Notes from the artist, Justin Richel: In my work I often employ the use of stacking objects and or animals to illustrate or convey a sense of the precarious nature of existence. I am interested in the delicate balance of nature and our relationship to this balance; do we as humans see our selves as part of this balance or somehow separate or outside of nature?
Traditionally this sort of stacked imagery is referred to as a Totem, which is typically a representation of family, kinship and ancestry linking us to the past, present and future. This imagery serves as a reminder that it is our responsibility to up hold our end of the bargain for future generations, so they too can enjoy a healthy and balanced bio-dynamically enriched environment.
The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher population was extirpated after the introduction of brown tree snakes to their island habitat (1984). Today they remain only as a captive population of fewer than one hundred individuals (as of 2006) in US mainland and Guam breeding facilities.
Nature as well as our own society is interdependent upon all of its pieces working together. The stack can only exist so long as all of its parts are cooperating together, to shift or remove a piece would inevitably send the whole thing crashing to the ground.
About The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher Species Survival Plan at the Lincoln Park Zoo:
One of the largest zoo-based conservation and science programs in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo’s Conservation & Science Department is dedicated to improving animal management and wildlife conservation. Zoo scientists combine expertise in a range of disciplines to identify threats to zoo and wild populations and develop strategies to ensure their continued existence.
The zoo is a member of the scientific breeding program organized by the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher Species Survival Plan®, and has helped significantly bolster the population’s numbers.
Traditionally this sort of stacked imagery is referred to as a Totem, which is typically a representation of family, kinship and ancestry linking us to the past, present and future. This imagery serves as a reminder that it is our responsibility to up hold our end of the bargain for future generations, so they too can enjoy a healthy and balanced bio-dynamically enriched environment.
The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher population was extirpated after the introduction of brown tree snakes to their island habitat (1984). Today they remain only as a captive population of fewer than one hundred individuals (as of 2006) in US mainland and Guam breeding facilities.
Nature as well as our own society is interdependent upon all of its pieces working together. The stack can only exist so long as all of its parts are cooperating together, to shift or remove a piece would inevitably send the whole thing crashing to the ground.
About The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher Species Survival Plan at the Lincoln Park Zoo:
One of the largest zoo-based conservation and science programs in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo’s Conservation & Science Department is dedicated to improving animal management and wildlife conservation. Zoo scientists combine expertise in a range of disciplines to identify threats to zoo and wild populations and develop strategies to ensure their continued existence.
The zoo is a member of the scientific breeding program organized by the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher Species Survival Plan®, and has helped significantly bolster the population’s numbers.
ABOUT THE GUAM MICRONESIAN KINGFISHER
The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher is a colorful bird that once inhabited the forests of the island of Guam, a territory of the United States. It is one of the world's most endangered birds. Both sexes have beautiful iridescent turquoise backs and wings. Males sport rich cinnamon heads and chests and females white chests and paler heads. Their charmingly "outsized" bills are black, matching the stripe across their eyes.
Today these lovely birds live only in captivity. During WWII, it is believed that brown tree snakes, a tree-dwelling snake that preys on birds and eggs, was introduced to Guam -- possibly hitch-hiking in the wheel wells of military planes. Unused to arboreal predation by snakes, many of the islands native bird species were rapidly decimated. Nine of these unique species are now extinct. Luckily, some individual Guam Micronesian Kingfishers were taken into captive breeding programs, where less than 100 adult individuals now live.
Efforts are being made to return Guam to a state where the birds could once again live in the wild. Though it is a difficult process, many organizations are working together on this task -- some on bringing the brown tree snake population under control and others on breeding and preserving the kingfishers.
The Lincoln Park Zoo, part of the scientific breeding program organized by the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher Species Survival Plan®, is one of many organizations working to increase the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher population.
At the Zoo's McCormick Bird House, the resident breeding pair of kingfishers has produced 47 chicks between them, and their offspring have produced 52 chicks of their own. Since some species often do poorly in captivity, it is a sign of great hope that captive breeding has been so successful. Though release into the wild may be far off, there is great hope for the survival of these charming birds -- as long as people do their part to support them.
The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher is a colorful bird that once inhabited the forests of the island of Guam, a territory of the United States. It is one of the world's most endangered birds. Both sexes have beautiful iridescent turquoise backs and wings. Males sport rich cinnamon heads and chests and females white chests and paler heads. Their charmingly "outsized" bills are black, matching the stripe across their eyes.
Today these lovely birds live only in captivity. During WWII, it is believed that brown tree snakes, a tree-dwelling snake that preys on birds and eggs, was introduced to Guam -- possibly hitch-hiking in the wheel wells of military planes. Unused to arboreal predation by snakes, many of the islands native bird species were rapidly decimated. Nine of these unique species are now extinct. Luckily, some individual Guam Micronesian Kingfishers were taken into captive breeding programs, where less than 100 adult individuals now live.
Efforts are being made to return Guam to a state where the birds could once again live in the wild. Though it is a difficult process, many organizations are working together on this task -- some on bringing the brown tree snake population under control and others on breeding and preserving the kingfishers.
The Lincoln Park Zoo, part of the scientific breeding program organized by the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher Species Survival Plan®, is one of many organizations working to increase the Guam Micronesian Kingfisher population.
At the Zoo's McCormick Bird House, the resident breeding pair of kingfishers has produced 47 chicks between them, and their offspring have produced 52 chicks of their own. Since some species often do poorly in captivity, it is a sign of great hope that captive breeding has been so successful. Though release into the wild may be far off, there is great hope for the survival of these charming birds -- as long as people do their part to support them.
