Critter Talk #4, 07.indd - Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo

Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis!
Quarterly Magazine of the
Bermuda Zoological Society
&
Atlantic
Conservation Partnership
“To
inspire
appreciation
and care of
island
environments”
CONTENTS
“Over here” shouted the snorkeller to her dive buddy. They were in fifteen feet of clear
blue water and she was diving down to pull a small green sea turtle from the capture
net to bring it safely to the surface. Two hundred yards away the catch boat tender
heard the shout and throttled up the engine bringing the boat directly towards the pair
of swimmers and their ‘charge’. Together the team quickly prepared to pull the turtle
from the water to place it carefully in the boat. Ordinarily, this was a non-event for the
Bermuda Turtle Project. It was not uncommon to get multiple turtles on one ‘set’ of the
net which then had to be tagged, physically examined, weighed, measured and blood
sampled for genetic work. However, in this instance, it was immediately noted that the
turtle had a problem that had potentially serious implications for Bermuda.
During the 1980s a previously described but uncommon disease of sea turtles started
to increase in prevalence in both Florida and Hawaii, to the point that more than fifty
percent of certain populations were affected. The disease manifested itself by multiple
benign skin tumours affecting the
eyes, skin and internal organs of
the turtles. Turtles with
advanced stages
of the
1 Fibropapillomatosis!
3 Zoobilee
4 Aquarium News
6 Museum News
8 Zoo News
10 Volunteers
11 New Members
12 Education
14 Bermuda Natural
History News
16 Zoobilee Cont.
18 Enviro Chat
19 Gift Shop Goodies
20 Membership
Sign Up
Volume 30
Number 4 • 2007
$1
Fibropapilloma tumour on sea turtle’s eye. Its right eye had a similar tumour on it also.
These tumours can grow so large as to obscure the sight of the turtle completely.
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
1
disease often presented as being
very thin, depressed and weak.
They often could not float properly
because of the large fibrous tumours
and because their eyes were often
affected they became effectively blind.
Albert Einstein School of Medicine
in New York for histopathology and
viral isolation. Dr. Herbst has been
one of the key people investigating
this disease and was extremely
interested in this case because of the
histopathology confirmed the disease
to be sea turtle fibropapillomatosis
and initial DNA analysis of the
herpes virus showed a Florida ‘strain’.
This is the first sea turtle caught
in Bermuda waters to have been
positively identified with this
disease, in thirty years of looking
and over 2,500 tagged sea turtles.
The future health of sea turtles in
Bermuda is not clear; only time
will tell if this is a one-off
case or whether it is the
start of an epidemic. What
is clear is that continued
vigilance and monitoring
by the Bermuda Turtle
Project and general
public is necessary.
Despite
intensive
research, the
cause and
spread of
the disease
is not fully
understood.
A herpes virus
has been found
associated with
the tumours
and is strongly
suspected to be
the causal agent
Dr. Ian Walker
Curator,
but this has yet
Aquarium & Zoo
to be proven.
Work continues
on isolating and
purifying the
herpes virus,
determining
the vector that
spreads the disease
For more information go to:
Multiple skin tumours on the right shoulder and neck.
and for developing
http://sacs.vetmed.ufl.edu/Services/
ZooMed/stf.htm
diagnostic tests so it
geographical location, the early
can quickly be determined in the field.
stage of FP presentation and the
young age of the animal.
Back in Bermuda, the team on
board the tender suspected sea turtle
The Bermuda Turtle Project
fibropapillomatosis (FP) and the FP
has been on the lookout for
contingency plan was put into place.
this disease for many years.
The turtle and its handlers were
Bermuda’s green sea turtles
sent to the net boat, where all were
typically hatch and come from
disinfected with a mild Clorox™
beaches in the Caribbean and
solution. Immediately isolating the
Central America. They migrate
turtle may help to prevent potential
north using the Gulf Stream and
infection of other turtles captured by
after a period living in the open
the team. The turtle was transported
oceans of the Sargasso Sea they
to land and taken immediately to
eventually end up on the sea
a local animal hospital and housed
grass beds in Bermuda where
in a salt water tank well away from
they spend their juvenile and
any marine animals. After speaking
teenage years. Given that the
with experts who have dealt with this
Caribbean has seen increased
disease for many years, the sea turtle
incidence of this disease since
was humanely euthanized and a full
X-ray of turtle’s body
the 1980s, we considered ourselves
necropsy (autopsy) was performed.
showing no obvious internal masses.
lucky to have escaped its wrath. Last
Tissues samples from the tumours
Photos: Ian Walker
month, our fears were realized; the
were sent to Dr. Larry Herbst at the
2
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
After twelve months
of planning, four months
of team meetings, and a lot of
late nights our September 22 event,
“Zoobilee: All Aboard for an Island Tour”
was a fantastic hit!
A big “Thank You” must go to all those who
helped to make it a huge success.
SPONSORS
Trunk Island
Bank of Bermuda Foundation
Nonsuch Island
Marshall, Diel & Myers
Coney Island
BTC
Safeguard Security Group
Hiscox Bermuda
XL Foundation
PATRONS
Jim & Lolly Burnett-Herkes
Robert J. Baron
John & Debbie Burville
James & Judy Gibbons
Neville & Jean Conyers
Jim & Kristin Gould
Michael & Sheila Gringley
Chris Malpas, Butterfield Bank
Neil Burnie
Turtle Island
Tom & Betty Mahoney
Gibbet Island
Ken & Marg Hammond
E. C. O’D Mclaughin
Redshank Island
Ian & Carole Havercroft
Paul Shapiro & Rosemary Jones
Our Celebrity Chefs
Barry Cohen, Fairmont Southampton
Bill & Sandra Scott
Glenn & Susan Titterton
Alan & Susan Titus
Wilbert & Romelle Warner
Claudine Wilson
Richard & Mary Winchell
Wakefield Quin
Jean-Claude Garzia, Lemon Tree Café
The Music Makers
Keith Caisey and his Brazilian Drummers
Kelvin Cruickshank
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
Ray Pasnen
Tom Ray
3
aquarium news
Longtail Rehabilitation:
An Intern’s Perspective
Having grown up in New England, when
someone mentions seabirds I
think of the spoiled, badtempered gulls that
stalk the shores of
the East Coast.
In fact, one
of my most
poignant
childhood
memories
involves
watching
helplessly
as one
of these
aggresive birds
stole my two-yearold brother’s entire
hotdog right out of his
hands while he tried to feed the gull
some bread. I still remember the shocked look on
his chubby face as he experienced his first betrayal.
Here in Bermuda, the iconic longtail provides a far
more graceful and beautiful image of a seabird.
As head aquarist Patrick Talbot’s intern, I’ve had
the opportunity to work closely with a few of these
birds as they arrived at the BAMZ doorstep for
rehabilitation.
The research programme and rehabilitation of whitetailed tropicbirds are two of the less visible yet highly
successful functions of the Bermuda Aquarium and
Zoo. The Bermuda Longtail Project, organized and
implemented by Patrick, involves valuable research
on the breeding success of the longtail, about which
not much is known. The rehabilitation of injured
or fledgling longtails (that have prematurely left the
nest) supplements this research, as well as provides
the opportunity for banding and tracking the birds.
4
Patrick has amassed a large quantity of data which
spans several years and involves over three hundred
nests. He regularly risks life and limb in order to
collect this data due to the location of these nests,
often deep in crumbly limestone cliff cavities.
However, back at BAMZ, I regularly risk the wellbeing of my fingers as I attempt to weigh,
measure, and feed the sometimes
ferocious rehab chicks.
Twice a day I take a
deep breath and
sneak my hand
into our
makeshift
nests
(usually
large
plastic
boxes
filled with
sand), and
attempt to
scoop the baby
longtail into my
hand before it can whip
its head around and close its
beak onto the fleshiest parts of my
fingers. If this doesn’t work, I can try the less elegant
(and less used) strategy of pinning the bird down
with one hand and shoving my other hand underneath
it while the whole Aquarium echoes with ear-splitting
screeches.
Once I have the longtail securely in my hands, the
next challenge necessitates that I make the bird sit
still on the scale while I take a weight measurement
using an archaic triple-beam scale. Some of the
calmer chicks, often the veterans, will sit and chirp
amiably without supervision while I take their
measurements and clean their nests. However, the
newcomer or the rare ‘fiend’ will scream and flap
its wings tirelessly while I try not to lose my grip,
creating a cloud of dust and mites. Once in a while,
a bird will escape its caretaker and flap around
the Aquarium, sometimes even landing in a tank.
Naturally, this results in widespread terror among our
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
aquarium news
fish. Next, I feed the chicks, which goes smoothly enough when the chicks are willing to eat. But when a chick
refuses to eat and runs the risk of starvation, I have the job of grabbing its beak and forcing the squid down its
throat. You can imagine how this goes over.
However, once a chick has recovered and the
time comes for it to be released into the wild, the
sense of satisfaction I feel seems worth all the
flesh missing from my fingers. We take the fullyfledged longtail to the cliffs of Nonsuch Island,
hold it facing the sea, and impart some final words
of encouragement. At this moment, the chick has
its first view of the vast ocean; it flaps its wings in
anticipation and then launches into the blue. Some
end up back in the ocean…so we keep them for a
few more days and then try again, but most soar
into the sky and
disappear.
Like humans, longtails love
calimari for dinner!
The Longtail
Project gives a
second chance to
birds that might
otherwise drown,
and helps increase
the population. In
this way, the Project
allows Patrick,
the BAMZ staff,
and the army of
interns like me
to contribute to the success of these
beautiful yet threatened birds, ensuring
their continuing status as Bermuda’s
avian icon.
Julie Sayre
Aquarist Intern
Preparing for take-off from a Bermuda rooftop!
Photos: Patrick Talbot
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
5
museum news
Green darner wave
This summer there were two
waves of the green darner (Anax
junius) in Bermuda – the first
on August 14 and 15 and the
second on September 1 and 2,
both following several windy
days. I was privileged to see
them flying over Tobacco Bay,
the St. George’s
Golf Course
and around
my house.
There were so
many of them, and
they are quite large
(from 2.5 to 3.3 inches
in length), that they looked
like a large flock of tiny birds.
I knew that dragonflies and
damselflies migrated through
Bermuda but I had never
seen anything like this
before! And I wasn’t
alone; reports of
large numbers
of dragonflies
came in from
one end of
the island
to the
other!
In the local literature
there are several
mentions of waves
of dragonflies. Dr.
Walwyn Hughes
reported influxes of
two species in August, 1964,
and the globe-skimmer (Pantala
flaveiscens) in September 1971,
following the passage of a weak
cold front, and David Wingate
wrote of an influx after Hurricane
Felix in August, 1995.
6
There is much general information
available about dragonflies and
the green darner, but for the local
slant on the phenomenon, I turned
to David Wingate:
“Green darners are one of the
largest migratory dragonflies
in North America and, along
with about five other species,
they occur in Bermuda as
both fall* and spring
migrants but
usually,
distributed over Bermuda but
they tend to cluster in certain
areas, presumably where they are
getting small eye flies or other
insects, possibly mosquitoes.
Certainly they are well known to
eat things like
that but there
are a lot of other
insects they could
get, usually
insects
that are too
small for us
to see.
mostly
in the fall at
the end of the
summer. Their
occurrences in waves
following cold fronts is
the result of them being
blown to Bermuda in the
cold northwest or northeast
winds after a cold front has come
through in the fall and suddenly,
either over marshes or hilltops
you will see large clusters of
them, up to one hundred to two
hundred at a time – buzzing
around in quite concentrated
groups. They are not universally
The green darners will
mate and lay eggs in the
freshwater ponds** as they
come through Bermuda,
and then in a few days they
are all gone. In the fall we’ll
sometimes get a hatch of the
green darners but by the winter
they also have migrated south.
In that way, they seem to be like
the North American monarch
population; they breed as they
move south and then subsequent
generations keep moving south.
These waves are spectacular
things – there will be no
dragonflies and all of a sudden
there will be thousands all over
the island. The two waves so far
this fall* struck me as the largest
influxes of the green darner
that I have seen in many a year.
That second one was definitely
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
the largest influx of that species
I have even seen. I have seen
larger flights of the wandering
glider (Pantala flaveiscens) but
green darner….you usually see
a fair number but not hundreds.
I was at Fort Scaur that first
weekend in September and I
estimated, conservatively, two
hundred and fifty to three hundred
just on that hilltop but it could
have been thousands.
The saddlebag dragonflies are two
other species that occur regularly
in Bermuda but in smaller
numbers. You usually only find
them over the freshwater ponds
where they can concentrate. They
are easily recognized - they have
either red patches on the base of
the hind wing or black patches
on the base of the hind wing.
The black saddlebags (Tramea
lacerata) and the red saddlebags
(Tramea carolina) which are
much less common, occur in
waves – and usually in the bigger
waves of dragonflies you will see
a few of those too.”
Lisa Greene
Collections Officer
* The fall migration refers to
a time frame when birds are
migrating south. It usually
begins in July with the
shorebirds and continues in
August with most other species.
** Dragonflies and their nymphs
contribute to a pond’s
biodiversity where they are
voracious predators of other
animals and, in turn, are prey
for things like the green heron
and other species of heron too.
Photo: BAMZ Collection
museum news
BAMZ Library – Fully Automated!
Over the past twelve months the library staff and our
dedicated volunteer Ken Morris have been working tirelessly
to transfer all of our books from our old card catalogue
system to our electronic catalogue. Our electronic catalogue
has been in existence for a number of years but only books
purchased after 1994 had been added.
We decided it would be well worth
the time and effort required to
have a comprehensive, searchable
electronic book database in the
library. We knew this project was
going to take a great number of
hours as
there were
over 2500
books to
be added,
so we
asked our
long-time
volunteer
Ken hard at work
Ken Morris
if he would
be willing
to help us. Ken, as always, was keen to help in any way he
could and we decided he would dedicate his volunteer hours
exclusively to the project.
Now, here we are twelve months on and the project is
complete. We can now search for books by subject, title,
author or whatever little information we have, at the touch
of a button. Best of all, we are able to provide a quicker and
more efficient service to our patrons.
Thanks again to Ken for his dedication to such a monotonous
task and for donating so many volunteer hours to this project.
Also, thank you to our assistant librarian, Margaret Emmott,
for fitting an additional project into her busy schedule!
Alison Green
Librarian
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
7
zoo news
GALAPAGOS TORTOISES
Galapagos tortoises (Geochelone nigra) originate on the Pacific islands of the Galapagos Archipelago and are one
of the largest living tortoise species in the world. These tortoises can be further broken down into probably thirteen
species of tortoise of which only
eleven survive today. The shell or
carapace of a tortoise is formed of
bone with the external plates fused
to the skeleton of the reptile to
form a strong defensive structure.
A tortoise that feels threatened will
retract its head and pull back its
front legs to put the large scales
on the legs as a shield against the
outside world.
The carapace shape of the tortoises
corresponds to the habitat they are
found in. Larger islands with more
wet highlands and lush vegetation
near the ground have tortoises with
‘dome-back’ shells such as the ones
at BAMZ. These tortoises have
restricted upward head movement
due to shorter necks, they also have
shorter limbs. They are, however,
the larger and heavier subspecies of
BAMZ tortoises, Crooked Nose and Sally, socializing with one another
Galapagos tortoise. Smaller, drier
islands tend to have tortoises with
‘saddle-back’ shells comprising of a
carapace elevated above the neck and flared around the back legs, they also
have longer and thinner limbs. The tortoises do not have to be of either
type as there are intermediate variations with characteristics of both these
extremes. In all species the male has a concave undershell to aide in mating
and is larger than a female of comparable age.
Tortoises are herbivores with a diet in the wild consisting of cactus,
grasses, vines, leaves, and fruit. Some of their diet consists of plants
that are toxic to humans such as the poison apple, yet it is one of their
favourites along with fresh young grass and an endemic guava. Most of the
moisture the tortoises require comes from dew and sap of the foods they
eat, but they can survive long periods without liquids by breaking down
the body fats already in their system. Although capable of withstanding
drought tortoises seem to enjoy drinking and wallowing in water. Tortoises
being reptiles are cold-blooded and usually bask for two hours after
dawn gaining energy through their shell before being active for eight to
nine hours. They tend to sleep in mud wallows, pools or a pallet (a snug
depression in soft ground or dense brush) for up to sixteen hours.
John Glynn
Zookeeper
8
Shirley Temple,
child star of the 1930s and ’40s,
riding a tortoise at BAMZ
Top photo: John Glynn, lower photo: “Bermuda Vacation” by Ruth Houston Joor
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
zoo news
Moving Our Tortoise
to the door and checked he was slightly wider than the
The care and maintenance of animals in the Zoo
frame. This required lifting him on an angle while going
requires that we have the ability to transport them to the
through doors, and stops when Crooked Nose stuck his
vets for check-ups and to keep track of their weight. The
front legs out in protest at being carried. The positive of
larger animals in the Zoo such
this was that once inside the practice we
as our Galapagos tortoise
knew that he couldn’t run away
(Geochelone nigra)
as he needs help going
Crooked Nose can be
through doors. While
a difficult challenge
at the veterinary
to move and weigh.
practice for his
Weighing Crooked
check-up he made
Nose requires five
a model patient,
staff members and
especially
a tree. The scale
compared to the
is attached to a
noise of other
branch of the tree
animals around
in his enclosure
him. Once
and while four
his
evaluation
people lift him up,
was
complete
the fifth attaches his
everything was
weighing platform to
reversed
to return
the scale. Care must
him
home
to his cagebe taken not to drop
mate
Sally.
him when we do this as
John Glynn
he is not designed for
Zookeeper
jumping and at 401 pounds
In for the long haul,
Crooked Nose being transported
he would hurt himself.
Until the new veterinary clinic is built as part of the
new Madagascar building we need to take our
animals off site for vet check-ups. To take Crooked
Nose to the vets he must be taken to the eastern end
of the facility and then loaded on a truck. Some of
the visitors to BAMZ have been surprised to observe
our method of achieving this. Imagine strolling
along the paths at the Zoo and being confronted by a
tortoise on a cart (surrounded by his entourage) being
pulled and pushed at high speed (for a tortoise) to his
destination. Lifting Crooked Nose onto a truck is the
simplest part of the process as long as a truck with
a lift gate is used. All we have to do is make sure he
doesn’t move while he goes up and then put him in
the bed of the truck. During the ride a keeper stays
in the back with him to ensure nothing untoward
happens such as him trying to climb out.
When we reach Endsmeet, the process is reversed to
remove him from the vehicle and then to move him
inside. Normal sized doors are not designed with
adult Galapagos tortoises in mind; once we got him
from the Zoo to be weighed
Photo: Jermiko Dillas
BAMZ tortoises were collected on one of Vincent Astor’s expeditions
to the Galapagos Islands. The animals were brought to Bermuda
and into Flatts on Mr. Astor’s yacht “Nourmahl”,
seen in the distance in this photo
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
Photo: BAMZ Collection
9
volunteers
We’re so happy to have you on board with us!
Welcome to our 2007 — 2008 junior volunteers who began their programme on September 15 and 16.
These young men and women have committed to working one weekend morning each week throughout
the school year. They will have the opportunity to experience volunteering in four departments of BAMZ;
Aquarium, Local Tails, Education and the Zoo. They will also participate in field trips, lectures
and community service projects.
It is a pleasure to have such enthusiasm join the “ team”.
Joanne Chisnall
Volunteer Coordinator
l to r: Nikhil Hassell, Kate Cooper, Freya Lawrence,
Cynarra Phillips, Heather Sinclair, Jorge Sanchez,
John Barnes & James Gilmour
l to r: Arthur Begeman, Zayla Smith,
Claudie Richardson, Christina Hoban, Ryan Amaral, Robert
Rawlings, Nathan Simmons & Savannah Tribley
Photos: Camilla Stringer
BZS Raffle Tickets are in the mail
Please help our fund-raising efforts by buying or selling our
raffle tickets.
Ticket stubs along with payment may be dropped off at the
Body Shop in the Washington Mall, the BAMZ front desk of
or mailed to the Volunteer Office, Bermuda Zoological Society,
P.O. Box FL 145, Flatts FL BX.
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors we have great prizes
including jewellery, a BBQ, hotel stays, a travel voucher and
much more!
Willing to sell tickets? Contact Joanne at the Volunteer Office at
293-2727 ext 130.
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Retired and
have some spare
time to give?
Why not volunteer
with BZS and BAMZ.
Volunteer opportunities
are available in all
departments.
Contact the volunteer
office at 293 2727
ext. 130 to learn about
our programmes.
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
new members
Welcome New Members
With assistance from over 4,000 supporters, the BZS promotes conservation education by working
with the local community, government and other organizations to protect and manage our natural
environment, fund conservation efforts and raise public awareness.
The Bermuda Zoological Society would like to welcome the following new members
for the period June 1 through September 14, 2007.
We look forward to you visiting us at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.
Ms LeShea Adams
Ms Alison P. Bailey
Ms Joanne Barnard
Mr. Joe Beaton
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Beaudoin
Mrs. Nicole M. Belboda-Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Benevides
Ms Michelle Bohnert
Mr. Jeffrey Borges
Ms Dallas Bowers
Mr. and Mrs. Cory Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Brown
Mrs. Romika Brown
Miss India Burchall
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Calveley
Mr. and Mrs. Rcihard Campbell
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cano-Rowland
Ms Juliette Carpenter
Ms Roxanne Christopher
Mr. and Mrs. Stacey Chudley
Mr. and Mrs. Elias Costa
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Covert
Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Darrell
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew deFrias
Mr. and Mrs. Denis DeFrias
Mr. and Mrs. Mekana Desa
Mr. and Mrs. Michael DeSilva
Ms Xenia Dill
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Edwards
Mr. Fawley and Ms Best
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Fisher
Mrs. Deborah Flande
Ms Sandra Furbert
Mr. and Mrs. Greg Garside
Mr. Stephen Gaschen
Ms Barbara Marie Goomarc
Mr. and Mrs. Raj Goonewardene
Ms Christine Gregor
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Harding
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Hardy
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Harkness
Mr. and Mrs. Skip Heroux-Everson
Ms Joleesa Holdipp
Mr. and Mrs. Alan Humphreys
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Inesi
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Ingham
Mr. Charles Jeffers
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Johnston
Ms Tracey Keane
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelly
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Kipfer
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Kowalski
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Lattyak
Ms Hilary Lawrence
Ms Renee Lightbourne
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lightowler
Mr. and Mrs. Gavaska Lodge
Mr. and Mrs. Cosimo Lovecchio
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Lutes
Mr. and Mrs. Sebastien Malo
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Marsh
Mr. and Mrs. Vicente Mascarenhas
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Mather
Mr. and Mrs. Michael McDonnell
Mr. McFadden and Ms Traynor
Mrs. Helen Moniz
Ms Toniiae Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Morley
Mr. James Morrison
Ms Rhoda Musson
Mr. and Mrs. Graeme Naysmith
Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Ortola
Mr. and Mrs. Deon Pachai
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Pass
Mr. Line Payette
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Pollock
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Purdhoe
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Pye
Mr. Rajeswaran and Ms Sriharan
Neil Redburn
Mr. and Mrs. Allan Rego
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Rentenaar
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Richards
Mrs. Gulizar Ritchie
Ms Zoe Roberts-Koren
Mr. and Mrs. Paulo Roias
Mr. and Mrs. DeShawn Rose
Mr. and Mrs. Gustavo Sanchez
Mr. Andrew Shailer
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Shaver
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Simmons
Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Simmons
Ms Deborah Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Stahl
Mr. Stephens and Ms Aphantitis
Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Stone
Swiss Reinsurance Company
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Danny Torak
Mr. Desmond Townsend
Ms Erica Tweedle
Mr. and Mrs. Joao Vicente
Ms Nancy Vieira
Ms Michelle Viera
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Waldorf
Ms Dhammika Weerappuli
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick White
Mr. and Mrs. Damion Wickramage
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Williams
Ms Keita R. N. Wilson
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
11
education
s
p
m
a
C
a
u
q
A 2007
It’s hard to imagine that seven weeks of Aqua Camp
went by so quickly; but what a wonderful seven
weeks it was. More than five hundred students
attended Aqua Camp this
summer and judging by
all of the smiles and the
eight year old intellectual
scientific conversations,
it was obvious that much
was learned and a good
time was had by all. This
year’s students ranged in age
from four through ten and
they studied different topics
including animal behaviours,
reptiles, whales and Bermuda’s
unique habitats. For some of the
students it was the first time they
had snorkeled, come face to face
with an iguana or touched a ball
python, while others preferred to
simply day-dream as Spike the barracuda and Darth
Vader the black grouper swam by in the North Rock
tank. At the end of each week students walked away
with great pride knowing they had numerous art
projects to show off at home.
Photos: Lynn Thorne
12
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
education
Our approach to teaching
in our Aqua Camp programme
is quite simple; hands on, hands on,
hands on! Under the watchful eye of
experienced teachers, our students have
the opportunity to learn for themselves
and to reinforce and clarify ideas they may
have. It is always rewarding to see students
get excited about personal discoveries
they have made; ones they will not easily
forget. Our job is simply to provide a rich
environment in which these discoveries can
be made and with the help of our BAMZ bus
and Bermuda’s incredible natural beauty, I can say with
certainty that many children were “inspired to appreciate
and care for their island environment”.
Thank you for supporting our Aqua Camp this summer
and for giving us the opportunity to inspire the next
generations to appreciate and care for Bermuda.
Joseph Furbert
Education Officer
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
13
bermuda natural history news
Breeding Season Reports for the Cahow and Tropicbird
period. By the time the last chicks
had fledged out to sea by mid-June,
2007, it could be confirmed that this
Critically Endangered Species had
enjoyed a record season. Not only
had the cahow breeding population
risen to a new high number of
eighty active nest sites with new
pairs occupying five new nests (up
from an original number of eighteen
active nests in 1962), but a total of
thirty-nine chicks had
successfully fledged,
equalling the previous
high number in 2003,
just before Hurricane
Fabian caused
massive damage
and disruption to
the nesting islands.
Fabian caused a
decline in chick
numbers for four
years before the
number of fledging
chicks caught up with
The situation today
pre-storm figures.
is quite different
Despite the temporary
and all seabirds
dip caused by Fabian,
are protected by
the overall trend for
law on Bermuda.
Cahow fledgling exercising under bay grape forest on Nonsuch Island
the cahow population
Despite rampant
is that of continued
development and a
same
nest
site
year
after
year;
they
increase.
During
the fourth year of
dense human population, the island
both also raise only one chick a
the Cahow Translocation Project, a
hosts some very special seabird
year during their respective nesting
record number of twenty-five chicks
species, and two of these, the
seasons.
were moved to the new colony site
longtail or white-tailed tropicbird
on Nonsuch Island. Twenty-four of
(Phaethon lepturus catsbyii), and
2007 Cahow nesting season
these fledged successfully during
the endemic cahow or Bermuda
For the cahow, their 2007 nesting
late May through early June, with
petrel (Pterodroma cahow) appear
season actually began in late
the last departing on June 17. This
to be doing quite well and are the
October of the previous year,
makes a total of seventy-nine cahow
subject of this report. In some ways,
when the first birds returned to
fledglings which have departed
these birds seem to be opposites:
their
nest
burrows
on
the
isolated
successfully from Nonsuch Island
the Longtail is a summer-nesting
Castle Harbour Islands to carry out
since 2004. Next year will mark the
seabird, returning to Bermuda during
courtship activity, mate and build
final year of the translocation project,
the warm months to nest and carry
their nests out of grass and other
with the planned translocation of
out highly visible daytime aerial
coastal vegetation. The eggs were
twenty-one chicks bringing the total
courtship, then migrating far to
laid by mid-January 2007, hatching
of chicks moved to one hundred.
the south to spend the cold winter
after a fifty-three-day incubation
The next two years (2008 – 2009)
months at sea east of the Lesser
Bermuda, at the time of its
discovery in the sixteenth century,
was home to a wide variety of
seabirds, some of which nested in
huge numbers on the island; in
fact, the strange noises made by
huge colonies of nocturnal seabirds
convinced the Spanish discoverers
that the island was inhabited by
devils, and was one of the reasons
why they never colonized the island.
They did, however,
leave pigs behind
to act as food for
shipwrecked sailors,
and these, along
with rats, cats, dogs
and persecution
and hunting by the
English a century
later, wiped out most
of these species
except for a few
hardy survivors.
14
Antilles. The cahow also comes
to Bermuda to nest, except it does
so during the winter months and is
secretive and nocturnal, only flying
in off the open ocean during dark
nights; it returns to the open ocean
during the hot summer months,
remaining well out in the open
ocean. They both are monogamous
and pairs stay together for many
years, and both species use the
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
bermuda natural history news
2007 Tropicbird nesting season
While the cahow nesting season
was finishing for 2007, that for
the Tropicbird was just getting
started. Bermuda is a very important
breeding site for this species and
the approximately 2000 pairs that
breed in Bermuda represent nearly
half of the North Atlantic breeding
population. It is therefore very
important that we monitor this
population to see whether it is stable,
whether breeding success is high,
Harbour area, one on Bay Island
at Bailey’s Bay, and one at Shelly
Bay, Hamilton Parish (the last with
the help of Michelle Pasquin). Out
of these 246 sites, thirty one had no
activity, thirty one had prospecting
activity by birds looking to establish
new nests, and 184 had serious
The banding of cahow chicks, which
nesting activity up to and including
was initiated in 2002, is beginning to
egg-laying. As of September 13,
yield real results about the survival
2007, a total of 114 tropicbird
rates of fledglings, which spend
chicks have either already fledged
their first four or five years at sea
successfully (ninety-one) or are still
before they return to Bermuda to find
in the nests (twentypartners and choose
three). This represents
nest burrows.
62% breeding success
Out of twentyfor the 184 active
nine chicks banded
nest sites (a very
during 2002, a total
good figure!), but
of eight have now
perhaps the biggest
been confirmed
surprise was that the
as returning to the
unmanaged sites this
breeding islets by
year have had good
2007, representing
breeding success as
a 30% return rate.
well as the managed
In contrast, out of
areas. Bay Island
thirty-three chicks
has had nine chicks
banded during
fledge from sixteen
the 2003 nesting
active nest sites,
season, only five
representing 56%
have returned to the
breeding success,
breeding islands by
despite the presence
2007, representing
Three-quarter fledged tropicbird chick removed from nest for banding
of both rats and
a much lower
crows, which are
15% return rate.
known
to
predate
on eggs and young
and
to
identify
both
present
and
The banding has also provided
chicks of tropicbirds. The highest
potential threats and ways in which
confirmation that although the
breeding success of any site was
we can assist the species.
majority of chicks return to the island
seen along the Shelly Bay shoreline,
A
large
part
of
this
programme
they are born on, about a third (33%)
which has produced twelve chicks
consists of monitoring a
have been recorded on different
from seventeen active nests,
representative number of nest sites
islands than the one they originated
representing 70% breeding success.
in managed areas such as the Castle
from. This may have solved the
These are extremely good figures
Islands Nature Reserve (including
mystery of how the cahow, with a
for any seabird, and are encouraging
Nonsuch Island) where predators
very low breeding population for
for the continued survival of these
such as rats, cats and crows are
more than three centuries, managed
beautiful birds which are such an
kept
off,
and
a
couple
of
relatively
to avoid dangerous inbreeding. It
important part of Bermuda’s natural
unmanaged sites. The nesting season
now appears that enough birds were
environment and heritage.
is still ongoing as of the writing
attracted to islands other than the one
of
this
report,
but
during
2007
we
they originated from so that there
Jeremy Madeiros
have monitored 246 tropicbird nest
was mixing of the gene pool among
Terrestrial Conservation Officer
sites at ten separate locations, eight
all of the four or five tiny populations
on managed islands in the Castle
Photos: Jeremy Madeiros
on the remaining nesting islets.
should see the return of the first
cahows translocated to Nonsuch; the
big question will be whether they
return to the new site on Nonsuch, or
whether they will be attracted back
out to the present nesting islets.
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
15
We could never have done it
without you.
Thank you all so very much!
Our Event Partners:The Folks Who Helped Us Out
Beverages Gosling’s
the ultimate wine and spirits providers
John Barritt & Son Ltd.
chasers and Vitamin Waters like Revive!
Dockyard Brewing
locally brewed beers
Catering Flying Chef Catering Services
Little Venice & Fourways Catering
Marketplace
Miles Markets
Fish Chowder Freeport Seafood
Lobster Pot
Swizzle Inn
Food Products Butterfield & Vallis
BBQs Bermuda Gas
Parking Services Bermuda Train Company
Safeguard Security – Apex Valet Services
Crown & Anchor Richard and Ricky Sousa
Oleney Carlington
Gregory Fox
Decorations Designer Flowers
Fairmont Southampton
Nicola Lucas
Photography DolphinQuest
Robyn Faulkner
Chris Trainer
Graphics Kristy Ingemann
Linda Weintraub
Printing Bermuda Blueprinting
Gulfstream Graphics
Sound Benjamin Outerbridge
Emcee Bruce Barritt
16
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
Donations To Our Silent Auction Were Received From…
A Red Tie Affair
Belmont Hills Golf Club
Bermuda Department of Tourism
Bermuda Gas
Bermuda Turtle Project
Bermuda World Rugby Classic 2007
Brian “The Admiral” Darby
C Travel
Dr. Annie Glasspool
Dr. Ian Walker
Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer
Fantasea Diving
Chris “Flookie” Flook
Flying Chef Catering Services
Georgia Aquarium
Goslings Wine Cellar
International Imports
Mr. Jeremy Madeiros
Mr. Michael Douglas and Ms. Catherine Zeta-Jones
Mr. Robin Marirea
Mrs. Dee Massey
Mrs. Lynn Thorne
Richard and Mary Winchell
Sir John and Lady Vereker
Total Marketing & Communication Limited
Our Amazing Volunteers…
Alison Green
Alvona Wolffe
Andre Place
Anna Somers
Anthony Foggo
Anthony Romani
Ashun Wolffe
BZS Junior Volunteers
Charles Brown
Claire Porteous
Colina Outerbridge
Cornell Castle
David Frith
Debbie Masters
Eugene Minors
Gib Colesworthy
Gil Nolan
Glenda Edwards
Hannah Willmott
Helen Smith
Hiroko Takizawa
Howard Johnson
Iris Abraham
Jane Burt
Jeffrey Chisnall
Jeffrey Porter
Jennie Lamerton
Jennifer Baird
Jennifer Chisnall
Jonathan Starling
Jude Burgess
Judy Outerbridge
Kathie Gosling
Keita-Roy Simons
Kent Phillips
Kentione Jennings
Lauren Burchall
Lisa Greene
Lyn Llewellyn
Margaret Mitchell
Maria Brown
Marion Searson
Mark Outerbridge
Mark Whittaker
Mary Draycott
Mary Lou Colesworthy
Megan Texeria
Michez Smith
Michelle Pasquin
Monica Terceira
Muriel McGowan
Nicholas Wills
Owen Chisnall
Pam Barit-Nolan
Parkes Spencer
Patricia Chisnall
Pete Llewellyn
Ranica James
Rebecca Martin
Renee Wilson
Roberta Tucker
Roger “Grassy” Simmons
Rosalie Robinson
Sharon Scott
Shirelle Jones
Tamara Coleman
Terry Draycott
Thomas Brown
Tianna Spencer
Tiphani Philip
Tony Burt
Winfield Smith
Winston Jones
Yvonne DeCoute
Our Dedicated
Committee Members
Bill Scott
Brian Lightbourn
David Gillespie
Debbie Boyer
Elena Strong
Erin Field
Ian Walker
Jason Semos
Jens Maitland
Jermiko Dillas
Joanne Chisnall
Jonathan Starling
Lauren Wills
Lisa Ray
Lynda Johnson
Patrick Talbot
Peggy Frith
Robin Marirea
Roger Hollis
Simieon Massey
And Last, But By No Means Least…
All of the party-goers who supported this event.
Thank You!
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
17
enviro-chat
Let’s Get Back to the Tap
We all know that we should drink at least eight
glasses of water each day but did you know
how harmful it is to the
environment for us to
drink our water from
plastic bottles?
We buy more bottled water
than any other drink
except for soda.
The bottled water
market is booming.
Americans drank
more than 8.25
billion gallons
of bottled
water in
2006 that’s an
increase of
9.5% on the
previous year,
spending nearly
$11 billion in the process, all for a product that is
virtually free. It’s highly likely that bottled water is
no safer or cleaner than our home tap water!
Bottled water puts a strain on our wallets and the
environment. Making the plastic for the bottles and
transporting the finished product over hundreds or
thousands of miles consumes energy, pollutes the
environment, and contributes to global warming. A
2006 Earth Policy Institute study found that the UK
bottled water industry generates about 30,000 tons of
carbon dioxide annually, that’s the same as the energy
consumption of 6,000 homes per year. If you have to,
buy water bottled in Bermuda.
Many people believe that by re-using their plastic
water bottles they are reducing the impact on the
environment. This may be true but the plastic used
to make bottles can pose a contamination threat
if they are re-used. The most common resin used
in disposable bottles is called #1 polyethylene
terephthalate (PET or PETE). If these bottles are
reused, they can leach chemicals such as DEHA, a
known carcinogen, and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP),
a potential hormone disrupter.
Plastic re-usable bottles don’t appear to be a safer
option. There is an ongoing debate over the safety
of bisphenol A (BPA) which is a hormone-disrupting
chemical that can leach out of the #7 polycarbonate
plastic used to make a variety of re-usable plastic
bottles. Stainless steel or lined aluminium bottles are
recommended as the safest receptacles for carrying
tap water and other beverages.
In Bermuda, many people do not trust the cleanliness
of their tank water. If tanks are maintained properly
there should be no problems. It’s a good idea to
invest in a filtration system. Water filtration systems
are relatively inexpensive and are available in most
hardware stores on the island.
By committing to tap water over bottled water you’ll
be saving money, looking after your health, and doing
a little bit more towards saving the environment.
For further information please go to: http://www.
foodandwaterwatch.org/
Alison Green
Librarian
In Bermuda we have no facility for recycling plastic
so all our plastic bottles that we throw in the trash go
straight to the incinerator polluting our environment
even more.
“Modern technology, Owes ecology, An apology.”
Alan M. Eddison
18
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
christmas gifting
Great coffee table books
to challenge the kid in us!
Architecturally magnificent
and so much fun.
$19.95 ea.
merry christmas
“To inspire appreciation and care of island environments”
19
Quarterly Newsletter of the
Bermuda Zoological Society
and
Friends of the Bermuda Aquarium
NOTICE
PO Box FL 145
Flatts FL BX
Bermuda
Tel: (441)
Fax: (441)
or
(441)
Please keep in mind
children 12 & under must be
accompanied & supervised
by an adult
when visiting BAMZ
293 2727
293 3176
293 4014
Mark those Berry-producing, Invasive
Brazil a.k.a. Mexican Pepper Trees for Removal
Pepper trees are either male or female, and although both
produce flowers, only female trees produce the berries that
appear in November/December. Therefore it’s a great time
to mark those particular trees for removal, as it will be
effective in greatly reducing the number of seedlings.
You can treat freshly cut stumps of larger peppers with a
herbicide such as Roundup™ mixed with diesel oil.
sign up here!
BZS or FOBA Membership Form
I wish to take out a _________________________ Membership at $ _______
Last name __________________ First Name(s) _______________________
Mailing Address __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________ Post Code __________
Telephone No. (Home) __________________
(Work) __________________
e-mail __________________________________________________________
Children’s Names (under 18 years) ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Method of Payment
❏ Cash
❏ Cheque*
❏ Mastercard
(*Please make cheques payable to BZS or FOBA)
❏ Visa
Debit/Credit Card # _______________________________________________
Expiry Date _____________________________________________________
Holder’s Name ___________________________________________________
Signature _____________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: Bermuda Zoological Society, PO Box FL 145, Flatts, Bermuda
Tel: (441) 293 2727 • Fax: (441) 293 4014
20
Student (13 – 18 yrs.) ............. $
15.00
Senior (65 +) .......................... $
15.00
Individual ............................... $
35.00
Killifish GRP (Grandparents). $
55.00
Killifish (Family) ................... $
55.00
Bermudiana ............................ $ 110.00
Skink ...................................... $ 180.00
Cahow .................................... $ 250.00
Hour of Support ..................... $ 473.00
Longtail .................................. $ 550.00
Olivewood .............................. $ 750.00
Palmetto ................................. $ 1,000.00
Cedar ...................................... $ 2,500.00
Christmas
Gift Memberships
are also available
For more information
call Peggy Frith:
293-2727 ext. 121
Remember, upon presentation of
membership card
you save 10% in the Gift Shop!
“To
inspireonappreciation
and care
islandPress
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