Evaluating the effects of enrichment on the activity and visibility of Ciconiiformes and related species T. Wall, Bird Keeper Saint Louis Zoo Missouri , USA The study was conducted during the summer seasons of 2006 and 2007. The first part of the study collected information about the activity and visibility of predominately Ciconiiformes; Snowy, Great and Cattle Egrets (Egretta alba, Egretta thula and Ardeola ibis), Black-Crowned and Yellow-Crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax and Nycticorax violaceus), White Ibis (Eudocimus albus), Roseate Spoonbills (Ajai ajaja), Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and various native waterfowl housed together in a large open flight exhibit. The data collection started in all areas to determine species that were rarely visible and/or active from the visitor's perspective during the 2006 summer season. The evaluation was simple in scoring as it used a 0-2 score system (0 = less visible or active, 1= moderate visibility or activity, 2 = most visible or active). The tabulated data offered insight into which animals were least active and/or visible. The next year, 2007, three enrichments were used, one each month from July-September, to try to increase the activity and or visibility of the lower scoring species. The enrichments used evolved from applying the SPIDER model of enrichment to try to increase natural patterns of activity thus increasing visibility. The three enrichments implemented were a mister to simulate a rainy patch in the enclosure, scattering whole fish from food plates in and around the pool to increase foraging behaviors, and feeding live fish and crayfish in the exhibit pool. These enrichments showed an increase in activity and/ or visibility in select species. The evaluation, though simple in nature, provided specific data with which to evaluate the effectiveness for each species. The presentation will illustrate the specific results, such as percentage of increase in activity and/or visibility. The presentation will also show the process of setting up the data collection and evaluation, picking species appropriate enrichments (SPIDER model), obtaining or getting approval for specific items, trouble-shooting problems and other interesting things that we discovered. |