Fotsy Maso: finding the eggs

We check in with the diary kept by Lance Woolaver in Madagascar as the team arrived at the pochard lake, got set up and hoped to find a nest of eggs ready to be brought into captivity.

Saturday, Day 10, October 24
I am feeling better, although still weak and shaky, so hopefully I am over the worst of the flu. I was sweating so much last night that my sleeping bag and blanket were completely soaked in the morning. I walk up the hill to call home and hear that my family is responding to the Tamiflu and recovering. The feeling of relief is intense, and the sunshine and spectacular view of the lake down below are lifting my spirits. Now I can get back to work.

The Peregrine Fund team helps us carry all our equipment (generator, brooder, truck batteries, water and petrol etc.) down the hill to the lake. These men are incredibly strong and carry very impressive weights down the steep hill and through the forest. By the time I get back down to the camp site, the team has set up the main tent and most of the field equipment. I am feeling good; this team is incredibly professional and well prepared. Once the tent and equipment is set up by mid-morning, we all go down to the lake to have a look at the pochards. We are ready to collect the eggs but want to wait for the arrival of the Mayor and other dignitaries from the nearby village of Bemanevika as it is quite important that they witness this first egg collection.

There is a strong feeling of camaraderie as Glyn, Felix, Kassidi, Nigel, Sparky and I are sitting on the platform, watching the pochards on the lake. We are definitely all keen to get to the nest and collect the eggs. The lake is much quieter now, the grebes are still present but not as manic as during our visit in July, the pochards are still out but flying less, and of course three females are sitting on eggs.

The Mayor and his group of officials arrive and we all sit down for a meal of rice, beans, and more rice. We are all fidgeting, wanting to get to the nest as soon as we can to see one way or the other what is there. Three of us will go to the nest; Toulu in the bow of the canoe to direct us to the nest, Sparky in the middle with a soft, lined container, and myself in the stern to steer the canoe. We set off, leaving Glyn, Nigel, Felix, Kassidi, and the officials at the platform. We paddle off out of view around a corner of reeds and Toulu directs us to the nest. As we reach the nest and nose the bow into the reeds, Toulu jumps out and on his hands and knees disappears into the reeds on the shore.

Adrenaline is high. Toulu calls out “She is still on the nest!” and then “There are still nine eggs!” The female then pops up out of the water a few feet from where I am sitting in the bow of the canoe. Sparky jumps out of the front of the canoe and misses the bank, disappearing up to his chest in the mud and water, but quickly pulls himself out. I radio back to the team on the platform the great news! Sparky gently places each egg into the container and also relays the good news that eight of the nine eggs are alive and very close to hatching. Kassidi and Toulu have estimated the hatch date perfectly, and all the planning at WWT and Durrell HQ has paid off as we are collecting the eggs at the absolute perfect time.

Canoeing back to the platform and then carrying the eggs through the forest to the main tent, we are joined by the rest of the team and the Mayor. We all watch through the flaps of the tent while Nigel and Sparky measure, candle and mark the eggs before placing them into the incubator. From this point on, we are all able to relax in the knowledge that the eggs are now in the best possible hands.

My fever returns so I am quite relieved when Richard arrives in the evening with some Tamiflu. Richard has had his own share of adventure on the trip up to join us, as the rental truck bringing him up the lake had broken down en route, and our Landrover needed to go down and pick him up. Nothing is ever easy in Madagascar.