Mike Lubbock

ALi Lubbock

Mike & Ali Lubbock

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center Directors

Although British by birth, Mike and Ali Lubbock, along with their son Brent, have become “The First Family of American Aviculture”. Their many years of experience in raising and researching anseriformes make them eminently qualified to lead conservation breeding projects for rare and endangered waterfowl species. Both Mike and Ali were inducted into the International Wild Waterfowl Association’s Hall of Fame. (See Awards Page)

Mike Lubbock’s lifetime of field research in the remotest of places on earth make him every bit deserving to be mentioned in the same category as any wildlife explorer of any generation. His focus on studying and working with ducks, geese and swans has led to the title of “Waterfowl Man” given to him by adoring volunteers.

Ali Lubbock is the Assistant Director of Sylvan Heights and oversees many of the administrative duties for the Center. She has considerable avicultural skills of her own.  In recognition of her work, Ali received the the Jean Delacour Award for "preserving and protecting some of the world's most endangered waterfowl".

Mike and Ali and the staff of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center are endeavoring to leave a legacy of wildlife preservation excellence, as they continue to save endangered species from extinction and educate the next generation of waterfowl conservationists.

Click here to view Mike and Ali's Biography.

Nicholas Hill
Curator of Aviculture

Nick came to Sylvan Heights from the United Kingdom with 20 years of avicultural experience. He interned and volunteered at the Center many times during his visits to the U.S., and has a variety of experience in designing aviaries, breeding and rearing birds, field expeditions and consulting for animal-related television and movie productions.

As the Curator of Aviculture, Nick is responsible for the general husbandry of the entire bird collection at Sylvan Heights. He also trains the volunteers who come from around the world and from many prestigious zoos and wildlife theme parks.

His lifetime of experience with birds from all parts of the globe is remarkable - from cold climate penguins and sea ducks to tropical birds. He has achieved First Breeding Awards for some extremely rare psittacines (parrot types) and is very experienced in incubator and egg hatching skills.

Specific accomplishments and experience:

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    		•  Assistant Curator at world-famous Birdland Zoo Gardens in the U.K.
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    		•  Interned at Sea World, San Diego, in Bird Department
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    		•  Assistant to world-famous breeder of exotic sea ducks, Easter Ellister in Isle of Islay, Scotland
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    		•  Appeared on British T.V. animal shows, Blue Peter, Animal Magic and The Really Wild Show
  •  
    		•  Helped to train snow geese for the BBC nature documentary, Flight of the Snow Geese
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    		•  Trained and handled 12 King Penguins for Universal Studio’s movie, Batman Returns
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    		•  Made 3 expeditions to Falkland Islands to collect penguin, seabird and waterfowl eggs for captive research projects
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    		•  Field observation of wild species in Europe and North America
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    		•  Accomplished European First Breedings of the Black Browed Albatross and Palm Cockatoo


     
    Brent Lubbock

    Brent Lubbock

    Membership and Development Projects Manager

    After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Public Relations and Communications from East Carolina University, Brent is now involved in promoting the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in North Carolina and the surrounding region.

     

    Growing up in the Lubbock household, Brent has always lived a lifestyle centered on waterfowl and wildlife conservation. Brent has held numerous volunteer and professional positions with a wide range of ecological endeavors around the world.

     

    Highlights of Brent's previous experience include:

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    Snow Goose trainer, BBC documentary " Flight of the Snow Geese "

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    		•

    Volunteer and later employee for the Wildlife Conservation Society, at St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, where Brent ultimately became the Logger Head Sea Turtle Project Supervisor

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    		•  Employee of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, where he assisted in many areas of waterfowl husbandry and management
    John Little

    John Little
    Curator of Grounds


    John has worked at Sylvan Heights for 14 years, since the operations moved to Scotland Neck, NC in 1989. His primary responsibility is to keep the facility well maintained so the birds will be inclined to breed. This includes managing the special horticultural needs for certain species.

    As a native of Scotland Neck, John never thought in his wildest dreams that he would see a facility of this magnitude in his hometown. It is with both pride and pleasure that John can say he works with the world’s largest collection of waterfowl.
    Katie Gipple

     

    Katie Gipple

    Assistant Curator of Aviculture

     

    Katie came to Sylvan Heights from Medford, Oregon with an interest in birds instilled from an early age. Her initial introduction to Sylvan Heights was as an Avian Husbanrdy & Management Program intern from Oregon State University, where she graduated with a degree in Fisheries & Wildlife. Her internship at Sylvan Heights helped to reinforce the idea that working with birds was the right career decision. After she completed her internship, Katie returned to Sylvan Heights several times as a volunteer. Later she was invited to become a member of the aviculture staff and now serves as the Assistant Curator.

     

    Specific Accomplishments:

     

    • Completed Registrar Course given by the American Zoological and Aquarium Association
    • Coordinated Sylvan Heights’ research effort with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on the North American Wood Duck Egg Project
    • Presented research paper entitled Observational Study of Waterfowl Behavior in Response to Disturbances, which was published in Journal of the International Wild Waterfowl Association
    • Worked on several research projects while at OSU, including a study of songbirds and habitat use in the Willamette Valley

    Daniel Louk

    Education Coordinator

     

    Dan brings to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park a wealth of experience in developing conservation-education programs. His most recent positions include Educator at the Virginia Zoological Society and Instructor for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo.  He also has extensive experience in wildlife and ecological field research.

     

    Specific accomplishments and experience:

    • Conservation Education Programmer and field surveyor of the Cross River gorillas for the Biodiversity Research Program in Nigeria conducted jointly by the Wildlife Conservation Society and Nigerian Conservation Foundation
    Also:
    • Conducted primate wildlife surveys and researched ecology and conservation of the Cross River gorilla in Nigeria as a Thesis Project. Also developed conservation education programs to be disseminated to village schools
    • Investigated the sustainable use of tropical forest resources of the Ye’kwana Indians and its effects on tropical forest ecology and wildlife populations in Parupa, Venezuela
    • Investigated and collected carbonatite samples from extinct volcanic sites in Kenya and Tanzania
    • Studied the ecology of mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park, Rwanda for the Karisoke Research Center
    • Studied the social organization and feeding patterns of the vervet monkey in Kenya while also studying the effects of land use  on wildlife populations

    Christina Yepes

    Birdkeeper

    Christina came to Sylvan Heights from Columbia, South America.

    Among her primary assignments is feeding the birds and maintaining the duckeries at the Avian Breeding Center.

    Christina also takes care on the non-waterfowl species at the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park.

    Laurel Degernes, DVM, MPH

    VOLUNTEER STAFF

     

    Laurel Degernes, DVM, MPH

    Sylvan Heights Avian Veterinary Advisor

    Associate Professor, Avian Medicine and Epidemiology

    College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University

     

    Dr. Degernes and NCSU veterinary students provide examinations, treatments, health certificates, and flock management recommendations to Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center. In return, the students gain an opportunity to work with a very diverse collection of waterfowl, parrots, cranes and other birds, and to observe various facets of an active waterfowl breeding program. Most of the veterinary students are fourth year students going through their clinical training.

     

    Education / Credentials:

    • Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC
    • Residency - Exotic and Wild Bird Medicine, NCSU, Raleigh, NC,
    • Internship - Raptor Medicine, The Raptor Center, UMN, St. Paul, MN,      
    • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, UMN, St. Paul, MN,
    • Bachelor of Science, UMN, St. Paul, MN
    • Bachelor of Arts, UMM, Morris, MN
    • Diplomat, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Certified in Avian Practice 1993; recertified 2002

     Dr. Degernes began her animal health career in 1981 as a Mixed Animal Veterinary Associate in a private practice. She has worked exclusively with birds since 1985, starting with 5 years at a raptor rehabilitation center at the University of MN. Since 1990, she has taught and practiced avian medicine at North Carolina State University. Although she enjoys working with all species of birds, Dr. Degernes has a special interest in wild avian medicine--particularly raptors and waterfowl. Her research interests include wildlife epidemiology and avian critical care topics.

     

    Dr. Degernes has published over 80 papers and book chapters on topics in wildlife epidemiology, avian critical care medicine, orthopedic surgery and toxicology. She has also presented more than 85 scientific and continuing education presentations to state, national, and international audiences.

    Dale True

    Website Editor

    Avian Programs Coordinator

    As a volunteer staff member, Dale has written and edited the content of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl website and worked with Mike Lubbock as editor of the Sylvan Heights Avian Husbandry Manual. He also has written various promotional pieces and grant proposals for Sylvan Heights conservation projects.

    Dale assists Ali Lubbock in qualifying and scheduling candidates for inclusion in the Avian Husbandry & Mangement Program, the College Internship Program and the Volunteer Program at Sylvan Heights' Avian Breeding Center.