23:00, Sunday, 10 July, 2011

This morning there was an ostrich in our path during a Happy Zebra prey transect. Turns out it’s hilarious being behind an ostrich when it runs; they start to go one way, sticking their wing out in the appropriate direction, and then promptly decide it’d be better to go the other, and end up weaving back and forth like a drunk failing the line test. Their feathers accentuate the motions, tail bouncing and wings flailing.

The alpha female in Happy Zebra died recently. Shortly before we arrived for the summer, Meg and Zach (I think it was-maybe Dave) found Koi dead with puncture wounds, probably killed by lions. It is now an interesting point for investigation to see who will rise to be alpha female. But all along, we thought for sure that Koi’s young cubs, Barracuda and Coelacanth, would long be dead. They are only eleven months old. So this morning, when we came upon a group of the Happy Zebra hyenas eating a topi head, there were two cubs present. Lo and behold, they were Barracuda and Coelacanth! Wahoo! And the subadult Boomerang acted submissive to Barracuda over a scrap. My guess is that Pike, the subadult female who is Koi’s older daughter, has risen to be alpha, allowing Barracuda and Coelacanth to ride in as her high-ranking sisters and allowing them ample access to food. However, there is no way to be sure at the moment; there were no aggressive encounters over the food while we were there. But Pike was the one with the topi head, eating to her heart’s content without anyone bothering her. I’ve a hunch she has inherited the thrown.

Our day after morning obs was no less eventful. We have a camp full of four extra people tonight! Over at Talek Camp, both of the cars broke down and are being taken to Nairobi to be fixed. Therefore Janie, Adrianna, Julia, and the new RA Eli have come to stay with us so that they can go out on obs. It’s been super fun to have them here! It’s so good to see Adrianna and Janie, I love Julia already, and Eli is a lot of fun for sure. He and Janie played us music before dinner; Eli plays the banjo, and Janie the ukulele. Joe, they played “Wagon Wheel” and we all sang. It was beyond wonderful. After dinner we hung around playing the board game called “Ticket to Ride” for an hour and a half. It’s a pretty fun game involving lots of colorful little trains and track-laying. Lia and I kicked everyone’s butt (also known as we barely won by two points). We are all going to be so tired tomorrow morning. People who get up at ungodly hours should go to bed before eleven thirty.

I’m not sure how much longer we will be at this camp with this new development, but I know it will at least be a few days longer, which is a relief because the wildebeest STILL haven’t arrived. There’s no way we will miss them now.

Tinsel’s little black cubs were to die for this evening. And good ole Drew was playing with them again. Whereas the other older cubs get bored with the little ones after awhile, she gives all of her attention to them, like a little old mother hen. I also find it fascinating that the cubs are already aware of the social expectations of the hyena world. They head-bob when appropriate and politely lift leg for greetings like little pros. I wonder how much of that is learned and how much is instinctual.