Docent Training - Week 1

Last night, the Natural Science Center began training the newest round of volunteers to become docents in Animal Discovery. After volunteers checked in, an introductory speech was given by Kimberly Clark, a full-time zookeeper. She explained that the role of docents is to facilitate fun and interesting interactions between animal and guest in a safe and non-stressing environment. This training class, while unable to cover every aspect and scenario in volunteer work, provides an excellent foundation for filling the role of a docent.

Following this, the volunteers split into two groups. Kim covered Discovery House, talking about each animal and taking out the ones that visitors can interact with directly, along with covering some of the specific docent procedures. Peggy Ferebee, curator of birds and mammals, took the other half of the group outside and throughout the zoo. She gave an overview of the zoo and spent some time at each docent station – Friendly Farm, Discovery House, Wallaby Walkthrough, and the maned wolf and tiger exhibits. After a break for drinks and snacks, the two groups switched.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures for this week's training due to camera malfunctions. Hopefully I can get back into technology's good graces before next Tuesday, when the docents-in-training will be introduced to the sea lab and herpetology lab!

-Trent

Lemur Birth Control

In the video, you can see one of the zookeepers, Shannon, feeding the lemurs some raisins. Raisins are a favorite treat for the lemurs and are reserved for special occasions. This video was taken on Monday, shortly after they got their birth control shots. The shots are required by the Species Survival Plan; the raisins are required by the lemurs.

Lemurs receive the same birth control medicine as humans, Depo-Prevara, but only a fraction of the dosage. Most primates receive birth control via an implant in their skin. However, lemurs' skin is so thin that the implant could easily get scratched out accidentally or groomed out. Injections of Depo is a widely used solution to this problem. Zookeepers catch them using nets and long leather gloves. This is the safest and least stressful method for both keeper and animal.

Like children getting some candy after a doctor visit, the ringtails get some raisins. Ara, seeing that others are getting something she's not, decides that she deserves some raisins too, shot or no. Even the mongoose lemurs, as timid as they are, got some treats. The SSP has been followed, the lemurs got their raisins, and the blog got a video. Doctor visit: success.

-Trent

**The information in this post was provided to me by Shannon Rives, a zookeeper at the Natural Science Center.

Zoo F.A.Q. - Tom, the turkey

The zoo staff gets asked lots of questions about the animals and recently, one of the more frequent has been about Tom, the male turkey. As you can see from the video, he puffs himself up and puts on quite the display, complete with sound effects. Many people ask what he's up to or will proffer their own theories, but it comes down to one thing: springtime.

The mating season for the Wild Turkey begins in March or April. Normally, a male would gobble to attract a female but Tom is fortunate in that Rose and Blanche, the two female turkeys at the Science Center, stay pretty close. He gets to skip straight to the strutting.

His tail is held vertically and fanned out while he raises the feathers on his back and lowers his wings so that wingtips drag the ground. He pushes his head back and his beak down, and can make the colors of his neck and facial skin more intense. This display makes him seem much larger and intimidating, but fear is not the emotion Tom is going for.

Tom's visual display is accompanied by sound effects. He vibrates his feathers, making a deep thumping sound that's followed by a low hum as the vibrations slow. He will also periodically take a few steps forward to drag his wingtips along the ground, creating a rustling sound in the natural area. The film has had the audio taken out because of the loud wind.

All in all, feel free to stop and watch Tom display. Don't touch him though. Remember, it isn't that he's being aggressive; he's an actor on a stage. He just wants his audience to watch and to be impressed.

-Trent

**I found all of this information and much more from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at allaboutbirds.com and the National Wild Turkey Federation at nwtf.com.

Welcome to the Science Center Blog

The Natural Science Center of Greensboro has been an advocate for scientific learning since October 5^th, 1957, although then it was known as the Greensboro Junior Museum. Having gone through several expansions, it has grown from a single building into a complex that fulfills multiple roles and continues to serve the community and school systems of Greensboro and the region today. Though the Science Center has broadened its scope since opening*, the original statement of purpose that defined the organization as “an endemic facility providing indoor and outdoor learning experiences in the natural and physical sciences” could still serve today.

My name is Trent Hazzard, and I've been with the NSC for a year and a half. I've volunteered as a docent in Animal Discovery and am currently a part-time zookeeper. I also enjoy working with the education department in summer camps and classes when I have the chance. I have a great interest in science education and making science accessible and interesting, especially for children. I love the Science Center and make no secret of it.

That, along with a conversation with a fellow zookeeper kick-started this blog. We talked of the vested interest in the Science Center that many people we know have. Children come in and ask about specific animals by name, people look forward to regular events, and staff are constantly asked excellent questions because kids are genuinely interested in the answers.

The purpose of this blog is to invest in that curiosity and to increase it in both breadth and depth. I hope that this blog will provide additional information on animals, exhibits, staff, volunteers, guests, the community, and anything else you would want more information on. Although I plan to contribute consistently, I always welcome guest posts from staff, volunteers, and guests of the museum.

There are lots of new additions coming up at the NSC that we are excited about, including the openings of HealthQuest and Titanic:The Artifact Exhibition Exhibit, the SciQuarium groundbreaking, and much more. Look for news about these as well as posts about the animals and exhibits you already know and love.

-Trent

*The top picture is of the original Science Center building. The bottom is a bird's eye view of the building, including the upcoming SciQuarium expansion.