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Post by Hamsters82 on Apr 24, 2008 23:19:23 GMT -4
Sara, my co-worker at Paws, asked me to look up different animals we had there and do a description on them. So while I was thinking how to do it an idea popped into my mind, I will make the animals talk to the children. It will seem fun for them. It was lots of fun to research the animals since I love to do that and I'll be typing it all up either Saturday or before next Thursday. Sara and Pat (Sara's boss) each liked it very much! The animals I have done are: Nigerian Dwarf Goat Miniature Donkey Miniature Horse Turkey Vulture Northeastern Striped Skunk Jardine Parrot Senegal Parrot Red Tail Hawk Ferret Guinea Pig Black Rat Snake Emu Peacock Box Turtle White Tail Deer Dwarf Rabbit Red Footed Tortoise Screech Owl Uromastyx African Pygmy Hedgehogs Miniature Cow LaMancha Goat Lop-Eared Dwarf Rabbit Mice LaMancha/Toggenburg Goat mix It's been fun writing them up and learning something new on all of them!!! My favorite used to be the mini horse, but she's second now as the mice take first place. Well I just wanted to tell you all that! And the coolest thing after that it may be printed out and used in our center!!  |
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Post by pinky on Apr 25, 2008 0:25:07 GMT -4
I hope you said good things about the Turkey Vulture!  They're an important part of the ecosystem, even though people think they're yucky because they feed on carrion. Tell the kids that the big black birds that can be seen in the sky are TVs and that they like to ride the air currents and soar, looking for food. Unlike other birds, they have a heightened sense of smell and do use that sense to locate a meal. Here is a piece that I like, written in defense of TVs. "So, why is there this prejudice toward the Turkey Vulture? Yes, it eats dead meat, but it is particular about its meat being properly aged, just as I am particular about my dead meat being properly cooked. Most humans eat carrion, though we don’t call it that, and, since we lack the proper beak for the job, we have a butcher cut it up for us. We may have prejudice toward some humans, but except for the odd misanthrope, we are not prejudiced toward all humans. I don’t have an answer for this prejudice toward the vulture, any more than I have an answer for prejudice toward other people - except that all the evidence I seem able to garner suggests that prejudice - avian or human - is ignorance. Which, as a basis for an opinion, is stupid!" |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 25, 2008 0:31:44 GMT -4
Uromastyx? Sounds like an inflammation of the urethra! ;D Oh. . . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UromastyxSounds like a fun and fascinating assignment. Let us know how it goes over with the children. And, of possible, post some examples. |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Apr 25, 2008 11:02:44 GMT -4
Robin--of course I wouldn't put anything bad down about the Turkey Vulture as we're trying to teach kids about them. Yuck, I never thought about it but I guess we do eat carrion, but it's thankfully not in the way we see on tv. Yes it is lots of fun. I'll post the Turkey Vulture one and if there are any others one like to see, I'll do them too. Just please don't make it too much. If you do like to see all of them, I'll happily e-mail them to you guys. Lurch-Turkey Vulture Carthartes aura Why hello, I'm Lurch a buzzard, or my formerly name is the Turkey Vulture. I was first described in 1758 and was probably given this name as my defense from predators, which are very few, is vomiting. I'm a large bird and one of the most widespread; I'm 26-32 inches in height and my wingspan is anywhere around 68-72 inches. My feet aren't too strong, in fact they're pretty weak at grasping anything, perhaps this is why I'm a scavenger. When flying I use my sense of smell to located dead animals. I can only grunt and if I feel threatened I hiss, so forgive me if I hiss at you. In captivity I only live to 21 years. Thanks for visiting me! |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 25, 2008 20:20:43 GMT -4
Fun--and informative! More are welcome. >> When flying I use my sense of smell to located << Typo!  |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Apr 26, 2008 18:49:44 GMT -4
Well I have finally finished all of them, so if anyone wants to see some just tell me and I'll put them. I can now copy/paste them instead of writing up the whole entire thing. Whew.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 26, 2008 20:14:03 GMT -4
I want to see some - especially the uromastyx!
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Post by Hamsters82 on Apr 26, 2008 22:32:02 GMT -4
Here you go:
E.T.-Uromastyx
Uromastyx aegypticus
Mornin’ I’d bet you never laid your eyes on my species before; I’m a Uromastyx (say it like: your-oh-mass-tix) or you could call me a Dab Lizard, Spiny Tail Lizard, and/or a Spiny Mastigure. My name is E.T. and we originated from Egypt and are found in deserts. We live up to 12.5-15 years and are territorial reptiles. In 1994, 7,000 of my species were brought to the US and we’re known to be an exotic pet. We’re normally a foot and a half, but can grow to be 3 feet in length. We eat greens, veggies, and crickets; we’re durable, easy to care for, shy, can be trained, and we like to dig burrows. I hope to see you again; it’s always fun to meet new people!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Apr 26, 2008 22:34:42 GMT -4
Three feet! Big dude. Nice to meet you.
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They're an important part of the ecosystem, even though people think they're yucky because they feed on carrion.
