Ah, the Coconut Telegraph. The CT can get us in a pickle from time to time.
People who don't live here might wonder "what's the Coconut Telegraph?" If you live on an island for more than a week or so, you know what it is. If you don't, let me explain. The Coconut Telegraph is the term coined for how information gets around when people talk. Its about what's going on in our community. Its not written, nor is it broadcast anywhere on radio, tv or the internet. Its just the way information moves through an island community like where I live. Its different from gossip. Communicating through the Coconut Telegraph is vital when you live in a small island community. Its more about finding what might a neighbor need help with, how an acquaintance is doing with an illness and any needs that perhaps can be met for them, and so forth. I'd say basically the Coconut Telegraph is more about "helping" ways, whereas gossip is more about "hurting" ways.
So, I posted about a local hero of mine yesterday named Maya Totman. I posted that I heard Maya may be in Louisiana helping oiled birds. The reality of what's involved in working with wild animals is that there's official agencies involved, always. I know that, anyone who lives here knows that, and any wildlife rehabilitator knows it. Lots of laypeople, however, didn't know this before. Many are learning from the BP oil spill that there's so many wanting to volunteer but cannot understand why one cannot just go volunteer. There's rules, regulations, order & structure. There's a lot of misinformation out there too, when it comes to what's going on with the handling of the impacted wildlife. Many people are finding things out from the media that might not make sense because media weaves and edits so much.
When it comes to the oil spill, many people are learning for the first time that there's a huge amount of red tape involved with efforts to aid the oiled wildlife. I am aware of it, don't like it, but its a fact.
Maya called me today. When she called, she was on the road somewhere in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, heading back to our island. The Coconut Telegraph told her about my blog entry (way more people are reading this blog than I thought!) and while she was very flattered, she was concerned that I had posted misinformation. Maya explained to me she is not working with oiled birds in Louisiana, that she is not involved with Tri-State presently. She explained she went to observe & learn what is going on. She explained to me that the manner in which the wildlife cleaning is going on has a very specific chain of command, and presently she is not involved. Part of being a good wildlife rehabilitator is understanding the boundaries which exist to work under, and a large part of that is permitting. There's a lot at stake with the welfare of animals. Any good rehabilitator would never jeopardize their ability to work with animals by not obeying rules.
Misinformation is bad. Misinformation is what's causing people to hesitate from coming to the Keys. Misinformation is causing people to cancel vacations at this time when we have no impact from oil, and no oil here. I would never want to perpetuate misinformation about anything, let alone something as important as working with animals. So, for Maya's sake, and anyone else "official" reading this... please let me make it clear that Maya is not presently working with oiled birds through Tri-State. Further, at any time if and when she ever did, we all know and understand it of course would be through all Federal, State & Local authorities, with permits, supervision, authorization and I'm sure a whole lot more fancy words.
The animals mean everything to Maya. She'd never want someone to think she was doing something inappropriate, or not through a properly authorized channel. Even heroes like Maya have to file paperwork, look over their shoulders, cross the "i's" and dot the "t's." That includes making sure any information that does get out there, even through the Coconut Telegraph, is accurate. Thanks again Maya, you're the best!
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