Denver Zoo Curator of Birds John Azua talks about his zoo's crane conservation efforts — a featured talk for the 2017 Yampa Valley Crane Festival!

John will describe the involvement of the Denver Zoo staff in several crane conservation and research projects. The Denver Zoo exhibits or maintains six crane species within their collection.

John Azua has been the Curator of Birds at the Denver Zoological Gardens for over 18 years and works with a great staff managing and caring for 120 species and 499 birds. He currently is the Hamerkop Species Survival Plan coordinator and studbook keeper and Hooded crane studbook keeper. He also serves on the management committee of the Andean Condor Species Survival Plan, Gruiiformes Taxon Advisory Group, Coraciiformes Taxon Advisory Group and Buceros Species Survival Plan. He worked previously at the San Diego Zoo’s Bird Department and Avian Propagation Center for 7.5 years and the San Diego Zoo’s Safari (Wild Animal) Park for 5.5 years. During his career he has been fortunate to participate in several conservation recovery programs or field research projects, involved with such species as, San Clemente Island Loggerhead Shrike, Ultramarine lory, Lilac-crowned amazon, Cinereous vulture, Lesser kestrel and other Asian raptors.

About the Yampa Valley Crane Festival
The Greater Sandhill Crane is an iconic species of the Yampa Valley. Returning in the spring, cranes nest and raise their young in wetland areas throughout the valley. In late summer and early fall, hundreds of cranes from the Rocky Mountain flock join the local birds to rest and feed before continuing their journey south. The festival includes daily crane viewings, expert speakers, films, art exhibits, workshops, family activities and more. All community activities and events are free unless otherwise indicated in the program, and the Bud Werner Memorial Library will be home base for many of these talks, films and events.

Learn more about the Yampa Valley Crane Festival at www.coloradocranes.org.