Written By: Aimee Turcotte
Parrots are majestic birds with colors that charm the eye of the beholder. At the zoo, we are very fortunate to have two parrots, Zari and Newton.
 
Zari, our African Grey Parrot, is a 14-year-old female who has been a resident at the zoo for about 10 years. She could live for 50 to 70 years. When she wants to, she can vocalize and mimic sounds. For instance, at the end of the day, when Education Animal Care staff are closing the door to the room where her habitat is, she often mimics the sound of the door closing. Additionally, she is an avid fan of rock and roll, bopping her head and vocalizing while listening to music. Zari has been found to not be affected by visual enrichment (television, etc.). 

Written By: Aimee Turcotte
While traveling in Dallas, Texas, I visited the Dallas World Aquarium, where I had the chance to behold a gorgeous crocodile larger than I could ever have imagined. Reflecting upon the fully grown alligator that we have at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, I realized that although crocodiles and alligators look similar, crocodiles tend to be longer than alligators, which is one of the most noticeable differences between these reptiles. This observation increased my interest in learning about the differences between crocodiles and alligators, which we have the pleasure of studying during National Alligator Day. ​

Written By: Aimee Turcotte
Growing up, I always enjoyed taking a trip to my local zoo or exploring a new zoo when traveling. My dad’s favorite zoo animal is an otter, so we would make sure we did not miss saying “hello” to the otters when at a zoo. Otters are very entertaining, playing by chasing each other and then jumping into the water. Occasionally, my family would see an otter grab a toy, holding the toy with its hands while twirling around underwater. I was surprised that the otters could stay underwater for so long, up to six to eight minutes! We could watch the otters play for hours, but knowing our visit had to be short, we looked forward to seeing the otters again on our next trip. 

Written By: Andrew Connolly
Summer. Sun. Southeast Ohio. Surveys. Salamanders. In June of 2021, I found myself hiking the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with a team of volunteers at my side searching for salamanders in Wayne National Forest. Wearing long pants, sleeves, hats, and backpacks, with hiking boots and maps to navigate, we set out early in the morning to survey salamanders. 

Written By: Andrew Connolly
Two eyes peered out at me from under a rock. Then it struck. In a flash a slate-gray head popped out and ripped the worm from my tongs before sinking back into the darkness. It was another successful hunt for this mysterious animal, an animal known as the Eastern Hellbender. This feeding routine is a part of my job here at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, my job caring for the Eastern Hellbender.
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Every morning I start my day in the Kathy Brady Education Center, where I turn on the lights in the habitats, say good morning to all the animals, and then turn my attention to the largest habitat in the building, the approximately 300-gallon tank that holds Eastern Hellbenders. These giant salamanders, which grow up to two-and-a-half feet in length, spend their life underwater in the cold, fast flowing streams of the Appalachia region. Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, which benefits an animal that breathes through its skin. We keep our chiller set to a crisp 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

Written By: Andrew Connolly
​Late at night under the new moon, with not another human around, frogs talk and I listen. Now they might not be saying, “Hi, how are you?” or “Good evening and goodnight,” but they are telling me important things. 
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First, I get to learn their names. As I sit in silence taking in the peace of the pond, with dragonflies skipping off the surface and a lone owl calling in distance, they introduce themselves one by one. The males of a species produce a call unique to that species that they sing, and yell, and shout each spring and summer to attract a partner. It could be the deep cry of a Fowler’s Toad, or the raspy quack of a Wood Frog. It might be a long trill, that of the American Toad, or a short trill, like the Gray Tree Frog. They speak their species name and I record it. 

Written By: Andrew Connolly
​As the sun began to creep above the horizon, I watched its rays glisten across the calm waves while we navigated across Lake Erie to a small island a few miles from the Canadian border. We rose pre-dawn to eat and load our gear onto the M/V BioLab, the oldest active research vessel on Lake Erie, before setting off from our private research island towards the next island over, Middle Bass Island. My role: Biological Field Station Assistant. What this means: deck hand, research assistant, and any other task that is needed. 

Written By: Andrew Connolly
​​What group always captivates audiences with their intelligence and similar attributes to man? Monkeys. Lucky enough for zoo staff and guests alike, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is home to multiple species of monkeys which we celebrate annually on December 14th, or World Monkey Day.
​We have a lot to celebrate this year with the birth of a Golden Lion Tamarin and a Black-Handed Spider Monkey here at the zoo this year! 

Written By: Andrew Connolly
When you think of the United States of America and its conservation legacy, what might come to mind? Is it the sprawling forests that used to cover the east coast? Is it the passage of the Endangered Species Act 50 years ago? Could it perhaps be the long and complicated story of the American Bison, the peoples of the nation, and the path to national mammal status? 
 
The American Bison, a species so special and unique that its scientific name, Bison bison, already demonstrates how unique of an animal it is. American Bison used to range from Alaska down to the Mexican border, and from the Nevada Basin to the eastern Appalachian Mountains[1]. So how did a species that numbered in the millions, and spanned almost an entire continent come close to extinction and then come back again? It took great loss and pain, followed by a period of education, growth, and activism for education, activism, and cooperation pave the path to success and growth. To learn more about this path, the United States of America must also confront its dark past with colonization.