PGE Presents Wild Life Live!

Overview | The Animals | Gallery | Education | Behind the Scenes

Animal Profiles

Apollo the American Kestrel
Chinook the Bald Eagle
Clyde the Turkey Vulture
Deschutes the Golden Eagle
Finney the Hadada Ibis
Fuego the Kinkajou
Huey and Luey the Runner Ducks
Kalahari the Augur Buzzard
Makani the Green-winged Macaw
Najla the Eurasian Eagle Owl
Nilda the Prehensile-tailed Porcupine
Pele the Blue and Gold Macaw
Pierre the Hooded Vulture
Rosita the Western Screech Owl
Socrates the Barn Owl
Sonora the Harris Hawk
Sundance the Red-Tailed Hawk

	Apollo American Kestrel Hatched: Unknown Arrived at Zoo: August 7, 2005 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 6-10 years in the wild, 15 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Portland Audubon Society History: Apollo was found on the ground at the Beaver Portland General Electric power plant on June 20, 2005. He was just learning to fly, but unable to defend himself. He was taken to a local vet in Rainier, Oregon. Unfortunately, Apollo became habituated to human contact and was unable to be released back into the wild. He is now a wonderful ambassador for the Wild Life Live program.
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	Chinook Bald Eagle Hatched: May 1991 (Estimate) Arrived at Zoo: May 2, 1997 Sex: Female Expected Lifespan: 30-50 years in wild, Up to 68 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: World Bird Sanctuary, St. Louis, Missouri History: Little is known about Chinook's early history because she was hatched in the wild in Alaska. The Bird Treatment and Learning Center in Anchorage took her in and transferred her to the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis to treat an infection and soft tissue injury to her left shoulder. Her shoulder was virtually destroyed by the infection. During the summer of 1996, Chinook was on display at an open exhibit at Sea World of Ohio. At the time, her handlers did not think that she was able fly. She proved them wrong by occasionally escaping from the exhibit and returning with a duck from a nearby pond! She was sent back to St. Louis before being transferred to the Oregon Zoo. Although she is able to fly, she cannot fly well enough to be released in the wild.
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	Clyde Turkey Vulture Hatched: Spring 1985 (Estimate) Arrived at Zoo: September 8, 1987 Sex: Female Expected Lifespan: 20-25 years in wild, 25-30 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Portland Audubon Society History: A man near Kalama, WA had observed a vulture nest for years, watching the adults raise their young. After the chicks hatched one year, he noticed that the parents did not come back. Worried about the chicks, he checked the nest and found two babies. The man had the best of intentions, and did not realize it is against the law to raise native birds without a permit. He took them home and began raising them. When they got bigger, he let them go. Eventually, Clyde ended up near Woodland, WA. She began following children home, chasing dogs, poking holes in screen doors and begging for food. Clyde was taken to the Portland Audubon Society, and transferred to the Oregon Zoo a few months later. Since then Clyde has become a popular part of the Wild Life Live show because of how low she flies over the audience.
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	Deschutes Golden Eagle Hatched: Spring 2001 (Estimate) Arrived at Zoo: September 10, 2004 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 30-50 years in wild, Up to 68 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Gary Landers, Rehabber, Sisters, Oregon History: Deschutes was received by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Hines, Oregon in July of 2004. He had been found on the side of the road after being hit by a vehicle. Amazingly, the only injury he suffered was loss of vision in his right eye. But the injury prevented him from being released because the lack of depth perception would prevent him from hunting successfully.
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	Finney Hadada Ibis Hatched: September 20, 2000 Arrived at Zoo: September 20, 2000 Sex: Unknown Expected Lifespan: Unknown Where Zoo Got Bird: Oregon Zoo History: Finney was hatched at the Oregon Zoo and his parents still live in the African Swamp Aviary. As soon as Finney was old enough to leave the nest, the bird was transferred to the Wild Life Live show to be trained. Finney was named after the Oregon Zoo veterinarian Mitch Finnegan.
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	Fuego Kinkajou Born: November, 2006 Arrived at Zoo: March, 2007 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 20-25 years Where Zoo Got Bird: Central Florida Zoo History: Fuego was born into a breeding program at the Central Florida Zoo in Lake Monroe, Florida. He spent his first several months with his mother before coming to the Oregon Zoo. Fuego means "fire" in Spanish.
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	Huey and Luey Runner Ducks Hatched: Spring 1999 Arrived at Zoo: Hatched at Oregon Zoo Sex: Males Expected Lifespan: Unknown Where Zoo Got Bird: The Zoo purchased their eggs from a private dealer History: Huey and Luey were hatched at the Oregon Zoo as part of the Education Animal Program. They've always been together, although initially they were with other runner ducks and a dwarf mallard named Duey. Even though Duey was much smaller than either Huey or Luey, they followed his lead and would do whatever he did. When Duey ate, they all ate. When Duey drank water, they all drank water. But as they became bigger, Huey became more dominant and the two eventually started harassing the female Runner Ducks. In 2002, they were transferred to the Wild Life Live show program. Huey and Luey open each show with a bit of comedy. They remind the audience that, "the birds fly really low, so it's important to duck."
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	Kalahari Augur Buzzard Hatched: March 8, 1994 Arrived at Zoo: May 1999 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 15-20 years in wild, 25-30 in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: World Bird Sanctuary, St. Louis, Missouri History: Not too much is known about Kalahari, although she was hatched in captivity. She is used in shows but is easily frightened and sometimes flies into trees to hide. At one performance on the concert lawn she flew inside the nearby Afri Café when someone opened the door and scared her.
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	Makani Green-winged Macaw Hatched: 2004 Arrived at Zoo: December 29, 2007 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 60-80 years Where Zoo Got Bird: Oregon Humane Society History: Makani and more than 100 other birds were confiscated from a woman who was hoarding parrots. He was placed in a home and lived there with another macaw. After a few years, the family could no longer care for Makani and he came to the Oregon Zoo. Makani is a Hawaiian name meaning "wind."
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	Najla Eurasian Eagle Owl Hatched: May 27, 2008 Arrived at Zoo: October 28, 2008 Sex: Female Expected Lifespan: unknown Where Zoo Got Bird: Oklahoma Zoo History: Najla was hatched at the Oklahoma Zoo. She was hand-reared and habituated to people from a young age. Najla is an Arabic name meaning "wide, beautiful eyes."
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	Nilda Prehensile-tailed Porcupine Born: May 9, 2003 Arrived at Zoo: May 6, 2008 Sex: Female Expected Lifespan: 15 years Where Zoo Got Bird: Birmingham Zoo History: Nilda was originally at the Hogle Zoo in Utah. She was moved to the Birmingham Zoo, and shortly thereafter had one male offspring. The Birmingham Zoo did not need both porcupines for their education programs, so Nilda was transferred to the Oregon Zoo. Her name means "armored warrior woman" in Spanish.
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	Pele Blue and Gold Macaw Hatched: 2000 Arrived at Zoo: October 27, 2004 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 40-50 years in captivity, 30-40 years in wild Where Zoo Got Bird: Brandy Vernay, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Private Donation) History: Pele was hatched in captivity in the United States. After living with a relative of the breeder for three years, Pele was adopted by Brandy Vernay and Kim Reynick, owners of Gone Wild Wildlife Education and Animal Rescue in Colorado Springs. Pele makes short flights in our Wild Life Live show, and is also trained to laugh, show his wings, wave, shake hands and fall backwards on command.
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	Pierre Hooded Vulture Hatched: January 11, 2002 Arrived at Zoo: November 18, 2002 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan: 20-25 years in wild, 25-30 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium History: Pierre was captive hatched at the Pittsburgh Zoo and parent reared. He was housed on exhibit at first and then kept in holding until he was transferred to the Oregon Zoo.
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	Rosita Western Screech Owl Hatched: Unknown Arrived at Zoo: November 23, 2006 Sex: Unknown Expected Lifespan: 6-10 years in the wild, 15 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Gary Landers, Rehabber, Sisters, Oregon History: Rosita was found near Bend, OR, after being hit by a car. She had damage to both her left and right eyes, and cannot see well enough to hunt in the wild. Rosita was named after a Muppet character on Sesame Street.
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	Socrates Barn Owl Hatched: October of 2004 Arrived at Zoo: November 10, 2005 Sex: Male Expected Lifespan:15 years in wild, 20 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: American Eagle Foundation, Pigeon Forge, TN History: Socrates was hatched at the American Eagle Foundation and hand-raised by the AEF staff. He was handled on the glove and flight trained, but did not fly in shows.
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	Sonora Harris Hawk Hatched: May 19,1991 Arrived at Zoo: July 17,1991 Sex: Female Expected Lifespan: 15-20 years in wild, 20-25 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Purchased from private breeder in Idaho. History: Sonora was hatched in a private breeding program in Idaho. She was raised by her mother for two months and then transferred to the Oregon Zoo to join the Wild Life Live show.
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	Sundance Red-Tailed Hawk Hatched: April 2, 1993 Arrived at Zoo: September 29, 1993 Sex: Female Expected Lifespan: 20-25 years in wild, 25-30 years in captivity Where Zoo Got Bird: Keepers of the Wild Wind Rehabilitation, Phoenix, Arizona History: A boy found Sundance as an egg and brought it to the Yuma County Fair in Yuma, Arizona to have it identified by a local veterinarian at the fair. The vet cracked the egg open to find a hatchling hawk. The hatchling went to the Yuma Fish and Game who sent it to a rehabber. The rehabber was not experienced enough to prevent her from becoming adapted to human contact. As a result, the bird had to be sent to Sam Fox, another rehabber, who placed her with an adult female to act as its surrogate mother. After that didn't work, he sent Sundance to another rehabber in Phoenix with a large flight cage, hoping she would become more independent. But when that didn't work either, rehabbers decided she could never be released and transferred her to the Oregon Zoo to join the Wild Life Live show.
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