As readers know The Doc’s Nissan Patrol has Australian Wildlife Conservancy stickers on its doors. This trip started with pitfall trapping at AWC Yookamurra Sanctuary near Sedan in South Australia. Where it was 42 degrees one day and the next had half their yearly rainfall. Not the best combination for successful trapping. But that maybe a topic for a separate post. This is about comments made about AWC.

While staying at the Wintersun Motel in Victory Harbour before the ferry ride across to Kangaroo Island, The Doc heard a knock at his door. The person introduced themselves as Graeme Chapman, a noted bird photographer and ornithologist. Graeme and his wife were on there way to Kangaroo Island also, or KI as the local call it. Or Sealink Island as the Victor Harbour people call it.

Graeme allows AWC to use some of his images royalty free and wondered about the fancy fitted out 4WD being used by AWC now. The Doc explained he was a supporter, not a staff member. We laughed. We both chatted about birds, the Galapagos and Kangaroo Islands and photography for the next 2.5 hours. The Doc enjoyed our talk.

Next stop Kangaroo Island and at Vivonne Bay a stranger approached and asked about AWC. The Doc was happy to discuss, it turns out Steve was one of the parents with a school group from the Adelaide Hills visiting KI. The Doc explained about the educational facilities at Yookamurra. The next day, Julian the organiser of the school tour had a talk, as well. Perhaps the school may visit. Julian remembered Yookamurra from the Earth Sanctuary days, the previous owners.

Next day while at the remote Hanson Bay a gentleman came up and asked about AWC. He had been at Raptor Domain together the previous day. Perhaps he will support AWC. He like the background The Doc gave.

Today at Parndana a lady came up and asked whether AWC has a sanctuary on KI. No they do not, The Doc was just a supporter visiting KI, he was not looking at potential sanctuaries either. She seemed relieved as she was a regular reader of the AWC Newsletter and had not heard about KI being on the list of sanctuaries.

It seems people read the stickers.

Postscript
The Doc forgot to mention that while driving through major roadworks his UHF radio was set to scan. It picked up a conversation between the road crew that they were being filmed by Australian Geographic, not quite but as the Patrol was the only car at the time they meant AWC.