The Dynamics of Kea Behaviour and Interpretive Signage on Visitor ...

CONTENTS
Abstract 2
Acknowledgements 3
List <strong>of</strong> tables <strong>and</strong> figures 5
1.0 Introduction 7
1.1 Education <strong>and</strong> advocacy role <strong>of</strong> zoological parks 7
1.2 Nestor notabilis 7
1.3 Methods <strong>of</strong> interpretation 10
1.4 Effects <strong>of</strong> animal behaviour on visitor interest 14
1.5 Aims <strong>of</strong> the project 15
2.0 Methodology 15
2.1 Background information 16
2.1.1 Zoological park <strong>and</strong> <strong>Kea</strong> exhibit characteristics 16
2.1.2 <strong>Signage</strong> conditions <strong>and</strong> placement 17
2.1.3 Visitor characteristics 19
2.2 Measuring visitor interest in accompanying signage 20
2.2.1 Data collection procedure 21
2.3 Measuring the effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kea</strong> behaviour on visitor interest 23
2.3.1 Data collection procedure 23
2.4 Statistical analysis 24
3.0 Results 25
3.1 Sign treatment effects on visitor interest 25
3.1.1 Attracting Power 25
3.1.2 Holding Time <strong>and</strong> Holding Power 28
3.2 Effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kea</strong> behaviour on visitor interest 29
4.0 Discussion 32
4.1 Sign treatment effects on visitor interest 32
4.1.1 Attracting Power 32
4.1.2 Holding Time <strong>and</strong> Holding Power 34
4.2 Effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kea</strong> behaviour on visitor interest 37
5.0 Conclusion 43
6.0 Criticisms <strong>and</strong> Recommendations 45
7.0 References 48
8.0 Appendices 52
8.1 Sampling schedule used to measure visitor interest in the experimental sign
treatments 52
8.2 Example <strong>of</strong> (scan time sampling) data sheet used to record <strong>Kea</strong> behaviour
concurrently with visitor viewing characteristics. 52
8.3 <strong>Kea</strong> ethogram used to differentiate between categories <strong>of</strong> behaviour. 53
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