Workdays
Saturday Workdays for Fall, 2008 begin Saturday, September 6th. The first session will include an orientation for new students. For the remainder of the semester, depending on number of student participants (new and returning), volunteers may be divided into two groups that will be scheduled for alternate Saturday mornings, so that we can anticipate some level of activity each Saturday morning throughout the academic year. Announcements or changes in the schedule (times, cancellations, etc.) will be distributed through the email list, so it is your responsibility to check CRP emails for information about workdays or other announcements. Rides will pick up at 8:55 a.m. as follows unless announced otherwise:
On scheduled workdays, students engage in tasks ranging from routine cleaning of aviaries to basic maintenance and handling of our resident birds of prey. This is a great way to get hands-on experience with raptor husbandry if you only have a few hours a week or a month to get involved.
Saturday morning activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end by noon (generally around 11:00-11:30). You may participate as time permits. Transportation to and from campus is available upon request (rides leaving Morrison Hall at 8:50 a.m.). There are other opportunities for involvement such as daily food preparation and feeding. Participation in public education activities will require additional training - times and dates to be announced.
Other opportunities for participation include general care and maintenance of birds, exercising birds for release, public exhibition, feeding, aviary cleaning and maintenance, captive breeding, and formal classroom instruction (for more information on coursework, see AS215). Much of the activity focuses on the care and maintenance of approximately 40 birds housed at the Poultry Science Complex on Game Farm Road ("West House", approximately 1 mile from Morrison Hall). Generally, new participants become involved during a series of Saturday morning activities which include instruction on taxonomy, natural history, captive management techniques and procedures, chores, and more chores. Participation is supervised by Dr. Parks and other experienced volunteer staff and students.
