May is our most stunning time of year here at the sanctuary. Spring suddenly explodes in a kaleidoscope of birdsong, wildflowers and neon green grass. It only lasts a few short weeks before the sun bakes everything brown, but all of the primates relish every single glorious day.
Every morning while the chimpanzees are having breakfast the lead caregiver for the day walks the perimeter of Young’s Hill (sans Jamie) to ensure that the outdoor habitat is secure to give the chimps access to. It always feels strange to be out there without the boss lady, but it’s one of the most peaceful and beautiful times of the day, watching the sanctuary wake up:
As the sun rises over the hill these redstem stork’s bills cover the sanctuary in fields of pink. By afternoon they pull their tiny shades to the hot sun and you’d never even know they were there.
Our friendly neighborhood elk, Ellie (aka Buttons, locally) doing her best to stick to all the shady spots:
Foxie and her Doras took a leisurely stroll by themselves this morning, weaving in and out of the tall, spring grass:
We have three tiny American Goldfinch couples singing their hearts out all the live long day this year. They are so vivid they look like flying dandelions when they take flight from the grass.
For as far as the eye can see the hillsides are covered in balsamroot:
Birthday lady, Jody, promptly made a nest in front of the barn doors where the cool breeze wafts through the chimp house. She seems pretty pleased with how 43 looks so far:
The bleeding heart blooming outside the frontrooms is filling the chimp house with the most beautiful scent right now. In the upper 80’s, it’s by far the warmest day we’ve had this year and the chimps are sprawled in every direction, dozing in the afternoon breeze, only the sounds of swallows zipping and zooming and chittering. It’s a good day.
Beautiful photos! Love the ones of sweet Jody in her nest. Good to see Ellie.
Thanks, Jackie! It’s always nice to see Ellie when she checks in so we know she’s doing well. 🙂
You got a pet elk! Who has that? 🙂
Beautiful pictures. Do the chimps eat bleeding hearts?
Hi Gabi,
Ellie was separated from her mama at birth and ended up hanging around the neighboring ranches so although she’s unfortunately habituated to humans, we do our best to keep our distance from her. She is considered “wild” and does her own thing, roaming the valley. And is quite well loved by the local community. 🙂 Bleeding hearts are toxic, but we do have wild roses on the property and the chimps love to eat those!
Katelyn, you could work as a storyboard artist/writer. You create such a vivid scene I always feel as if I am there taking in all the sights, sounds, and scents of Young’s Hill along wth the chimps. Thank you for transporting me! And I too love the photo of Jody cozy in her nest peeking our the door.
Never knew Ellie was named Buttons either. Happy to see her keeping cool.
Oh thanks, Kathleen! Glad you enjoy them. 🙂 The chimps and humans are enjoying this peaceful time of year. And yes, Ellie is much better known as Buttons, but we’ve learned she has a handful of names she’s picked up in her travels.
I am really loving all your videos and posts of your sanctuary. You have my prayers for continued success. Sr. Louise
Thank you for caring about the chimps, Sister Louise! We’re so glad to hear you’re enjoying following their lives. 🙂
One of my favorite blog’s to date! I love the flower and chimp and elk pictures all woven together into a beautiful tapestry of warmth, love, and plenty. Thank you for bringing to us so vividly. Wish I was there to share in the good times.
Thank you so much, Lynn, that’s lovely of you to say. We’re so grateful that the chimps are able to be surrounded by so much beauty and love. Thanks for being part of their family.
What a fabulous post. And thanks for telling us a little about Ellie. I never did hear how she came to be but always loved when she went for a walk all around the Sanctuary with the caregivers and Chimps. Beautiful flowers My favorite time of year but we seem to go from winter right into summer. And like everyone else, my favorite picture is of Jody in her nest.
Thank you, Elaine. Yes, Ellie is about 7 years old now and it’s pretty clear she won’t be choosing to join any wild herds in the area, unfortunately. But she seems pretty content with her life as it is. It’s true, we didn’t get a chance to acclimate to the heat it seems, though I think we have a few cooler days ahead. The chimps are really enjoying these peaceful, easy days.
Beautiful photos Katelyn…One can almost smell the scents of spring in your descriptive! 🙂 I’m also curious about Ellie. If she was just a newborn when she separated from her mother, was she bottle fed somewhere and if so, is that the reason she is so tame? It is odd that she doesn’t join up with a wild herd but they may all just sense her difference and not accept her even if she tried to join them.
Jody looks so beautifully content in her nest by the doors. 🙂
Thanks, Chris! We aren’t certain of all of the details of Ellie’s early childhood, but at some point I think she just started eating alongside the neighboring horses and cattle where she chose to stay for the first few years of her life. By the time she started roaming a bit and spending time here, she was about 4 years old (I think she’s around 7ish now). In regards to her joining a herd, I think you’re correct and I am pretty sure she would have nothing to do with it either at this point as she really is accustomed to doing exactly as she pleases. She has had several opportunities to check out her fellow wapiti who pass through occasionally, but seems to ignore them completely. I suspect her elk social skills are pretty different than theirs. 🙂
Yes, I’m sure by now she thinks she’s a different creature altogether…although wouldn’t it be something if one day she shows up with a little one of her own? Probably unlikely though, at this point!
PS. Again, your photos in this post are extraordinary!