Avian Egg Incubation Workshop

The Avian egg incubation workshop is a five day practical workshop designed to give participants the skills required to successfully incubate bird eggs and deal with problems that could arise.

What is the course content?

The workshop will cover the following:

• Embryo and membrane development
• Factors affecting hatchability before and during incubation
• Hatchery management techniques
• Artificial incubation and its role in field conservation programmes
   

Learn more

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ONE DAY INCUBATION TRAINING COURSE

ONE DAY INCUBATION TRAINING COURSE

Date and venue

14th  March 2014 – Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford. Oxfordshire 

The RZSS Academy has arranged a one day specialist course on incubation designed to cover the essentials of incubation. This is suitable for bird keepers in zoological collections, or enthusiasts seeking to understand the process, first timers or individuals wishing to do refresher training to update knowledge and skills.

The content will include the following areas including practical aspects where appropriate:

 Egg & embryological development
 Selection of eggs for incubation
 Essentials of incubation: setting eggs, temperature & humidity regulation
 Hatching
 Recording systems types and suitable location of incubators
 Measurement of eggs
 Candling
 Sterilisation
 Setting
 Hatching
 Post incubation rearing

Presenters

Duncan Bolton
Duncan has extensive knowledge of the husbandry and management of many avian species from his career within the ‘zoo world’. Formerly senior curator at Bristol Zoo Gardens, he is now curator at Birdworld. During his career, Duncan has supervised breeding programmes for endangered species, liaised with academics and researchers in developing the technology of incubation and recording systems. He is well known in BIAZA and EAZA as an avian specialist.

Laura Gardner
Laura has had extensive experience as an aviculturist. Having grown up in Jersey she spent the majority of her school holidays volunteering at Jersey Zoo (now the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust). In 1988, Laura started working at Birdworld in Farnham where she gained experience in the incubation and rearing room eventually moving onto ratites and penguins. She then assumed curatorial responsibility for the specialist avian collection that was held at Leeds Castle in Kent until its dispersal in April 2012. Since then Laura has been
employed at ZSL with responsibility at both ZSL London and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. She has a particular interest in softbill species such as turacos and toucans.

Cost of course
The fee is £132 (incl. VAT) for the day which includes refreshments throughout the day and course notes. An early discount of £120 (incl. VAT) exists for bookings confirmed before 23rd January 2014.

Booking places
To reserve a place on this course please contact Daniela Bennett, at RZSS on 0131-314 0315 or dbennett@rzss.org.uk

SENIOR KEEPER - BIRD DEPARTMENT

SENIOR KEEPER - BIRD DEPARTMENT

Chester Zoo is one of the leading zoological collections in Europe with an international reputation for achieving its mission in conservation breeding programmes, research and education.

We currently have a vacancy for a Senior Bird Keeper, to join a large and busy section. This is not a post for a trainee.

The successful candidate will be largely based in our incubation and hand-rearing unit dealing with eggs from Waterfowl, Cranes, Galliformes, Softbills, and other species. They will also be required to assist with keeping on other sections within the bird teams, working with a wide range of bird species.

The successful candidate must have a proven track record in the management and breeding of captive birds in a zoological or conservation setting. They must have previous experience of incubation and hand rearing. They will be qualified to HND/BSc level in a zoological related science, or have equivalent practical zoo experience in an established public collection. They will have a desire to develop the Society’s bird conservation activities in the UK and abroad.

Salary is £16,791.84 increasing to £18,657.60 after satisfactory completion of the probationary period.

For an application form please ring the recruitment line on 01244 389477 or email recruitment@chesterzoo.org


Closing date for applications is 28th September 2009.