goodbye

So I have survived another month here in monkeyland. I am pretty impressed with myself that I have managed to keep up with the regular blog posts. March was my best month yet I think. 27 posts out of 31 - not bad!

I think I am running out of things to say though... and instead of just blah blah blahing about nothing, I have decided to retire my blog. I need to focus on my schoolwork and collecting as much data as possible while I am here anyway.

Its been a blast. thanks so much for reading!

bye
xox
Dayna

bee tree

So I was out with the monkeys today and just before sunset, I came across this neat tree with a hollow bottom. I thought to myself "that tree would make a good home for some kind of critter". Then I looked up. It was warming with thousands of bees and I was right in front of it before I noticed.

Of course, I had to take a video before I ran away. This is a terrible video. sorry. I didn't want to get right in there just in case they decided to swarm me so I had to use the zoom. Regardless, you can see that the bees filled up the whole trunk!

At the very end of the movie I tried to move in a little bit closer, but then one single bee flew out and hit me in the hand so I took the hint and stepped back. I already got stung by a bee once this week, i didn't really feel like getting a thousand more.



<3 Dayna


p.s. I got bit 5 times on the had today by acacia ants. Now my finger is all sausagey.

happy sleepy monkey picture

I really like this photo.

This is a picture of Weirdo from LV having a lazy nap in the sun. I think I am going to put this photo on my wall when I go home because I feel happy and relaxed when I look at it.
^____^

Ketchup

Since i'm on the topic of babies, I thought I would introduce you to another one. This is Ketchup. He is the youngest member of LV and was born in December 2009. When I first arrived at Santa Rosa, he was so small that he didn't ever leave his mom (Salsa's) back. She carried him around everywhere she went. She is a great mom. This is a photo of him when he was about two months old. The little monkeys often make faces like this with their tongues sticking out. Apparently it helps them to thermoregulate and keep cool in the hot sun. I think it makes them look super cute and hilarious.

Baby ketchup is starting to grow and he is learning quickly. He is always watching the other monkeys to learn how to climb and forage and make the right monkey noises... and whenever I am around he can't take his eyes off me. I must look like a strange giant monkey to him. hehe. Ketchup's siblings now carry him around a lot (giving Salsa a break) and he often jumps down and climbs around in the trees all by himself. The other day, I watched him for about 10 minutes as he practiced his jumping. He would stand on a branch and then just jump forward for no reason, and land back on the branch again. He was all shakey and awkward and sometimes he would lose his balance a little. It was hella cute.

The younger monkeys often use Ketchup to practice their baby skills. I often see him riding on his sister Velveeta's back. She is nearly old enough to have her own baby...and I like watching her practice carrying Ketchup around and watching to make sure that he is safe. One time I was watching them and another monkey gave an alarm call (probably for a bird or something making noise on the ground). Velveeta quickly scooped up Ketchup and took him up to a safe spot in the tree. She was so fast! It was great to see.

Here is a photo of Ketchup from 2 days ago. You can see how much bigger he is now. His face is a lot fluffier and he doesn't look like a little gremlin anymore. I am not sure of which juvenile this is that is carrying him here. They are cute huh?

Ok. that's it for now! i'll try to post again later.

xoxox
Dayna

Chutney

This is Chutney. She is an adult female in the LV monkey group. She is my favorite female and SHE IS PREGNANT! The other day I was following her, and I noticed that her tummy looks really round and her belly button is kind of starting to stick out. I asked the PHD student to check the next time he was with the group. Today he confirmed it!
I TOTALLY CALLED IT!!!

I really hope that her baby is born before I go home. If I am the one who finds it, I get to pick its name! I know I am getting ahead of myself a little but if its a boy I like the name Wasabi and if its a girl I like the name Saffron. (this is the food/sauces/spices group). Please post in the comments if you can think of other cool names!!

In honour of Chutney's little bundle of joy I have changed my header image! Up there is a photo of the cute little mama and the (most likely) dad Cayenne. In the picture you can kind of see Chutney's fat little tummy!! SOOO CUTE!!!

monkey babies FTW!
<3 Day

p.s. Chutney has had at least 3 babies already but only one (Chai) has survived so far. I hope this new one makes it.