Nesting

Waiting Out the Storm

August 14, 2014 by Elizabeth

For the last couple of days, we’ve gotten a much needed break from the hot and dry conditions here in Cle Elum. It’s been overcast and cool, with some rain and thunder. While the chimpanzees don’t love to be outside when it’s raining, they do seem to love cool, gray days, so they’ve been enjoying exploring Young’s Hill whenever the rain stops for a bit. When it starts up again, they head inside and cuddle up with some blankets or a favorite doll. Katelyn snapped these photos yesterday of Jamie and Negra keeping dry indoors.

Jamie:

Negra:

Chimpanzee Nest Slumber Party

August 2, 2014 by Diana

A few days ago we discovered the remains of a slumber party in the loft of the playroom (see photo below):

While it’s great to get photos of the chimpanzees doing things, it’s also fun to come across the evidence of their activities when we safely enter the area where they were.

The slumber party remains inspired me to take a look for some other nest photos, and below are a few favorites. But first a photo of Jody from a few weeks ago creating yet another nest masterpiece. I love the way Jody rolls the blankets to make a tight nest:

Here’s another photo of some sort of slumber party action:

This nest was found in Negra’s winter spot in the loft, so it might be hers, though it looks a bit neat for her style, so I’m going to guess it was a Missy construction. I like the unusually high sides:

What is happening here? Another multi-nest, or the start of a single enormous bed?

I’m a fan of hay and straw incorporated into nests, like this day-nest found on top of the platform in the greenhouse:

and then there’s the nests that have toys and other favorite things included:

This one’s from just the other day. If you’re familiar with the chimps, I give you only one guess as to who made this bed:

For the Love of Nesting

July 10, 2014 by Elizabeth

We talk a lot about transformations we’ve seen in the chimpanzees since they arrived at the sanctuary six years ago, both physical and behavioral. But one thing that hasn’t changed about Jody is her love of a good nest. From day one, Jody has made use of every last blanket we’ve provided to build big, soft nests multiple times a day. I’m not sure anything gives her more pleasure.

We included lots of paper in today’s enrichment, and Jody was happy to incorporate it into her morning nest in the playroom.

Jody has her own style

July 9, 2014 by Katelyn

As many of you know, Jody has lounging in comfort down to a fine art. She is a woman who feels very comfortable in her own skin and always knows exactly what she wants. It brings us so much joy to see how self-assured she is. Yesterday Jody chose to make a nest in the chimpanzees’ plastic turtle wading pool while enjoying the view from the barn doors and Lisa was able to get some photos:

We try to provide the chimpanzees with a variety of enrichment each day and it’s their choice to use it as they please, or ignore it. Jody, and all of the chimps, are so creative and unique with their choices and it’s always a joy to see what they come up with. Today Jody has enjoyed wearing a rainbow sock on her foot and has somehow managed to keep it on all day:

I love this lady’s style.

Nesting, Napping, and Sharing

July 6, 2014 by Lisa

Today is hot, hot, hot here in Central Washington and the chimpanzees are making the most of the day by relaxing in style. Each chimpanzee has been resting and nesting according to his or her personal preference.

Jamie enjoying the cool, shaded front rooms and, of course, a boot or two:

Negra relaxing in one of her favorite playroom hangouts, the catwalk with a view of the valley:

Jody resting comfortably beside the open barn doors of the playroom with a view to the garden:

Burrito lying on his back in the warmth of the greenhouse:

Foxie lying on her side, also in the greenhouse:

Missy took quite a while to construct the absolute perfect nest for herself in the greenhouse:

And almost immediately upon completion of it, promptly ran off onto Young’s Hill. So, while Missy was off on an adventure, Annie took full advantage of her friend’s skilled nest building.

What sanctuary means to Jamie

July 2, 2014 by Katelyn

Sometimes it’s hard not to look at the chimpanzees through our sorrow. We’ve spoken often here on the blog about what each of the chimpanzees have lost and endured. The ghosts of themselves they were when they first arrived. For me while Jamie’s “before sanctuary” photo is one of the most difficult to look at, I have always thought that her indomitable spirit can still clearly be seen in her eyes. Despite all she had been through, her strength and completeness was still there. But I sometimes think that in our intent to be compassionate, we must be cautious not to risk doing the chimpanzees a great disservice by seeing them only through the sometimes tragic circumstances of their lives.

There is no doubt that with each passing day in sanctuary we are able to see the chimpanzees becoming more and more their chimpanzee selves. As their stress, fear and anxieties fade into the background, their personalities are materializing in front of our eyes. Something I am learning to do more and more is not to hold each of the chimps to behaviors I have come to expect. I want to hold the space for them to grow and change in their own time and space. Provided with choices, an enriching environment, and a healthy, loving home, every day they show us another facet of themselves. And earlier this week Jamie gave us a perfect example of what sanctuary makes possible.

Typically the chimpanzees’ evening routine involves dinner being served at 4:30 while the playroom is closed for evening spot cleaning. We put out additional blankets for nesting and a food puzzle for evening enrichment. We then return access to the playroom so the chimps can enjoy their enrichment while Young’s Hill is closed off for the evening. The chimpanzees know the routine and normally and are more than ready to come in and start building their nests for the night. Usually by the time we leave, the chimps are in bed and if we’re lucky, offering nest grunts to us as we say goodnight and leave for the day at 5:30.

But a couple of nights ago, Jamie had other plans. It was a beautiful summer evening and she made it very clear that she was not ready for the door to Young’s Hill to be closed. And so it wasn’t. All the other chimpanzees were enjoying their evening enrichment and preparing their nests. But Jamie decided we should walk. And so we did. Caregiver Lisa and I took turns walking the perimeter of the hill with her again and again. At 8:00 J.B. and Diana (on their day off) came up to relieve us and wait for Jamie to decide she was ready to come in for the night. Occasionally, a few of the other chimps would get up to see what was happening or step onto the hill. Annie eventually built a nest in the greenhouse seemingly wanting to wait for Jamie to come in. Jamie finally decided she was ready for bed at 9:15.

While some people may not appreciate staying after work I think I speak for us all when I say I cannot think of anything that makes me feel as happy and privileged to do than to be able to provide the chimpanzees these choices. After all, isn’t that what sanctuary is all about? Loving them means respecting them and listening to them as the already complete individuals, with their own purposes, that they are.

In the well known words of naturalist Henry Beston, “For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth.”

Missy Makes a Nest

June 24, 2014 by Elizabeth

Nestmaking is one of my favorite chimpanzee behaviors to watch. Although each chimp has his or her own style, the basics are the same. A chimp will add one blanket at a time to the nest, arranging it so that it’s perfectly placed before continuing. Precision and focus are the name of the game.

Typically, the purpose of building a nest is to have a comfortable place to rest. But sometimes, it seems that the object is the process rather than the result. Missy spent several minutes building this nest in the greenhouse this afternoon, and just a moment after she had placed the last blanket, she leaped out of it and ran off to her next adventure.