Possum Box temperature graphs now available

Early last year, I promised to put a graphical display of the possum box temperatures on the Possum TV site. I've now finally got around to doing this.

[click on image for full-sized version]

There should be a "box temps" item on the menu at the top of each page (you may need to do a refresh to see this) which leads to the new box temperatures page. Simply select the box(es) and date range you're interested in and click [Show Temperatures]. You should be rewarded with the appropriate graph.

Update 17th Jan 2015

Kiki is doing well. The latest baby (her 12^th!) is now bulging her pouch significantly.

Kiki (with the mystery orange powder in evidence) - 8^th Jan 2015

Kiki hasn't been seen in any of the boxes for quite a while, but going by past form, we might see her come into Box 7 before too much longer. Last year, Kiki's baby (Oz) made his first appearance in Box 7 on Australia Day, and her latest baby will now be at a similar stage of development. So it's worth keeping your eye on the box cameras.

The Mystery of The Orange Powder

Recently, Comet appeared with orange powder on his nose.

Comet with the mystery orange powder on his nose - 25^th Dec 2014

The presence of this orange powder is an ongoing minor mystery that occurs pretty much every December (but no other time of year).

Update 23rd Dec 2014

Wasabi was seen a bit over a week ago, looking very healthy.

Wasabi feasting on flowers - 12^th Dec 2014

Although it was nearly two months since he was last seen, he wasn't interested in visiting the humans. The reason for this soon became apparent.

Update 7th Dec 2014

Comet has now progressed to the stage where Kiki only barely tolerates his presence, and he is well aware of this fact.

Comet looking around nervously - 3^rd Dec 2014

If he is in a tree nearby when Kiki is being fed, which is happening less and less often, he often scampers off when Kiki makes a sudden move towards him.

Update 14th Nov 2014

Comet is starting to reach the next stage in the education of a young possum; the stage where the mother possum no longer tolerates having food snatched out of her mouth, and chases off the youngster instead. So far he's been chased off only once (that I've seen), but his days of grabbing food are severely numbered.

Kiki (left) and Comet (right) - 30^th Oct 2014

Update 19th Oct 2014

Comet is doing well.

Comet (left) and Kiki (right) - 18^th Oct 2014

Comet particularly likes going off on his own. Normally, when a young possum of his age is with his/her mother, and scores a particularly delicious piece of food (usually by tearing it from the mother's mouth), they will retreat (no doubt to prevent the mother from grabbing it back) to perhaps a metre away from the mother to enjoy their treat. In Comet's case, however, he often runs off and hides in another tree five or more metres away. This is unusual; even Oz, who was a particularly adventurous/exploring possum, never did this.

Update 2nd Oct 2014

Although still just a little ball of fluff, Comet is very independent and adventurous. He often goes off on his own and on several occasions has visited the house by himself.

Comet - 18^th Sept 2014

He looks to be at least as independent as his older brother Oz (who, by the way, hasn't been seen since he left home early in August).

Update 13th Sept 2014 - Comet back-riding

Comet is now fully out of the pouch and back-riding. Here is a photo from his first visit to the house.

Comet riding on Kiki's back - 7^th Sept 2014

Update 29th Aug 2014 - First photo of Kiki's new baby, Comet

Kiki's latest baby has been named Comet. He (I'm not 100% sure, but he looks like a male in the box camera footage) seems to be a particularly energetic little possum. I managed to take his photo when he put his head out of the nestbox yesterday.

Comet - 28^th Aug 2014

Comet is now leaving the nestbox riding on Kiki's back, but returns to the pouch before Kiki visits the house. He will be back-riding for longer periods every night from now on, and will become less and less energetic when he returns to nestbox.