January/February

®
Exzooberance
January / February 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
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Inside Cover —
There’s Always More to Zoo
With the new year comes the return of some of your favorite
seasonal exhibits, plus a few new ones! Giraffe feedings, camel rides
and Stingray Bay all reopen this spring. We’ll also have a new jellyfish
exhibit and a new chicken interactive learning area at the Farm. Plan
your visit and catch these interactive exhibits beginning February 28.
2 Memphis Zoo Takes Flight
Join us this spring for an all-new opportunity to see birds from
around the world. Memphis Zoo Takes Flight, a free-flight bird
show, opens February 28, and is included with General Admission.
See page 2 and 3 for profiles on some of the stars of the show.
Exzooberance™ is a bimonthly Memphis
Zoological Society publication providing
information for friends of the Memphis Zoo.
Send comments to MZS, 2000 Prentiss Place,
Memphis, TN 38112, call (901) 276-WILD
or log onto www.memphiszoo.org.
Vol. XXIV, No. 4
Memphis Zoological Society
Board of Directors as of August 2014
Our Mission:
Connecting people with wildlife
Memphis Zoo, Ya Ya and Le Le
are trademarks of the Memphis Zoo.
Officers:
Joseph C. DeWane, M.D., Chair
Dorothy Kirsch, Secretary
Russell T. Wigginton, Jr., Treasurer
Larry Roesel, Vice Chair
Gene Holcomb, Past Chair
Diane Smith, Past Chair
Directors:
Gaurav Agarwal
Brent Alvord
W. Lynn Carson
Thomas C.
Farnsworth III
David Hopkins
Henry A. Hutton
Scott McCormick
Have a question?
Joyce A. Mollerup
Brandon Garrott Morrison
Carol W. Prentiss
Karl Schledwitz
Jenna Shaw
Jerry A. Shore
Kelly Truitt
Mario L. Walker
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7 January Skate Parties
It’s a Happy ZOO Year! Join us January 1-3, from 5:30-9:30 each
evening as we celebrate the new year and the last week of the rink.
We’ll party through the decades with Q107.5. Check out page 7
for more details.
8 Year Round Fun at the Zoo
Don’t forget to check out page 8 for all the events happening at the
Memphis Zoo in 2015. Don’t miss what’s in store for you this year at
the Memphis Zoo!
5 Creature Feature
6Education
9 Jan./Feb. Calendar
10Conservation
12 Kids’ Page
Honorary Lifetime Directors:
Donna K. Fisher
Roger T. Knox, President Emeritus
Scott P. Ledbetter
Senator James R. Sasser
Rebecca Webb Wilson
Ex Officio:
Dr. Chuck Brady, Zoo President & CEO
Bill Morrison, City Council Representative
Credits:
Laura Doty, Editor / Writer
Geri Meltzer, Art Director
Laura Horn, Creative Advisor
Jennifer Coleman, Copy Editor
Toof Printing, Printer
Membership Goes Green!
Don’t forget, membership cards are
now printed at the Zoo when you arrive.
These will no longer be mailed.
Exzooberance paper generously donated
by International Paper employees
Zoo Admission Hours:
March - October 16 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
October 17 - February 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Grounds close one hour after last admission
• Zoo Closed: Thanksgiving Day,
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
The Memphis Zoo is accredited by the Association of
Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World
Association of Zoos and Aquariums. ©2015 Memphis Zoo
E-mail us at zooinfo@memphiszoo.org or call 901.333.6500
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CREATURE FEATURE Eyes on You!
by Anna Rehkopf, Animal Interpreter
The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most
well-known raptors we have in the Americas.
Currently, we have one resident hawk at the
Memphis Zoo, “Baroness.” Baroness is a special
animal, who is at the Zoo for a reason. She was
hit by a car and suffered a severely broken wing.
She can be seen taking a ride on my arm or in her
“weathering” area near Stingrays during the week.
Weathering is done to simulate raptors natural
behaviors like perching and watching for prey. This
gives the bird an opportunity to survey the land.
The eyes of a red-tailed hawk are specifically
equipped to survey their surroundings. Each of
their eyes is about the size of the bird’s brain! With
special colored oils that allow them to see colors
differently than humans, hawks are able to filter
INTERNET which make it
WALKER
ARTto
CENTER
out some
colors,
easier
pinpoint
CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL
#catvidfest
others. This is how she can discern a light brown
mouse in a field of hay. Hawks can also see into
the ultraviolet spectrum. They have some of the
INTERNET
CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL
WALKER ART CENTER
#catvidfest
best long-distance vision in the animal kingdom.
Imagine what it would be like to see a rabbit
twitching its nose from a mile up! No need for
binoculars when your vision is 10 times better
than humans’!
With the large size of their eyes comes a
sacrifice … a hawk cannot move its eyeball.
They are far too big in the skull and take up
space where the muscle tissue responsible for
movement would go. To get around this
conundrum, the bird has more neck bones,
which let the neck have much more movement
from side to side, about 270 degrees. Lastly, to
protect those amazing eyes there is a third eyelid,
Look for two
called a nictitating membrane. It’s somewhat
transparent and they will use this when wrestling
new red-tailed hawks
with prey.
this Spring
in
INTERNET
WALKER ART CENTER
If you missed Baroness and me on your
CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL
#catvidfest
“The Memphis Zoo
Zoo visit, keep your eyes open around town.
Red-Tailed Hawks are present year round
Takes Flight” bird show!
in Tennessee!
FOR KIDS!
INTERNET
CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL
INTERNET CAT
WALKER ART CENTER
#catvidfest
INTERNET
CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL
WALKER ART CENTER
#catvidfest
VIDEO FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 | 2 PM & 4 PM
$9 / $5 BROOKS MEMBERS
BROOKSMUSEUM.ORG
TM
Auditorium sound system provided by Ninth Wave Audio/Video
Design, generously sponsored by The Jeniam Foundation and
Decorative Arts Trust.
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EDUCATION
Call 901.333.6576 or visit
memphiszoo.org to register.
Homeschool Academy
Winter 2015
January 12-16
Monday - Friday
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
K - 8th grade: $120/members;
$135/nonmembers
9th - 12th grade: $135/members;
$150/non-members
Registration deadline: January 8
This weeklong educational program
will provide exciting and interactive
ways for students to learn about
science. Each class includes animal
visits, tours of exhibits, chats with
keepers, special projects and more.
Students bring a non-refrigerated,
non-microwavable lunch.
K – 2nd Grade
Sense-able Animals
Ever wonder how animals see after dark,
hear under water, and feel without fingers?
Learn unique animal features and how
humans and animals make “sense” of their
surroundings.
3rd – 5th Grade
Top Competitor
Animals are each other’s fiercest
competition. Discover the competitive
behaviors and survival skills different
species possess that give them a leg up
(or two) on the rest of the competition.
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6th – 8th Grade
Animal Classification
Explore the animal world through their
classifications. Study how scientists use
observation skills to discover new species
before naming and cataloging them.
9th – 12th Grade
Biology
This unit will focus on the topic of
microbiology.
Pre-registration is required. Prices are
subject to change. The Education
Department reserves the right to cancel a
program due to insufficient registration.
Homeschool Days
February 16
1 to 3 p.m.
K - 8th grade: $15/members;
$18/nonmembers
Registration deadline: February 12
This two-hour program takes our popular
zoo classes and adds a homeschool twist.
Meet live animals, participate in hands-on
activities and get an educator-guided
tour of exhibits.
Eat or Be Eaten
Chow down with herbivores, carnivores
and omnivores to uncover the links
between animals in the intricate web of life.
Spring Conservation
Camp 2015
Going, going, saved! While exploring
the Zoo and participating in fun games,
crafts, and interactive experiments, spring
break campers will learn how special our
endangered animals are and what they can
do to help save these important animals
from extinction.
March 9-13 and March 16-20
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost per day: $40/members;
$50/nonmembers
Cost for all five days: $170/members,
$199/nonmembers
Registration deadline:
Week One – March 5;
Week Two – March 12
Aftercare 3 to 6 p.m.:
If 3 p.m. pickup is too early for your
schedule, we offer aftercare each day.
Aftercare Cost per Day:
$20/members; $25/nonmembers
Aftercare Cost per Week:
$85/members; $99/nonmembers
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The Memphis Zoo
2015 Zoo Events
Don’t miss
what’s in store
for you this year at
the Memphis Zoo!
January
May
August
5/21 – Zoom Through the Zoo 8/7 – Last day of Camp
5/22 – Zoo Brew
September
5/24 – Members Night
9/4 – Zoo Brew
5/25 – Memorial Day —
9/6 – Members Night
the
Zoo
is
open!
February
9/7 – Labor Day –
2/16 – Homeschool Day
the Zoo is open!
June
2/28 – Memphis Zoo
9/12 – Zoo Rendezvous
Zoo Camp – Mon.-Fri.,
Takes Flight Opens
9/14-9/18 – Homeschool
2/28 – Seasonal Exhibits Open all month
Academy
6/6 – Eye Spy Day
9/26-9/27 – Harvest Fest
March
9/30 – Senior Day
3/9-3/20 – Spring Break Camp July
Zoo Camp continues
7/4 – Independence Day –
April
October
the
Zoo
is
open!
4/11 – Wild World of Wine
10/5-10/9 – Fall Break Camp
7/12 – Members Night
and Beer
10/16-10/18 – Zoo Boo
4/28 – Homeschool Day
10/16 – Homeschool Day
Half-price General Admission
1/12-1/16 – Homeschool
Academy
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10/24 – Ready Shelby
Day at the Zoo
10/23-10/25 – Zoo Boo
10/30-10/31 – Zoo Boo
November
11/19 – Homeschool Day
11/20 – Zoo Lights
Opens; select nights
11/21 – Memphis Zoo Ice
Rink – opens with Zoo
Lights November 20.
Daily starting Nov. 21
December
Zoo Lights select nights
Ends December 30
Sun Mon Tues WedThurs Fri Sat
Jan. 1
2
3
Theme Skate Nights
(see page 7 for more info)
JAN ’15
New Year’s Day
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Homeschool Academy :
Winter 2015
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FEB ’15
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day
25
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27 28 29 3031
Feb. 1
2
345 67
89
10 1112 1314
Valentine’s Day
1516 17 18 192021
Homeschool
Day
Presidents Day
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Memphis Zoo
Takes Flight
Opens
Seasonal Exhibits
Open
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CONSERVATION
One of a Kind: Meet Yeager
by Erin Loeding, Lab Manager
Some Zoo guests may have noticed a new
face near the hippos recently. Our hybrid
falcon, “Yeager,” recently moved into one of
the bird exhibits. Yeager is a special falcon
hybrid; he is half peregrine falcon and half
gyrfalcon. This type of hybrid is often used
in falconry. Moreover, gyr-peregrine falcon
hybrids are employed by airports to manage
birds such as ducks or geese to reduce the
risk of bird strikes on planes.
Living in the Artic, gyrfalcons are large
birds of prey that hold a special place of
honor in northern cultures. Gyrfalcons are
the national bird of Iceland and official bird of
Canada’s Northwest Territories. The Vikings
considered them to be prized hunting partners.
Wild gyrfalcons sit atop the food chain in the
arctic and feed on small mammals and birds.
Like other falcons, they can catch other
birds mid-flight and force them
to the ground.
Peregrine falcons are smaller
than gyrfalcons but are still powerful
birds of prey. They are one of the
fastest animals in the world as they
have been clocked at nearly 200 mph.
Peregrine falcons live across the U.S.,
but can live at higher elevations than most
falcons. More recently, they are thriving in
urban settings and help control the pigeon
populations. In the 1960s and ‘70s, peregrine
falcon numbers declined rapidly as a result of
problems with pesticides, such as DDT. They
were classified as an endangered species and
intensive conservation efforts started. After
decades of hard work by dedicated people,
peregrine falcon numbers recovered and they
were removed from the Endangered Species
List in 1999. They are a good example of
a strong conservation success story.
Next time you visit the Memphis
Zoo, take some time to visit Yeager and
appreciate this special bird.
supporting
the Memphis Zoo
for over 15 years!
Earn 5%!
up
to
When you purchase qualifying products.
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VISIT
fredsinc.com
it’s the smart thing to do!
Zoo lights
SunTrust Zoo Lights Thanks
What’s better than a winter wonderland? A WILD
winter wonderland! Visitors to 2014’s SunTrust
Zoo Lights experienced 100% chance of snow,
an all-new Courtyard display, Memphis Zoo on
Ice and so much more!
We’d like to thank the following partners for
their continued support:
Title Sponsor
SunTrust
Light Partners
Bors-Koefoed “BK” Family, FedEx,
Jaxon DeWane, Joseph C. DeWane, M.D.,
Dorothy Orgill Kirsch, Mahaffey Tent & Party
Rentals, Moonshine Lighting, The Prentiss Family,
WMC-TV5
Avenue of Animals
Edward DeWane, Erich DeWane, Jaxon
DeWane, Mary Katherine DeWane,
Fascinating Catering by Marilyn Chadwick,
Henry and Hoben Knox, Moonshine
Lighting, Virginia Wester
Rink Sponsors
Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, IberiaBank,
Lancer Catering, Memphis
Communications Corporation
Media Partners
Malco Theaters, 104.5 WRVR, WMC-TV5
Memphis Zoo on Ice Presenting Sponsors
Bors-Koefoed “BK” Family, Buckman,
Joseph C. DeWane, M.D., FedEx,
Mahaffey Tent & Party Rentals,
MidSouth Chevy Dealers
Ferris Wheel Presented By
Fred’s Super Dollar
Activity Partner
Fred’s Super Dollar
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Requested in-home dates January 2-5
2000 Prentiss Place
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 276-WILD
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© Copyright Memphis Zoo 2015
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