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.
