Early mornings in Cy’s group can be pretty rowdy. Some of the boys (usually Willy B, but occasionally Gordo, Terry, or Cy) will begin displaying at some ungodly hour—5 or 6am if we’re lucky, or 2am if they know we have to work in the chimp house the next day—and the whole group will take turns screaming, pant hooting, or even chasing each other around. The chimps don’t usually bed down for the night, per se, but instead engage in first sleep, second sleep, and so on, sometimes moving to a new nest each time. But as the sun begins to rise over the Bray, things start to change.
One by one, they make their way to Greenhouse 2 (the Oakwood Greenhouse), compelled by the sun. As the greenhouse heats up and becomes bathed in a warm glow, the chimps groom, nap, and engage in their favorite activities together. This is the one time each day when the group reliably comes together as a whole (with one typical exception, of course!). I think of them as the Sunrise Committee, and when the Committee convenes, I know I can drink my coffee in peace.
If you know Honey B, you know she’s not one for committees. So this is usually her personal time, when she gets to enjoy the freedom of being alone. Sometimes she’ll pull one of the committee members for a game of chase or mall walking, but it’s rare to see her in the middle of the grooming session.
I kept waiting for Honey B to arrive, without thinking that she might be up to something already! So nice to see what their morning routine is. :grinning:
I noticed she was missing, too, but wasn’t expecting her to join that huge group. I laughed so hard at “checks to see if she’s got the place to herself” :laughing:
So interesting Cy is the last to arrive, perhaps because he’s the alpha?
He was up late the night before watching a movie. 🙂
Wow ,Honey B looks like a Mother who sent her last kid Off to School ……..and has ” Me Time ” now:grin::heartpulse:
That was fascinating! Thank you!
THIS is what sanctuary is all about. Waking up at sunrise, one by one, and having friends, or a family actually, to quietly gather with you while you dust the sleepy spiderwebs out of your head and imagine what good fortune the day will bring. And then there’s Honey B!! Blissfully enjoying the “freedom of being alone”. I thought I’d die laughing watching her sneaking about to be sure she had her section of the chimp house all to herself! Ahhhh the thrill of being alone. HB is a wonder!
Thanks for introducing us to the Sunrise Committee. (I so enjoy learning little details like this.) Those remote cameras sure do come in handy!
Thank you for the posts about Jody over the weekend. I never knew about her babies and her miscarriages that were no doubt because of a trial for some new drug to make companies richer. So grateful that she got to spend her last years in happiness with her family. Thank you for all you do and have done.
Nice video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Must have taken a while to edit.
Every time I tune into your blog I learn something new about.your sanctuary and the habits of the chimps. The Sunrise Committee shows yet another aspect of the chimps’ daily routine. I found it interesting to learn about the chimps’ sleeping habits like they don’t bed down and sleep through the entire night. l loved watching Honey B chilling out and what a fantastic start to the day. Wish I was there with you all. :heart::heart:
Loved seeing the giant grooming pile on the platform in the greenhouse! It’s so great seeing everyone enjoying the sunrise together.
(Sans Honey B, who is enjoying some alone time to let loose and have some fun! That’s a very Honey B way to spend the morning!)
I really enjoyed this, JB. I also thought they slept through the night, more or less.
How over the moon are you with someone nesting on your inspired leaf platforms!? (is it Lucky?)
wish we had that many cameras on the other side
Thank you so much for sharing these peaceful moments with us. I think this is my new favorite blog video. The music chosen was perfect. I was so entertained that Cy grabbed a magazine before he joined his family. It all seemed so relatable. And that Honey B is such a special woman! Thanks for all of the extra time it took to edit the security camera footage together. Well worth it!
Just a joy to watch and learn! LOVED the title….which I will now think of and smile anytime, anywhere I hear the word “Committee.” Cy arriving (last or “late” as bosses often do) with a magazine was perfect….as was
Honey B’s private am yoga session. A great start here to an East Coast morning! Thank you!
JB thanks so much for this fascinating slice of Chimp life! I was actually thinking the other nite, curled up on my couch nest ( as opposed to my bed nest) about how the Chimps spend their evenings & am so happy that they do first & second sleep and move around much like I do! Lol. Thanks for always being real where the Chimps are concerned-the more you share the more I can relate! Beautiful video-thanks for sharing!
One of my, favorite, things is watching Cy with his magazines. Hilarious that he is so obsessed, and, wants to look at them first thing in the morning!
What?? how is it we are just learning of the sunrise committee? This is awesome! I love this