Within the past couple of days, the weather has been almost nearly perfect. Sun in the sky without a sight of a cloud. Not too hot and not too cold. Gentle breezes instead of wind gusts. This is the perfect weather for outdoor activities.
After security checks were completed, the Seven were given access to Young’s Hill first thing in the morning.
While six of the seven immediately patrolled their grounds, one decided to stay back and just enjoy the warm Spring morning.
Negra elected to go onto Young’s Hill and eat her breakfast hard-boiled egg in the sun while the others patrolled.
With the weather being so nice, we thought it would be a great day for a lunch forage outside of carrots, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and bonus pineapple tops.
Jamie:
As you can see, Jamie won out with Fistfuls of Bell Peppers.
Missy:
Though Jamie went straight for the bell peppers, the pineapple tops were in Missy’s sights.
Negra:
Burrito:
Annie:
Foxie:
Jody:
Jody has learned, some times you have to climb the highest of heights to get the biggest reward.
The Three on the other side of the building are still settling into their new playrooms. Though it seems it’s technically no longer “settling in” as much as it is they fully moved in and have become comfortable in the new areas.
Willy B has started to use the artificial tree branches/platforms as his new lounge area.
Though Willy B, Honey B, and Mave have access to new areas, they are still fond of their old ones. For Willy B, in particular, the Courtyard is still an area he loves to venture out to.
Though he did go outside today, I was not able to get any photos. Instead I will share some of the ones I took on Sunday of his Courtyard Adventures.
When Willy B first gets access to the Courtyard, he will scan around for any nuts or food items near the boardwalk. Afterward, he seems to just take in the surroundings, some times even taking a nap on the boardwalk.
What happens next is usually when he notices he has an audience.
When Willy B notices the Group of Seven watching him for their playroom windows, he has to show them this area is his. He does this through his territorial display.
First he begins his pant hooting:
Then he becomes piloerect and moves to the nearest loudest object. In the Courtyard, this is a barrel.
Once he reaches the barrel, he begins drumming it:
As the intensity and rhythm of the drumming increases, so does his pant hooting. When his display reaches its’ crescendo, he hits the drum as hard as he can in one final *BAM* and lets out a scream for all the hear:
When finished, Willy B resumes taking in the Spring sun and air, while also peeking to see if the neighbors got the message and if it riled them up.
Hint: They usually do and it usually does.
Thank you for the update. So glad the weather has warmed up so they can be outside.
Wonderful pictures! The Chimps couldn’t be any cuter if they tried! Love them.
Willy B…another name for “smart aleck”……………………….
I would like to know whether the chimp eat the shells of the hard boiled eggs, or, do they spit them out?
Great question, Diane! They actually peel them just like we do and mostly discard the shells. None of them actively eat the shells.
Whenever I see the chimps do a forage and they are climbing to the top of a structure to get their prize, I always think that some human had to climb way up all these structures to place the treats. With that, all the cleaning, walks, chasing, laundry, etc, etc, you caregivers sure get your exercise! Thank you for all you do!
Thank you so much, Darcy! They are definitely a lot better at navigating their way up and down the structures than we are!
Fun Fact: The above photographs provide incontrovertible evidence that Neggie is just flat-out cute.
Oh, and those lips on Willy when he hoots out his display (with musical accompaniment): no wonder the ladies of the Gang of Seven scream over him! Talk about le Sacre Printemps!
Re pineapple tops. Do they eat the leaves or juest enjoy the pineapple meat and juice?
And he’s smiling about it in that last photo…..cheeky boy. It’s so wonderful to see them enjoying their forage in the sunshine. Could Jody cram any more into her stash, do you think?? Seems like they all had a good feed out there.
I thought he looked pretty pleased with himself, too!
When I see a beautiful photo of Negra, sitting in the sun, it reminds me of my own mother who I cared for in the last years of her life ( she passed when she was 96 ). They have the same love for a sheltered sunny spot, and their bodyshapes are similar too: lovely sagged old-lady-breasts……endearing.
Everyone represented foraging on the hill! Thanks for including all seven (I know this isn’t easy to do). I was chuckling over Jamie’s red pepper haul and then I saw Farmer Joe’s! Yup, Jody earned her title once again. And you know I appreciated seeing dear Neggie quietly enjoying her egg — as well as absconding with a pineapple top! How wonderful to be able to forage outside on a beautiful sunny spring day.
I can’t speak for the Cle Elum chapter of the Willy B Fan Club, but, if I were to witness that incredible display of Mr. Handsome’s, I would most certainly get the message and be riled up too! At Willy B’s size, his displays must be a sight to see. Man is he a charmer.
At this point, Willie’s gonna need a big screen to be able to watch “his stories” in the big rooms! Let’s get that fubd started! 😀
*fund
These kids are so sweet. I never tire of looking at the pictures and videos so thank you so much for sharing the Chimps they are wonderful and I love them!!!