July 23rd

What a busy day! Erik and I attended the first bird releases of the summer. The day before two eagles were found injured in Totem Park. They had been fighting and engaged in the locking of talons and spiraling towards the earth maneuver that is also a part of their matting ritual. These birds failed to unlock talons before hitting the ground and were a bit shaken up. When the rescue team arrived they forced the birds to separate and discovered puncture wounds from the aerial battle. As it turns out both these birds had bruiting patches, which is a bare spot on the eagles stomach used for the purpose of incubating eggs. Vickie the centers vet, knew she had to get these birds back into the wild so they could return to their nests. If a chick is left two long without the aid of both parents it will die. Vickie fixed up the puncture wounds and gave both the birds antibiotics. By the next day the birds were banded and ready to be set free. Everyone kept their fingers crossed as we observed the release event. Vickie was taking a chance by releasing these birds early with unhealed injuries. But when those eagles hoods were removed they both took to the sky. Quite an amazing sight.


-At the eagle release.


-They don't look back....they don't write, they don't call.

That afternoon Jen took Reece, Erik and I to the Fortress of the Bear sanctuary. Allot of people have mixed feelings about this bear “rehabilitation” center. The bear sanctuary mission is to rehabilitate orphaned and problem bears to be placed into zoos. You can't rehabilitate a bear to be released back into the wild because once it is cared for by humans it will no longer have the natural fear of man. The bear could then become very dangerous and approach people for food or break into building to raid kitchens etc. Talking with Jen I discovered that it is also very tough to place a bear in a permanent facility simply because allot of zoos are currently stocked with them. Many people feel as if the center is unnecessary and has become just a tourist attraction. The Fortress currently owns two bear cubs who's mother was shot two years earlier because it had become a problem bear.


-At the Fortress of the Bear.

Talking with the owner, I could tell he had passion and love for the bears. I'm glad that the orphaned bears were spared but looking around at the facility gave me weird feelings. The bears are kept in what seems to be an uprooted extremely large open topped silo. As a requirement to posses bears the Fortress had to prove they could manage live animals and wast management. Those animals such as hogs, goats and ducks still are raised on the property and give the place a barnyard feel.


-The bear's enclosure.

Next stop Theobroma Chocolate Company! We received a tour of the factory and enjoyed many free bar samples. We all bought some chocolate and were on our way once again.

At the docks we waited to aboard the Allen Marine wildlife tour. We had a bit of a scare previous to boarding as the voyage was almost canceled, result of the lack of people. However, enough people arrived and we ventured off into the open water. I felt a bit motion sick out on the open sound because of some rough waters. When we headed into the calm bay area all sickness was gone and I could really enjoy myself. Just goes to show me that whenever I'm at sea I need to be drugged.


-Boarding the boat.


-Erik and I.

We saw harbor seals, a humpback whale, tons of jelly fish, dozens of sea otters, and best of all lots of amazing sea birds. The scenery was breathtaking, and sharing it with Erik made the trip the best it could be. I wish I could do it all again, over and over.


-My Boog.


-At sea.


-Active eagles nest.


-Humpback.


-Raft of sea otters.


-Fishing boat.


-Mount Edgecombe in the clouds.

This was indeed our busiest day yet. Tonight Skyler, Reece, Erik and I headed on over to Adams house/bunkhouse for a birthday party. We ate some very good food here, talked, sat around a fire and feasted upon boob cake for desert. Not until after the party did Erik realize that the birthday girl was a lesbian thus the cake decorated as boobs. It was nice to hang out with all of my friends and Erik at the same time. Up till that point Erik and I were busy flying solo and doing some essential catching up.