Ross, You could always cover the vacuum hose with cheesecloth to keep the hummingbirds out of danger! On Sat, 23 Aug 1997 21:21:18 -0400 Ross Weeks <[log in to unmask]> writes: >You're right, Nancy...if you can actually reach the specimens with a >vacuum >hose....it's best not to have eagles down there at eye level.... > >and what about the hummingbirds? <whoosh> right into the suction >tube. > > >---------- >> From: Nancy J Russell <[log in to unmask]> >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: Bird Dusting >> Date: Saturday, August 23, 1997 2:43 PM >> >> I would be very cautious about blowing the dust off the specimens . >I >> don't know their history, but have you tested them for arsenic? >There are >> kits that can help you do this. don't forget your own health and >safety. >> Check out the Conserve-O-Gram about arsenic. I also vaguely remember >a >> Conserve-O-Gram about the care of feathers. Does SPNHC have anything >> about cleaning mounted specimens? (I don't have my books with me >right >> now to check these things out). >> >> I would start by testing them first. If they do have arsenic, use a >> ventilator and rubber gloves during the cleaning. I'm going on my >memory >> here (who knows how accurate THAT is?) but it seems to me you can >dust >> with a small brush into a vacuum cleaner. Remember, the vacuum >cleaner >> bag then becomes hazardous waste and has to be disposed of properly. >> >> Even if the specimen isn't contaminated with arsenic, I would still >dust >> into a vacuum cleaner. Who wants to breathe/spread around all that >dust? >> >> Just my two cents. >> >> Nancy Russell >> >> >> On Sat, 23 Aug 1997 09:20:43 -0400 Ross Weeks ><[log in to unmask]> >> writes: >> >We have one each of the same, and use at present an aerosol product >> >that is >> >intended to gently blow the dust off delicate objects. No damage >has >> >been >> >noted to these, nor to other locally indigenous birds we exhibit. >> > >