Advertisement
Hiding in the bushes
when the parents suddenly showed up by the barrier Phew. Sorry that it has been an age and a half since the last entry. I thought I was busy in the beginning, but the last month or so has just been insane!! I kept meaning to write and then whenever I had a down-moment I just didn't feel up to it. But I shall try to do it now.
Things have been busy, but really really good. I still am beyond in love with this job. I am learning so much and everyone here is super nice and just wonderful. As we progress into the middle of nesting season, things really started to pick up. We have multiple nests going, and then chicks started hatching and now we are doing everything we can to keep chicks alive, which is easier said than done. The majority of this weekend was spent building another nest barrier and then attempting to herd a chick into it. With no luck. But today was awesome!!! In the morning my boss was able to home-in on the family and take the chick. Unfortunately the parents flew off, which is what we didn't want to happen. But the chick was placed in the barrier and he
close-up
you can totally see the thorns on the bushes sat nearby waiting for the parents to find him. Ingrid and I came to relieve him around lunch time, and of course, that is when the parents decided to show up! It was quite entertaining actually. Had to drop to the ground immediately and then get over into the bushes to hide. Was totally sitting in the bushes amid thorns and such for a good 45 minutes. Totally worth it though, cause the parents came back and at least one was inside the pen with the chick! Hurray!!! 😊 So now we have two chicks that are safely within a barrier. Woo! It seems we may try to do a similar thing later this week if one of the eggs hatches at one of the nests. Fingers crossed!
But yeah, I have basically been going out to nests, checking on chicks, trying to find new nests (have now been up in the helicopter 4 or 5 times.... so awesome! It doesn't get old. love it!), working on finishing the online fire courses, and building new nest barriers/fixing old ones. Like I said, busy. But even working long days and occasional weekends, I still love this job.
The chicks
jazz cruise boat
we could hear the music from benches by the water just get cuter with time. And the grow so quickly! I really need to start documenting the ones in pens each time I see them, because it is shocking just how quickly they grow! It makes sense I guess, seeing that after 2-3months they are nearly full grown and are able to fly! So in another month or so I should be able to chase down a fledging chick and catch and band it before it flies off. Can't wait! But in the mean time, definitely still have lots going on. Not only are there chicks to worry about, but there are also still quite a few active nests that will hopefully produce MORE chicks! 😊
Outside of work, things have been pretty busy too! The festivals are really picking up... it seems like there is something going on every weekend, which I love. And I have been able to stay in ocean springs at lauren's house a few times which is always super great. I am getting tired of living all the way in grand bay. Although I love the girls that live there, it is just so far from work and from anything we'd want to do
outside of work. Hopefully soon we will be able to move back to our refuge. I miss living there.
This past weekend Virginia came to visit, which was super awesome. It was so great to see her! And we got to do a bunch of stuff (including her coming out in the field with me for a few hours on monday.. and getting to see crane eggs and nests and adult cranes). It went too fast (she left this morning) but I am just so grateful that she was able to come. 😊
That is about all I can think of at the moment. Another entry should be coming soon about my first ever frog survey. And at some point in the near(ish) future I will try to upload some pictures!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.052s; Tpl: 0.009s; cc: 6; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0331s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb