Day 8

I was very excited for today! After taking care of Foundation Jambeli’s animal residents, I had the opportunity to sit down with staff members and Julio, who is the wildlife veterinarian for the center. In addition to working with Foundation Jambeli, Julio also assists other establishments like the Guayaquil’s Historical Park! The main goal of our meeting was to exchange ideas from our own experiences on the proper diets for the Guayaquil macaws living at the center. We addressed several different aspects pertai

Kelly Hogan, an aviculturist from SeaWorld, Orlando, has worked for the past two years with penguins and puffins and has experience with observing puffin breeding behaviors, recording breeding pairs, checking nest sites and monitoring puffin parents caring for their chicks.

The African penguin is in trouble. Populations of these rare birds have dropped a whopping 90 percent since the beginning of the 20^th Century.

The formal-looking Penguin has captured the public’s attention for ages, but now this beloved species is a facing a growing problem. Since the end of November 2010 a growing number of African Penguin chicks have been abandoned and are in need of urgent help.

It’s a sad fact; the Great Green Macaw, whose vibrant colors once filled the skies of the Pacific slopes of west-central Ecuador, has become internationally endangered and is identified as a species “most in need of protection” by the IUCN. In response to this dire situation, the Ministry of the Environment in Ecuador has been working on strategies to save this beloved bird.

Hornbills are unique birds that look spookier than they are. Native to coastal forests and woodland areas throughout Africa, a silvery-cheeked hornbill named George calls SeaWorld Orlando home, and makes appearances as an animal ambassador. Let’s discover more about the distinctive hornbill:

East African Crowned Cranes are large, long-legged birds with straight bills, long necks and a golden feathery “crown” protruding from the back of the head. They are very social birds -- numbering up to 100 in one flock -- and known for elaborate mating displays.