In Mandis aviary: Popcorn is unexpectedly a hit (extra footage)

The Gliders have moved into a hollow log in the aviary so the time is coming for them to be released. In the wild the gliders have a varied diet, and occasionally they're offered popcorn into their leaf and fruit mix. The gliders were busy showing their butts to Mandi and Ki and weren't interested, so Poppy, being her usual busybody self insisted on sampling the new and exciting looking offerings. Since Mandi knew she wouldn't like it, she was free to try it out (no video of this particular scene because nobody realised it was going to be a "thing"). Poppy loved it, crunched on it, savoured it and turned it into a nice spat and demanded more, and the others in the aviary all mobbed Ki for a share of the exciting new food sensation. Bats are perfectly able to eat corn when it's fresh, so the popcorn, lightly salted and lightly sweet seemed to tick all the nutritional boxes. (Bats have a small amount of salt added to some of their water bottles, and have salt licks in the aviary, so salt isn't an issue either). It was an unexpected success, and totally accidental but it was great fun for the permanent residents who kept going back for more. Meep and the other Little Reds weren't interested (their diet is more nectivorous), so all the more for the Blacks and Greys and Speccie Whiskey. I love the enrichment the permanent care batties get in this aviary, from an occasional cup of tea to wrapping grapes in cellophane so the batties can figure out how to unwrap and eat them, to opening parcels of batty gifts in the aviary and letting the bats play with the wrapping and the contents. Thanks Mandi for the footage. This footage is given in thanks for the continuing donations which help support the fruit costs for her bats. Tolga Bat Hospital takes donations for Mandi. https://tolgabathospital.org/donate/ Mention Megabattie or Meg in the PayPal message box and the money will find its way to Mandi If no message box appears, please email Jenny to tell her that the money is for Mandi. IMPORTANT: If you pay through the PayPal Giving Fund, can you please email Jenny with the AMOUNT DONATED and the name under which you have donated, OR just forward along the PP receipt. If you specify the amount donated, it makes it heaps easier for Jenny to find the donation. The Giving Fund doesn’t charge any fees (so the bats get more money) but PP doesn’t itemise out the amount, they just send a total every month, and we don’t know if the money is for Tolga or for Megabattie. Here’s Jenny’s email. [email protected]