MONTEREY, Calif- Two shorebirds birds that have lived at the Monterey Bay Aquarium since the mid 1980s have far surpassed their life expectancy in the wild, and have set records as the oldest birds of their species at any U.S. zoo or aquarium.
The two mature female birds, one sanderling and one willet, enjoy good veterinary care, regular meals and are safe from predators, all of which contributes to their longevity. They live in the aquarium's aviary, which represents the coastal dune and marsh habitats of California's central coast.
Both were rescued as adults, with injuries that prevented their return to the wild.
One of the remarkable elder birds is a female sanderling who became part of the aviary collection in September 1986, making her at least 22 years old.
Sanderlings are small shorebirds that are often observed in flocks on California beaches, chasing receding waves. Their typical life expectancy in the wild is five years. This lucky bird was rescued with a broken wing by the Monterey County Wildlife Center and then brought to the aquarium.
She went through one month of rehabilitation and has lived in the aviary ever since. Despite cataracts in both eyes and a hump on her back, she is still an active member of the multi-species community in the exhibit.
The other record-setting bird is a willet, a large species of sandpiper with tall graceful legs and a long straight bill. She was found with a broken wing by Native Animal Rescue in Santa Cruz and was brought to the aquarium in June 1987, already an adult.
After over 21 years on exhibit, associate curator of aviculture Aimee Greenebaum notes that this older bird is still "one of our most curious birds, often the first to investigate new enrichments and changes to the exhibit." Like her fellow older bird, the willet has far outlasted the life expectancy for her species in the wild - six years.
Visit the aviary web cam at www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_sandy/sandy_cam.asp to spot the birds and learn more about the different species on exhibit.
Sanderling
Willit
