When geese attack

As the weeks progress I am learning various lessons, which makes a really refreshing change. It is great to be learning new things, not only about the animals, but about what I can do and about how to do things. I am quickly realising that animals have different animal natures.
Take, for instance, the dog, the night before. Something was bothering him, and in my naive belief that a kind word and a pat can make everything okay, he must have felt threatened, and hung on to my arm with his teeth. So I could be forgiven for thinking, the next day, that all animals were being affected by something. Perhaps the scent of spring in the air? I was on rodent duty again, which I was not unpleased about, as it meant I knew what to do and could work through without having to ask lots of questions. I thought I would try to be more methodical this time, and change the water and give them their food (unappetising looking nuggets) at the same time as changing their bedding. Although I decided to call it "flooring" as they use it in the daytime too... It must have been my presence disturbing them, but at one point all the rodents seemed to be scurrying about, squeaking, biting the bars and generally being frantic. Hence I thought that the animals could sense something that I could not... But this was fanciful and the real reason, I am sure, is because I was upsetting their peace and quiet.
It seemed to take me ages to do all the cages, but there were a few extra to last week, including some hairless rats, some baby rats, two chinchillas and some degus. However, no one comes to say, why are you taking so long, so perhaps I worry for no reason. Sawdust goes everywhere, so I am getting quite good at sweeping. I am becoming quite fond of Pippa, the gopher, who is the largest of the rodents there.

My next task was to fill the bird feeders, of which there are quite a few around the site. As it was Easter Sunday, the centre was busy, and so I was asked various questions, as I walked around filling the feeders with seed and nuts. Luckily I already have a good knowledge of where animals are, so I can direct people; and having watched wildlife programmes over the years, I have picked up enough knowledge to answer basic questions. One man asked why the cranes did not fly away. I hazarded a guess that their wings are clipped. The red pandas have now moved to Wales and in their place were some coatis, so I was pleased to be able to advise a visitor what they were. One woman asked me what some flowers were; unfortunately I had no idea. As a member of the public, you expect staff to know everything, or at least to be able to find it out.  I really like seeing the public enjoying the nature centre.

What I like about the work is that it is of a totally different nature to my day job at the university. I enjoy figuring out practical problems, and it must use a different part of my brain, as I can feel that this part has been under-used recently! It took me a while to figure out how to get a bird feeder back on to its bracket (it was a simple case of removing the top first, or it would not fit back on, but it took me a while to work out). One member of the public insisted on helping me, but I had to encourage him to continue looking round, as it would not be appropriate for a member of the public to be doing my job.


Visitors were excited to see me with two buckets, walking in a meaningful manner, as they thought I was off to feed some animals. I had to explain that I was feeding the birds. I reached one group of feeders that was in the goose's enclosure, when a little boy and his family asked what I was doing. "We'll stay and watch!" they said, just as I was having second thoughts about entering the pen with the goose. After they said that, I felt obliged somehow, to please them, and foolishly ventured forth. I'd heard things about Sid, the goose - how he was vicious and defensive, but then I had naively said to Ariane, "oh all geese are like that!" However, no sooner had I opened the gate, Sid rushed at me, wings puffed out, and before I could think twice, he bit at my leg with his beak, then went again for the other leg! It felt vicious and sharp, and I had visions of gaping wounds...(no damage done, surprisingly!) Backing off as quickly as I could, I wasn't fast enough to shut the gate and Sid came out into the outer grass pen. I went out and shut the gate, realising that I would have to call for help to get him back into his area. The little boy was clearly entertained by all this, although his family were concerned for me, and I explained he should keep away from the goose so he didn't get pecked.  Val at reception called for assistance, and as Kate was coming to help, I saw that Sid had made his own way back, so I hastily shut the gate on him. She apologised for him and said that he hates some people but doesn't mind others. She is one of the lucky ones. Back at home, it dawned on me that he must be called Sid because he is vicious...

To make up for the goose attack, the day ended nicely. Alex was the other volunteer on, and he is quite calm and pleasant. He said that he'd been attacked by one of the mouflon sheep one day and that a crowd had cheered it on! Talking of crowds, the sun had been out and a crowd had gathered to watch the lemurs, who were sunbathing in the most comical positions, one of them stretched out as if doing a star jump.

Sam is a full time worker, who is in charge of feeding the animals. She let me go in with her to the ring-tailed lemurs enclosure. Here is a family of three, with a baby lemur due any time soon. To my delight, Sam let me feed each lemur a piece of banana - they eat a predominantly fruit diet. I held out a piece of banana, and the male lemur reached forward from his branch and took it from me. The female did the same. It was an absolute privilege to be this close to such beautiful creatures. I got chatting to Sam and she said she had done the animal care course, with her placement here, and then got a job (although still on a temporary contract). She thought that experience counted for a lot, rather than doing degrees in zoology or something. It was useful to hear her experience. She said she worked 9-5 and that everyone in the centre got on well, which is something I had picked up, I think. It is a nice atmosphere and everyone is pleasant to the volunteers. They do seem busy.

To finish the day, we went to the rodent house, which is still being refurbished. Les, the manager, was busy getting things ready and asked me to clean some plastic panels that would be re-used in the displays. Alex had already been cleaning them so he advised me how to remove the old coating and wipe them with white spirit. He is very helpful like that. I didn't mind doing this, as it feels like anything you do there is contributing towards keeping the centre going. Unfortunately there was only time to do one panel before it was home time, and Alex and I went to put the guinea pigs, rabbits, peacock and turkey away for the night. Sensible Alex took a broom to shut Sid the goose away, but luckily Kate had already put Sid into his shed!