The View From Outside the Pen

Most days, for nearly twelve hours a day, I am with Bow, inside the pens. But I do occasionally go outside, and when I do, this is what it looks like.

This was my front yard, yesterday morning. Everything is in bloom, and the birds are singing. I brought some redbud blossoms for Bow to try again, as they have fully opened up by now, and even the leaves are starting to come in.

Bow decided he would rather watch me eat the flowers than eat them himself. They taste fine, but it's just like salad: not enough calories to live off. Redbud would make a nice garnish, but not a meal.

The weather has gotten cooler this morning, so much so that I am wearing a jacket. Bow is sleepy, because the sky is cloudy and there is not that much light.

Earlier, I went out to the back yard to mow what grass we have left. I have not been taking care of the grass, and the dogs have worn out big patches. However, what remains needs to be kept fairly low. This gives me an opportunity to interact more with the dogs, but Bow feels left out.

Notice how when Bow rattles the grid, the pea plants shudder? I am not sure what to do about that. In the distance, we could occasionally hear gunshots. Our neighbors must be out hunting.This upset Bow a little, but the dogs did not care.

Brownie really wanted me to throw him a rock, so I complied.

Brownie was very happy that I threw him that rock, but he did not return it to me. He decided it was time to bury it. Leo just wanted to be petted.

I use a hand-pushed reel mower, which is good exercise, but I stop many times to look at things in the yard.

The dogwood is in full bloom now. The dogs look happy under its snowy blossoms.

Bow, on the other hand, was not always so happy while I was out in the yard. This is what he looked like from outside the pen.

This is the way most people view primates in zoos and sanctuaries. Even the people who work there as caretakers often do not get to go in.  It is not the best way to really get to know a chimpanzee and develop a long term relationship. But when we go inside, as I did, after I had mowed the grass, the grid disappears, and we see the real chimp.

Bow wanted me to groom him, so I did,  but now Leo was jealous. You can't please everyone all at once!

Foraging

Yesterday afternoon it occurred to me that I should give Bow some pointers on foraging. If we ever convert that five acre pasture to an island for him, and if he still refuses to do any work, then he will at least need to know what naturally growing plants are good to eat. Usually chimpanzees learn this from their mothers. I therefore decided to pick some of those chives, or wild onions, as well as a sprig of redbud. Since presentation is everything, I place them in a big blue willow china bowl.

Bow saw me do this, and he knew it was supposed to be food, since it was in a bowl, but he did not ask for it until snack time rolled around. Then he just said he wanted the bowl. He did not refer to the things in the bowl.

Bow examined what was in the bowl, decided that it was not food after all, and handed it back to me. Then it was my job to demonstrate that it really was food, by showing him that I could eat it myself. He took great interest in my eating, watching closely, and then sniffing inside my mouth, so he could get a good idea of what it tasted like. While I was still busy eating, Bow decided to try the chives. He liked how it tasted, so he had some more. He never took to the redbud, though. I guess he's  not a native American! Or maybe they did something to the redbuds before they ate them. I'm not sure.