Mystic Aquarium

I was blessed to be able to work in ICU again today with the little chicks! Only thing was that 614 had escaped from his pen overnight and was gallivanting around SANCCOB.

He was fine but he is an escape artist! He managed to escape from his outdoor pen two more times. This little one is "stout!"

I put band aids on my fingers today so they would be a little less painful when the chicks bite down with their beaks. My little weak one made it through the night and kept all the food that was offered today down. I kept him in a crate again so the other chicks wouldn't bother him. I hope that he is strong enough to go back with the others tomorrow.

Today all the little chicks got to go to an outside pen to get some fresh air. The day before it was very cold and rainy so they had to stay indoors. It's supposed to be summer here in Cape Town but it feels like a very chilly fall day back in New England! I'm really getting the hand of the routines and stayed on time all day. Today they got a weird animal from someone's garden, a guinea pig. Cheryl, one of the rehabilitators, came and picked it up. Cheryl has devoted much of her time and house for many years rehabilitating African penguins and chicks—she is a great friend of SANCCOB.

I think the chicks in ICU are coming along very nicely. They are starting to take more formula and eating fish much better. It's such a wonderful feeling to know that we are positively contributing to the conservation of this species. I don't know how I will leave SANCCOB and the chicks next week. My heart sinks just thinking about it. While the chicks are doing great they still have a long road ahead of them for survival. They will be in my heart and on my mind, always.

Tonight I'm extremely tired. It's hard, physical work each day, energizing but exhausting. I can't wait to see everyone and the chicks tomorrow. I will try to send photos of my new little love - and by the way you can adopt a chick to help bolster them.