Week 7: almost the end!
Wednesday already! Holy Moly! Let’s see if I can remember what I did last week. Data collection wrapped up on all projects. We ended our collection for the art study on Monday (close to a week early) because no one else was signed up to participate. We ended up with 28 subjects and are working on data analysis now.
People seem to be on edge about this project. Most of us had some qualms with the original 2007 study that this project was based on and were unclear on exactly how this project would extend our understanding of chimpanzee art. Some were surprised to find out we were writing a paper and think that since we did not have a say in designing the project, we should not be responsible for its completion. Everyone wants to do this really high class, thesis-level write up, but we just don’t have the time, nor the data to make this into such a paper. Perhaps it is my bad luck with experiments in the past (or my general low expectations), but I am surprisingly unstressed about the whole thing. I knew this was a relatively informal summer project and although I would like to have some really nice results, I am not in the least bit surprised that we do not. I see why people might be upset about writing a paper, but we did put a fair amount of effort into this study and it seems as though we deserve to participate in the analysis of data and design of the final product. I figured we would have a write-up and I am contributing the best that I can, while trying to avoid getting too involved in all the drama. If anyone is interested in how it actually turns out, the write up will eventually be published in the Friends of Washoe newsletter (I’ll try to remember to post a notice when it does).
I did the final hierarchy observation of the summer in the night enclosure area at dinner time on Friday. It was fun and I’m glad I got to do one more session up close with the chimps. The hierarchy data has all been entered and checked in the computer and I hope to find out the results before the end of this week. We also completed all of the context coding and the data entry for that project is nearly complete.
We processed (dried, made jam, used in meals, etc.) a ton of apricots that someone donated to the chimps; a few of the apprentices and other caregivers went out and picked them fresh last week. We also lost our hot water in the kitchen and enclosure a few times last week and into the weekend; the water pressure was out of wack as well. It seems to be fixed for good now though. Apparently the hydraulic doors in the enclosures are on a separate system because no one seemed overly concerned.
Oh! I almost forgot! Beth and I had our enrichment day last Thursday. Our theme was "Rockin' luau day." Many of our decorations came from the dollar store. I contributed a few small handmade crafts and helped come up with the theme, but Beth made a really (awesome) gigantic pig we painted pink out of cardboard, which we hid fresh slices of pinapple in for the chimps to forage. Beth also made some tiki boxes which were filled with pinapple as well. Dar enjoyed the apple we had put in the pig's mouth. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the enrichemnt, largely due to the good food I think, though they did get a bum deal on their coconuts. I bought 3 white coconuts from Safeway, the afternoon before we put up our enrichment and when the chimps cracked them open...they were moldy and rotten! There was no harm done, but coconuts are one of their favorites and I feel bad that they were disappointed after all the anticipation of nice fresh tasty coconut! Anyway, it sounds like we do get a few pictures, at least of the set up, at the end of the week. I'll post some once I have recieved them.
EDIT: Ok, so we are not allowed to post any of the photos or even email them, but here is the official CHCI blog entry that Beth typed up, complete with approved pictures (chimpanzees included!). Enjoy!
This past Saturday, I did one last docent shift (where I got to interact with Loulis a bit) and I completed my last weekend husbandry shift.
Only a few more days to go. Look for one final entry (hopefully next weekend).