Black-bellied Tree Ducks (Whistling Ducks)

Mission Statement

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center is dedicated to the survival of the world’s waterfowl species, in both the wild and in zoological and private collections.

In order to accomplish our mission, it is our goal to become the premier waterfowl conservation center, capable of evaluating and developing global conservation actions and to develop a network of institutions interested in cooperative research, education, and planning.

 

Conservation

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center in Scotland Neck, North Carolina is the epicenter of wild waterfowl conservation research and avicultural training in North America. Biologists and avian researchers from around the world seek the consultation and cooperation of the Center on a wide variety of conservation projects.

Director Mike Lubbock has made major advances in the field of aviculture. New rearing techniques for difficult species, and many First Breeding Awards have been the result of the tireless effort by Mike and the staff at this propagation center. Mr. Lubbock has pioneered successful breeding programs for many threatened bird species from around the world, including the White-winged Wood Duck of Sumatra, the African Pygmy Goose, Spain's White-headed Duck, the Hawaiian Goose, Australia's Pink-eared Duck, and Meller's Duck from the Island of Madagascar, to name only a few.

The mission of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center is focused on the conservation of birds, especially directed toward the world's rare and endangered waterfowl. Several projects have been designed to increase bird populations within their natural habitat. Eggs produced at Sylvan Heights were provided to local reinforcement programs for the release of Trumpeter Swans and the North American Black Duck.

Mike Lubbock currently holds the position of Avicultural Advisor to the Waterfowl TAG, of the American Zoological Association. Mike has also assisted with the TAG’s conservation goals in helping to create the "Venezuelan Waterfowl Foundation" whose main focus is the conservation of the Venezuelan Torrent Duck and the Orinoco Goose. Mike played a key role in the first North American Regional Collections Plan for Waterfowl which was published in September of 2004 and approved by the AZA's Wildlife Conservation and Management Committee in January of 2005.

These are but a few examples of the conservation projects conducted or assisted by Mike Lubbock.

(Visit the "Rare & Endangered Species Projects" for more information.)

North American Wood Duck--Sylvan Heights conducts a research project with Wood Duck eggs in conjunction with the US Fish & Wildlife Service

Research and Education

The advanced level of avian expertise concentrated at the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center provides a wealth of information in avicultural research and education. Fortunately, Mike Lubbock is more than willing to share his innovations and success with numerous universities and zoos, as well as individuals seeking to become future aviculturalists. This sharing of information and cooperation with other researchers has greatly advanced avian science. Projects include collaboration with the National Zoo Conservation Research Center to supply blood and feather samples for DNA analysis and the North Carolina State University Veterinary School, providing student seminars on aviculture and avian disease treatment.

The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center continues to be a valuable resource because it has a significant majority of the world’s waterfowl in one location. According to the International Wild Waterfowl Association, "Sylvan Height’s relationship with major zoos and other biological institutions provides them with many opportunities to work with rare and endangered species seldom afforded by other avicultural facilities". The size of the facility allows Sylvan Heights to maintain numerous pairs of many rare species, which helps to maintain genetic diversity in the world’s captive populations.

The conservation, research and education mission of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center continues to grow and evolve. With the October 2006 completion of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center (Brad Hazelton, General Curator) the Center for Advanced Avian Studies (CAAS) began operation. Designed to be a cooperative effort among aviculurists, ecologists, educators, veterinarians and other avian scientists, CAAS will focus on waterfowl and other bird conservation issues occurring globally. The Avian Husbandry & Management Program, conducted on the grounds of the Avian Breeding Preserve, provides training for college students and wildlife professionals who desire advanced knowledge in waterfowl husbandry and conservation biology.