Three New Bird Arrivals, Raised by Staff

The skills, dedication, and flexibility required of Animal Care and Veterinary staff members at Lincoln Park Zoo is never more evident than when they are caring for young animals—especially ones that need an assist from humans. Recently, three chicks were successfully reared by staff here: one Chilean flamingo (the third juvenile flamingo born this year) and two Jambu fruit doves.

“We hope first and foremost that the birds can care for their own offspring,” says Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds Nicole Finch-Mason. “However, we have contingency plans in place if the parents are not doing what they need to in order to successfully help their chick develop.”

One possible plan is fostering, or finding another pair of birds that can adopt the chick as their own. Zoo staff have had success with fostering with both African penguins and the flamingos this year.

Animal Keeper Jill Gossett feeds a young jambu dove.

However, if fostering is not an option, human-assisted rearing of chicks is the next possible move. “Human-assisted rearing, when it’s needed, is just one way we not only save lives, but conserve a number of species by contributing to genetic diversity and adding to avian populations,” Finch-Mason explains. “We’re so grateful for the ability to use our varied experience raising chicks across many species to help the birds in our care.”

And, she says, every time the zoo raises a bird successfully, staff can modify protocols to enhance their ability to do it again in the future. They then add to a growing body of knowledge in the field, leading to other zoos and similar institutions being able to do the same. Because Jambu fruit doves and Chilean flamingos are part of Species Survival Plans® under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the successful rearing of new individuals helps to improve the entire species’ prospects in zoos.

Human-assisted Rearing of Birds

To determine whether or not to intervene and help raise a chick, the care team will look at whether or not parents or fosters can adequately feed, protect, and keep chicks at an appropriate temperature. The decision is made quickly once a chick hatches, dries off, and absorbs the remaining egg yolk.

After the chick has rested for a time, staff will administer food and hydration based on behavioral and physical cues. The chick needs to be fed every couple of hours from 7 a.m.–9 p.m. at the beginning, although frequency varies by species. This means that keepers, zoological managers, and curators team up to make sure the feeds take place. Vet staff come in to evaluate the chick and are always available to consult on any concerns that arise.

Lead Keeper of McCormick Bird House Jennifer Morphew works next to the young jambu dove’s habitat.

Of course, each species is different and presents unique challenges, requiring different approaches. Some—like Bali mynas—are more likely to imprint on caretakers, which means that zoo staff will wear costumes or Tyvek suits to minimize that possibility. They’ll also refrain from talking in the chicks’ presence if possible so the birds don’t start to recognize human voices.

These differences mean that keepers must know a lot about the species’ natural history in order to give them the best welfare possible. They also need to know bird body language as well as the individual quirks of these chicks to understand how to help them thrive.

This Year’s Chicks: Jambu Fruit Doves

Zoo staff successfully raised Jambu fruit doves for the first time this year. These doves are notoriously difficult compared to other species, in part because they are altricial (completely dependent on their parents) at hatch. This means they require a lot of care and time, especially in the first few weeks and months.

To increase the possibility of success, one Lincoln Park Zoo keeper was previously sent to another zoo—which has had success in raising these doves—to get specialized training. When she returned, she was able to provide information to the rest of the care team. The team then developed a protocol, which was put into action the moment a dove chick hatched in May (after around 19 days of incubation) and needed human assistance. The team drew upon experience in raising other types of birds as well.

Both young doves born here in 2024 came from the same parents. The younger one, born in early October, is still receiving around the clock care behind the scenes. It benefits from a “large presence” in its habitat in the form of a plush snowy owl. It is also practicing the ability to grip with its feet, thanks to sticks and twigs in the living space. This juvenile dove is weighed before, during and after feeding, and receives UV light from a lamp for warmth and light. It is still fed through a pipette. Its diet has included formula and pureed papaya, but now also incorporates different fruits and vegetables, such as banana and sweet potato, along with a hard-boiled egg for protein.

Once the second chick’s sex is determined and it becomes more independent, the siblings will be housed together.

This Year’s Chicks: Chilean Flamingo

Zoo staff have plenty of experience helping to bring up Chilean flamingos, so they used tried-and-true methods for one that hatched in early September that needed a little help. Lincoln Park Zoo first successfully hand-reared a member of this species in 2015.

This chick, born after a month-long incubation period, has already been integrated into a small flock with the other two flamingo chicks that were announced previously. Watch for all three flamingo juveniles to be out with the larger flock soon!

Lessons Learned

The care team spent many long hours and days this summer saving these three tiny, threatened baby birds, two of which started out at the size of a dime and weighed just 6 grams. In doing so, staff members honed internal operations and learned much they can bring to future experiences.

“As a team, it takes very solid communication and trust to be successful at raising birds,” Finch-Mason says. “We are constantly note-taking; entering data into spreadsheets to track milestones; and often pairing with one other to watch, feed, and care for the chick, to talk through ideas and ensure we are consistent.”

This type of collaboration extends to getting help from other institutions to find new and better ways of human-assisted rearing, as was done for the Jambu fruit doves. It also means passing on knowledge to new staff to inform the next generation of caretakers, and sharing information with the wider zoo community.

“We’re very proud that our dedicated collaborative team efforts have led to success. We hope for continued success in the future,” Finch-Mason says.