Singing and chatting to the colourful array of birds at Hamilton Zoo is a highlight of Jano Baltasar Calero’s day.
The feathered flock have become the Zookeeper’s good friends.
Earning their trust has been a journey, but today when Jano wanders into the enclosure the parrots and lorikeets clamour for attention, clinging to uniform sleeves.
Jano, who goes by the pronouns them/their, joined the Hamilton City Council owned Zoo two years ago, working mainly with birds.
“You’ve got to be calm and patient, because it does take time for birds to warm up to you,” Jano said. “But when they do it’s really special.”
The bustling Zoo – home to about 600 exotic and native animals – is a key facility in supporting Council’s commitment to shaping a fun city with lots to do. From tigers and chimpanzees to tortoises and exotic parrots, the team protects and takes care of a huge variety of animals.
Jano always wanted to work with animals, even as a young child. They dreamed of owning a farm or becoming a veterinarian, until discovering a talent for zookeeping in Spain. After packing up and moving to New Zealand, Jano landed a role at the Hamilton Zoo.
The birds at Hamilton Zoo – ranging from scarlet macaw to kea – tend to be more social than the birds of prey Jano worked with in Spain.
“Some birds need a lot of attention and they can become very attached to people. Just like humans, their personalities are very different and watching them interact with each other is fascinating. Dynamics between them change a lot and it can be hard to keep up – it’s like a TV show.”
Like each dedicated Zookeeper, Jano’s jam-packed days are spent feeding animals, cleaning enclosures, educating visitors, and checking that animals are happy, healthy, and safe.
Each animal group has its own set of needs. But birds are Jano’s specialty – and it shows.
While cleaning the enclosures, Jano likes to chat or sing Spanish pop songs. Sometimes the birds join in with the singing.
Many of the parrots have become spectacular imitators – one has even learned to imitate the radio the Zoo’s team uses to communicate.
Jano starts mornings at the Zoo by assembling a days’ worth of food for the birds, usually made up of fruit, vegetables, sprout seeds and nuts. Each bird has a favourite food, but most harbour a weakness for fruit.
“That sweet tooth comes in handy, because birds aren’t always the best at coming when they’re called, and a handful of grapes can help with that.”
Jano treasures the time spent training birds and studying their behaviour.
“They’re very social but also complex creatures, which means you have to be careful. If you feed one first, you have to be careful because the others could get upset and you could accidentally cause drama between them.”
Patience, care, and a willingness to learn about animals are key to being a good zookeeper.
And connecting people – of all backgrounds and ages – to the Zoo’s hundreds of fascinating creatures keep the days fresh and fun.
“It is always busy work here but I love it. I’ve found my dream job.”
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