The last 24 hours were very good for beavers, and their advocates. The drive to Safari West is always such a delight – we went up through Napa- past the wine train and countless tasting rooms, and came down by the way of 101 where we stopped off at artist Molly Eckert’s magical home in Sebastopo
l. (More about that later.) In between we stopped off at Safari West where Marie Martinez personally greeted us and showed us to our room before bringing us a $1000.00 donation to Worth A Dam from the foundation.
In the evening we had dinner at the staff table an got to chat about beavers and hoovestock, and hear about the baby giraffes and wildebeasts born this season, all while sharing a fanciful and rugged buffet cooked by their expert chefs. There was even a coloful sign announcing my talk in the courtyard. Then we headed into elephant room to set up my presentation, which was attended by available staff, curious guests and families with children. One very nice asian family spanned three generations at the table, with the children and grandma asking about the beavers afterwards.
There were thank yous and questions followed by a nice glass of wine on our open porch listening to flamingos, hornbills, night shrieks set their paces to the african drummer who played for an hour or so by the fire. It was windy and colder than you can imagine but the sky was crisp with stars and we slept like kings directly under the big dipper in our thickly covered tent.
There was no Wifi in the tents so I tried to stay in bed as long as I could, where it was warm. Before seven we had coffee and bagels on the deck again. Later we explored the bird enclosures busy with brightly colored wings, displaying, flying and courting. Some porcupines were excitedly waiting for breakfast and a kookaburra was hiding in the bushes behind them. Woodstorks and spoonbills shook their prodigious beaks at the water. There was a large nest in the upper treetops guarded by scarlet ibis, and we learned that the flamingoes were trying once again to lay eggs because the last clutches were unsuccessful.
The iconic rugged vehicles were lining up to take guests on their adventure through the back country and many animals there when we stolled over to visit the lemur island, moated by hungry fish, and met the a sweet family who had attended my talk and still ha questions about the beavers. Then we packed up from our short stay, slipped onto the road and came back through 101 this time.
We were headed to artist Molly Eckert’s home to pick up her donation to the silent auction. It was an easy drive off 12 past Guerneville to her eclectic home at the end of a wooded lane. She met us saying they had just finished some yard work and invited us in. The entry way was adorned with a line of perfectly round stones, every wall was covered in her art, and the ceiling shafted with brilliant skylights that made the home burst with light.
She gave us 10 copies of the 1988 poster she made for Point Reyes, and delighted us with stories of how this once happened before photo shop so she had to insert all the individually painted wildlife by hand. We sat in her living room chatting with her and her very nice husband while she signed every last one. Our hosts were eager to hear the beaver story, and heartened by the public response. She admitted ruefully that she had not yet turned her artistic skills to beavers, but her husband showed us some sketches she had done of animated prairie dogs playing instruments that were so enchanting I could barely keep from stealing them and saying “you MUST do this for beavers, beavers, beavers!” Instead we showed her the ecosystem poster and the children’s banner and they were very impressed. Her husband was an elementary school teacher, and a big admirer of the children’s artwork and Fro’s sewing skills.
I would be very surprised if beavers were not in her future, at least! She was looking at the newsletter intently when we left. Fingers crossed.
Other additions to the silent auction this week came from the Oakland Zoo (two adults and two children, plus free parking!) and the California Academy of Science (4 tickets!), which have both been wonderful supporters of the beavers in the past and are fantastic ways to keep yourself and 
your family curious and learning during the long summer months.
Six Flags unfortunately declined to donate but forget them anyway. There will be plenty to entertain!
Finally I heard from Rusty Cohn of Napa that he saw three beavers last night for the first time in a long while. In addition to their being a definite size difference in these beavers there is something else you should take note of. Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
