Day 6

Day six.

Everyone was taking off except me. I had been invited to stay with a
forensic psychiatrist who was volunteering at Fort Jackson, so I packed my
gear and headed out to the rehab station. I spent the day working with Dr
Erica Miller from Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, admitting birds,
sweeping floors, restocking coolers, and generally helping out where ever I
could. I learned one heckuva lot! And sweated a lot!

The team there is outstanding. Everyone made me feel so welcome and shared
with me their trials and triumphs. I also so saw first hand how interesting
being in the bayou could be. I went out the back to for some reason and saw
a rather large snake trying to get through the chicken mesh fence. It had
obviously eaten and its full belly would not pass through the fence. I
called for my colleagues to come and look – this was pretty exciting stuff –
and was told it was a non-venomous water snake. Since there are many
venomous snakes around, everyone is understandable cautious. I can tell you
it makes for a cautious approach to and use of the port-a-potties. The
temperature was still over 100F with the humidity.