I HAD to go pick up a copy of the group koala picture we did on Thursday, so I took advantage of one last volunteer's perk for this season (free admission anytime). I had a little ride on the little train and watched the Wild Skies Free Flight Bird Show from the spectators' seats. Imagine that!
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Highlights of a highlight day: A piece of petrified wood. Tree stump that I'm pretty sure was in the rock & gem shop that was a previous use of what is now the volunteers office. WAY before my time at the Sanctuary started! Koala boy, Brut, was sleeping in a perfect spot for selfies. Trish (with Lauren's OK) let me into the gliders room in the nocturnal-house. It was the first time I had a squirrel-glider up close encounter! Early in the shift, before the crowds started lining up for koala photos, I got a cuddly with Moet - and a few unofficial photos on pocket cameras & phones. The full team was here today, so we knocked off raking, window cleaning, and pot & pole washing, all in short order and had time to offer red clay to the koalas. The clay has trace minerals and koalas will eat some if they feel like it. It is a treat for us volunteers. Hard to explain, but it is a special experience - a level of intimacy that we don't often achieve. At the end of shift we got most of us together for a group koala cuddle photo (sorry Kylie, but you were in a meeting then). I was holding koala girl Snow. Time is fleeting! Four months is gone in a flash. All of a sudden, this is my last yellow-shirt shift for this Australia stay. Two Tasmanian Devils. Small-leaf tamarind fruit. Endangered tree species. They grow up so fast, but I still do not know why the duck family crossed the footpath. ;) Lots of little dents in the brush turkey mound. I reckon they might be where eggs have hatched & chicks emerged. Code D, lorikeet. The white ibis paddock. And a turkey in a fig tree! Red roo joey in pouch. Snake in the grass - coastal carpet python on the wallaby enclosure. Emus bathing - cooling off on a hot morning. Have a look at the vids below. The big birds are goofs! The gorgeous old Moreton Bay fig tree between the Wild Skies stadium and the Australiana stage. Billabong Falls & Flat Rock Creek pond. A wild intermediate egret at the free flight bird show. Two of the presentation team on stage. Our gang at lunch at North Kirra SLSC after shift. I'll see all you-all next time around! It's always a good day when I get to work as a wildlife volunteer in Koala Photos. The animals, staff & other volunteers are fantastic. Hurray for the new bit of fence at the OLD main train station. It should be very effective in cutting down on the number of visitors strolling down the train tracks! Volunteer Jessie and koala Yorkie were getting down & checking each other out. Koalakrusader Mandy was using the professional camera equipment. I have a new respect for our common lizard friends, the water dragons. One big boy has a rat in his mouth! I was on my way home after shift and did not stick around to see how he handled his meal. WHen you scroll past that, the videos are really cute koalas. Today is Chinese New Year (Pig) and CWS looks festive, but that is not what this post is about. Sorry if you feel misled, but the real content is much more important. Every 3 years at CWS staff & volunteers must complete a Health, Safety, & Security induction refresher. My last one was in 2015, so here I am, out of uniform on a Tuesday participating in what I affectionately refer to as Muffin Day (because of the traditional morning tea). The format has changed a bit over the years, and today's team was more engaging and fun than induction days of old. We even had a visit from Blinky Bill!
A few pics form the site walkabout: saltwater crocs, an operation on a bat, and our creek/lake is almost dry. |
AuthorRetired Canadian volunteer. Archives
March 2024
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