[Nhcoll-l] Help with Eggs

Mon Jun 4 15:18:27 EDT 2012

Hi Sue,

Here at WFVZ we house all our egg specimens in clear plastic boxes, and the
eggs are on a layer of white non-sterile cotton inside the boxes so they are
pressed fairly tightly between the cotton and the lid of the box. The boxes
help prevent breakage, damage from dust, and moisture. 

Here are two sources for cotton:

Schein cotton http://www.henryschein.com/

Go to dental supplies (it may also be under other categories), search for
"cotton roll" or the stock number is 1000147HI, Schein number 42802. 

US Cotton Inc. New Mexico.Phone (505) 892-2269

Here is a source for plastic boxes:

Durphy Packaging Co.
47 Richard Road
Ivyland, PA 18974-1512

P: 215-674-1260
F: 215-674-3051
E:  <mailto:durphy at durphypkg.com> durphy at durphypkg.com

We print our own labels on our LaserJet printer on acid free paper (30
labels on an 8 1/2x 11 sheets) and place the labels inside the egg 

boxes. For the acid free paper you can try Light Impressions. 439 Monroe
Ave., Rochester, NY 14607-3717. Phone (800)828-6217. Fax. (716)442-7318.

René Corado

Collections Manager

Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology

439 Calle San Pablo

Camarillo, CA 93012

 <http://www.wfvz.org/cms/index.php> http://www.wfvz.org

email: rene at wfvz.org

Phone: 805/388-9944

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of
Jeff.Stephenson at dmns.org
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 6:25 AM
To: tlabedz1 at unl.edu; sugal at voicenet.com; NHCOLL-L at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Help with Eggs

Dear Sue,

Eggs are among the most fragile of all natural and cultural history objects,
and present one of the greatest challenges for public interaction and
storage in a hands-on collection.  The solution that Thomas provides is a
good one; I would however always have actual egg specimens in some protected
hard-plastic or glass-topped container, with foam and batting cushions and
lined with Tyvek to provide cradles for the eggs.  The full-view boxes that
are made of Mylar or other flexible plastics often do not provide enough
protection from curious fingers.  The one exception for actual eggs may be
ostrich or emu eggs, but you probably should count on replacing even these
every two years on average.  Unless you have a ready supply of eggs ready to
go in your pipeline, and can replace every 2-24 months, I would recommend
purchasing some wooden replicas for the hands-on portion.  There are several
nature companies that you can look up on the internet who provide such.

Thanks,

Jeff Stephenson, Collections Manager

Zoology

Denver Museum of Nature & Science

2001 Colorado Boulevard

Denver, CO 80205

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Thomas Labedz
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 6:48 AM
To: Susan Gallagher; NHCOLL-L at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Help with Eggs

In the past I'd get fresh quail (Coturnix) eggs from a nearby lab and have
students learn to drill a single hole and using a pipette blow the contents
from the egg.  Last thing I'd have them do is crush one of their eggs with
their fingers so they would have the tactile memory of how little pressure
it takes to ruin all their hard work.  Those students were always much more
careful in handling eggs and in general more respectful of other specimens.

When I put bird eggs out for an open house, or other minimally supervised
event, I make certain the eggs are in a covered container of some sort
(similar to the full view artifact boxes from Universal Products) and in a
heavy drawer that is not easily jostled.

Thomas E. Labedz, Collections Manager

Division of Zoology and Division of Botany

University of Nebraska State Museum

W-436 Nebraska Hall

900 N. 16th St.

Lincoln, NE  68588-0514

402/472-8366 (p.m.,Zoo.), 402/472-1607 (a.m.,Bot.), fax 402/472-8949

tlabedz1 at unl.edu   www.museum.unl.edu

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Gallagher
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 8:43 PM
To: NHCOLL-L at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Help with Eggs

Hello List,

I would appreciate any advice on storing, displaying and labeling  bird eggs
as part of a teaching collection. It seems no matter how carefully I manage
them, they never last more than a few years, and I’m tired of losing some of
my nicest specimens.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Sue

********************************************************

Susan Gallagher, Chief Naturalist

Carbon County Environmental Education Center

151 East White Bear Drive

Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, 18250

(570) 645-8597

www.carboneec.org

Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as important to the child,
as it is to the caterpillar.

- Bradley Miller

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Cannatella, David
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 3:01 PM
To: Ross MacCulloch
Cc: NHCOLL-L at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Fluid collections

In our situation at Univ. Texas, the interpretation of the Code falls to the
Fire Marshall. Our experience is that when a new Fire Marshall came on board
he re-interpreted the Code, to our detriment. 

Dave

On May 25, 2012, at 12:34 PM, Ross MacCulloch wrote:

Since the Universal Fire Code was adopted in North America, many
institutions have been forced to make expensive modifications to existing
facilities or to build entirely new facilities for alcohol storage. As Andy
said, these facilities have fire prevention/containment measures built in,
as well as provisions for spill containment.

One thing that we found was that although the Code is supposedly
"universal", its interpretation and application varies among jurisdictions.
When you begin designing your new facility, I strongly recommend that the
design/architectural team includes someone familiar with fire codes, and who
can liaise with your local Fire Dept., whose approval for your facility will
be required. 

best wishes in your new facility

Ross

Ross D. MacCulloch
Assistant Curator - Herpetology
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park
Toronto
Ontario M5S 2C6

>>> "Bentley, Andrew Charles" <abentley at ku.edu> 25-May-12 11:21 AM >>>

Dave

Kols Containers is very much in business and we buy all of our glass from
them.  Our contact there is Judy Bounds and she can be reached
atjbounds at kolscontrainers.com or (410) 646-2300.  I have also attached a
fairly recent price list for the various sizes of jars we purchase as well
as lids.

In terms of storage of large quantities of ethanol we have found that the
amount allowed depends very much on how the space is classified.  We are
only allowed a certain number of gallons in offices and labs but our ethanol
storage facility is classified as not being occupied by people on a regular
basis and also has several fire prevention measures (lower temp at 65°F
below flash point, HVAC system that changes air every 2 hours and sprinkler
system).  We also have explosion proof electrical outlets, fire rated doors
etc. etc.  I unfortunately do not have the specifics but could probably find
them if no one else chimes in.  You should also be able to get this
information from your fire marshal.

Hope that helps

Andy

    A  :             A  :             A  :
 }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
    V                V                V
 Andy Bentley
 Ichthyology Collection Manager
 University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute

 Dyche Hall
 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
 Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
 USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863
Fax: (785) 864-5335 
 Email: abentley at ku.edu  

http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu
<http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/> 

                           :                 :    
    A  :             A  :             A  :
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    V                V                V

From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Dyer, Dave
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 12:30 PM
To: NHCOLL-L at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Fluid collections

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple questions regarding fluid storage. We are in the process of
working on a grant to, among other things, rescue our 3,000-jar fluid
collection from an awful, inaccessible storage situation to a new workable
facility. Can someone recommend a supplier for good quality jars and
closures? Is Kols Containers/O’Berk still in business? We purchased supplies
from them years ago but their web site seems to be shut down.

Also, how have museums reconciled storage of large amounts of ethyl alcohol
with local fire codes? Apparently we can only store 120 gallons of 70% ETOH
per ROOM, but our collection is approximately 2,000 gallons!  Thanks in
advance for your advice and information.

Sincerely,

Dave

David Dyer, Curator

Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum

Div. of Biological Sciences

University of Montana

Missoula, MT 59812

 <http://www.rom.on.ca/visit/>  

_______________________________________________
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David Cannatella       512-471-5302 (lab)

Professor, Integrative Biology                 512-232-4862 (office;
voicemail)

1 University Station C0930        512-471-3878 (fax)

University of Texas            

Austin, Texas 78712

www.cannatellalab.org

Curator of Herpetology, Texas Natural Science Center

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