It’s warmed up again today and the wind is blowing enough that it has a furnace like quality. All the chimpanzees have been active today, but once lunch and late afternoon rolled around, I began seeing everyone start to grow drowsy in the heat.
Honey B and Mave were grooming while Willy B napped outside in the chute:
Eventually Honey B grew sleepy:
Jody dozing off in the greenhouse:
Jamie was quietly grooming herself with her boot tucked away in her pelvic pocket (naturally) when even she nodded off:
Of course you know who was not sleepy today? Yep, this guy, flailing about like a wild thing in the playroom while he plays with Chad on the outside of the window:
I’m telling you just looking at these photos is making me sleepy. The chimp house is completely quiet right now, the only sounds are the wind, the neighboring swallow kids who are starting to fledge the nest and (!!!) much to my astonishment and thrill, a cicada!!
Now I realize if you live somewhere cicadas are a common sight and sound, you may not feel the same level of excitement about this as I do. But I love cicadas and they hold a special place in my heart where I hold a lot of love for the south and my time there. I’ve spent most of my life in the Pacific Northwest and until two days ago had no idea we had cicadas here! Someone local posted a photo on Facebook recently asking what they were and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was Elphaba green with envy they’d seen them! But the cicadas must have heard my lament because lo and behold who should perch on the fence outside the chimp house and even land on me today?! Our regional orchard cicada! Their loud, steady stridulation is only adding to the spell cast by this summer day, lulling us all to sleep.
We’re minutes away from dinner being served though and the chimp house is due to erupt with hoots and hollers any minute so I better snap to!…And right on cue, the first hoots are happening! Dinner time! Have a lovely evening everyone!
