Page 10 - Gateways 2018 Spring

News Bites continued GKUINAGMFISHER

Following in Edith’s Footsteps CARE

Nearly 100 years ago, Edith Rockefeller McCormick The Waiting Game
donated 83 acres of land to the Forest Preserve
District of Cook County, creating the foundation of Lounge lizards? “Lounge birds” is more like it. Behind the scenes, on a top
Brookfield Zoo and setting the stage for decades of floor in Tropic World, we have constructed a series of aviaries that act like a
conservation leadership. waiting room for Guam kingfishers that are part of a Species Survival Plan
(SSP) breeding program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
On Saturday, September 23, we held the inaugural
gathering of the Edith Rockefeller As a participant in the SSP for this species, the Chicago Zoological Society
McCormick Society, the rebranding has been breeding Guam kingfishers for years. The accidental introduction
of our Living Legacy Society. of invasive brown tree snakes by American soldiers during World War
The celebration honored the II rendered these birds extinct on their native Guam. Conservation
135 founding members, organizations like us are working to not only sustain but also increase a large,
who enjoyed a delicious stable population of birds in institutions accredited by the AZA.
breakfast, listened to
Chicago Zoological The upstairs oasis can house up to 30 birds. Each one is awaiting a mate
Society president and that has been chosen by the SSP coordinator to be genetically compatible—
CEO Dr. Stuart Strahl speak meaning genetically distinct. Once a safety net of a minimum of 200 of
about the future of the zoo, these kingfishers are living in zoos, additional hatchlings will become part of
and made a special visit to a “boot camp” reintroduction program.
Hamill Family Wild Encounters.
When kingfishers do eventually leave these zoos for reintroduction, they
These members know that when won’t live on Guam right away. They will be released on islands in the
you include the Society in your estate plans, you not Marianas—the same chain as Guam—that are free of brown tree snakes.
only invest in the future of an organization dedicated There they will learn how to find food, create nests, and find mates without
to conservation, education, and animal care but also: the assistance of people. Meanwhile, conservationists will continue to work
toward eradicating brown tree snakes on Guam. One day, kingfishers may
• Enjoy zoo membership privileges populate Guam once more.
• Receive invitations to exclusive events,

including an annual recognition event

• Are recognized in select print and online
materials and on public signs

• Receive a membership pin
• May receive additional financial and tax

benefits, depending upon your estate plans

• Inspire conservation leadership by helping
us connect people with wildlife and nature
If you have included the Chicago Zoological
Society in your estate plans, we would love to hear
from you. For more information about becoming
a member of the Edith Rockefeller McCormick
Society, please call us at (708) 688-8174, email us at
EdithRockefellerMcCormickSociety@czs.org, or visit
our website at CZS.org/PlannedGiving.

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