Trunkline Magazine (Louisville Zoo) Trunkline Magazine: June 2016 | Page 23

KIDS FOR CONSERVATION Bird BONANZA! Did you know there are about 10,000 different types of birds in the world? Birds come in all sizes: from the two-inch Bee Hummingbird to the nine-foot ostrich. All birds have feathers as a body covering; they all lay eggs; and the shape of their beak helps them eat all kinds of food. You can find birds on every continent — even the frozen terrain of Antarctica! There are many feathered friends, big and small, even in your own backyard like northern cardinals, red-shouldered hawks and Canada geese! We have over 350 species of birds in Kentucky and approximately 200 of those 350 species stop by during their migration journey. This summer, grab a bird identification guide, get outdoors with your binoculars and see how many different species you can identify in your own backyard or local park. List the bird species and where you saw them — and invite your friends to join in! Then, compare your lists. To attract more birds to your own backyard, try planting native wildflowers like purple coneflowers, bee balm and trumpet creeper. Birds can always use our help as good stewards of the earth. Make sure to help your new bird friends with a birdbath for a fresh source of water — just be sure to clean the water regularly to rid it of mosquito eggs. Once you start getting many bird visitors, you may even want to install a birdhouse or bird feeder. Be sure to check out the next Backyard Action Hero magazine to learn more about what you can do to help your city ecosystem! Don’t forget, in almost every area at the Zoo you can also see many different birds — from cranes, lorikeets and flamingos to snowy owls, emus and more! Our newest residents are little penguins from Australia. You can find them in our new Penguin Cove exhibit in the Islands zone! See page 12 for more details about Penguin Cove. You also won’t want to miss the new Wings of the World “Free Flight” Bird Show happening on our MetaZoo stage this summer. See page 16 for more details. This show highlights some of the world’s endangered bird species performing amazing bird behaviors. It’s sure to make your new appreciation for birds take wing! INSIDE YOUR ZOO Lorikeet Landing is getting a brand new green roof in 2016! Green roofs are great for the environment because they improve air quality, reduce smog, prevent water run off, help energy conservation and they provide valuable habitat for wildlife. From the MAYOR The beautiful natural settings and wildlife found at the Louisville Zoo remind us of our personal responsibility for protecting our environment. Backyard Action Hero Day helps educate your youngest Louisvillians about conservation and stewardship, making it an ideal time to visit the Zoo and to reflect on our place in the balance of our city ecosystem. A strong ecosystem means a healthier city, and it shows of compassion for our animal friends. In Louisville, we’re taking steps to address long-term issues such as water management and the dangerous urban heat island effect. One example is the Air Louisville project, launched last year to assist in the wellness of our environment and our citizens. It connects citywide air monitoring with advanced sensors that signal when and where asthma patients are taking their medications