Keeping Watch Over the Flock
December 26, 2012
Mahalo nui to the wonderful staff and volunteers of Makauwahi Cave Reserve for giving Lida and me some time off during the Christmas holidays. Everything has functioned normally while we’re away, and that’s only possible because of the dedication of so many. Tours, maintenance, and outreach have all gone smoothly. Thanks also to all those who have helped us “keep watch over the flock” of giant tortoises who do so much of our weeding in the native plant restorations these days. We have four new tortoises slated to arrive in the first week of the New Year, and with winter rains, there will be plenty of weeds for them to munch!
Three of our growing herd of tortoises inspect our substantial fence line, which keeps tortoises in – and pigs out!
Photo by Sarah Shaw
I’ll be back “on duty” at the cave starting January 3, and for several months hence. But what we really like to see is that we can both be away for an extended period, and all goes on as usual at the cave. We are getting closer to our long-term goal: to make ourselves as unnecessary to the day-to-day operation as possible.