.jpg)
So, this week was pretty straight forward, so here's a list of things that are different than normal
TUESDAY
Did dry food prep for the next day. Other than that, just bird and tortoise diets.
SATURDAY
Got all the animals out on time!
Picked up a tortoise to move him to his food. That was kind of fun.
Went on an extension cord hunt for the zebra heater while Susie went to elephant. Yeah, I missed out on elephants, but she promised me next time I would go, so there's always that.
If you could only see how blue her eyes can be when she says, when she says she loves me
Showing posts with label crane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crane. Show all posts
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Collide
It's weird how songs on the radio on my way home match up with what happens that day
Today was somewhat different than normal. Starting out with getting all the feed, but the rhinos needed more than normal because they have more medicine now. We went and fed them first and then fed ostrich and zebra. After feeding them and watching the foal for a little bit, I went out in the zebra exhibit and started cleaning while Susie went and fed gazelle and corey busters.
After cleaning zebra, I started cleaning rhino while she went and put Konan (the male zebra) and the ostriches out on exhibit. After we were done cleaning rhino, we put them out with gazelle and the corey busters. We actually had all the animals out around 9 today, pretty sure that was a first.
Once everyone was out on exhibit, we cleaned up all the barn areas, just like normal, except when we were done cleaning up the rhino back area, we went and got the giant ball that's been being passed around the zoo since today was the rhino's turn. So we walked through the zoo, fed the giant crane in the rhino yard, and went over to lion to get the ball. Once we had the ball, I rolled it through the zoo, trying not to run over any little kids with it, which was kind of difficult. That ball is huge and heavy.
We dropped the ball off by the rhino barn, put food out for the tortoises, and went to clean up the zebra barns. This took a little longer than normal because of moving around the baby and mom, so we didn't finish before it was time to put the giant ball in the rhino yard.
This was a big snooze. The rhinos didn't even care, and I got to fill out an entire page of info that said pretty much that. But I didn't have to spend that time sweeping up zebra poop, so I guess it's ok. Plus while I was watching the rhino, the polar bear was pacing in his area that's right next to there, so I really watched the polar bear for most of the time. And I got to hang out with the other keepers for a couple minutes, so that's always fun. After I finished the evaluation of the ball usage, I went to the rhino barn to help finish up cleaning in there. This didn't take very long, so I still had some time before the big intern meeting, so I got baby zebra watching duty for about half an hour. This is just sitting in a chair and staring at the baby zebra to see if he poops, pees, runs or nurses, so luckily it wasn't for too much longer than half an hour even though I love that little guy.
And then came the intern meeting. It was nice to see Sarah since I hadn't seen her since orientation and she's like the only one I really talk to, so I had a friend again :) The one girl that wasn't at orientation was there, and she looked and sounded like she knew way more about animals than I could even imagine at this point. We all talked about different ideas, and this is when I realized I got hosed with my placement. I never really leave the little corner of the zoo I'm in, and I'm really only out on grounds once a week while everyone else is out twice. So I now like this opportunity, but now I know it could be so much more than what it is. So that's slightly disappointing. And I need some help coming up with an idea for hoofstock enrichment, so if you have any ideas shoot them my way....PLEASE!
After our meeting we went to the back area of polar bear, so I got to see one of the polar bears up close and personal, and he did a couple of commands for us, so that was pretty neat.
I somehow find that you and I collide
Today was somewhat different than normal. Starting out with getting all the feed, but the rhinos needed more than normal because they have more medicine now. We went and fed them first and then fed ostrich and zebra. After feeding them and watching the foal for a little bit, I went out in the zebra exhibit and started cleaning while Susie went and fed gazelle and corey busters.
After cleaning zebra, I started cleaning rhino while she went and put Konan (the male zebra) and the ostriches out on exhibit. After we were done cleaning rhino, we put them out with gazelle and the corey busters. We actually had all the animals out around 9 today, pretty sure that was a first.
Once everyone was out on exhibit, we cleaned up all the barn areas, just like normal, except when we were done cleaning up the rhino back area, we went and got the giant ball that's been being passed around the zoo since today was the rhino's turn. So we walked through the zoo, fed the giant crane in the rhino yard, and went over to lion to get the ball. Once we had the ball, I rolled it through the zoo, trying not to run over any little kids with it, which was kind of difficult. That ball is huge and heavy.
We dropped the ball off by the rhino barn, put food out for the tortoises, and went to clean up the zebra barns. This took a little longer than normal because of moving around the baby and mom, so we didn't finish before it was time to put the giant ball in the rhino yard.
This was a big snooze. The rhinos didn't even care, and I got to fill out an entire page of info that said pretty much that. But I didn't have to spend that time sweeping up zebra poop, so I guess it's ok. Plus while I was watching the rhino, the polar bear was pacing in his area that's right next to there, so I really watched the polar bear for most of the time. And I got to hang out with the other keepers for a couple minutes, so that's always fun. After I finished the evaluation of the ball usage, I went to the rhino barn to help finish up cleaning in there. This didn't take very long, so I still had some time before the big intern meeting, so I got baby zebra watching duty for about half an hour. This is just sitting in a chair and staring at the baby zebra to see if he poops, pees, runs or nurses, so luckily it wasn't for too much longer than half an hour even though I love that little guy.
And then came the intern meeting. It was nice to see Sarah since I hadn't seen her since orientation and she's like the only one I really talk to, so I had a friend again :) The one girl that wasn't at orientation was there, and she looked and sounded like she knew way more about animals than I could even imagine at this point. We all talked about different ideas, and this is when I realized I got hosed with my placement. I never really leave the little corner of the zoo I'm in, and I'm really only out on grounds once a week while everyone else is out twice. So I now like this opportunity, but now I know it could be so much more than what it is. So that's slightly disappointing. And I need some help coming up with an idea for hoofstock enrichment, so if you have any ideas shoot them my way....PLEASE!
After our meeting we went to the back area of polar bear, so I got to see one of the polar bears up close and personal, and he did a couple of commands for us, so that was pretty neat.
I somehow find that you and I collide
Saturday, January 30, 2010
(S)he will be loved
It's a boy!
Last night, a baby zebra was birthed at the zoo! So this morning, I was surprised when I wasn't there before Susie, and she left the keeper's quarters just as I got there, and then a minute later she was on the radio screaming there's a baby, there's a baby. So a few of us went out there, but I didn't get to look then. I went back and put together the rhino and zebra food dishes while Susie did a bunch of stuff. When I was done with this we went out there, and she dropped me off in the zebra yard to clean up while she started feeding everyone so we would have more time to move zebras around since there was a baby now. While I was cleaning the exhibit I caught my first glimpse at the new little boy. He was soo cute. When I was done cleaning we let the ostriches out so it would be easier to start moving zebras around and cleaned out their barn so we could move the mother and newborn into that area.
After we did that, we cleaned out the rhino yard really fast and got the rhinos and gazelle out before we started messing with zebras. Then we cleaned out their back areas and went back to the zebras. We put the male one out like normal, but kept the older female separate from the mom and baby. When we got everything sorted out Susie started calling everyone that was off that needed to know there was a baby, and slowly all of them started showing up in the next half hour or so. We just sort of watched the baby for a little while to make sure he started functioning properly and then we left to go do some tortoise and rhino stuff before more zebra time.
Cleaned out the tortoise areas and put out the new food, and then brought them out of their houses. While we were up in that area, Susie tried feeding the crane again because he didn't eat very much early in the morning, but he didn't eat much again this time either. It was kind of fun talking to the zoo visitors and being able to actually answer their questions. I felt kind of important.
So we went back to the zebra area to start cleaning that out, one little pen at a time. But right when we started there was a call over the radio saying something about the elephants, and Susie wanted to make sure that they told us when they started what they were going to do. So we cleaned for about ten minutes and then went out into the zoo and went to the elephant exhibit. The zoo had just bought a giant ball, and some of the keepers put it in the exhibit this morning, so we all gathered around to see if the elephants would play with it. The Asian wanted no part of it, but the African played with it for a little bit before going to find food. It was kind of cool to see them see a new toy for the first time.
When we went back to the zebras to finish cleaning there were a couple other keepers sitting and making observations minute by minute of the baby while I finished cleaning out the different zebra areas. I got to see the placenta up close and personal, that was really cool but kind of gross at the same time. That was pretty much it for the day. Very zebra heavy, but totally worth while. The baby was having problems nursing and stiff rear legs, so hopefully he's feeling better before I go back Tuesday.
Tap on my window, knock on my door I, want to make you feel beautiful.
Last night, a baby zebra was birthed at the zoo! So this morning, I was surprised when I wasn't there before Susie, and she left the keeper's quarters just as I got there, and then a minute later she was on the radio screaming there's a baby, there's a baby. So a few of us went out there, but I didn't get to look then. I went back and put together the rhino and zebra food dishes while Susie did a bunch of stuff. When I was done with this we went out there, and she dropped me off in the zebra yard to clean up while she started feeding everyone so we would have more time to move zebras around since there was a baby now. While I was cleaning the exhibit I caught my first glimpse at the new little boy. He was soo cute. When I was done cleaning we let the ostriches out so it would be easier to start moving zebras around and cleaned out their barn so we could move the mother and newborn into that area.
After we did that, we cleaned out the rhino yard really fast and got the rhinos and gazelle out before we started messing with zebras. Then we cleaned out their back areas and went back to the zebras. We put the male one out like normal, but kept the older female separate from the mom and baby. When we got everything sorted out Susie started calling everyone that was off that needed to know there was a baby, and slowly all of them started showing up in the next half hour or so. We just sort of watched the baby for a little while to make sure he started functioning properly and then we left to go do some tortoise and rhino stuff before more zebra time.
Cleaned out the tortoise areas and put out the new food, and then brought them out of their houses. While we were up in that area, Susie tried feeding the crane again because he didn't eat very much early in the morning, but he didn't eat much again this time either. It was kind of fun talking to the zoo visitors and being able to actually answer their questions. I felt kind of important.
So we went back to the zebra area to start cleaning that out, one little pen at a time. But right when we started there was a call over the radio saying something about the elephants, and Susie wanted to make sure that they told us when they started what they were going to do. So we cleaned for about ten minutes and then went out into the zoo and went to the elephant exhibit. The zoo had just bought a giant ball, and some of the keepers put it in the exhibit this morning, so we all gathered around to see if the elephants would play with it. The Asian wanted no part of it, but the African played with it for a little bit before going to find food. It was kind of cool to see them see a new toy for the first time.
When we went back to the zebras to finish cleaning there were a couple other keepers sitting and making observations minute by minute of the baby while I finished cleaning out the different zebra areas. I got to see the placenta up close and personal, that was really cool but kind of gross at the same time. That was pretty much it for the day. Very zebra heavy, but totally worth while. The baby was having problems nursing and stiff rear legs, so hopefully he's feeling better before I go back Tuesday.
Tap on my window, knock on my door I, want to make you feel beautiful.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
My First Day!!
So, this is easily the best thing that I've ever done. I may have found my true calling in life this morning. :)
When I got there, it was a little strange because I was early and apparently not very many zookeepers get there early on a Saturday. One of the older ones kind of introduced me to most of them, and then eventually Susie, my Saturday keeper, showed up. Right away we gathered up all the food as she was explaining to me that they basically feed all the hooved animals a horse's diet. We then started loading up our cart with all the food that we were going to need for the morning.
We went to the rhinos first. It was awesome when she started tapping on their fence with a wrench and they came from their house to their different stalls to eat. As she was treating one of their eyes, she told me to just stand there and pet it while she took care of everything. Coolest thing ever! I just stood there petting a rhino for a solid ten minutes, and it wouldn't be the last time!
After that we drove over to the ostriches and zebras and fed them. The ostriches are kind of crazy, and the zebras are pretty funny. One of the zebras is pregnant, and she's having the baby in the next month or two, so I'll get to experience that too! After feeding them we went into their exhibit and cleaned it out and fed the different birds that are in there. When we left there, Susie told me she was going to go get something and sent me back into the exhibit by myself to go retrieve an ostrich egg that they had found. So that was the first thing I did at the zoo by myself, and apparently it's the weirdest looking ostrich egg that they've ever seen. So that's kinda fun. Then we went back to the barn area and let the ostriches and zebras out into their area.
The next thing we did was check the temperature of the tortoises. They were warm, so we opened up their house to the outside world, and let them cool down for about an hour before putting them out for the public to see. After that we cleaned out the rhino/gazelle exhibit area and then let them out into their exhibit just as people were starting to show up. When the rhino was leaving he stuck his head through the fence so I could pet him again. :)
When everything was out in their exhibits and everything was going well, we started cleaning out their night areas, gazelle first, then the rhinos. When we were just about done cleaning the rhino barn, it was time to give the rhino his daily foot check up. So I got to watch that happen, and stand there and pet the rhino the whole time so he would stay put and be happy. That was the last time I'd see Bobo today (he's my new best friend).
The rest of the day was spent sweeping and raking the zebra/ostrich night area. If you painted a horse with black and white stripes, it would be the same thing as a zebra. Manure's the same, hay's the same. Kind of ridiculous.
All in all, today was awesome! Learned so much about the zoo and the different animals. I'll probably forget some of it before next Saturday when I'm in hoofstock again, but that's ok. I can already tell this will be the most incredible thing I've ever done.
Mr Jones and me, tell each other fairy tales
When I got there, it was a little strange because I was early and apparently not very many zookeepers get there early on a Saturday. One of the older ones kind of introduced me to most of them, and then eventually Susie, my Saturday keeper, showed up. Right away we gathered up all the food as she was explaining to me that they basically feed all the hooved animals a horse's diet. We then started loading up our cart with all the food that we were going to need for the morning.
We went to the rhinos first. It was awesome when she started tapping on their fence with a wrench and they came from their house to their different stalls to eat. As she was treating one of their eyes, she told me to just stand there and pet it while she took care of everything. Coolest thing ever! I just stood there petting a rhino for a solid ten minutes, and it wouldn't be the last time!
After that we drove over to the ostriches and zebras and fed them. The ostriches are kind of crazy, and the zebras are pretty funny. One of the zebras is pregnant, and she's having the baby in the next month or two, so I'll get to experience that too! After feeding them we went into their exhibit and cleaned it out and fed the different birds that are in there. When we left there, Susie told me she was going to go get something and sent me back into the exhibit by myself to go retrieve an ostrich egg that they had found. So that was the first thing I did at the zoo by myself, and apparently it's the weirdest looking ostrich egg that they've ever seen. So that's kinda fun. Then we went back to the barn area and let the ostriches and zebras out into their area.
The next thing we did was check the temperature of the tortoises. They were warm, so we opened up their house to the outside world, and let them cool down for about an hour before putting them out for the public to see. After that we cleaned out the rhino/gazelle exhibit area and then let them out into their exhibit just as people were starting to show up. When the rhino was leaving he stuck his head through the fence so I could pet him again. :)
When everything was out in their exhibits and everything was going well, we started cleaning out their night areas, gazelle first, then the rhinos. When we were just about done cleaning the rhino barn, it was time to give the rhino his daily foot check up. So I got to watch that happen, and stand there and pet the rhino the whole time so he would stay put and be happy. That was the last time I'd see Bobo today (he's my new best friend).
The rest of the day was spent sweeping and raking the zebra/ostrich night area. If you painted a horse with black and white stripes, it would be the same thing as a zebra. Manure's the same, hay's the same. Kind of ridiculous.
All in all, today was awesome! Learned so much about the zoo and the different animals. I'll probably forget some of it before next Saturday when I'm in hoofstock again, but that's ok. I can already tell this will be the most incredible thing I've ever done.
Mr Jones and me, tell each other fairy tales
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
