March 2018
Blog 303: Ocelot Mascot and Nilgai Rumble
We continue to enjoy the beautiful weather, greening landscape, and our interesting “jobs” here at the refuge.
Jan’s Painting
When not leading tours or working in the Visitor Center, Jan put her artistic talents to work. Here are two of her efforts in dressing up the refuge.
Ocelot Soirée
We attended as guests the annual Laguna Atascosa fundraiser held at the new Sea Turtle Center on South Padre Island. Beautiful location, well-organized event, with lots of money raised. Very happy to contribute to this meaningful event.
Ocelot Conservation Day
Most all of the Laguna Madre staff, interns, and volunteers worked to put on this one-day event at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. Sihil, the 17-year-old female ocelot visiting from the Cincinnati Zoo was the main attraction.
The day started with a 5K Ocelot Race, and then visitors could learn lots and lots about ocelots at the numerous exhibits and information tables. The emphasis of the event was on getting little tykes excited about nature, so there was ocelot face painting, and ocelot mask-making, and four shows a day put on by Sihil and her trainers. Jan was one of the two face painters, working non-stop all day, doing over 100 faces. Jan’s mobile mural (pictured above) was a big hit with the little tykes. I had the fun job of being the roving photographer.
Cats
Here are three cats from our refuge RV neighbors.
Nilgai Rumble
It is mating season, and we have been seeing a lot of the exotic Nilgai, the antelope from India. Quite impressive creatures that are a pleasure to view as they lope across the Texas Serengeti. I’d read about how males face-off when in a courtship mood—they stand crazy close staring at each other, and then drop down to their knees and bang away. One day on a tram tour I was lucky enough to view it. The first pic shows these two tough guys ready to rumble and the second pic shows them going at it. Note the “coach” watching the action. Just amazing.
Tarantula
More Birds
Here is a hodgepodge of bird pics.
Old Trucks
Here are three old trucks from the Old Truck Reserve.
See you next time.
Jan’s Painting
When not leading tours or working in the Visitor Center, Jan put her artistic talents to work. Here are two of her efforts in dressing up the refuge.
Ocelot Soirée
We attended as guests the annual Laguna Atascosa fundraiser held at the new Sea Turtle Center on South Padre Island. Beautiful location, well-organized event, with lots of money raised. Very happy to contribute to this meaningful event.
Ocelot Conservation Day
Most all of the Laguna Madre staff, interns, and volunteers worked to put on this one-day event at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. Sihil, the 17-year-old female ocelot visiting from the Cincinnati Zoo was the main attraction.
The day started with a 5K Ocelot Race, and then visitors could learn lots and lots about ocelots at the numerous exhibits and information tables. The emphasis of the event was on getting little tykes excited about nature, so there was ocelot face painting, and ocelot mask-making, and four shows a day put on by Sihil and her trainers. Jan was one of the two face painters, working non-stop all day, doing over 100 faces. Jan’s mobile mural (pictured above) was a big hit with the little tykes. I had the fun job of being the roving photographer.
Cats
Here are three cats from our refuge RV neighbors.
Nilgai Rumble
It is mating season, and we have been seeing a lot of the exotic Nilgai, the antelope from India. Quite impressive creatures that are a pleasure to view as they lope across the Texas Serengeti. I’d read about how males face-off when in a courtship mood—they stand crazy close staring at each other, and then drop down to their knees and bang away. One day on a tram tour I was lucky enough to view it. The first pic shows these two tough guys ready to rumble and the second pic shows them going at it. Note the “coach” watching the action. Just amazing.
Tarantula
More Birds
Here is a hodgepodge of bird pics.
Old Trucks
Here are three old trucks from the Old Truck Reserve.
See you next time.