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Re: NFC: Field Trip to K.U. (fwd)
WOW The Carolina Parakeet and Ivory Billed woodpecker ...VERY COOL
So whats the theory on the keets again ? Id always heard it was a hunting
thing,
How about a carolina Parakeet Clone :)
On Wed, 9 Feb 2000 09:15:52 -0600 (CST) mcclurg luke e
<mcclurgl at washburn_edu> writes:
>
>
> Our Vertebrate Zoology class made and interesting trip to Lawrence,
> KS
> yesterday and the Natural History Museum run by Kansas University.
> This
> was a "behind the scenes" tour where we were able to look at the
> processes
> and techniques for preserving fishes and birds. (next week we see
> the herp
> dept.)
>
> Our tour guide was Kate Shaw, Collections Curator for the
> Ichthyology
> Dept., and one time NANFA member. (sorry, don't know Ms. Shaw's
> current
> membership status) We were shown examples of several Etheostoma
> species
> that had been "cleared and stained". An interesting process to say
> the
> least where the flesh of a fish is soaked until it is transparent so
> that
> the bones and cartilage are clearly seen. These are stained with
> various
> pigments to highlight them. We also saw bone collections, including
> some
> rather large Alligator Gar heads collected many years ago in the
> Gulf
> region. We were also given a demonstration of the storage of tissue
> samples and also the computer they now use to do DNA sequencing.
> (it's
> sweet to say the least, saves major time and stress from doing it
> the old
> way)
>
> Then it was off to the preserved collection. This has been stored
> in a
> fireproof addition due to the 70% ethanol that is used to preserve
> the
> specimens. This was a huge collection! I went down approximately 6
> isles
> each about 8 feet high and 20 feet long and never go out of the
> cyprininds! Kate showed us specimens of two of the federally listed
> Kansas species, the Neosho Madtom and the Topeka Shiner and she
> talked how
> the fish fauna had changed in the state over the last hundred years
> or
> so. After this, we had a real treat when we shown the coelacanth
> specimen. Too cool! It may be the only chance I ever get to see
> one up
> close. There were also a couple of lungfish in the vat with it.
> All very
> interesting.
>
> After Kate's tour, were were taken through the ornithology dept.
> Not as
> exciting to me as ichthyology, but interesting never the less. The
> saddest moment was when we were shown one of the specimens of the
> now
> extinct Carolina Parakeet. What a beautiful bird it was!
> Unfortunately,
> it is believed that diseased brought over along with old world
> parrots (as
> pets) could have been the main culprit in eliminating this species.
> On a
> much more cheery note, we were told that recently two possible
> specimens
> of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker were sighted in Mississippi. While
> unconfirmed, this would be good news as this species was thought to
> be
> extinct. Researchers are there right now trying to confirm the
> sighting. Also, it turns out that a few individuals are still alive
> in
> Cuba, so maybe there is some hope for this species.
>
> All in all it was a fascinating trip and I hope to go back someday
> when I
> have more time to "browse". :)
>
>
> Luke McClurg
>
>
Robert Rice
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