Is it a bird...?

UPDATE: Five new explorers, Jasper, Gavin, Anuta, Emily and Zahra, arrived safe and sound at field base this lunchtime. They are currently settling in and looking forward to meeting their fellow venturers on Saturday. Rumour has it that tomorrow they may be climbing Chamundi Hill very early in the morning...

PRO Peta is once again absent from field base, searching out juicy gossip in Alphas 3 and 4. So the task of writing the Thursday blog falls to me, Admin Lucy, and my trusty assistant Medic Andrew (pictured, right, attempting to make a piñata for a Mexican evening at changeover).

I am sure all you avid blog readers want to know the latest news from the Alpha groups. Well, don’t worry, we will get to that in good time. However, first of all we need to fill you in on the events that have had all of us here at field base biting our nails in nervous anticipation. Yes: our fledgling owls are learning to fly.

As far as we can make out, one little owlet (pictured, left, with Amanda and Andrew) fell, jumped, or was pushed from the nest early yesterday morning. It spent the day gathering its strength in one of the vines in the field base quad, psyching itself up for a flight in the evening. Despite some serious encouragement from CPM Mark (in the form of imitation owl hooting, some carefully positioned pillows, and the threatened use of a big stick) it couldn’t be persuaded to take the plunge.

Finally, after Mark and his stick had left, the owl decided to go for it. This was, of course, after we’d all given up watching it, and gone away to make dinner. When we returned half an hour later it was on our dinner table. It wasn’t keen on sharing our dinner though, or the tin of tuna Amanda opened for it, and instead hopped away to explore the quad. We were a little concerned that it didn’t seem to be able to fly high enough to make it back home. However, it’s pretty safe here at field base, and owly successfully survived its first night in the big wide world without being eaten by the Chamundi leopard. This morning its brother or sister has decided to join it, and so there are now two sleepy little owlets hanging out in the quad.

Anyway, now that I’ve bored you all with the latest from Bill Oddie’s Owl Watch, perhaps I’ll get on with telling you what the alpha groups have been up to. In fact, they’re all now in their final few days of phase 2, and will be back at field base for a shower in only two days time.

(Felicity, Hannah, Sumith, Murgesh and Hobby, perhaps excited by the prospect of getting properly clean)

The good news is that Alpha 1 have completed their trek, and should by now be rafting down the Periyar River on homemade bamboo rafts. Photographer Annie and PM Ivan have just returned from the final loop visit to Alpha 1 and can report that the trekkers are still in good spirits despite the odd leech bite and blister (right, Medic Caz taping Holly's feet for one last day of walking).

Alpha 2, who have been ahead of schedule with their toilets all the way, are now putting the final finishing coats of whitewash on their 15 eco sanitation units. Despite finishing early, they have not been idle, and have been filling their spare time with teaching in the local primary and secondary schools, organising a sports day and music lessons. They have also managed to squeeze in a cultural evening and a casino night. I am told that Hamish is the undisputed poker champion. I seem to recall that Hamish also acquired the werewolf crown whilst in Alpha 1, so I must remember not to play betting games with him in future.

There is no rest for Alpha 3, on the other hand. They are still working hard (work is even proceeding after dark now) to finish the tribal houses in time for their inauguration on 27 March. The loop is on their way to visit Alpha 3 as I type, and rumour has it that a bin bag party has been planned for this evening. Hopefully all the FB staff can live up to the impressive costumes Alpha 3 are known for engineering.

Finally, Alpha 4 are apparently so ahead of schedule that they don’t need to bother with work: they spent yesterday having a massive mud fight. I suppose that’s one thing to do when it’s raining. They also had the inspired idea of a fairy godmother day – each person has an anonymous ‘fairy godmother’ whose task it is to make that person’s day a little bit nicer in whatever way they can. Lots of cups of tea were made, I understand. Perhaps lots of muddy clothes were washed too...?

In only two days time all the venturers will be back here in field base, receiving their allocations for the final phase of the expedition. In between learning our role as owl parents, we at FB have been planning lots of good stuff for the venturers at changeover, including a Mexican-style party for Saturday night. More news on that, and a final update on phase 2, will be posted by Peta next Monday.

Have a nice weekend! (We will :)