Magazine of the North Carolina Zoological Society

TABLE OF CONTENTSThick-skinned Issue of Alive |

With fall upon us, this issue ofAlive explains some of the pro-grams your Zoo has planned to

celebrate the changing seasons. Includedamong the stories are details on the spe-cial events we have planned for membersand other visitors.

Among the more serious offerings is adiscussion on a soon-to-be aired naturedocumentary that was produced by UNC-TV and hosted by the Zoo’s Director.

Alive’s Associate Editor contributed apiece on the science behind autumn col-ors. That article is mirrored by an educa-tion staff offering in Kid’s Alive thatdescribes ways to use leaves in craftactivities.

John Groves, Curator of Amphibiansand Reptiles and the author of our regularfeature on North Carolina wildlife, wroteabout some of the birds that visit our stateduring their seasonal migrations. Otherstories look into the Zoo’s long-termcommitments to pachyderm conservation

and our investments in making the Zoobetter and better.

We hope to see you at the Zoo.SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORSCLARICE CATO GOODYEAR

ChairCharlotte

JOHN L.W. GARROUVice Chair

Winston-SalemE. RHONE SASSER

TreasurerWhiteville

DIANA C. PICKERINGSecretaryAsheville

CHARLES M. AMBROSE, Ed.D.Misenheimer

JEFFERY B. DAVISAsheboro

JEFF P. FILESDurham

MARY F. FLANAGANChapel Hill

HARRIETTE M. FRANKDurham

EMERSON F. GOWER, JR.Florence, SC

BOBBIE HARDAKER Durham

ADDIE LUTHER Asheboro

GEORGE MCCANLESSRaleigh

HUGH “CRAE” MORTON IIIBoone

L. GLENN ORR, JR.Winston-Salem

L. RICHARDSON PREYER, JR.Hillsborough

SCOTT E. REED Winston-Salem

NANCY HANES WHITERaleigh

EDITORIAL BOARDCarolyn BrownStephanie GeeRod Hackney

David Jones, DVMMichael Loomis, DVM

Mike McClanahanHayley McWilliams

Ken ReiningerLorraine SmithCheryl Turner

Diane VillaRuss Williams

Gloria Moore, Proofreader

De Potter, Layout & Design

Pete Diamond, Associate Editor

Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Editor

Printed by Piedmont Printing

1 A Blueprint for Pachyderm SurvivalIssues affecting captive elephants and rhinos

Rod Hackney, Contributing Editor

2 Pachyderm PhactsWho are the mighty?

Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Editor

4 Off-Shoots: Leafing Through the Fall

Hues changing?Pete Diamond, Associate Editor

5 Holiday MembershipsA year of wonder

6 Elephant OdditiesStrange findings

Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D., Editor

8 The Great Bird MigrationAutumn flybys in the state

John Groves, Regular Feature Contributor

10 Tracing the ConnectionsThe economics of ecology

David M. Jones, DVM, Contributing Editor

11 Sunset with the AnimalsRegistration Information

12 Zoo To DoThis year’s live auction items

14 Year-End RequestMaking Room for Babies

15 Holiday Adopt Polar bears for the holidays

16 Kids’ Alive: Green FactoryLeaving a print

Carolyn Brown, Contributing Editor

BC This year’s Christmas ornament

REGULAR FEATURES7 Zoo Happenings

14 Russlings14 Passing the Buck14 Thank Yous15 Travel Programs

The Cover: Wild African elephant

Dear Friends of the Zoo,

Dr. David M. Jones Russell H.WilliamsDirector Executive DirectorN.C. Zoo N.C. Zoo Society

Fall 2005 Issue No. 42

Fall 2005 | 1

Two years ago the N.C. Zoo and ZooSociety announced a mammoth under-taking—a $7 million renovation thatwill remold the existing elephant, rhinoceros and antelope exhibits into a new complex, called the “WataniReserve.”

More than Meets the EyeThe complex will mix rhinos withantelopes in an improved AfricanPlains and will make the old rhinoc-eros exhibit part of the elephants’domain. The elephants will get a new,state-of-the-art barn. The rhinos willkeep their old barn, but it will undergomajor renovations.

The changes will let the Zoo exhibit10 rhinos and 10 elephants, more thandouble the current number. And, theincreases should jump-start the Zoo’spachyderm breeding programs, facili-tating national efforts to build sustain-able populations of both species.

An On-going DebateThis construction dovetails with agrowing national debate over zoos andelephants. Especially during the pastyear, animal welfare groups havevoiced growing concerns about thecondition of elephants in zoos.

This years-long debate escalatedafter the Detroit and San Franciscozoos closed their elephant exhibits.These closings—which the zoos linkedto concerns about animal health—spurred some animal welfare groups

to ask all zoos to follow suit. The groups’ arguments centered on

the challenges of meeting elephants’physical and behavioral needs. Theseproblems focus on creating habitatsthat are warm, large and complexenough to keep elephants healthy andsocially and behaviorally active.

Creating New StandardsUnfortunately, just providing goodhabitats will not fix the main threatfacing elephant populations in zoos: areproduction rate that is too low tomake their populations viable.

Elephants just do not breed that wellin zoos. Nearly 100 years passed beforethe first African elephant reproduced inan American zoo. Even with advancesin assisted reproduction, elephantbirths are rare and calf mortality, high.

Presently, 115 cows and 16 bullsmake up the complement of Africanelephants in zoos accredited by theAmerican Zoo and Aquarium Associa-tion (AZA). Many of these cows willsoon be too old to reproduce. Many ofthe males are not viable breeders.

In 1998, AZA broached this problemby forming an Elephant Task Force toimprove elephant care. The group for-mulated a new set of ElephantManagement Standards. AZA adoptedthem as the criteria that zoos withelephants must meet to holdAZA accreditation.Among otherthings, the

standards require zoos to keep ele-phants in groups with at least threefemales. These changes reflect the zoocommunity’s growing understandingof, and respect for, the highly socialand intelligent nature of elephants.

The Watani Reserve will exceedeven these standards, providing spaceand complexity to keep our herd physi-cally and mentally healthy—and (wehope) bring some babies into the picture. The barn’s state-of-the-arttechnology and expansive layout willensure our elephants access to the besthusbandry and veterinary care avail-able. The elephant exhibit area willdouble to more than seven acres.

These features will also help staffdocument our elephants’ needs andactivities. By sharing the informationlearned from these observations, ourstaff will add to the body of knowledgeconservationists use to help protectboth wild and captive elephants.

Taking it to HeartIn the end, however, the best scienceand the most elaborate exhibits cannotsave elephants. The only hope forthem—or any endangered species—lies with people. Unless human beingscommit to some sharing of the Earth’sresources, both elephants and naturewill be lost.

At the Zoo, we build exhibits astouchstones to inspire this level ofcommitment. We recognize this poten-tial for change because we know thatseeing is more than believing. Weknow that seeing is feeling, too.

No virtual reality—not an IMAX ora high-definition television or anInternet connection—can evoke theempathy, the awe or the affection a liv-ing, intelligent, gentle, 11-foot tall,10,000-pound elephant can spark bylocking eyes with a single child. Justone of these glimpses can claim ahuman heart forever.

We know how much that claim isworth. Because, at the Zoo, we knowthat the real battle over the future ofelephants in zoos and the wild will bewon—or lost—inside the human heart.

ROD HACKNEY, ZOO PUBLIC RELATIONS MANGER

A Blueprint for Pachyderm Survival

A F R I C A

Pachyderm PhactsThe word “pachyderm” means “thick-skinned” and is a term that is sometimes applied to elephants and rhinos. Two species of pachyderms, the African elephant and the white rhinoceros, live at the North Carolina Zoo. Soon, however, the Zoo will close their exhibits for major renovations and additions.

African Elephant (Loxodonta africanus translates to mean “African crooked tooth.”)The largest living terrestrial animal, the African elephant has seen its wild population numbers cut by more than 50 percent in the last 30 years. Wild population numbers are estimated to be between 200,000 and 400,0000. Plagued by habitat destruction and poaching, these animals are likely to fare poorly as human population numbers increase.

African elephants have larger ears than their Asian counterparts. Unlike Asian elephants, both male and female African elephants usually have tusks, making this species more vulnerable to poachers.

White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum, translates to mean “flat horned wild beast.”) The white is the least endangered rhino species, an ironic statistic since the species was considered extinct at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. The discovery of a very small (around 20) remnant population coupled with extraordinary conservation programming brought the species back from oblivion. Currently, the wild population stands at about 12,000. The majority of white rhinos live in South Africa, although Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya also maintain small populations. The Republic of Congo also has a single population.

Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis translates to mean “two horned-two horn.”) Black rhinoceros are much smaller than white rhinos and have much narrower mouths. The black rhino’s upper lip extends forward at the center, creating a somewhat finger-shaped extension that the rhino uses to pluck leaves off of trees and bushes. Current estimates place the species’ wild population at around 2,600—down about 95 percent from 1970 population numbers. In some parts of Africa, populations seem to be stabilizing, but poaching and habitat destruction continue to threaten most remaining groups.

2 | ALIVE

A S I A

Our rhinos and elephants have garnered this attention and inspired these expenditures because of growing global concerns about the long-term survival of these species and the other elephant and rhino species around the world. The following Pachyderm Primer offers a quick overview of these species, introducing each of them and listing their existing ranges and their current status in the wild.

Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis, means “one-horned rhinoceros.”) This rhinoceros carries a single horn that may be 24-inches long. Its knobby, folded skin makes this rhinoceros appear to be wearing heavy plates of armor.

The Indian rhinoceros’ range is restricted to northern India and southern Nepal. Conservationists find hope in the species’ current wild population numbers—around 2,400—because, once, only about 200 remained in the wild.

Asian Elephant(Elephas maximus translatesto mean “large elephant.”) Asian elephants are slightly smaller than Africa’s elephants and have smaller ears, as well as more rounded backs. Not all Asian bulls have tusks, which are absent in the females. Females have instead “tsushes,” which, like tusks, are elongated incisors, but unlike tusks are quite small and rarely visible to the casual observer. The species once roamed much of Asia, extending into China and to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Current estimates place the existing wild population between 35,000 and 50,000. Habitat loss and hunting continue to plague the species.

Sumatran Rhinoceros(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis translates to “Sumatran two-horned rhino.”) This rare rhino now lives only in Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula but used to range throughSoutheast Asia from Assam through Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo.

The Sumatran is the only two-horned rhinoceros in Asia. It has shaggy hair, a long front horn (up to 31 inches) and a short second horn (generally shorter than three inches). The Sumatran’s wild population is estimated to be about 300 individuals—half the size of the population a decade ago.

Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicustranslates to mean “Java Rhino.”) Inhabiting parts of Indonesia and Vietnam, Javans once ranged into eastern India and adjacent parts of Asia. The rhinos that live in Vietnam stand about one-third smaller than the ones that live on Java.

Resembling the Indian rhinoceros but smaller, the Javan species’ horn may grow to be 10 inches long on males but is much shorter or completely absent on females. The wild population of this species is thought to include nomore than 60 individuals.

African Elephant ----

White Rhino ----

Black Rhino ----

Asian Elephant ----

Indian Rhino ----

Javan Rhino ----

Sumatran Rhino ----

KEY

Fall 2005 | 3

4 | ALIVE

Leafing Through The FallThe return of yellow school buses andthe resetting of clocks to eastern stan-dard time are clues that a new seasonis upon us. But, for animals and plantsthat lack these autumn traditions,shorter days and cooler temperaturessignal the changes in the wind.

Few plants mark seasonal changesmore dramatically than deciduouswoody plants—trees and shrubs thatshed their leaves each fall. Many ofthese leaf-droppers—including NorthCarolina’s oak, hickory, maple, sweetgum, tulip poplar, serviceberry anddogwood trees—announce their ensu-ing leaf losses with brilliant displays offall colors. The shimmering reds, yel-lows and oranges that seem to appearmagically on October’s leaves areactually the result of chemical changes.

Turning Yellow and OrangeDuring the growing season, the pig-ment chlorophyll dominates mostleaves. Chlorophyll gives leaves theirgreen color and controls photosynthe-sis (the sunlight-triggered process bywhich plants produce foods—sugarsand starches—from atoms snatchedfrom carbon dioxide and water).

As autumn approaches, waning day-light and falling temperatures disruptthe metabolic pathways involved inphotosynthesis. This slow-down leadsto the breakdown of chlorophyll. As itdisappears, yellow and orange pig-ments (carotenoids and xanthophylls)that have lived in the leaves all alongbegin to shine through.

During the growing season, thesepigments channel light to a leaf’schlorophyll centers and waylay excessbursts of light that might otherwisedamage these centers. But as thechlorophyll degrades, it unmasks theseother two pigments, which beginreflecting the various shades of yellowthat shimmer from hickory, redbud,maple and poplar leaves.

Seeing RedThe chemistry that produces red leavesis much more complicated. Generally,leaves do not manufacture red pig-ments (anthocyanins) until fall is in theair. Leaves make these pigments aftercooler temperatures disrupt photosyn-

thesis and dying leaves respond byevacuating their most valuable compo-nents (especially nitrogen) to protectedparts of the mother plant.

As even cooler temperatures thwartthis exodus, sugar gets trapped in theleaves. In some types of trees, directsunlight sparks a chemical reaction inthese sugars, causing them to combinewith other compounds to produce thenew pigment—anthocyanin. It adds redand maroon shades to the leaves ofmaples, black gum and sumac.

Because direct light initiates thesechemical changes, exposed leaves turnred while shaded leaves may not makeany anthocyanins. Leaving these leavesin the dark restricts their autumn colorsto shades of yellow.

Other Color MakersThe relative acidity or alkalinity of theenvironment inside a leaf can alsoaffect its fall colors. The acidic sapcoursing through red maple leavesgrows anthocyanins that reflect brightred. The alkaline sap of ash trees gen-erates an anthocyanin that cloaks theleaves with purple hues. The acidictannins in oaks and beeches add tintsof yellows and browns to leaves.

Weather affects fall colors, too. Low

temperatures disrupt photosynthesis,speeding up the demise of chlorophylland the unmasking of yellows thatreflect from carotinoids and xantho-phyls. Chilly, above-freezing nightsinterspersed between warm, sunnydays help form anthocyanins, enhanc-ing the appearance of reds and purples.

Rainy springs tend to prepare leavesto put on bright fall colors, while warmand wet autumns tone down the hues.Prolonged droughts or early freezesaffect the season’s overall color, too.Any of these factors may also helpexplain why the fall colors of individ-ual trees vary from year to year.

When Leaves FallEventually, leaves lose their autumnalluster and the cells that fasten stems tothe mother tree begin to fail. Blusterywinds tug at the dead and dying leaves.

Most trees let their leaves tumble tothe ground as winter approaches, but afew species, such as beeches and oaks,cling to the wilted husks. These treeswait for spring’s rising temperatures tosend out this year’s shoots and let lastyear’s leaves fall to the ground.

PETE DIAMOND, HORTICULTURAL TAXONOMIST

TOM

GIL

LESP

IE

Fall 2005 |

Your membership level of choice __________________The gift is for: 9 Christmas 9 Hanukkah

9 Other _______________________Mail to: 9 Recipient 9 BuyerRecipient’s name _______________________________For family and higher memberships only, what is thename of the second adult in the household?_____________________________________________

The number of children or grandchildren under age 18?__________Member’s address ______________________________City____________________State_____Zip __________E-mail________________________________________Home phone ___________________________________Tell us how to sign the gift card _____________________________________________

We will mail the gift on December 9 unless otherwisenoted here ________________________Buyer’s name __________________________________City____________________State_____Zip __________E-mail________________________________________Home phone ___________________________________Make checks payable to: N.C. Zoo SocietyOr charge to:

9 MasterCard 9 Visa 9 Amex 9 DiscoverAcct. No. _____________________________________Exp. Date _____________________________________Signature _____________________________________

Please print clearly and mail to: N.C. Zoo Society; 4403Zoo Parkway; Asheboro, NC 27205, or order on the Webat www.nczoo.com, or call us toll free at (888) 244-3736.

A Gift Membership to the N.C. Zoo offersa person or a family a year’s worth of unlimited, freeadmissions to the N.C. Zoo to watch lions, zebras, gorillas,red wolves, polar bears and more. And, every visit to theZoo promises a day filled with exotic birds, face-to-faceencounters with chimpanzees and miles of trails lined withrare and beautiful plants. A Gift Membership to the Zootranslates to a year of learning, fun and wonder.

Members also receive free admission to more than 100zoos and aquariums around the country, quarterly issues ofAlive, invitations to members-only events, access to mem-bers-only picnic decks, express entry into the Zoo, a 10 per-cent discount in the Zoo Society’s gift shops and more!

We will mail the gift to you or to anyone you like in timefor the holidays. And, your gift will not travel alone. Aplush black bear, decked out in a festive gold ribbon, willarrive with the package!

Best of all, the Gift Membership will support the Zoo’seducation and conservation programs and will help ensurethat your Zoo remains a peaceful, happy place for friendsand families to gather and marvel at the wonders of nature.

Give theGift of

Wonder

Order Form

Holiday Gift Packages *

Individual MembershipsIndividual $40 Individual-Plus ** $50

Family Memberships (Family and higher level mem-berships extend benefits to two adults in the samehousehold and to their children or grandchildren underthe age of 18.)

Family $64 Family-Plus** $74

Zookeeper $155 Curator $305(Admits two guests/visit) (Admits three guests/visit)

Lifetime Membership $1,500 (Receives 10 passes annually)

* Gift Memberships cost $5 more than regular memberships do tocover the cost of the plush bear and the holiday wrappings.

** “Plus” members are entitled to bring a guest into our Zoo oneach visit.

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6 | ALIVE

These Feet were Madefor Listenin’

Elephants may share another characteristic with inverte-brates—the odd habit of listening through their feet. Somerecent research from Stanford University suggests that theskin on an elephant’s foot may resonate in tune with seismicvibrations traveling through the ground. Once vibrating, thefootpad gets the toenails rocking to the same beat, and boneconduction carries the oscillations up to the elephant’s ears. If these findings turn out to be true, they may mean that elephants can communicate by stamping their feet.

The ability to sense and interpret seismic waves may alsohelp explain some very odd behaviors that keepers reportedseeing in some Asian elephants just before the recent gianttsunami crashed near their holding areas.

These elephants became extremely agitated on the morn-ing before the waves hit. Pacing frantically back and forth, thecows eventually broke free and headed for some hills about ahalf a mile inland. The tsunami crashed onshore a few hourslater, killing nearly 4,000 people in the immediate area andmore than 200,000 people around the Indian Ocean. The elephants, their keepers and a few other people who rodeaway on the animals’ backs survived the disaster. The wavesretreated before reaching the elephants’ refuge. Since the elephants’ behavior preceded the wave by several hours,speculation is stirring that the elephants picked up seismiccues from the earthquake that caused the disaster.

JAYNE OWEN PARKER, PH.D, EDITOR

Elephants and BeesAnother elephant-insect connection deserves mentioning—the African elephant’s respect for African honeybees. With a lotmore attitude than American bees, African honeybees aggressivelyprotect their hives, taking on any beast that ventures too close. Several years ago, two prominent researchers noticed the long-term impact of one such encounter between some bees and ayoung elephant. After the sting-fest, she developed a persistentphobia that sent her running whenever she caught their buzz.

The researchers decided to see if other elephants shared thisattitude toward bees. By hanging some active hives in a few aca-cia trees, the researchers were surprised and delighted to learnthat a good number of elephants avoided any trees with bees.Even empty hives with a back up of recorded buzzes sent someelephants running, though not as effectively as the live hives did.Now the researchers hope to use their findings to develop humanemethods for steering elephants away from farms.

The average African elephant eats 110 tons of vegetation ayear. One hungry herd can wipe out an entire village’s annual food supply in a single night. The researchers hope to stop theseraids by bringing on a buzz that frightens elephants away fromcultivated fields. If successful, the bees could help reduce the

anger and the retaliatory poachingthat often follow these late-night

elephant binges.

Runny Trunks and RomanceWhile the sniffles may not seem romantic to people, a healthy supply ofmucus apparently underlies the chemistry of elephant courtship, at leastwhen it comes to the Asian variety.

Scientists have learned that a good whiff of a specific pheromone—unromantically labeled “(Z)-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate,” can pierce a bull’sheart like cupid’s arrow. But, getting a good whiff apparently depends onhaving a stuffy trunk. Asian cows produce this come-hither pheromonewhen they ovulate, but they fold it and stuff it inside a large, complex mole-cule that effectively hides the pheremone from a nosy bull. He has tounwrap the parcel before he can get the message inside.

Nature sees to the unwrapping by packing a brew of slightly acidicmucus inside the male’s trunk. When the acid bumps into this molecule, itopens up and its hidden pheromone peels away. Floating free, thepheromone is ready to shout its news to the sniffling bull.

To read more about this research and other elephantfacts, click on “Weird Elephants” at the Zoo Society Website at: http://www.nczoo.com or go to http://www.field-tripearth.org for the latest news on the Zoo’s on-goingresearch project in Cameroon.

Bugs and Elephants on the Same TrailOddly enough, the same female pheromone thatbewitches Asian bulls also drives dozens of male insectsto distraction. Female insects from 126 species producethe same pheromone, (Z)-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate, anduse it to attract their mates. The chemical is especiallyfavored by moth species and works so well that manu-facturers stuff synthetic batches of the pheromone intocommercial insect traps.

While the pheromone’s appeal extends across thesediverse phyla, the chemical does not send elephants orinsects tripping down the wrong trails of romance. Bigdifferences in dose levels and delivery methods prevent

the different species from swooning to each other’s perfumes.

Zoo Program Calendar Zoo programs are open to everyone and, unless other-wise noted, free with admission.

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31 SimEx Reactor – Dino Island II 3-D. Ridea new story on Dino Island and save Tony,the world’s last surviving T-rex. The 3-Deffects of this ride-the-movie thriller willhave you bouncing on the edge of yourseat. Fun for everyone! Just $3 per person.

OCTOBER 16-22 Wolf Awareness Week – Meet

the zookeepers who care for ourwolves and contribute to efforts toreturn them to the wild.

13-15, 20-22, 27-29 Nightmareon Purgatory Mountain – A hauntedtram ride through the wilds of the N.C.Zoo. Just scary enough to be fun. Fee:$8 per person. Open Fridays from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays andSaturdays, from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.

22 & 23 Boo at the Zoo – One of the Zoo’s mostpopular events.This safe day-time addition

to nighttime trick-or-treating willtake place in the plaza areas of theZoo. Clowns, jugglers and magicianswill rove these areas entertaining visitorsof all ages.

NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 1 Holiday of Lights – (November 25, 2005 – January 1,

2006) Guests drive through this show of more than amillion lights spread over 500 displays.Dates to be announced.Family Cars - $10; Commercial Vans - $25; Buses - $75

*Program requires a reservation. † Secret Garden or Conservation members may attend any two of 2005’s Super Society Saturday programs free. OtherSociety members (and Secret Garden or Conservation members who want to attend more programs) pay $10/person for each program. Non-members pay$13/program. **Zoo Snooze, Snore & Roar, etc., fees are the same for everyone. Go to www.nczoo.com and click on “calendar” for details. We preparethis calendar with care, but sometimes schedules change. Call 336-879-7250 to confirm times.

Zoo Society Program CalendarSociety events are for members and their guests. Take note of the special programs planned for Super SocietySaturdays—the third Saturday of each month fromSeptember through October. To make reservations forthese or other events or to find out more about a program, members may call 888-244-3736.

SEPTEMBER10 Randolph

Telephone’s Zoo To Do

16-17 Zoo Snooze** – 6:30 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday.A sleep over for Society parents andchildren. $100 for a parent and child,$30 for each additional person. Childrenmust be 6 years old or older to attend. We will begin takingreservations on August 5.

17 Super Society Saturday – We will begin taking reserva-tions for September programs on August 5.

Ridges Mountain Climb*† –10 a.m. A botanizing walk upRidges Mountain

Children’s Photo Safari – 9 a.m. This program offers achild’s lesson in photography. The class is suitable for ages4 and older. (An adult must accompany each child.)

Animal Enrichment – 10 a.m. The program offers insights into the waysthat zookeepers enrich the lives of theZoo’s animals.

OCTOBER 7-8 Snore & Roar** – Camp out

under the stars with the Society. $150 for 2 people, $50 for each additional person.

15 Super Society Saturday – Join us for Sunset with the Animals! See details on page 11.

zoo happenings in 2005Upcoming Zoo & Zoo Society Events

Fall 2005 | 7

This is your last chance to WIN a 2005 Nissan 350Z® Convertible!Go on the Web at nczoo.com to join Murphy’s Wild Ride!

8 | ALIVE

Fall brings changes. Days get shorter as nights arechilled by cooler air from the north. Trees displaytheir majestic ruby, amber and gold leaves, adding

vibrant colors throughout our woodlands. Fall is also theseason when many birds begin preparing to undertake longand difficult journeys to winter homes in more southernregions. Some journeys take some species to Central andSouth America.

Autumn’s shorter days and cooler nights help trigger thesepreparations by resetting internal avian clocks to store thefat that will fuel these impending migrations. Other hor-monal changes prompt some birds to flock together—call-ing ducks and geese into V-shaped formations and drawingsmall birds such as warblers, cedar waxwings, ruby-throatedhummingbirds and some sparrows into large groups.

Migration MakingsBirds that live in the northern temperate regions tend to bestrongly migratory—and time their movements to seasonaldeclines in daylight hours, air and water temperatures andfood supplies. Since most birds feed as they migrate, theymust time their flights to correspond to the seasonal avail-ability of food along their migration route. A late start canend in starvation.

Scientists continue to speculate as to why birds migrate,but no single explanation covers the emergence of thebehavior in all bird species. Some ornithologists think thatbird migrations began during an Ice Age when advancingglaciers chased northern species southward—but only tem-porarily. These birds passed their attachment to their nativeranges along to their descendants, who followed theirinstincts north when summer temperatures warmed enoughto allow the migrations.

Another theory states that all birds originated in the south-ern tropics. As populations grew larger, the tropics gotcrowded. Competition for food, nesting sites and otherresources prompted some of these species to began to lookfor less crowded spaces. These species began heading northfor the summer and turned back toward the south as winterapproached. Their nesting successes established theirspecies’ migration behaviors.

Migration VariationsSome species migrate long distances, others take shorterseasonal commutes. Short migrators generally adopt a

change of altitude. They drop to the lowlands in the fall andrise to the mountaintops in spring. Other short migratorstake such short jaunts that people sometimes fail to see themigrations. Here in North Carolina, for example, we seeAmerican robins all year, so many people do not realize thatrobins migrate with the seasons. The individual robins wesee in the summer head to the Deep South and Mexico forthe winter. Because their departures coincide with thearrivals of robins who summered to the north, many peoplefail to notice the migration at all.

Longer migrators generally move from the Northern tothe Southern Hemisphere. Some travel as far as 3,550 to10,000 miles, but most cover distances from several hundred to 3,000 miles. Most of our native migrators arelong-distance travelers who navigate between their NorthAmerican summer homes and their winter homes in Mexicoand other parts of Central America or in South America orthe Caribbean. About half of the United States’ 660 nativebird species migrate southward in the fall.

Long distance migrators tend to be songbirds, waterfowland shorebirds. They generally migrate at night, whencooler temperatures and air currents favor travel and mostpredators are sleeping. Many nighttime migrators feed dur-ing the daytime hours. Hawks, vultures and other soaringbirds tend to migrate during the day, when they can hitchrides on thermals—columns of air that rise as the sunwarms the atmosphere.

While migration lengths vary with species and other fac-tors, most migrations last from several days to a month andconsist of a series of short flights interspersed between rest-ing periods. Songbird species can travel from 20 to 100miles per day, cruising along at 10 to 30 miles an hour.Shorebirds tend to go farther and faster than songbirds, cov-ering 90 to 600 miles a day and averaging 20 to 40 milesper hour.

Zoo BirdsZoo staff has identified some 124 species of native birds onthe grounds throughout the year. Some of these species arenon-migratory, yearlong residents. Others limit their visitsto certain seasons. Many of these migratory species areamong the more spectacularly-colored species and we hateto see them leave in the fall. Each spring, however, it is ajoy to watch them return.

JOHN D. GROVES, CURATOR OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

Fall 2005 | 9

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla): Winters fromFlorida to the WestIndies and inMexico south toPeru from lateAugust to earlyApril. Returns inearly to mid-April.Eats a variety ofinsects, often by

catching them in mid-air. Nesting in North Carolina occursin mid-May to early June.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycillacedrorum): Winters throughoutCentral America southward tocentral Panama and the GreaterAntilles and into the Caribbeanfrom December to late May.Some flocks remain in thesouthern United States all year(including the Carolinas).Returns in late May. Eats avariety of fruits and berries.Nests from mid-May to August.

Scarlet Tanager(Piranga olivacea):Winters from Panamato northern Boliviafrom mid-October tolate April. Returns inlate April. Eats prima-rily insects, particularly

caterpillars, but will occasionally eat berries. Nesting inNorth Carolina occurs in May and June.

Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra):Winters from Mexico to northern Bolivia fromOctober to March.Returns in May. Eatsinsects, fruits andberries. Nesting inNorth Carolina occursin late May or June.

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius):Winters in southern Mexico toColumbia and northern Venezuelafrom earlyAugust toMay. Returnsin early Aprilto May. Eatsprimarilyinsects, butalso consumessome berries

and nectar. Nests in May and June.

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia): Winters fromMexico to Peru, Bolivia,northern Brazil and theGuianas from October toearly April. Returnsearly April to mid-May.Eats a variety of insects.Breeds in North Carolinain May and June.

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina): Winters fromMexico to the CanalZone in Panama fromearly October to mid-April. Occasionally win-ters in northern SouthAmerica. Returns lateApril to May. Eats prima-rily insects, but enjoysfruits and berries. Nestslate April or early May.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris):Winters in central and southernFlorida and from southernMexico to Panama fromSeptember to late March.Returns in April. Eats nectarfrom flowering plants and tinyinsects. The male has a redthroat patch. Nests in April toJuly.

Some Native Migratory Bird Species at the North Carolina Zoological Park

Y

Y

Y

Y

X

X

Y

YX

YX

PHOTO CREDITS:American Redstart ©Don DesJardin,

www.camacdonald.com/birding/Cedar Waxwing ©Ricky Layson, Forest Resource

Consultants, Inc.

Scarlet Tanager ©Gerard Bailey/VIREOYellow Warbler ©Rick & Nora Bowers/VIREOOrchard Oriole male, Summer Tanager ©Pat Velte,

www.backyardbirdcam.com

Orchard Oriole female, Wood Thrush ©ParisTrail/N.C. Museum of Natural Science

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ©N.C. WildlifeResources Commission

One quarter of the permanent jobs in NorthCarolina depend directly on the health of thestate’s environment. These 800,000 jobs belong

with the state’s agricultural, forestry, fishing, energy,tourism and food processing industries. Of course, everyNorth Carolinian’s job—and, indeed, every NorthCarolinian’s existence—depends directly on nature.

Nature controls human survival and quality of life byproviding services that clean the air, purify the waterand replenish and protect soils. Despite the enormousimpact that these services have on our lives, many peo-ple remain oblivious to the relationships that connecttheir personal well-being to the environments wherethey live and work.

Part of the failure to recognize these connections lieswith sensory limitations. Nature works outside of ourperceptions. We cannot hear Rhizobium bacteria fixingnitrogen in the soil anymore than we can watch leavesfiltering pollutants out of the air or mussels strainingthem out of water. Other factors hide some of these con-nections, too, especially economic measures that reportshort-term profits without subtracting the real dollarcosts of repairing and replacing natural services thatdevelopment projects disrupt or destroy.

In most developed countries, these repair costs getpassed along to individuals who pay taxes, insurancepremiums, and user fees to repair or cope with the damages. This financial burden grows even larger whencost-estimates include projections about the price futuregenerations will pay for our current unsustainable harvesting of natural resources.

Exposing ConnectionsLast spring, UNC-TV asked me to host a 60-minute documentary that will explore the relationships that linkthe state’s environmental stability with its citizens’ eco-nomic prosperity. The program, which will air sometimethis fall, addresses these issues from a very practicalpoint of view.

Unlike many wildlife films, this production does notdepict nature as always pristine and beautiful, independ-ent of human influences. Nor does the storyline employthe opposite, but still common technique, of forecastingenvironmental disasters of such magnitude that individ-uals despair of being able to do anything to help.Instead, the documentary cuts a middle ground betweenthese two approaches, explaining the ways that natureresponds—for better or for worse—to human activities.

Our story traces the realized economic gains that

emerge from ecological stewardship. We document theways that healthy environments generate employmentopportunities, improve human health and enhance thepeace and the pleasure people enjoy in their everydaylives.

Recruiting EnvironmentalistsOur decision to focus on the economic benefits ofhealthy environments grew from surveys that show thatonly about a fifth of our citizens see any link betweentheir economic and physical well-being and the state ofthe environment. As long as 80 percent of the popula-tion fails to understand these connections, these peopleare not likely to be persuaded to protect animals, habi-tats or natural resources on the basis of moral and aes-thetic arguments alone.

We believe that people who understand the economicbenefits of environmental stewardship can become envi-ronmentalists who are willing to do more than recyclepapers and plastics. We believe that this knowledge willprepare our citizens to look at their activities in terms oftheir likely impacts on global economic developmentand the future of their children.

Will an undertaking be sustainable in terms of the natural resources it consumes? Are the resources it usesrenewable or non-renewable? How will the consumptionof these resources affect nature’s capacity to replenishthe Earth’s supplies of clean air and water and fertilesoils? By asking these questions, our citizens will be better prepared to make sound economic decisions abouttheir futures.

Going ForwardIn the long-run, the human species will not benefit fromdevelopment projects that over-harvest renewable ornon-renewable materials or that disrupt nature’s restora-tive processes. As human population numbers continueto rocket toward a predicted apogee of 12 billion people,responsible leaders must plan for a future where theecology of thinly-stretched resources defines the econ-omy, not the other way around.

Our documentary will point the way for NorthCarolinians to prepare for just such a future.

DAVID JONES, DVM, ZOO DIRECTOR

When UNC-TV announces the date and the time that this program willair, the Zoo and the Zoo Society will post the schedule on theirrespective Web sites. The Zoo Society will also send E-mailannouncements about the schedule to those members who haveelected to add their names to our E-mail list.

10 | ALIVE

Fall 2005 | 11

Prices and RegistrationSunset with the Animals is free to Society members. Membersmay purchase tickets for non-member guests. Guest tickets are$2 for adults and $1 for children under 12. (Each guest willreceive a discounted tram ticket, too.) Members who want theirguests to see the Zoo in addition to attending Sunset, can pur-chase Zoo admission tickets at the discounted price of $8 foradults, $6 for seniors and $4 for children under 12.

To register or order guest tickets for Sunset or the Zoo, call theSociety at (888) 244-3736 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5p.m.) or complete the attached registration form and FAX it to(336) 879-3963 or mail it to The N.C. Zoo Society; 4403 ZooParkway; Asheboro, NC 27205. For more information, call us orsend an E-mail to zoomember@nczoo.com.

Ride the Haunted TramAfter Sunset with the Animals, stretch your fun into the night bytaking the haunted tram ride, Nightmare on Purgatory Mountain.Beginning at 7 p.m., these ghoulish tram treks carry visitorsthrough a gauntlet of ghosts, goblins and other purveyors ofspooky fun. Members attending Sunset with the Animals willreceive a coupon for $1 off the price of the tram ride. Societymembers must present the coupon to receive the discount (onecoupon/person). The coupon is good only on October 15, so useit right away…if you dare!

Sunset Registration FormMember name _________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________

City_________________________ State____ Zip _____________

Daytime phone ______________ E-mail ____________________

Number of members attending ____________________________

Number of non-member guests attending

Sunset Only

No. of Adults _____ x $ 2 each = ________________

No. of Children_____ x $ 1 each = ________________

Zoo admission tickets

No. of Adults _____ x $ 8 each = _________________

No. of Seniors _____ x $ 6 each ___________________

No. of Children____ x $ 4 each = _________________

Total number of people attending_____

Total Cost_____________________________________________

Make check payable to The N.C. Zoo Society or charge to

9 Visa 9 MasterCard 9 AmEx 9 Discover

Account No. ___________________________________________

Expiration Date ________________________________________

Signature _____________________________________________

The Elephant Group Peter Woytuk 1998This sculpture consists of four life-size bronzeelephants at the entrance to the Park. It was made possible by a gift to the NorthCarolina Zoological Society from Bob andBonnie Meeker.

DON COHEN

Join us for Sunset with the Animals onSaturday, October 15.This after-hours eventfor members and theirguests will take place inthe Wachovia AkibaMarket from 4 until 6p.m. The celebrationwill include live music,educational programs, aclown, food and more!

H.A.T. undergroundA Javan Forest Dragonadorns this colorfulbowl. The dragon’sfavorite dinner—insects—are scatteredacross the underside ofthe bowl.

Hand-built TurtleAvery Pottery andTileworks Artist Blaine Avery created this whimsicalalligator snapping turtle—a cheerful chap tobrighten a home or garden.

Another Place,Another TimePatchworkPossibilitiesAnother quilted treasureby local artisan ScottMurkin. Created espe-cially for Zoo To Do2005, this beautifulquilt was constructedwith fabrics printed inAustralia, NorthAmerica and Africa, thethree continents repre-sented at the Zoo.

Australian PlatterAsheboro HondaThis 20-inch Kunmanara Tapaya terracotta platter with under-glaze decorationswas imported from the Ernabella ArtsStudio, the oldest Aboriginal Arts Centerin Australia.

Peruvian Expedition Classic EscapesA trip for two to explore Peru’scolorful tropical wonders and thetraces of its ancient civilizations.This October 6-18, 2006, cruisewill travel up the Amazon Riverto Posada Amazonas in a coveredlongboat. Other destinationsinclude Yucay, Pisac, MachuPicchu and Cusco. Airfare fromGreensboro, Raleigh/Durham orCharlotte is included.

Grandfather Mountain Getaway Grandfather MountainUp to four guests can spend 3-daysand 2-nights in the Anville Rock cabin.The package includes admission tothe park, a guided tour by aGrandfather Mountain naturalist anddinner for two at Louisiana Purchase.

Join us from 6 p.m. to Midnight on Saturday, September 10, in the Zoo’s North American Plaza for spectacular live and silent auctions, fine cuisine from The Painted Plate,great dancing (to the tunes of U.B.U. the Band), alongwith a few more surprises.

Proceeds from this extravaganza will help fund theZoo’s new Watani Reserve exhibit complex.

Special thanks go to our Signature Sponsor, RandolphTelephone, and to the other sponsors and donors whosegenerosity will make this year’s Do the best one yet! Dean & Martin

PotteryThis vase from JeffDean and StephanieMartin displays theunusual and artfulshapes these artistscreate and accentwith vivid colors.

SaturdaySeptember 10

Randolph Telephonepresents

Other Live Auction Donors Include: o Bud & Sandra Boren

o Donna Craven Pottery o Dwight Holland o CG Aviation – Bob Crumley o

Charlie Tefft o Chris Luther Pottery o Mike Ferree o N.C. Zoo – Animal Division

o Phil Morgan Pottery o Schneider Stone, Inc. o Lenton Slack 12 | ALIVE

Frolicking FishPaul FreheThis bright and colorfulpair of playful fish wascreated by Ashevilleartist Paul Frehe.

Chinese Blue Persian JarBen Owen Pottery Third generation potter Ben Owenapplied his signature Chinese BlueGlaze to this Persian jar to createanother Zoo To Do masterpiece.

LDDK PotteryThis large wood-fired potwith two glazes wasmade from local Erect,North Carolina, clay.

Slip-trailed BowlWestmoore PotteryThis large slip-trailed bowlis a stunning example of thecombined talents of Davidand Mary Farrell.

Sum of the PartsN.C. ZooDempsey Calhoun created this as acompanion block to his provocativesculpture, Sum of the Parts, whichsits at the Zoo’s North Americanentrance.

Spires-red Vase Jim SpiresAnother dazzling piece fromone of Zoo To Do’s mostpopular artists. This ele-gant, 20-inch stonewarevase features Spires’ ownred glaze and a stylistickangaroo that complementsthis year’s Australiantheme.

Handmade KnifeRobert CrutchfieldThis elegant handmade knifewith an antler mount was created by local artist RobertCrutchfield.

Gourd VaseDavid Stuempfle Pottery David Stuempfle is known forSpartan designs that focus atten-tion on the dimensions within apiece. This stunning wood-fired,salt-glazed stoneware gourd vaseexemplifies his simple, multi-dimensional style.

Wood-fired JarDaniel Johnston PotteryThis 24-inch wood-fired jar, witha traditional ash-glaze, wasmade from local red clay—another fine example of thecraftsmanship and creativity oflocal potter Daniel Johnston.

Fall 2005 | 13

Ice BelugasBarry & Danna Beith This Wyland Galleries’ limited-edition acrylic sculpture, featur-ing beluga whales, is markedwith an artist proof, No. 2 of 95.

Hop To ItMike Durham Created by local artist Mike Durham,this funky garden frog is sure todelight our Zoo To Do guests!

Passing the Buck

Bank of North CarolinaBiltmore Estate Wine

CompanyThe Blumenthal

FoundationMr. Keith BradshawCaraway Conference

Center & CampSteve & Patti CarsonMr. & Mrs. Arthur W.

ClarkMrs. Martha W. ColemanCommScope Inc.Tammy Jo & Chris CoxMs. Ella M. DecosterDelta Controls Inc.East Coast Metal

DistributorsFirst National Bank &

Trust CompanyFirstPoint, Inc.Forsyth Co. Beekeepers

AssociationDr. Neal Foster

Mr. Jeff Glutz & Ms.Adair Gibson

William & Rose GuthrieFrank Borden Hanes &

Jane Craig HanesAudrey S. HarrisMr. John HernandezSandra & Wm. Charles

HollimanJoel & Brenda HuneycuttMrs. Melba IsleyJefferson Pilot FinancialJohn Deere CompanyMs. Kim K. KellyJon & Cindy KilbornKindred HospitalKlaussner Furniture

Industries Inc.Konica Minolta

Manufacturing U.S.A.Eddie & Ginger Lynchdba Mid-Atlantic Hay

CompanyMindWorks Multimedia,

Inc.

Tom & Sally MooreMr. & Mrs. Peter PickensMatt & April RichmondM.M.III & Linda SalgueroSara Lee UnderwearMr. & Mrs. Robert C.

ShaffnerMs. Mollie StanleyW. Coy & Janet StoutSylvia & Cullie TarletonTechnimark, Inc.J. Paul & Sandra ThomasThe Timken CompanyUnited Way of Greater

GreensboroThe Volunteer Center of

GreensboroMr. Randal Von SeggernWeaver FoundationwebslingerZSydney & David WomackWilliam J. & Sarah B.

WoodEdith & Leo Yakutis

Thank Yous...to recognize the generous donors contributing $1,000 or more to the ZooSociety between March 25 and June 25.

“Zoo Nut” HonoredBB&T sponsored Kitera Forest, the chim-panzee exhibit, in 2000, with the largestgift the Society had ever, to that date,received. Now BB&T has made the largestgift in honor of another living person thatthe Zoo Society has ever received.

Scott E. Reed, who recently retired asBB&T’s Chief Financial Officer, is a self-professed “zoo nut.” Mr. Reed served theN.C. Zoo Society Board of Directors for adozen years, including two as the BoardChair. He is currently Chair of the NorthCarolina Zoological Park Council, theGovernor-appointed advisory council to theN.C. Zoo Director.

BB&T’s new $250,000 gift will sponsorthe Watani Reserve’s rhinoceros collectionin honor of Mr. Reed.

BB&T and Scott Reed are two of thevery best Friends of the Zoo.

RUSS WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Zoo Society has received many, and varied,planned gifts.

Gifts through wills have taken the form of a specificamount of cash or a percentage of a residual estate. Wehave been bequeathed houses, land, stocks, retirementplan assets and life insurance.

Perhaps the most unusual gift was a promissory notethat the donor had held since selling his veterinarypractice. The Zoo Society was left, therefore, a largepercentage of that veterinary practice, which is stillbeing purchased from us. The Zoo Society receivesmonthly payments from the veterinarian who is pur-chasing the practice.

My point is that gifts of real property, tangible per-sonal property (collections, art, etc.) and more are allpossible.

I’d be happy to discuss your unique situation: RussWilliams at 336-879-7252 or rwilliams@nczoo.com orcontact me at 4403 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.

RUSS H. WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Russling’sYear End RequestMaking Room for Babies…

Help the N.C. Zoo make room for baby elephantsand rhinos by supporting Project: Pachyderms—acampaign to expand the elephant and rhinocerosexhibits and off-exhibit holding areas. This multi-exhibit complex, called “Watani Reserve” will even-tually house eight to 10 African elephants and 10 to12 Southern white rhinos.

The elephant and rhinoceros exhibit expansionplans are significant for the future of these speciesand for the N.C. Zoo. This project will allow theZoo to play a meaningful role in the breeding andthe management of North American populations ofAfrican elephants and southern white rhinoceros andis designed to bring baby elephants and rhinos intothe world and your Zoo.

Your support will help guarantee that NorthCarolina school children and families will always beable to see and marvel, first-hand, at the wonder andthe magnificence of these vanishing giants.

For more information or to support Project:Pachyderms, please contact the Zoo Society at 336-879-7250 or E-mail babygiants@nczoo.com.14 | ALIVE

Have you started your holiday shopping? Can you bearthe thought of long lines? Let us help you give a giftthat will not be returned this holiday season—a polar

bear adoption from the N.C. Zoo. Each $45 package includes aplush polar bear bundled up for the holidays, a matted polar bearphotograph, an official adoption certificate and a hot chocolatemix complete with marshmallows. (Just add water.)

We will ship your gift package on December 9. The priceincludes standard shipping.

Your holiday gift will help enrich the lives of the Zoo’s polarbears, Wilhelm and Masha, by providing them with toys, tastytreats and give the keepers’ special training to help them improvethe quality of the bears’ lives.

2005 TravelCape Lookout WeekendOctober 21-23 $225This ever-popular trip offers a chance to explore the history,the wildlife and the scenery of the Cape Lookout NationalSeashore. From the watchtower atop the field station, theviews of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Lookout Shoals,Shackleford Banks, Core Banks and the Atlantic Ocean arebreathtaking.

The Natural Treasures of Costa RicaNovember 30-December 8

Rates begin at $2,547*Join host Pete Diamond, Zoo HorticulturalTaxonomist, to explore the beauty ofCosta Rica's protected nature reservesand the remote Darien Jungle. Travelaboard the Yorktown Clipper—a 138-passenger ship with a shallow draft that

lets it out-maneuver larger ships to glide down secludedwaterways. The ship returns to the United States through thePanama Canal. Some destinations on this voyage includeCurú Wildlife Refuge, Marenco Biological Station, ManuelAntonio National Park and Carara Biological Reserve.Optional pre- and post-cruise excursions are available.

Travel Planned for 2006 Kenya Wildlife Safari June 9-19Cape Lookout Wildlife Weekends

April 21-23 & October 20-22Discover the Beauty of Peru October 6-18Colorado Rockies & Canyonlands National Parks

September

Explore New

Horizons...

Summer 2005 | 15

* PRICE BASED ON DOUBLE-OCCUPANCY + MORE LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE

For more information, contact Stephanie Gee at sgee@nczoo.com or call 33333333 6666 ----88887777 9999 ----7777 2222 55553333 ....

Order Form Adoptive parent’s name ___________________________________________

Adoptive parent’s address _________________________________________

City__________________________________ State_______Zip___________

E-mail_________________________ Home Phone _____________________

If different from above, please tell us the:

Buyer’s name ___________________________________________________

Buyer’s address _________________________________________________

City__________________________________ State_______Zip___________

E-mail_________________________ Home Phone _____________________

Message on gift card _____________________________________________

We will mail the package Dec. 9 unless otherwise specified here __________

Make checks payable to the N.C. Zoo Society or charge to:

9 MasterCard 9 Visa 9 Amex 9 Discover

Account Number________________________________ Exp. Date ________

Signature ______________________________________________________

Please print clearly and mail to: N.C. Zoo Society; 4403 Zoo Parkway;Asheboro, NC 27205, or order on the Web at www.nczoo.com or call us tollfree at (888) 244-3736.

HolidayAdoptShow You Care…

Send a Bear

Sometimes work is hard to see.Take trees. They look

like they just stand around doing nothingbut making a littleshade. But, looks candeceive. Wherever sunlightmeets leaves, work gets going.

Relying on roots to draw waterup from the ground and smallopenings to take carbon dioxidein from the air, leaves makefood in a process called “photo-synthesis.” Sunlight fuels thework—heating up a leaf’s chloro-phyll (a pigment that makes the leaflook green) enough to let it mix waterand carbon dioxide to form sugars. Thissugar feeds the plant (and any animalsthat eat the plant).

As days shorten and temperaturesdrop in autumn, leaf-factories face anenergy shortage. Some plants deal withthis shortage by closing shop for thewinter. The mother plant takes thechlorophyll out of the leaves andships it into stems, roots or otherplant parts. As this greenpigment leaves a leaf, otherpigments that are left behindstep into the sunlight and let theircolors shine.

As the chlorophyll disappears, oak,hickory, birch and poplar leaves shift

from green to yellow,orange and brown.

Dogwood, maple and sumacleaves flame to red,purple or crimson!

Eventually the leavesfall, leaving the plant to feedon stored sugars until a new

crop of leaves sprouts inthe spring.

People used to raketheir leaves into piles to burnthem or send them out with

the trash. Now, goodgardeners know better! They keep theleaves and turn them

into a rich compost thatcan fertilize the soil. Goodgardeners may also save

some other leaves tospread under plants. Agood leaf layer can

buffer the earth fromhard rains and hold

moisture in the soil. (Ofcourse, even good gardeners

still find pleasure in rakingleaves into big piles where

children can romp justfor the fun of it—andfor the wonderful smelland sound of it.)CAROLYN BROWN, EDUCATION SPECIALIST

16 | ALIVE

Printing With LeavesGather a small pile of leaves.

Brush some poster or acrylic paint* across the underside of a leaf, where the veins are most pronounced.

Place the painted side of the leaf down on the paper or object you want to decorate.

Cover the leaf with a folded paper towel.

Use a rolling pin or spoon to stroke the paper, pushing down and across with smooth strokes.

Wait a second or two.

Lift the paper towel and carefully peel off the leaf. Voila! A work of art!

Fall 2005 | 17

Leaving MarksLeaves come in all shapes and sizes. Some are short and wide, some are long and skinny. Different kinds oftrees produce distinctly different kinds of leaves. Theleaves from all southern dogwoods look pretty muchalike but very different from the leaves of sugarmaples. One way to learn the names of different kinds of trees is to learn to recognize their leaves. A fun way to learn leaf names is to collect lots of different leaves and use them to make prints on paper. Then, you can match the prints to pictures in a good field guide (or on our Web site at http://www.nczoo.com).

And, once you master the printing processes, you can use it to make beautiful wrapping paper ornote cards or even to decorate trays, garden pots or drinking glasses.

Hickory

Dogwood

White oak

BirchWinged elm

Sweet gum

Red maple

* Pigments determine the color of paints just as they deter-mine the colors of leaves. To see how one pigment can hidethe color of another pigment, mix two colors together. Whathappens if you use the same amount of both pigments? Whathappens if you mix a very small amount of one pigment with alarge amount of another pigment?

TRAVEL TIME31/2 hours from Asheville31/2 hours from Myrtle Beach, SC90 minutes from Charlotte and Raleigh45 minutes from Greensboro

NCZoo

ASHEVILLE

CHARLOTTE

ASHEBORO

RALEIGH

MYRTLEBEACH, SC

WILMINGTON

J

77

4064

85

85

220

220 29 49

85

64

49

95

40

74

64

NORTH CAROLINA

GREENSBOROWINSTON-

SALEM

HIGH POINT

BURLINGTON

Your ALIVE magazine can be recycled in any recycling program that takes magazines.To locate the closest magazine recycling area in your city, call “Solid WasteManagement” or “Recycling” under the City or County listings of your phone book.

Member Events CALENDARSEPTEMBER

All month Dino Island II10 Zoo To Do 16-17 Zoo Snooze*17 Super Society Saturday*

OCTOBERAll month Dino Island II15 Sunset with the Animals*16-22 Wolf Awareness Week22-23 Boo at the Zoo(See p.7) Haunted Tram

NOVEMBER All month Dino Island II(See p.7) Holiday of Lights

DECEMBERAll month Dino Island II(See p.7) Holiday of Lights

Printed on recycled paperwith soy-based inks

The North Carolina Zoo is open every day of the year, except onChristmas Day. Winter hours begin October 1 and extend from 9a.m. to 4 p.m. Summer hours begin on April 1 and extend from 9a.m. to 5 p.m in North America, 9:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. in Africa.Standard admission prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6

for children. Zoo Society members and registered North Carolina school groups areadmitted free. The Zoo offers free parking, free tram and shuttle services, picnicareas, visitor rest areas, food service and gift shops.

For information, call 1-800-488-0444.

The Zoo is a program of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.The North Carolina Zoological Society is the non-profit organization that supports theNorth Carolina Zoological Park. Society offices are open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5p.m. For information, please call 336-879-7250 or logon to the Society’s Web page athttp://www.nczoo.com.

ZooScoop

Non-ProfitUS Postage

PAI DNorth Carolina

Zoological Society

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY4403 Zoo ParkwayAsheboro, NC 27205www.nczoo.com

* Reservations are required. See page 7 or go to www.nczoo.com to learn more.

N.C. Zoo Society 2005 Limited Edition Christmas Ornament

Paula Smith, a local artist and potter from Randolph County,crafted this year’s Society collector’s edition Christmas Ornamentusing an Australian Walkabout motif.

This exclusive offering, a clay-fired kangaroo and joey, werehand-molded and hand-painted by the artist. A limited-editionwith only 300 offerings, each ornament is signed and numberedby the artist. The $26 fee includes the member’s discount andshipping costs. Order on the Web at www.nczoo.org or call toll-free, 1-888-244-3736.