Red Crowned Crane

most know I have worked with the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society in past years to help them gather waterfowl for their new exhibits. They work very diligently to breed every thing they have. Yes , it's true, they will not just offer to help you or work with you, really it's best in my experience if THEY come to you actually.
They sent one of their curators all the way down here just to inspect the birds they were getting from me before they would commit. They interviewed me, took photos of EVERYTHING, videoed the whole place, reviewed my quarantine area, methods, and all. Took all this info back to the head curators for review. Upon review, they approve it all, and then asked would I be willing to except waterfowl from other breeders they were getting in and keep them until the new project was done at the zoo. Said of course, collected up all their birds from the other breeders and housed them all for 6 months for them.
That all being said, of course they compensated me for my time and feed, even though I told them is wasnt necessary. But once that was done, they knew I REALLY wanted some rare African Pygmy Geese, which of course they had. Well ,they offered some to me on a breeding loan after it was all done.
That's pretty much how you have to get in with these guys. Baby steps, but once you do, good things can happen for you.
By the way, due to the super rare nature of their pygmys, I did decline the offer, I couldnt sleep at night knowing they werent mine and if something were to have happened...whew
 
most know I have worked with the Bronx Zoo Wildlife Conservation Society in past years to help them gather waterfowl for their new exhibits. They work very diligently to breed every thing they have. Yes , it's true, they will not just offer to help you or work with you, really it's best in my experience if THEY come to you actually.
They sent one of their curators all the way down here just to inspect the birds they were getting from me before they would commit. They interviewed me, took photos of EVERYTHING, videoed the whole place, reviewed my quarantine area, methods, and all. Took all this info back to the head curators for review. Upon review, they approve it all, and then asked would I be willing to except waterfowl from other breeders they were getting in and keep them until the new project was done at the zoo. Said of course, collected up all their birds from the other breeders and housed them all for 6 months for them.
That all being said, of course they compensated me for my time and feed, even though I told them is wasnt necessary. But once that was done, they knew I REALLY wanted some rare African Pygmy Geese, which of course they had. Well ,they offered some to me on a breeding loan after it was all done.
That's pretty much how you have to get in with these guys. Baby steps, but once you do, good things can happen for you.
By the way, due to the super rare nature of their pygmys, I did decline the offer, I couldnt sleep at night knowing they werent mine and if something were to have happened...whew

I hope I can do something like this when I get older...​
 
thats me, baby stepping... sorry got off topic tonini
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Boggy Bottom: I'd love to see some photos of what your waterfowl facility was like back in the day, it must have really been something to garner the attention of the Bronx Zoo! Can you post some photos?

Dr. Todd
 
Dr. Todd :

Boggy Bottom: I'd love to see some photos of what your waterfowl facility was like back in the day, it must have really been something to garner the attention of the Bronx Zoo! Can you post some photos?

Dr. Todd

Yep, got to know them threw my friendship with Mike and Ali Lubbock at Sylvan Heights.
As for the pics of the old one,
Been wanting to load some up, all were actual photographs back then,(didnt get a digital camera til just a few years ago, LOL) will have to get my wife on it to scan and load some (what few I still have around with all the moving we've done since) but yep, it was pretty darn nice... Getting ready to start a new one this summer and get all the 100 or so species of waterfowl I use to have back over the next few years now that I am in a stable place once again here on our family farm.
going to try to start with just a one acre aviary for now.​
 
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I have heard of Mr. Lubbock, he's in South Carolina right? I hear he keeps a lot of waterfowl species and might be the biggest in the US, I've never been there but would love to someday. Have you been to his farm?

Dr. Todd
 
Dr. Todd :

I have heard of Mr. Lubbock, he's in South Carolina right? I hear he keeps a lot of waterfowl species and might be the biggest in the US, I've never been there but would love to someday. Have you been to his farm?

Dr. Todd

yep Dr Todd, been there many times over the years, they are no doubt the largest captive collection of waterfowl in North American, a collection now at about 80 years old. They are in Scotland Neck, North Carolina though. A few years back, they got their AZA certification and are now an educational facility for waterfowl.
Basically a waterfowl zoo. There is no species (I'm pretty sure) they currently do not have a representative of, even pink eared ducks, comb ducks, all the pygmy geese, seaducks, etc. They came here from England and bought out a huge collection from a family after the passing of the man who owned them, and took off from their with it. Mike travels the world doing seminars and educational, field research and data collection , etc on all waterfowl, highly educated man in his field...
But yes, if you get a chance, it is truly a must see for any waterfowl enthusiast. Close to a 10 acre facility if not bigger now.​
 
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