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Summary of Transcript:
In this video, the curator of birds at the Toledo Zoo discusses the Great Lakes population of piping plovers, a small shorebird critically endangered due to habitat loss. The Great Lakes piping plover recovery program was initiated to address this issue, and the Toledo Zoo’s role is the Salvage rearing program. This involves collecting eggs that have been abandoned and incubating them artificially in captivity. The goal is to rear the chicks and release them into the wild. The program successfully increased the breeding number of plovers from 12 to 72 last year. The curator notes that protecting the plovers also benefits other species indirectly. The ultimate satisfaction for the curator is hearing about captive-reared chicks returning to the wild and raising their chicks.
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Summary of Description:
The Toledo Zoo is involved in the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program to assist critically endangered species. The Zoo’s Curator of Birds, Monica, explains their efforts in the salvage rearing program and incubating abandoned eggs to help increase the breeding population.
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Toledo Zoo’s Contribution to Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program
Toledo Zoo, one of the finest zoos in the United States, is committed to protecting critical wildlife species and ecosystems. The Zoo is proud to participate in the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program, supporting the conservation of this critically endangered species.
Meet Monica, Curator of Birds at Toledo Zoo, who shares the Zoo’s efforts in developing the salvage rearing program and incubating abandoned eggs to help increase the breeding population of piping plovers in the wild.
About Piping Plovers
Piping Plovers are adorable small shorebirds that breed on the sandy beaches of the Great Lakes. They owe their name to their high-pitched, musical whistle sounds, which they produce during their courtship, aggression, or alarm displays. Despite their cute appearance, these birds face a grave threat of extinction.
Historically, piping plovers were almost wiped out in the 20th century due to habitat loss, human disturbance, and egg collection. Today, their population remains restricted, with only 75 breeding pairs left in the Great Lakes area.
Salvage Rearing Program
Toledo Zoo’s Curator of Birds reveals that the Zoo participates in the salvage rearing program, a unique conservation strategy benefitting the survival of the endangered piping plover species. When piping plover eggs are abandoned and it is determined that they are non-viable for hatching in nature, they can be brought to a facility for incubation.
Toledo Zoo takes in these eggs to be incubated and eventually hatched. The chicks are reared in a specially designed, naturalistic brooder habitat to avoid imprinting on humans and prevent developmental issues. When the chicks are ready, they are transported to a suitable location for release in the wild.
Incubating Abandoned Piping Plover Eggs
Monica further explains that the Zoo’s contributions don’t stop at only the salvage rearing program. On several occasions, Toledo Zoo received piping plover eggs for incubation, and their success rate has been encouraging. The hatched chicks are released into the wild in suitable locations, ensuring they have the best chance of survival.
Monica shares that the incubation process requires excellent attention to detail, including temperature and humidity control, turning the eggs regularly, and monitoring the embryos’ development. These measures guarantee the best possible chance of successful hatching, and the outcomes have been promising enough to maintain and expand the Zoo’s involvement in the program.
The Importance of Toledo Zoo’s Conservation Efforts
As a firm believer in conservation education, Toledo Zoo’s contributions to the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program are more than mere acts of service. The Zoo also provides a critical learning experience for visitors and the surrounding community, raising public awareness of issues related to biodiversity loss and extinction risks.
Participating in this program has shown the critical role that Toledo Zoo can play in preserving the endangered species vital to our ecosystem’s health and well-being. Every species has unique characteristics that contribute to the complex web of life. Losing one of those species can cause a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem, affecting all the other species that rely on them.
Toledo Zoo is making a valuable contribution to safeguarding our world’s biodiversity by advocating for endangered species like piping plovers. These efforts offer hope that these charismatic birds may have a future in our dynamic natural world and that future generations can appreciate them as we do today.
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Source Description
The Toledo Zoo is proud to participate in the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery Program to support this critically endangered species.
Learn more from Monica, the Curator of Birds, as she talks about the Zoo’s efforts in the salvage rearing program and incubating abandoned eggs to increase the breeding population.
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