So when will she come out for us to lavish her with our love? The Giant Panda Team will make sure she is ready. We are all anxious to just watch her as she grows. I want to remind you that when the time comes for her to be out, make sure you bring a snack and lots of water and most of all your panda patience because the lines will be long!

Right now Mei Sheng is in the spotlight. Just turning two on August 19, he is the center of attention for visitors to the Giant Panda Research Station. With the warm weather he has slept most of the afternoons away waiting for the cool of the evening to play and eat. Panda activities during the warm weather vary, so you just have to visit often. He has been so cute the past few nights, climbing high in the tree looking for his keeper in hopes of an extra snack or two. He sure loves his snack: it could be an apple “popsicle” or some vegetables in ice, honey on a rock, extra bamboo, or just a burlap sack full of grass. He is enjoyable to watch always, even when he sleeps.

As we move into fall the nights will grow shorter and so will viewing hours, the bears are ready and so are most of our guests, commenting that school is here and kids are going back after the last holiday of the summer. So we are looking forward to pumpkins, colored leaves, fog in the mornings? In San Diego we don’t get the changes that you do in the East but we feel the time change. Do the bears feel the change? I don’t know, but they sense some type of change.

Many of our guests come daily: it’s a great place to walk with lots of hills to climb and the grounds are beautiful. I hope you will come and visit the pandas. We have a large monitor here at the Station to watch mom and baby girl. She is growing fast and China will name her when she turns a 100 days old (we have a few more months to call her baby girl). She is healthy and Bai Yun is such a caring mother. Chat with you soon.

Kay Ferguson is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo’s Giant Panda Research Station.

This late in the morning, the condors would normally have already caught air and would be soaring. Not today. We sat patiently about 200 yards (180 meters) away on a different mountain watching the holding pen with binoculars, cameras ready. We knew these four birds, two males and two females, would not leave the enclosure until the other condors stirred from a lazy morning. As the hours went by all I could think was, “Come on wind – pick up!” I had been to San Pedro de Martír twice before. Both times we had delivered condors that would be released, but because they stay in the holding pen for approximately two to three months before they are released, I had yet to see this event occur. I was lucky on my first trip to see a California condor flying in the pristine mountain range, but seeing them come out of the holding pen would be a first for me… if they would only come out.

We continued to wait as patiently as possible, watching the previously released condors feed on carcasses placed on rock outcroppings by the condor team the night before. The sun was getting higher in the beautiful blue skies and it was warming up. Surely the condors would not fly much if it gets too hot, I thought to myself. And still no wind. It was fascinating to watch the behavior of the condors in the pen. They were certainly interested in what was happening outside but they did not seem to realize that the two openings meant they could exit into the expansive wilderness of this national park.

Out of nowhere my hair began to whisper and then lift as a gentle wind finally blew. “YES! At last,” I thought. It wasn’t quite enough, but the wind was picking up. Suddenly there were condors flying overhead. It was a spectacular sight seeing so many condors in flight. It seemed every time one landed another took off. Although we have California condors flying freely in our country – both in California and Arizona – most people have never seen a condor in flight. This is the largest bird species in North America. Its 9-foot (2.7-meter) wingspan and its black and white flight feathers scream, “I’m a condor, watch me fly!” If you are lucky enough to see a California condor flying freely, you’re most likely in the Los Padres National Forest or at the Grand Canyon.

Soon after those condors flew, one of the new females, No. 321 (most condors are only issued an identification number and tag, not a name), moved to an opening in the pen where, with a few flaps of her wings, she took her first flight into freedom. Saving the California condor is an ambitious act that included removing the last free-flying representative of this species in 1987. He was taken to the Wild Animal Park for an intensive breeding program. There were only 27 California condors left then. Today, there are 278 California condors and 125 are flying freely because of the efforts of the California Condor Recovery Program, led by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and involving several state agencies and animal facilities like the Wild Animal Park.

Two minutes after No. 321 took wing she was followed by Nos. 325 and 322. That left one lone male in the pen. It took No. 323 five hours to join the rest of birds but the team waited diligently, watching the pecking order change as the new birds approached the veterans. No. 321 was quickly accepted into the hierarchy and was allowed to feed on the carcasses the other birds had gorged on earlier. There were a few mishaps, including a couple of crash landings and moments when the new birds did not seem to know how to get out of the trees. Since these condors have been reintroduced, they have to learn to fly and feed themselves. Luckily, as they become skilled in the open skies of their native habitats, there are teams of people watching out for them in both the United States and Mexico. As the day ended the four new birds were left under the capable wings of the veteran condors. All is in order, thanks to the wind and the California Condor Recovery Team.

Yadira Galindo is a public relations representative for the Zoological Society of San Diego.

Here’s more information about the California Condor Recovery Program.

In order to get a close up of the cub, there are two things you can do: tune in during our regularly scheduled observation times, or take a look at the Web site for still photos and the time-lapse feature to see what images have been captured throughout the day. Regular observations of the cub typically occur from 08:00-10:00, 13:00-1500, 17:30-19:30 and 22:00-24:00, Pacific time. During those times an observer is present, collecting data, and is likely to zoom in when the opportunity presents itself. Additionally, throughout the day the keepers will check on Bai Yun and may have an opportunity to zoom in to get a look at the cub.

The good news is that the Panda Cam won’t be going away anytime soon. You’ll have the chance to watch this little girl grow and change for the next several years! It won’t be too long before you will have a chance to see her in person, as she will likely be on exhibit in late spring or early summer. Then you, too, will have a chance to “zoom in”…. with your camera lens!

By the way, since so many of you have requested the opportunity to see a glimpse of Mei Sheng or Gao Gao now and then, we’ll be putting them on the Panda Cam from time to time when activities in the den are sedate. This way, you’ll be able to keep up with all of your favorite bears!

Suzanne Hall is the panda research technician for the San Diego Zoo’s Office of Giant Panda Conservation.

View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the second exam
See video of the cub’s second exam

I’ve also learned that panda cubs are high maintenance. And panda babies are loud! So loud that if mom listens, a healthy cbu will most likely survive. We are so fortunate to have a mother panda that listens to her babies. Bai Yun is a fantastic mother. I have been here for all three birth and it is amazing to watch this panda with her babies. The first birth we were all on pins and needles with our thoughts on delivery day. Never before had a female panda given birth in sunny Southern California. This was a first on the West Coast of America. Would it be successful? Only Bai Yun could give us the answers. We all know that Hua Mei survived and we treasured every moment of her four years with us. She will always be the first. She holds the record for the first to survive in America longer than four days. What a female! Even in China she is outstanding, having had twins in September 2004.

The next birth on the West Coast was the first male panda to survive and once again Bai Yun proved her mothering skills; so many panda mothers are unskilled at rearing a cub, but not this female! She continues to amaze us.

The personality of Mei Sheng is so different from Hua Mei; he is quiet, she was wild and crazy, always ready for adventure. Now a third baby is born and Bai Yun once again has the fourth baby panda to survive in America. The third was the panda baby born in Washington, D.C. on July 9, 2005. What will this new baby of Bai Yun and Gao Gao be like? Only time will tell. So let’s all watch her on the Panda Cam. I’ll chat with you next week.

Kay Ferguson is a panda narrator at the San Diego Zoo‘ s Giant Panda Research Station.

View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the second exam
See video of the cub’s second exam

I have to say taking care of these wonderful animals has probably been the highlight of my keeper career. Each panda birth has been a unique experience. I remember how nervous we all were when Hua Mei was born. When I held her for the first time, I was so afraid I would drop her! Hua Mei taught us a lot about cub behavior and growth development and, on a side note, boy could she play hard with her keepers during our weekly exams with the vets!!!

Mei Sheng was very different; he was not as bold and adventuresome as Hua Mei. He seemed to be more cautious and sensitive in his surroundings. Hua Mei will always be our special first-born cub, but Mei Sheng has stolen the spotlight from his famous sister as being truly a people-oriented panda. He loves the attention he gets from his keepers, and will literally run over to the fenceline when he sees us.

So what is in store for us with this new baby girl? Time will tell. One of the common questions I get from San Diego Zoo guests is: Is the baby more like mom or dad? If I had to say with Hua Mei, she is more like her mom. Mei Sheng has a nice combination of his father and mother. With this new cub, we will have to wait and see. That is part of the fun of being her keeper, watching this little girl grow up and developing the same wonderful relationships we have had with our other panda cubs!

Kathy Hawk is a senior keeper on the Giant Panda Team.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the second exam
See video of the cub’s second exam

Beyond determining the sex of the cub, veterinarians also listen to the heart and lungs, check the mouth, and take various body measurements. The first information collected is body weight. This little cub weighs in at 21.8 ounces (618 grams)! Not bad! The cub has basically quadrupled its weight in three weeks. They also measured the length of the cub, from nose to the tip of its tail, and it is 11.6 inches (29.5 centimeters).

As soon as the cub started to vocalize the vets concluded the exam and returned the cub to the den. Bai Yun also returned to the den immediately, picked up the cub in her mouth and positioned it for nursing. Now, a few minutes later, mother and cub are resting quietly.

Megan Owen is the research coordinator for the Zoo’s Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the cub’s second exam

What does our data tell us so far? This cub started off a little quieter than Mei Sheng did, with less crying, squawking, and croaking in its first several hours. As time wore on, however, this cub became more vocal than Mei Sheng was, particularly with regard to squawking. The squawk is a mid-level vocalization that generally signals a need for comforting by its mother.

What’s really interesting to me is that Bai Yun offered comfort to her cub as a result of these vocalizations at about the same rate as she did for Mei Sheng. From day four to day nine of the cub’s life, her percent of squawks comforted mirrored Mei Sheng’s almost exactly- despite the variability in daily vocalizations emitted by the cubs. How did she do that? Is she pre-programmed genetically to respond at a certain rate now that she is an experienced mom?

Many of you have commented that you see differences between Bai Yun and Mei Xiang with regard to their mothering styles. I can’t speak to the differences in personalities of either the mothers or their cubs, but I can say that we have seen great differences in Bai Yun’s maternal skills from her early days with Hua Mei until now. She was more attentive to Hua Mei’s every vocalization. She did not allow Hua Mei to rest in contact with the ground as much as she has with subsequent cubs. As a seasoned mother, she doesn’t seem to sweat the small stuff. It is likely that Mei Xiang will demonstrate a similar attitude with her next cub(s).

One day, perhaps Bai Yun will give birth to twins. It should be very interesting to see if she treats each twin differently, based on its personality, or if she hits the same markers with each cub as she did with previous ones. Keep your fingers crossed that some day we may get the chance to find out!

Suzanne Hall is the panda research technician for the Office of Giant Panda Conservation.

View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the first exam
See photos of Mei Sheng’s birthday

Bai Yun’s ever-diligent attention has relaxed a bit. She is leaving the den more frequently to take care of her own needs and spending more time out of the den when she goes. The cub is handling these departures quite well and you can see it test its strength by pushing up on its front legs. Soon enough, the cub will be pushing up on all fours.

My favorite ‘new’ view is when the cub is nursing. During the first weeks of life, we would rarely get a good view of this behavior because Bai Yun would cover the cub completely with her paws and head. Now it is not uncommon to get a great view of the cub nursing. Just this morning I watched as Bai Yun sat up and back, helped the cub get into position, and then her arms went slack at her sides, giving a great view of the cub.

So, if you have been frustrated because you haven’t gotten a good look at the cub, don’t give up. You’re bound to get a great look soon!

Megan Owen is the research coordinator for the Zoo’s Office of Giant Panda Conservation.
View Bai Yun and her cub on Panda Cam
See our slideshow images of the first exam
See photos of Mei Sheng’s birthday