili? Then get a bowl (or 5 quarts!) ready for the hottest event this spring!

We are excited to announce our first "Chili Cook-off" fundraiser! On Saturday, March 13th, from 6 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., contestants will battle for first place as a judging panel comprised of members of the food industry vote for their favorite chili recipe. In addition to receiving $250, the first place winner will also have their name engraved on a new plaque at the park as the official "Chili Cook-off" winner for 2010.

Tickets to the event will be sold to the general public, who may also vote for their favorite chili. And a second "Taster’s Choice" award will be given. This winner will receive $100, plus free passes to the park.

Chili stations will be placed around the grounds, and a table with 3 chairs will be provided for each station. Each contestant will also receive 3 free tickets to the event. The amount of chili per entrant (not to exceed 5 gallons) will be determined by the number of entries and tickets sold to the public.

Complete guidelines and pre-registration forms are available at the park or by calling Jackie Jones at 826-5500 or by emailing jackiejjjj@aol.com.

Tickets are available from members of FOSH (Friends of Sylvan Heights) at $15 each. They may also be purchased in the Park's gift shop.

But hurry and sign up today - the deadline for chili registration entry is March 1st.

Celebrate this Valentine's Day with Romance in the Park

If you're looking for a way to surprise your sweetheart this Valentine's Day, then consider treating him or her to a romantic evening in unique surroundings. Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park will be holding it's 4th Annual "Romance in the Park" on Saturday, February 13th, from 7 to 10 pm. Join us for a fun evening of food, wine, live entertainment and dancing.

Tickets are available for $60 per couple and $30 for singles. Park Members will receive a membership discount. For more information, please contact Jo Ann Josey at 252-826-3186.

Happy Holidays from Sylvan Heights!

This month, as you entertain out-of-town family and friends, why not stop by Sylvan Heights for a little Christmas magic? We’ll be celebrating the "12 Birds of Christmas" through the end of December. Visitors will enjoy a scavenger hunt throughout the park as they look for swans a-swimming, french hens, calling birds, and many others. A wonderful treat for children and adults alike.

And if you are looking for some unique holiday decorations or gifts for those people on your list who seem to already have everything, be sure to stop by our well-stocked gift shop. You’ll find everything from books and toys for children to jewelry and clothing for adults to elegant home decor. Don’t forget to check out our beautiful ornament collection as well.

With the arrival of winter, the park has changed its hours. Visitors are now able to enjoy the park from 9 am until 4 pm, Tuesdays through Sundays. We will be closed on Christmas Day.
We’d like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to all of our visitors, volunteers and supporters. With your help, the waterfowl park has been able to continue developing its education and conservation programs, while also providing quality family entertainment.

From all of us at Sylvan Heights, we wish you a joyous and peaceful holiday season.

A Full Schedule at Sylvan Heights

With the arrival of November comes a sigh of relief for all the staff here at the Park. October proved to be one of our busiest months in terms of special events. At the beginning of the month, we welcomed members of the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society as we hosted one day of their busy conference. Over 50 members toured the park and enjoyed lunch provided by Down East Animal Refuge. You can learn more about the APWS by clicking on the link in our sidebar.

A week later, the Bird’s Nest Treehouse was christened with its first wedding. Beautiful decorations and newly installed lighting helped to create the perfect atmosphere for an evening wedding, after which guests returned to our Golden Leaf room in the Park’s Eco-center for an elegant reception. (To learn more about wedding event opportunities at the Park, contact Jo Ann at 252-826-3186.)

The following day, Sylvan Heights held a fundraiser to benefit our new Interactive Exhibit, which is scheduled to open next year. TV personality and wildlife conservationist, Joan Embery, gave a fabulous presentation, which included video clips of some of her appearances with Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, as well as David Letterman and Jay Leno. Afterwards, guests were able to meet Ms. Embery in person while enjoying wine and cheese.

Later that week, we hosted a second conference. Over 60 members from around the country and Europe attended the International Wild Waterfowl Association Convention. Members spent the day visiting the Park and enjoyed special behind-the-scenes tours of the Breeding Center next door. A most delicious lunch was provided by the Friends of Sylvan Heights, and the Park would like to thank them for their dedication and effort. During the day, conference attendees were also treated to two magic shows by famed magician, Brian Staples. That evening, a catered dinner was followed by an energetic live auction, which featured numerous waterfowl-themed items such as books, paintings, house wares and more. You can learn more about the IWWA by clicking on their link in our sidebar as well.

Sylvan Heights’ staff members attended the IWWA’s banquet the next night, and we were all delighted when the organization honored two of our employees with prestigious awards. Nick Hill, Curator of Sylvan Heights’ Breeding Center, received a certificate on behalf of Mike Lubbock and Sylvan Heights Waterfowl for the first breeding in captivity of Chinese Mergansers in North America. In addition, Brad Hazelton, General Curator of S. H. Waterfowl Park, was awarded the Southwick Memorial Award for his illustrious efforts in establishing a new species (lesser flamingos) in captivity.

And lastly, we’d like to congratulate our director, Mike Lubbock, who has recently been elected president of the Carolinas/Virginia Pheasant and Waterfowl Society. The CVPWS is an organization dedicated to educating the members and public in preserving and the propagation of all varieties of pheasant and waterfowl.

You're Invited....To an Evening with Joan Embery

The Friends of Sylvan Heights would like to extend a special invitation to all of our Park’s members to join us on Sunday afternoon, October 18th, for a fundraising event. Famed wildlife conservationist, Joan Embery, will be here to share her experiences and passion for animals with personal accounts and anecdotes.

Ms. Embery’s presentation will begin at 4 p.m., after which wine and cheese will be served and guests may meet Ms. Embery in person. Tickets are available for $100 per person, but space is limited, so please purchase your tickets promptly. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit the new Interactive Exhibit at Sylvan Heights. Tickets may be purchased by calling 252.826.3186 or by emailing brent@shwpark.com.

Joan Embery has served as a champion of environmental and conservation issues around the world, most notably as spokeswoman for the Zoological Society of San Diego. She has had the opportunity to express her passion for animals with a multitude of audiences from youth to veterinary students to corporate executives. Her work includes hundreds of television shows as diverse as "The Tonight Show," "CBS This Morning," PBS programs, "Hollywood Squares," "Mr. Rogers," "Entertainment Tonight" and her own syndicated series "Animal Express" and "Animals of Africa."

In addition to her many public appearances, Joan has led wildlife expeditions to such exotic locales as Africa, China, Nepal, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Thailand and the Amazon. She has also authored several books. As a dedicated animal and environmental advocate, Joan spends her time working with wildlife organizations and educating the public. She serves on many boards focusing on conservation and wildlife issues.

A San Diego native, Joan studied zoology and telecommunications and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. While Joan is most well known for her work with exotic animals, she is also an accomplished horsewoman, having won trophies in almost every discipline from dressage to cutting and driving to jumping. She lives on a 50-acre ranch in Lakeside, California with her husband Duane Pillsbury where she has raised and trained Quarter horses, Miniature horses, Lipizzans, Warmbloods, Mules, Clydesdales, Percherons, and her California State Grand Champion Brahman Bull, Bruiser. She also manages a community equestrian facility.

In 2004 Joan created her own non-profit foundation, The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation, with the mission of connecting people to wildlife and conservation issues and the role each individual plays in insuring healthy environments.

To learn more about Ms Embery, please visit her site at http://www.joanembery.com/.

Species Highlight: Poison Dart Frogs

If you haven’t had a chance to stop by the park and see our new tree house, now is an excellent time. The mad heat of summer has ended, only to be replaced by gorgeous weather that makes wandering through the park a heavenly treat. And visitors are not the only ones enjoying the cooler temperatures. Everywhere you look, the park’s residents seem to have awakened from their summer slumber and have begun their social dances; birds are splashing in the water, flying around the aviaries, and vocalizing to one another.

The new tree house is a special place, allowing anyone who enters a bird’s eye view of the wetlands below. Songbirds flit among the trees at eye-level, as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds, some of who take an occasional interest in the tree house visitors.

But along the path to the tree house, visitors are in for a surprise when they pass the new building housing restrooms. What’s that you say? A surprise in the restroom? Well…sort of. As you enter the building, you’ll find a small foyer displaying three exhibits: carnivorous plants, a live beehive, and poison dart frogs!



All three are fascinating (seriously, who doesn’t love a good Venus Flytrap?) and worth the stop. The most popular exhibit may be, though, the one housing the Blue Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates azureus). These active little frogs are quickly becoming a park favorite. Unlike most amphibians, these frogs are diurnal, or active during the day, and their bright blue color is stunning.

Despite their name, these frogs are, in fact, NOT poisonous. Not in captivity anyway. According to scientists, their toxicity is apparently derived from their diet in the wild. It’s possible that the ants, termites and beetles that they consume are, in turn, carrying plant poisons from their own diets. Here at the park, the frogs are fed a diet of fruit flies and pinhead crickets for the most part.

Found on only a few small islands of Southern Surinam, the azureus prefer to live near small streams with heavy vegetation – including moss, lichens and such. Their vivid coloration serves as a warning by signaling their toxicity to potential predators. (However, the only natural predator of most of the poison dart frog family is a snake called Leimadophis epinephelus, which has developed a resistance to the frogs' poison.)

They are proficient climbers, so when you are looking at the exhibit, be sure you look up towards the top as well as the crevices under the rocks and logs. These frogs are fascinating to watch, because they are usually very active. In addition, the often seem to “walk” on all fours, instead of the typical hopping behavior that most fogs use. Surprisingly, they are not great swimmers, so the water level of their pool is deliberately kept shallow.

The frogs have an elaborate courtship that begins with the male vocalizing to attract a female. If she is receptive, the female will then stroke the male’s back with her front legs and follow him around until they find a suitable nesting area. After laying her eggs, the male will guard the nest and even add water to the clutch to hydrate them. About two weeks later when the eggs hatch, the male will crouch down, allowing a few tadpoles to wriggle upon his back and then carry them to a water-filled cavity to continue their development.

For more fascinating information about poison dart frogs, check out http://www.blackjungle.com/.