Behind the scenes, a simple white board is our central location for essential animal care information. Each bird’s daily food amount is posted at one corner. Medication schedules are noted, lock combinations are recorded as a reminder, and staff phone numbers are listed in case of a live animal emergency.
But the whiteboard is largely dominated by the daily chore checklists. I have always been a list-maker and these lists help me organize my day and make sure every task is completed, regardless of who is working that day.
Some chores are completed daily: prepare raptor food; pull quail or rats out of the freezer to thaw for the next day; and check snake habitat temperatures.
Others happen every other day or once a week: feed the mealworms; weigh both snakes; clean raptor mews; and bleach the food prep counter, to name a few.
We also list an enrichment schedule below. From mealworm snacks to paper bags to private banjo concerts, the birds get something new and interesting each day.
If you ever see us rush through the Museum with a food cup, a scrub brush, or a spray bottle, you’ll know that it is the animals keeping us busy.
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