Self-directed+learners

Shadowing has been a great way to help hone my knowledge with Birds and Ornithology.

Science Fair Projects have been a great self-directed way to learn and hone my different talents with bird knowledge and understanding.

Project 1: Abyssinian Hornbill Color Project

Abstract: Can the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill see color? Can it be trained by a certain color? If so, what color? These important questions require answers. This experiment requires the colors of Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green on four 4”x4” plastic cards in a ply wood box exposed to the beak of the bird. The box will have four holes exposing the colors to the animal, data will collected by the criteria of “Reaction (is it positive or negative?)”, “What happened?”, the “number of Pecks”, and any other comments that could be added. The purpose of this experiment is to see if an Abyssinian Ground Hornbill can be trained by color if he/she is not color blind. The information coming out of this project can help with enrichment ideas, to see what their favorite color is. The conclusion on this project was that the bird pecked at the color Red more than any other color. This, again is great information for training and enrichment.

Research Plan: Enrichment has never been addressed in the category of colors with the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill before now. My hypothesis started out like this,”I think that the Hornbill will go towards the color red because some of their coloring has red on them.” The experiment variables consist of a ply wood box with four sections holding four different colored cards. I will be using the colors of Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green on the cards. In the experiment, the box will be placed into the cage of an Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. Hopefully, the curiosity of the bird will have it lean towards a certain color for this project to work. I will collect the data on a table. No harm will come from this experiment. The results of this project will be of great use towards Enrichment and Training. Some references that inspired my idea for this project: World Wildlife Foundation, Saczoo.com, Henry Doorly Zoo, Houstonzoo.org, and Mtnviewconservation.org.

Project 2: Brain Stimulation in African Crowned Cranes: 1st Place in Animal Science: Non-Mammals division

Abstract: Lately at the Henry Doorly Zoo, the keepers working with the African Crowned Cranes have noticed that these birds are injuring themselves on the steel cages during the winter season. The quick solution they came up with was to put the injured tip of the wing in a cast “bumpering” it from the harsh cage and to put up a type of black tarp to cover the sharp edges. This project study is about finding a type of enrichment to keep the cranes busy and not bump into the steel cage and injure them further. The procedure of this project is to find a material safe for the birds to play with while offering a safe sort of snack for them hopefully enriching them while in holding for winter. A type of medium wooden encasing holding different types of grain and seed or insect will be used along with other types of objects to help with a successful outcome. As a result, some were timid to approach it but soon became curious and inspected it. Therefore, concluding that with enough brain stimulation and enrichment, the African Crowned Cranes at the Henry Doorly Zoo can refrain from injuring themselves. This enrichment will hopefully be adopted by the zoo keepers and insure that no other crane will injure themselves during the winter season.

Research Plan: At the Henry Doorly Zoo, the African Crowned Cranes have been injuring themselves on their steel wire holding cages in the winter season. Therefore, enrichment has been the one solution that was thought of. My hypothesis is that”I think the African Crowned Cranes will be less likely to bang their wings against the cage if they had more enrichment.” The experiment variables consist of a bamboo, ply wood, or another type of material shaped into a tube with different sized holes. In the tubes, I will have put different types of nutritious treats for them including: seed, grain, fruit, vegetation, meal worms, and/or crickets. In the experiment, the tube will be placed inside one of the cranes cages. Hopefully, the curiosity of the bird will inspect the tubes and learn that by playing with it the bird gets a small treat. I will watch and take notes on the bird’s behavior towards the treat toy. The results of this project will be of great use towards insuring a more safe environment in the back holding cages during the winter season and will also create a more happy and stimulated crane for the keepers. Some references that inspired my idea for this project: Henry Doorly Zoo, Philidelphiazoo.org, animalenrichment.org, cougarmountainzoo.org, and mnzoo.org.