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Description
May 16th, 2021 8:39 AM Ivan E. Allen Nature Preserve, Georgia. 95 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Florida Ivan E. Allen Nature Preserve, Georgia. 95 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Florida

A female Giant Moa steps out from the brush to drink. Tentatively, the 510lb giant bird scans her surroundings. Despite being cautious, she and this group of 5 Moas she's been put with have been settling in well to this paddock. There's more than enough food to support her and her fellow giants. She continues to look around before dipping her head into the pond.

Mary Thompson's May 16th Journal Entry excerpt

The last enclosure Mark showed us was the largest. Me, Mark and Pete got out of the jeep and we were greeted with iron bars, and wooden fences. Mark told us he had to go check on John so he left us in front of this paddock and he left to go check in with John. As soon as he was gone, that's when we heard them.
First sound I remember sounded like a deep bellowing sound, with a rather faint, but pronounced grunt at the end and the start of the call. The calls lasted for probably 30 seconds before I heard the sound of foliage breaking. I looked through the foliage trying to see what was making, and then, I saw her. She walked through the bushes and bamboo stalks before her entire body was in full view before stopping in front of the pond.
I remember I dug my thumb nail into my index finger. Why? It was almost on instinct to see if this was real. Maybe I was dreaming, maybe this last day has been just a dream and I'll wake up in my bed, and this whole project Mark wanted me and Pete on was about a new fossil found in Georgia. I scratched my finger a couple of times with my thumb before stopping, I was awake.
And this was real.
Right in front of me was a Giant Moa.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Here's an updated image of my Moa Paddock along with a more detailed description of what happened when the first outside scientists saw an extinct animal.

Also, if you noticed she's sharing this paddock with 5 Moas and are wondering how are they behaving so well together, well, you'll see in the next part of Past Meets Present next month.

An updated Moa shot from Past Meets Present:
Past Meets Present (Pt4 is Up) - The ZT2 Round Table

Model by Tamara Henson and Whalebite:
South Island Giant Moa (Tamara Henson & Whalebite) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom

Description
May 16th, 2021 8:39 AM Ivan E. Allen Nature Preserve, Georgia. 95 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Florida Ivan E. Allen Nature Preserve, Georgia. 95 miles northwest of Jacksonville, Florida

A female Giant Moa steps out from the brush to drink. Tentatively, the 510lb giant bird scans her surroundings. Despite being cautious, she and this group of 5 Moas she's been put with have been settling in well to this paddock. There's more than enough food to support her and her fellow giants. She continues to look around before dipping her head into the pond.

Mary Thompson's May 16th Journal Entry excerpt

The last enclosure Mark showed us was the largest. Me, Mark and Pete got out of the jeep and we were greeted with iron bars, and wooden fences. Mark told us he had to go check on John so he left us in front of this paddock and he left to go check in with John. As soon as he was gone, that's when we heard them.
First sound I remember sounded like a deep bellowing sound, with a rather faint, but pronounced grunt at the end and the start of the call. The calls lasted for probably 30 seconds before I heard the sound of foliage breaking. I looked through the foliage trying to see what was making, and then, I saw her. She walked through the bushes and bamboo stalks before her entire body was in full view before stopping in front of the pond.
I remember I dug my thumb nail into my index finger. Why? It was almost on instinct to see if this was real. Maybe I was dreaming, maybe this last day has been just a dream and I'll wake up in my bed, and this whole project Mark wanted me and Pete on was about a new fossil found in Georgia. I scratched my finger a couple of times with my thumb before stopping, I was awake.
And this was real.
Right in front of me was a Giant Moa.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Here's an updated image of my Moa Paddock along with a more detailed description of what happened when the first outside scientists saw an extinct animal.

Also, if you noticed she's sharing this paddock with 5 Moas and are wondering how are they behaving so well together, well, you'll see in the next part of Past Meets Present next month.

An updated Moa shot from Past Meets Present:
Past Meets Present (Pt4 is Up) - The ZT2 Round Table

Model by Tamara Henson and Whalebite:
South Island Giant Moa (Tamara Henson & Whalebite) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom