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Chat - Thursday, December 8th, 2011.; Enjoy your day peeps!
Topic Started: Dec 8 2011, 05:14 AM (418 Views)
jillers
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Eagle Guardian
Carlson School of Management Flash Mob, Deck the Halls-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH8FvERQHtM&feature=share
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Artsy Mom
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Eagle Guardian
<::: Buddy Training Update <:::

Posted Image Posted Image :clk: 's

December 7 Update – Darcie Huntress

My first two weeks of training with Buddy was a period of us getting to know and be comfortable with each other, as well as an opportunity for Ray to observe Buddy and make adjustments to the training plan. Buddy already knows a lot of the “what” to do; we worked on shaping the “how” in the first training sessions. Ray described it this way:

“The first two times I had contact with Buddy, I could tell he had done everything I presented to him before, but he was not comfortable. I do not know what any bird or animal thinks, but most problems are from fear or resource issues — seeing a human as a competitor for food or as something that may grab them.

Buddy’s reactions were nervousness, not staying in one spot, attempting to snatch and run with food (i.e., my presence meant competition for the food), or simple distrust. He simply would be more comfortable eating someplace away from me. For a bird that large, carrying a small piece of food that he could quickly swallow means he is not comfortable in his present circumstances.”

Our first objective was to have Buddy become more comfortable and relaxed around me, and to have him stop seeing me as competition for food. I spent a few sessions feeding Buddy while he was perched on my gloved hand, while looking for opportunities to reward him for sitting calmly without “gripping” — clenching his talons on the glove. After a few sessions we changed gears and I fed him while he was on his A-frame perch. I rewarded him when he had both feet on the perch and he looked away from the glove – similar to teaching your dog to “leave it.”By the third session of feeding him like this – and at this point each session is lasting only a few minutes – Buddy was noticeably calmer and more comfortable with me standing close to him. The fact that we were able to accomplish this change in attitude and behavior in what amounted to 15 or 20 minutes of training is a testament to the effectiveness of operant conditioning.

Animals sometimes don’t make the connection between the specific behavior they are offering that is being rewarded. This is called superstitious behavior, and Karen Pryor discusses this in her book, Don’t Shoot the Dog. The subject’s understanding of the criteria for reward, while appearing to match ours, may actually be very different. To give an example, Ray told me about his mother-in-law’s dog. When he was visiting her house for the holidays one year, he came into the kitchen in the middle of the night and switched on the light to find the dog there, staring intently at a spot on the floor. He couldn’t understand why the dog would do this, so he spent the next few days observing it. He came to realize that his mother-in-law was somewhat careless about dropping food scraps on the floor when she was cooking, but the dog hadn’t figured out that the treats were being dropped from above – he thought they came from the floor, and that if he just waited long enough they would appear.

When rewarding Buddy I have to be on the lookout for potential superstitious behaviors that I might be reinforcing without meaning to. For example, if I’m focusing more on where Buddy’s feet are and I don’t notice that he has his mouth open each time I reward him, he may think that in order to get his reward he needs to open his mouth for me. This process is more about training me than it is about training Buddy!

One benefit to operant conditioning is that you can build a repertoire of behaviors which can then be combined to produce new behaviors. We were successful in applying that principle this week when Buddy mastered the “leave it” game. We transferred this behavior to a new station – the scales – and now Buddy will come to the scale and sit still while I weigh him. We practice this every day, and it is just the beginning of the behaviors we will train in the coming months.

On the flip side, using this training method is very effective at “extinguishing” certain behaviors. By teaching Buddy to “leave it” and ignore the glove, I ended up extinguishing him flying or stepping up to the glove! But that is okay, because flying to the glove is easy enough to re-train, and that is what we are working on now. First I rewarded him for putting one foot on the glove. Then when he put one foot on the glove I slowly raised my arm until he put both feet on the glove. Once he was stepping onto the glove again, I increased my distance from the perch so he had to hop to the glove to get his reward, and now I am able to stand three or four feet away and he will fly to the glove.
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Naturegal
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Penny - Buddy's trainer seems to know what she is doing. Behaviour modification obviously works with Buddy and she is getting some very positive results. Way-to-go Buddy Boy! :><: :><:
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Naturegal
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jillers
Dec 8 2011, 02:23 PM
Carlson School of Management Flash Mob, Deck the Halls-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH8FvERQHtM&feature=share
Just love these flash mobs, they are so full of life and bring such a smile to your face :D
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Artsy Mom
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In other WCV News...the Suffolk bear cub is going to be released next week....

December 8 update

After updating DGIF biologists with the bear cub’s latest weight, a departure date has been set: Tuesday, December 13. A DGIF official will pick up the bear from the Wildlife Center late in the afternoon on December 13, and will transport the cub back to an appropriate release spot in the Suffolk area. The cub will likely be released the following day.

Here is a pdf of Interesting Bear Facts from the Virginia DGIF.

"In Virginia, black bears usually den in hollow trees, although some will den up in depressions in the ground, in brush piles, under upturned trees, in rock cavities and under rock overhangs.

Black bears are adaptable. Although black bears like remote, densely wooded habitats and swampy areas, they commonly frequent areas where timber has been cut for the berries and other foods that can be found there or for den sites. Bears are also commonly found in some farmer’s fields eating corn, fruit in orchards and other crops. It is not uncommon for bears to make their home in more open habitats such as portions of the Shenandoah Valley or some Piedmont counties."

I guess he's going to be ok :unsure: if he gets too hungry maybe he'll just find a den and go to :Zz:
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Naturegal
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Penny - I'm going to miss cubbie but he seems so anxious to get out of his enclosure and return to his natural habitat.

Safe journey cubbie :wub: Posted Image :wub:
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Topa Topa Hikers
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Posted Image
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Topa Topa Hikers
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Posted Image

“To be a star, you must shine your own light,
follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness,
for that is when the stars shine brightest”
Author Anon
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Topa Topa Hikers
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Posted Image
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Topa Topa Hikers
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Naturegal
Dec 8 2011, 05:08 PM
Safe journey cubbie :wub: Posted Image :wub:
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Artsy Mom
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Carole that was interesting about Buddy...Ed said he would have to 'forget' what he learned before and that is a new trainer who is using the new methods by the falconer. I'm sure Buddy will be a big star....his head feathers are at the 'dirty' stage, but soon he will be a regal looking  :<<o>>: :)^

I'm sure the Suffolk bear cub will be fine...we just like to worry about all the special animals that have had some human intervention come into their lives :wub:

Kris I can't tell you how :angry: I am about the expropriation of the funds which are supposed to go to the earthquake victims and restoration. This whole faux 'Whaling" ships science expeditions is just such a crock :hair: What, if anything, will make them STOP ? :angry:

Topa "Nevermind, I'll buy my own presents" rofl rofl rofl
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KLJinOz
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Facebook Taronga Zoo just posted these pictures (by Chris Kara) of Mom and cubs (Sumatran Tigers), ADORABLE!

Posted Image

slideshow
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/KLJinOz/Taronga%20Zoo%20Dec%202011/Sumatran%20Tigers/?albumview=slideshow
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Artsy Mom
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Lily the Black Bear :wub:

Posted Image

There will be no update tonight. Nothing new to report. We are putting finishing touches on our response to the DNR. -- Sue M

Instead here's a nostalgic look at Sweet Lily (3:21) :D
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jillers
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A Christmas Story - Journey Of The Angels/Silent Night by Enya-
http://www.youtube.com/embed/YBIwCdvhgX4?rel=0
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Artsy Mom
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Oh my gosh Ozzie those :clk: :clk: of the Sumatran cubs and their Mama are just stunningly exquisite :wub: Such gorgeous animals :)^ The details of their markings are really incredible...and such sharp teethies...ouch if they are still nursing :P
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