#zoological society of milwaukee county

[uwmarchives]

Stanke and Baby Skunks

Today’s theme for #Archives30 is Animals.

This is Charles Stanke. In 1909 he became the animal caretaker at the Washington Park Zoo, which would become the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County in 1953. Stanke retired from the head zookeeper position in 1954. In the book Milwaukee County Zoo, published by Arcadia publishing in 2014 it says he presided over the birth of every animal at the zoo since 1910. We suppose that is why he had a litter of skunks on his desk, or it was a very cute office prank.

From the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County: Records 1910-2000 (Milw Mss 204)

[quotidiantimes]

Spend a night with the animals! 'Snooze at the Zoo' returns to Milwaukee County Zoo

Spend a night with the animals! ‘Snooze at the Zoo’ returns to Milwaukee County Zoo

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — You’re invited to spend a night with the animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo! Aug. 11-13, guests can “Snooze at the Zoo.”  When you Snooze at the Zoo, you get to sleep near the bears, seals, elk or caribou, and don’t be surprised if a peacock checks out your spot!  It’s the only opportunity for the general public to camp overnight at the zoo.  Hosted by the Zoological Society…

[wigwagwigout]

Zoological Society of Milwaukee holds ‘Zootastic’ fundraiser April 28

Zoological Society of Milwaukee holds ‘Zootastic’ fundraiser April 28

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This can be a stressful time of year.

Take a break and enjoy this bowl of Caracal (Caracal caracal) kittens!

From our Zoological Society of Milwaukee County records (PH Milw Mss 204, box 1, folder 17).

[uwmarchives]

Penguin Awareness Day

January 20, 2019, is Penguin Awareness Day! The above photos come from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County collection (call number: PH Milw MSS 204, Box 2, Folder 16). The first three photographs depict Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in the Taylor Family Humboldt Penguin Exhibit by the entrance of the zoo. They joined the other animals at the zoo in the late 1970s and the species is now the subject of several joint research endeavors between researchers in Milwaukee and in the penguins’ native Chile. For more information on these projects and other conservation efforts, visit the Zoological Society’s website.

The last photo was colorized by me from its original black and white. It depicts the rockhopper penguins (the two with yellow crests to the left of the man) and juvenile Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) housed in the zoo’s Herb and Nada Mahler Family Aviary. There are several subspecies of the rockhopper penguin; all belong to the Genus Eudyptes and can be found around southern Argentina and the Antarctic Peninsula with the Gentoos or around southern Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to these three species, there are 14-17 more species of penguins in the world - there is some debate regarding if different subspecies should be considered their own species or just a variant on another. These range from the Emperor penguin, the largest species that makes its home in and around Antarctica, to the aptly named little penguin or little blue penguin found around Australia and New Zealand, among other islands. The northernmost penguin is the Galapagos penguin, an endangered species that is the only one found north of the equator in the Galapagos Islands.

On this Penguin Awareness Day, take some time to learn a little more about these adorable flightless birds and maybe take a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo. If you’re not in the area, you can still enjoy Milwaukee’s Humboldt penguins through ZooView.TV, a joint project by Milwaukee County Zoo and the Zoological Society.

-Samantha Dickson, Archives Graduate Intern

[uwmarchives]

February 27th is Polar Bear Day!  The above photos are pulled from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County collection here at the UWM Archives (PH Milwaukee Mss 204 Box 2 Folder 5) and depict several Polar Bears in residence at the Milwaukee County Zoo over the years.  

Today the Milwaukee County Zoo partners with Polar Bears International to promote outreach and conservation efforts to protect the Polar Bear and it’s natural habitat.  

On this Polar Bear Day, take some time to learn a bit more about the Polar Bear, incidentally, the only bear classified as a marine mammal and maybe take a trip to the Milwaukee County Zoo. If you’re not in the area, you can still enjoy Milwaukee’s own Polar Bears through ZooView.TV, a joint project by Milwaukee County Zoo and the Zoological Society.

-Samantha Brown, Graduate Intern

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday “Name That Bird” Challange

There should be no argument this week.

Can you name that bird?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are un-dated.

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: “Name That Bird” Challange

We hope you have been enjoying “Name That Bird.” This may be the last in our series for a while. We hope to get our resident bird nerd to search for some more identifiable birds in our collections.

But until that happens, don’t miss your chance to Name That Bird!

Go ahead and identify this gorgeous Gruiform.

Can you Name That Bird?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are not dated.

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: “Name That Bird” Challenge

Here are some more shore birds for today’s challenge.  Bonus bragging rights for getting them both. 

Can you name these birds?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are not dated.

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday “Name That Bird” Challenge

We will never know why this exotic creature was clipped out of its surroundings, but it allows for a good view of that gorgeous beak.

Can you NAME THAT BIRD?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are un-dated.

See our other Feathursday posts

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: “Name That Bird” Challenge

It’s #feathursday, and we have another challenge for you.

Here is a little ratite chick for you to identify.

Can you Name That Bird?

The answer will be posted today at 4:00pm CST

The images we are using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folders 3 & 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and are mostly undated.

See our other Feathursday posts

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: “Name That Bird” Challenge

We thought this bird was appropriate to feature given that the Winter Solstice is tomorrow.

Can you name this bird?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are not dated.

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: “Name that Bird” Challenge

What birds are these?

Can you identify this pair of waders?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are un-dated.

See our other Feathursday posts

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: Name That Bird

Here is another round of Name That Bird!

Can anyone identify this elegant aquatic avian?

The answer will be posted today at 4:00pm CST

See our other Feathursday posts

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are undated.

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: “Name That Bird” Answer

Today’s birds are a Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) a heron that lives in the wetlands and coasts of North America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean.

The smaller birds behind the Snowy Egret form a ‘deceit’ of Lapwings including Southern Lapwings (Vanellus chilensis) and a Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus). The approximately 24 species of Lapwings can be found on most continents, not in Antarctica. They look awfully adorable, we can’t figure out why their collective noun is ‘deceit.’

Hopefully, you were able to guess at least one of these waders.

Come back next week for another “Name That Bird” Challenge.

See our other #feathursday posts and Name That Bird posts

[uwmarchives]

#Feathursday: Name That Bird Challenge

During this time of year when it is customary to remember the dead and celebrate the harvest, we thought we’d offer this scavenger of carcasses for you to identify.

Can you Name That Bird?

We will post the answer at 4:00pm CST

The images we will be using for “Name That Bird” are from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Records, 1910-2000. (PH Milw Mss, box 1, folder 4) Most of the photos were taken by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographers for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, and most of them are undated.

See our other Feathursday posts