Zoo Narrative: Homo Sapiens Yoyo
As part of their zoo study project, Evan and Glen and their two lab partners are supposed to write a narrative describing the behavior of their subjects, in this case, six orangutans.
I, on the other hand, observed five subjects, also great apes. AM1 (Adult Male 1) and AM2 arrived at the Red Ape Rain Forest orangutan enclosure shortly after 2:00 in company with AF1 (Adult Female 1), their mother. AM2, prompted by AF1, got out his laptop computer and started to compose a narrative based on his observations. He also recorded observations told him by AF1. AM1 made observations but did not communicate what he saw. AF1 also took photographs.
At about 3:00, AF1 supplied AM2 with a fob watch, and both AM1 (who had his own watch) and AM2 began recording behaviors for two orangutans each at fifteen second intervals over the space of ten minutes. AM1 lost track of the number of intervals, and AF1 showed him that if he used the recording sheet properly, he would automatically know how many he had already recorded. AM1 restarted his observations.
AM3 arrived at about 3:35. AF1 lent him a wristwatch (her own, personal, Mickey Mouse watch) and explained the use of the data recording sheet. AM2 completed his fourth and final ten-minute set of observations on his pair of individuals, a mother and infant pair and returned the watch to AF1. At some point between observation periods, another adult female orangutan and his subjects had traded positions, causing him to observe the wrong female for at least one ten minute period.
The female of the male-female pair AM1 had been observing got called in to the dormitory during his second observation period, leaving only the male, who appeared to sleep the entire time. Then the male got called in to the dormitory a few minutes later.
AM4 arrived at the zoo about 4:00, just as the final orangutan made her way to the dormitory. AM1 had tried to call him earlier to tell him not to bother, but by the time AM3 managed to get him on the phone, AM4 had already paid his entrance fee and was on his way up. AM3 returned the watch to AF1.
This represented our fifth visit to the zoo, and the project is due a week from Monday. I found myself explaining the term "dry lab." They have everything except the complete fifteen-second-interval observation charts, and they've certainly watched the orangutans long enough to put together something believable.
I have to say that the behavior of AM3 and AM4 makes me feel a lot better about my own kids (AM1 and AM2). Let's say, mine aren't the only yoyos in college.
I, on the other hand, observed five subjects, also great apes. AM1 (Adult Male 1) and AM2 arrived at the Red Ape Rain Forest orangutan enclosure shortly after 2:00 in company with AF1 (Adult Female 1), their mother. AM2, prompted by AF1, got out his laptop computer and started to compose a narrative based on his observations. He also recorded observations told him by AF1. AM1 made observations but did not communicate what he saw. AF1 also took photographs.
At about 3:00, AF1 supplied AM2 with a fob watch, and both AM1 (who had his own watch) and AM2 began recording behaviors for two orangutans each at fifteen second intervals over the space of ten minutes. AM1 lost track of the number of intervals, and AF1 showed him that if he used the recording sheet properly, he would automatically know how many he had already recorded. AM1 restarted his observations.
AM3 arrived at about 3:35. AF1 lent him a wristwatch (her own, personal, Mickey Mouse watch) and explained the use of the data recording sheet. AM2 completed his fourth and final ten-minute set of observations on his pair of individuals, a mother and infant pair and returned the watch to AF1. At some point between observation periods, another adult female orangutan and his subjects had traded positions, causing him to observe the wrong female for at least one ten minute period.
The female of the male-female pair AM1 had been observing got called in to the dormitory during his second observation period, leaving only the male, who appeared to sleep the entire time. Then the male got called in to the dormitory a few minutes later.
AM4 arrived at the zoo about 4:00, just as the final orangutan made her way to the dormitory. AM1 had tried to call him earlier to tell him not to bother, but by the time AM3 managed to get him on the phone, AM4 had already paid his entrance fee and was on his way up. AM3 returned the watch to AF1.
This represented our fifth visit to the zoo, and the project is due a week from Monday. I found myself explaining the term "dry lab." They have everything except the complete fifteen-second-interval observation charts, and they've certainly watched the orangutans long enough to put together something believable.
I have to say that the behavior of AM3 and AM4 makes me feel a lot better about my own kids (AM1 and AM2). Let's say, mine aren't the only yoyos in college.
posted by Jeannette | 8:53 PM
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