6/5/2023 – Will life ever get any easier? Spring has been crazy and we haven’t gotten to summer yet! Nothing too serious, just busy! Here’s some back news…
The weather turned warm with sunshine on April 8 and I was able to begin working on Max’s new wire roofing using 1×4 rough-sawn pine wood for braces. First, I needed to paint them and I used every partial can of rustoleum I had which is why some are black, white and almond. 🤣 Do I care? NO! Burt Parrot supervised. It was brief as she got bored and headed for the steps to be let inside.
April 10 marked my one-year with Lil Bun Holland Lop. He turned a year old on February 14th but this was the day I drove 4 hours to pick him up. He is a very sweet bun!
A hot day on April 13 and the security camera caught Max chilling on the floor.
On April 16 I was able to complete the first of many sections to Max’s wire roofing. This 5×15 section had plastic conduit piping, chicken wire and 2×4 welded wire. I removed the piping and chicken wire and added the board braces. My main goal is to have a secure wire roofing with large enough openings that will allow snow to fall through without accumulating and collapsing the roof.
The last of April is a blur as I was finishing up my weekly after-school programs at the museum with the last one on May 4. My focus was educating youth about the local plants and animals. I had a really good group of kids!
May 4 – Happy 12th Birthday Max! We celebrated with salmon, cardboard and a toy! See his video – Happy 12th Birthday! The photo on the left is Max at 12 and right is at 6. So handsome!
The next day we visited the vets for an all-out checkup. Max did well. It was quick and professional. He even came out of sedation in a timely manner so I could go to work. The results? Improved values and he’s quite healthy. I will try to work on getting some of that weight off along with his fur. Still combing! Here’s a photo of Max and his vet, Dr. Bo and you can visit the Health Check 2023 video for more information & photos. BTW, yes Max is sedated and his eyes are opened!
Another section of wiring done on May 6. This time at the other end of Max’s 60-foot enclosure. Yay!
I had been doing a lot of thinking about the grass in Max’s enclosure. The small push mower blows too much grass around because of the plexiglass shields, although it’s quick and efficient. The rotary mower was not efficient at all. The grass had to be bone dry and you had to have enough push speed to rotate the blades. So, I sold it really cheap. I purchased an electric weedwhacker with wheels. I pop off the wheel assembly and can use it like a regular weeder. It’s also does edging. I love it and it does a really good job. Though it’s more work and takes additional time but at least it doesn’t freak out Max or get me filthy dirty.
May 19-20 I had Starling issues. I found two out of the nest prematurely and another two dead in a nest. I believe more than one family was nesting in my porch eave. It was very sad but the two alive finally fledged with their mothers. I got a few good shots of mom feeding baby and a closeup of the baby as he was waiting for mom.
Other happenings were donating extra caging and attending a wildlife rehabbers gala. I donated one of Max’s books for their silent auction. I also decided to “give back” by attending an Eco-Arts Festival in August to help promote the protection of our local environment and wildlife. Max will be there as ambassador, of course.
Mid-May, Max received fresh catnip from my friend Deb. Oh boy, he loved it! On the same day, Ruby Chinchilla surprised me by standing on the scale motionless and allowed me to snap a photo! She even let me put a hat on her. 😂 I have been weighing her monthly because she was losing weight. However, she seems to have settled in and is gaining. Her and Pearl are not much better about being picked up and held. It’s a challenge and sometimes a flight around the cage. I don’t like stressing them out, so I haven’t been persistent. They have good days and bad when it comes to being friendly.
So here we are to the end of May with my cousin Genevieve visiting from Canada. We had some outings and also worked on Max’s roofing. I had finished installing the board braces by the 22nd, the weekend before. Of course, it turned out to be in the 90’s on the 27 & 28 and I had to buy 3 a/c’s! However, in spite of the depression about air conditioner costs, I was happy to have finished all the wiring. (Yay!) That’s creating a roofing with 8×8 openings. Max sees the wire to eliminate his curiosity and the openings are large enough to prevent snow/ice buildup. Up and down the ladder and working over my head with the sore shoulders took a toll on this old girl. My cousin is 20 years younger, so it was a easier for her! I also painted his two cat walk boards. What’s left to do? I need to cut the 2×4 welded wire into larger openings in the three enclosures and re-wire the 10×15 area. The 2×4’s in that area and the double-entry safety area will need to be rotated to their sides which will allow the boards to be stronger with heavy snow. It’s always something and I hope that this solution will allow me to enjoy winter more instead of being out in it pushing snow off his roofing and repairing it. I have all summer and fall to get this done. If I take an hour every weekend, it should be a piece of cake. Oh, I would love some cake right now! LOL
Stay tuned for some pics and a video of Max and his red egg ball.
Wildlife Education by Bernie 
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