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Cincinnati Zoo flies away with a Plume Award!
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens
CINCINNATI, OH (April 13, 2015) – The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) is excited to announce that it has received the Plume Award for Noteworthy Achievement in Avian Husbandry from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Avian Scientific Advisory Group (ASAG). This award recognizes excellence in a single facet of husbandry such as first-time breeding, reintroduction programs, breeding consortiums, reproduction of a difficult species or taking a leading role in population sustainability. Robert Webster, the Zoo’s Curator of Birds, and the Cincinnati Zoo Bird Department, including Kimberly Klosterman, Jennifer Gainer, Cody Sowers, Dan Burns, Aimee Owen, Rickey Kinley, Steve Malowski and Jackie Bray have worked tirelessly to achieve breeding success with a species known to have reproductive challenges, the kea (Nestor notabilis). The Cincinnati Zoo’s kea program consists of a breeding flock, an interactive exhibit and a partnership with Kea Conservation Trust (KCT) in New Zealand. Cincinnati holds the largest collection of kea (Nestor notabilis) in North America and is home to 19 of the 45 birds present in Association of Zoos &Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions. Locally, nationally, and internationally Cincinnati works to improve captive kea husbandry standards and reproductive success and aims to increase public awareness of kea conservation and reproduction research. The bird staff credits flocking and free mate choice as key contributors to the success of its breeding program, as well as assistance from many other Zoo departments and devoted volunteers. “Best of all, we are able to share the insights we are learning with captive kea-holders throughout the world and with the conservationists whose work we support in the birds’ native New Zealand,” said Webster. During the last three years, the Cincinnati Zoo has successfully hatched 13 chicks – more than any other zoo in North America. 2014 was especially bountiful with the fledging of six chicks. During the summer, the kea flock shares the exhibit with several other avian species, including Nicobar pigeons, pied imperial pigeons, magpie geese, and Cape Barren geese. Most recently, the Aviculture department has formed a partnership with the Zoo’s Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) to start a foundation in kea reproduction research. “I couldn’t be more excited about Cincinnati Zoo’s success with breeding kea this year! This flock includes a number of genetically important birds, and the population 22