Author Archive: Nicole Richards
Monthly Archive: December Nico
A little piece of the puzzle – Citizen Science works!
ROM Ornithologist, Mark Peck describes one of the ways he contributes to Citizen Science
Bug Hunting with Bed Sheets
![Searching for insects at night. Image: Fatima Ali 3 people in silhouette look for insects attracted to a light](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/fatima_ali_silhouette.jpg?itok=kF2mp4KQ)
Collections Matter
![Some of the ROM’s collection of Ivory Gulls (Pagophila eburnea), a species endangered in Canada A drawer filled with Ivory Gulls](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/collections_matter3.jpg?itok=qA6Ibonb)
What exactly is a LOT?
![Specimens are preserved, sorted into LOTS, identified, and catalogued Several fish in a jar](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/twitter_collection_specimen_with_ecological_data_historical_b_1.jpg?itok=lAMWBTY2)
In the past 100 years, the Ichthyology section at the ROM has amassed over one million fish specimens from around the world in one of the largest fish collections in North America. These specimens are preserved, sorted into LOTS, identified, catalogued and shelved like books in a library.
Explorers' Club kids get a sneak peak at the newest Animal Explorer
![Vara hanging around at the Totem Pole stairs A Komodo Dragon Toy on a staircase railing at the ROM](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/dsc05182.jpg?itok=aemVFCo4)
Submitted by Courtney Murfin, Interpretive Planner and Explorers' Club Co-chair
Conservator in the House – In-situ Conservation of the “Tree Cookie”
![Heidi Sobol conducting conservation work with Tree Cookie](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/heidi_and_tree_cookie.jpg?itok=YvNlm4tR)
Find out what Heidi Sobol, Senior Conservator of Paintings is up to in the Schad Gallery!
Bring on the Welcoming Committee: Doni the Komodo Dragon is Here
![Here's Doni! A close-up of the Komodo Dragon in the Life in Crisis: Schad Gallery of Biodiversity](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/dsc04662.jpg?itok=vO5y0y42)
It's taken over a year to get this specimen ready, but the newest addition for the Schad Gallery was worth the wait.
Komodo Dragon Preparation, Step 3: Cleaning and Articulating the Bones
![Removing the last of the tissue from the Komodo Dragon skull A volunteer cleans the remaining tissue from the Komodo Dragon skull](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/dsc02458.jpg?itok=TS4aODN0)
The final stages of preparing Doni, the Komodo Dragon for display
Komodo Dragon Preparation, Step Two: To the Bug Cave! I mean, Bug ROOM
![Before preparation of the speciman began A close-up of the Komodo Dragon head before preparation of the speciman began](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/Komodo_head.jpg?itok=1CfICQRU)
Viewer discretion advised. Images depict a Komodo Dragon being dissected as it is prepared for the ROM's collections. Some images may be shocking.
Pronghorns and Prickly Pears and Bison…oh my! Thoughts on Grasslands National Park
Submitted by Alexander Muth, winner of the Find the Baby Bison Contest
![](http://blog.rom.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Alexander-on-the-top-of-70-mile-Butte.jpg)
Alexander loving the view from the top of 70 mile Butte
We’re back. We all had a great trip out west. It’s hard to pick out highlights, as it all seems like highlights to me.
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