Waking up at dawn
To locate the hidden nests
One must have patience
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Circle of Life
We had been hearing all week about Blacktail Pond. On this, our final day of nest searching, Jen insisted that we stay together. Blacktail Pond, located in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, is the site with the least human impact. There was a high degree of danger and Jen would sweep the area first looking for signs of large animals. Field partners would not be enough; we would search together and occasionally sub-divide into groups of four.
We descended down a bluff and into a meadow that was closed to visitors due to restoration; however, as field researchers, we were permitted to search the area and check on Jen's nine nests. Throughout our search, we saw signs of moose, bear, and bison.
Jen came over, intending to return the nestling to the nest if necessary. When we looked at the nest a moment later, we could see a garter snake with the nestling in its mouth. The snake was behind the nest, and looked exactly like a branch.
"Deb -- the snake has the nestling," Jen said. My heart sank. I realized why the nestling was out of the nest. What I thought was a "branch" was actually the snake. My field partners joined us and saw the snake with the bulge in its stomach. That was the nestling. Had I known that the "branch" was the snake, I feel like I could have saved it.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
July 7 - Bird Banding
4:30 wake-up. One hour earlier than usual. Bird-banding day. Quick breakfast, pack lunches, wrestle into our wading boots, then a return to JACK to meet the bird banding team.Throughout our visits to the nest sites, we have come across the well-worn banding paths, and been told to watch out for the ropes staked into the ground. Now we would see this in action.
Jenny McCabe, the Field Team Leader for the Bird Banding Project, met us at the site. We followed her to several banding nets -- a 20' long stretch of mist net staked throughout the research site designed to capture songbirds. The nets are so fine, we had to be warned not to walk into them ourselves. Mist nets are used to capture songbirds so that they can be banded and studied.
A bird band is a small ring of aluminum placed around a bird's right leg with a unique ID for the bird (like a social security number). Researchers also take data on the size and health of the bird. Once banded, the bird is then released.
The banding team places the nets once every ten days in the same locations, so that local songbirds can be tracked over time as to longevity, health, and behavior. Nets remain for 6 hours and are checked every 30 minutes.
The banding team works fast. Our first capture was a robin. Jenny demonstrated the banding grip (a way to hold the bird safely but securely) and placed it in a cotton bag to carry back to the bird-banding station. Our captured robin was surprisingly still in its cotton bag.
The next net yielded a yellow warbler. Here, Dominique demonstrates the banding process.
This bird was released immediately after being banded (without taking relevant data), as it was showing signs of stress.
We made the next round of net visits in smaller groups so as to release the birds more quickly. We captured a robin (who fluttered periodically in the bag on the walk back) and a song sparrow, the subject of Jenny's research.
Jenny took a variety of measurements on the song sparrow, including weight, wing span, beak length and thickness, tarsus length, length of primary feather and length of tail feather.
View of the song sparrow's brood patch -- the underside that a female uses to warm her eggs.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Whoa - move the van closer !
"Whoa, here he comes! Move the van closer!"All leaning to the left-hand side of the van, we stretched to see the massive bull bison saunter across the road. With hardly a glance at the cluster of cars, minivans and camera-toting tourists, the bison glided across the road like a slow-motion locomotive, switching his tail and trailing a cloud of dust and flies. We took pictures, shared observations, shook our heads as the bison joined his herd, a group of about twenty cows, young bulls, and calves. Calves scampered in the dust, and their mothers protectively shooed away others who came too close. Just another day on the range.
What a way to end the recreation day!
Today was a day of "rest" from the work as data collectors. Without plans to search for nests, our day filled rapidly with plans for a hike at String Lake, a visit to the park visitor center in Moose, and perhaps most exciting - a trip to town! In short, a day as full as any day in the field.
And yet, it was a great opportunity to continue to get to know one another and connect as a team. We swapped stories on the trail, shared laughs at the picnic table, learned about the history of this beautiful place, and topped it all off with a cold adult beverage or a frosty ice cream.
With clean laundry for some, and t-shirts and guidebooks to commemorate our time in Jackson, we returned to the TSS campus for dinner and discussion about how to engage people and learners in environmental action. Surely tomorrow's teams will be more efficient, more connected, and better at finding nests!
Tomorrow, it's back to the field, and early. Breakfast at 5:30 for a meeting with the bird banding team at 7:00!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Feeling Great
After a few days of trying to figure out what I am doing here...today was the day it changed for me. A new sense of confidence arose as I woke up in the morning. The self conscious feeling of packing the "wrong" things, wearing too little/too much, having enough water and the general sense of where in world am I has finally worn off. As many of us know, there is no worse feeling than thinking you do not belong.
Today, we spent the entire day within Kelly Campus, the same site we are staying. As a group we were trekking through very tall brush, fighting sticks and mosquitoes on our hunt for bird nests. The challenge of following specific bird noises, tracking them with binoculars, and happily avoiding wild animals gives you an amazing sense of excitement.
As a group, we all must be looking forward to tomorrow, which will be a leisure day for all of us. We deserve the break from the exercise and the early mornings. I really look forward to a great rest of the trip.
Today, we spent the entire day within Kelly Campus, the same site we are staying. As a group we were trekking through very tall brush, fighting sticks and mosquitoes on our hunt for bird nests. The challenge of following specific bird noises, tracking them with binoculars, and happily avoiding wild animals gives you an amazing sense of excitement.
As a group, we all must be looking forward to tomorrow, which will be a leisure day for all of us. We deserve the break from the exercise and the early mornings. I really look forward to a great rest of the trip.
Monday, July 4, 2011
"Idea" Nesting
As I walked down a path between two willow trees in water almost up to my knees, I saw the nest. I took the retractable mirror from my pocket and extended it up to the nest and confirmed there were no eggs. This was a nest just built by black headed grosbeak parents. My field research partner for the day, Rebecca, and I had spent the last hour tracking these two birds into a grove of willow trees along the bank of a fast moving creek. We conducted vegetation searches, scanned the trees with our binoculars, listened with our ears to see if we were getting close to the nest, and moved carefully through the brush careful not to step on nests close to the ground. We were due to leave this site in twenty minutes and we agreed to give this one section of willows one more look. After finding the nest, we marked it’s location on a bird nest card and with our hand held GPS receivers. We then turned around and began our long walk back to the van. The importance of this simple find was not lost on me. I came to Wyoming to learn field research and to learn how to identify different bird songs. More importantly, I came here to learn how to inspire my town and school community to become more effective stewards of the Earth. I'm not sure exactly how I am going to accomplish this goal. Like the grosbeak, I realized I too am making a nest here in Wyoming. The materials have been kindly given to me by Earthwatch and the Teton Science School and I have created a nest of "ideas" which are currently growing. I have a lot more in common with birds than I thought...
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The First Discovery!
The day began at 5:00 AM and I was nervous. I knew that today the proverbial rubber was going to hit the road because all the skills we learned yesterday would have to be applied in the field. We were partnered up and we would be left in a designated spot to find nests on our own and formally record their location using the handheld GPS systems we had learned to operate yesterday. This was serious research! and it had to be detailed and there was a very detailed protocol we had to follow. It had to be correct! Sonal and I found ourselves in a peaceful pond area and we began looking. I was intrigued as much by the fragrant wild flowers surrounding us as by the birds that we were supposed to be looking for. Robins all over the place... I knew their cousins from New Jersey! but the others, not so easy! We looked and looked for nests but could not find any that were active. Discouraging. After about two hours we wandered over to the road that bordered the "block" to which we had been assigned, a little dejected because we hadn't found any nests to record.
Sonal and I noticed a colorful display of deep purple and red flowers that marked the entrance to a nearby property. As Sonal came around a nearby cottonwood tree she glanced up and noticed two tiny yellow triangles in an impossible tangle of grey branches. Success! We quickly took out our extending mirror (it looks like a dental instrument a dentist would use to examine an elephant) to look inside the nest that was about 6 feet off the ground. Sure enough, there they were...two little robins who had withdrawn their little beaks laying side by side perfectly still and I could hear them saying "Please don't see us. Please don't see us!" It was one of the most touching things I've ever seen, because you knew that they were so very vulnerable at this point in their very short lives. Mom or dad were signaling their alarm by "chipping" so we quickly recorded our GPS position and withdrew to calm everyone concerned.
Sonal and I noticed a colorful display of deep purple and red flowers that marked the entrance to a nearby property. As Sonal came around a nearby cottonwood tree she glanced up and noticed two tiny yellow triangles in an impossible tangle of grey branches. Success! We quickly took out our extending mirror (it looks like a dental instrument a dentist would use to examine an elephant) to look inside the nest that was about 6 feet off the ground. Sure enough, there they were...two little robins who had withdrawn their little beaks laying side by side perfectly still and I could hear them saying "Please don't see us. Please don't see us!" It was one of the most touching things I've ever seen, because you knew that they were so very vulnerable at this point in their very short lives. Mom or dad were signaling their alarm by "chipping" so we quickly recorded our GPS position and withdrew to calm everyone concerned.
Backpack, Backpack!
Watching Dora with my daughter and son always leaves me with a sense of awe over the simple backpack. Dora's pack always seems to have exactly what she needs inside to help her on her mission. I thought of Dora and my kids on the first two days of my Earthwatch Expedition to Wyoming to study songbirds. In the first two days, I had to reach into my backpack for various items including a GPS handheld device, water bottles, lunch, bug spray, hat sunscreen, bird nest identification card, satellite map, hand held radio, change of clothes, rain gear, mirror to view inside bird nests, and various bird and tree identification materials. One thing I have learned thus far on this expedition is that the simple backpack is my best friend, my food supplier, my medical kit, my tool kit, and my field guide all in one. Next time Dora comes on at home I will curl up with my kids and sing the "Backpack" theme song enthusiastically as I reminisce about all the times my "Backpack" had my "back" in Wyoming.
Nest hunters-July 3rd
This is our first day in the field with an opportunity to put all our hard-learned training to work in JACK nest search area. This involved a 45-minute drive south through Jackson, past the amazing Teton range and National Museum of Wildlife Art (complete with great statues of elk and other critters). Squeezing everyone into the van was a bit of a challenge with all 12 of us, and our capable, cheerful commander-in-chief, Jenifer (one "n" her dad couldn't spell!)
After a short briefing under the intriguing sandy bluff filled with swallow nest holes, we commenced the day's efforts with some orientation stops at failed/or last year's nest to get more experience with our targets for the day. There was also a stop at a particularly challenging Robin's nest that Jenifer had recently found. The JACK area is dominated by three ponds with pond border areas that provide ample habitat for our four target birds. Our teams were arrayed across the western edge of Otter Pond where we were given a couple hours to search for nests.
Team #4, composed of Ed and Natalie, focused on a mixed vegetation area accessible by a 2 x 12 board in the area of one of the snake boards (which we checked for fun but found nothing). While walking out to a point of land with water on both sides and a thicket of willow and other bushes, Natalie flushed a female song sparrow that began to chip furiously. As we watched, the female moved from bush to bush in a large circle around us while the male sang periodically from a nearby tree. Having flushed the female, and with her continued presence in the area, we were certain a nest was in the immediate vicinity. Try as we might, locating the nest seemed out of our reach, as we pushed deeper into the bushy area where we thought the nest was located.
We abandoned the search for awhile and we called Jenifer to assist us. When she approached the site, we saw the female who had returned, flushed again and Jenifer was able to located the site on the ground in some knee-high grass. The site appeared to be quite vulnerable to predator attack and could have easily been stepped on by careless researchers.
After a short briefing under the intriguing sandy bluff filled with swallow nest holes, we commenced the day's efforts with some orientation stops at failed/or last year's nest to get more experience with our targets for the day. There was also a stop at a particularly challenging Robin's nest that Jenifer had recently found. The JACK area is dominated by three ponds with pond border areas that provide ample habitat for our four target birds. Our teams were arrayed across the western edge of Otter Pond where we were given a couple hours to search for nests.
Team #4, composed of Ed and Natalie, focused on a mixed vegetation area accessible by a 2 x 12 board in the area of one of the snake boards (which we checked for fun but found nothing). While walking out to a point of land with water on both sides and a thicket of willow and other bushes, Natalie flushed a female song sparrow that began to chip furiously. As we watched, the female moved from bush to bush in a large circle around us while the male sang periodically from a nearby tree. Having flushed the female, and with her continued presence in the area, we were certain a nest was in the immediate vicinity. Try as we might, locating the nest seemed out of our reach, as we pushed deeper into the bushy area where we thought the nest was located.
We abandoned the search for awhile and we called Jenifer to assist us. When she approached the site, we saw the female who had returned, flushed again and Jenifer was able to located the site on the ground in some knee-high grass. The site appeared to be quite vulnerable to predator attack and could have easily been stepped on by careless researchers. Saturday, July 2, 2011
Day 2: We've Got Skills
We woke up late (relatively) for a 7:30 breakfast where we welcomed our latest arrival, Debra. Due to the crazy Chicago weather, she was delayed and didn't arrive until after most of us had gone to sleep. Our final two members, Ed Jr. and Eric, will arrive tonight.
The day was basically a "dry run" of our field research. Our first priority was to build up our gear bags. Although we had packing lists and had brought all the things we thought we needed, we have quickly discovered there are a lot of items we still needed. Luckily, the Teton Science School has a whole gear shop where we could go "shopping" this morning. We picked up better backpacks, water bottles, and rain pants (rain is in the forecast for early next week).
We also got into pairs as we learned how to use our official research gear, the gear that we will need to locate nests and collect data. In the field, we will always be working in pairs -- to help us stay safe and to help us collect quality data. Each pair received a field guide, a data collection sheet, a GPS unit, an expendable mirror (for looking into nests), push pins (for marking nests), and more. After learning a little about the four bird species we will be studying, we headed out into the play field.
Our first challenge was to orient ourselves along the satellite map so that we can learn to navigate successfully through the research locations. Even those of us who claimed to have a good sense of direction were challenged to figure out our position with few man-made
landmarks. We headed through the brush in pairs to get a chance to investigate the area and practice using walkie-talkies.
We then headed down to the shaded area near Ditch Creek to eat our packed lunches (we made sandwiches for ourselves this morning). Jen gave us an overview of how to complete a vegetation search as well a behavioral search (two different methods for locating birds and their nests) through a plot of land. We were lucky enough to spot a moose from a somewhat safe distance and he wandered away from us rather than getting too close before we headed back to camp.
Back in the lab, we had the opportunity to learn more about the species we will be studying -- the American Robin, the Yellow Warbler, the Black-headed Grosbeak and the Song Sparrow. In addition to their distinctive coloring, they have distinctive calls (which Jen played for us) and make distinctive nests.
When we find a nest, we will need to mark its location using hand-held GPS. To practice using the devices, we marked a few waypoints in the lab before heading out in search of a mystery bird. We were like kids on a treasure hunt as we attempted to find the "blue-winged funny bird" using only the nest coordinates. Although it wasn't a live bird, it was a great way for us to practice our identification skills.
We followed it up by checking out the funny bird's nest and using the mirror to look for eggs since the nest was above eye level (photo of egg investigation coming soon). By this time, all of us realized that looking for nests was going to be challenging work. Birds place their nests in places where they can be somewhat protected in an effort to ensure "nest success." For more practice, we hid fake nests for our partners and then described their location so that a future researcher could check the progress.
By this time, it was about 4 o'clock and we were exhausted. We got time for a short break before dinner and then a group of us headed down the road for a nice walk. You would think that after a long day on our feet we would be tired but we had spent so much time listening and learning, it was nice to have the time to just walk and observe.
Tomorrow, we head out to our first field site. Today was just a dry run and tomorrow will be the real thing. We are all hoping to find a nest but at the same time, feeling a little overwhelmed at all the information we have to keep track of.
The day was basically a "dry run" of our field research. Our first priority was to build up our gear bags. Although we had packing lists and had brought all the things we thought we needed, we have quickly discovered there are a lot of items we still needed. Luckily, the Teton Science School has a whole gear shop where we could go "shopping" this morning. We picked up better backpacks, water bottles, and rain pants (rain is in the forecast for early next week).
We also got into pairs as we learned how to use our official research gear, the gear that we will need to locate nests and collect data. In the field, we will always be working in pairs -- to help us stay safe and to help us collect quality data. Each pair received a field guide, a data collection sheet, a GPS unit, an expendable mirror (for looking into nests), push pins (for marking nests), and more. After learning a little about the four bird species we will be studying, we headed out into the play field.
Our first challenge was to orient ourselves along the satellite map so that we can learn to navigate successfully through the research locations. Even those of us who claimed to have a good sense of direction were challenged to figure out our position with few man-made
landmarks. We headed through the brush in pairs to get a chance to investigate the area and practice using walkie-talkies.
We then headed down to the shaded area near Ditch Creek to eat our packed lunches (we made sandwiches for ourselves this morning). Jen gave us an overview of how to complete a vegetation search as well a behavioral search (two different methods for locating birds and their nests) through a plot of land. We were lucky enough to spot a moose from a somewhat safe distance and he wandered away from us rather than getting too close before we headed back to camp.
Back in the lab, we had the opportunity to learn more about the species we will be studying -- the American Robin, the Yellow Warbler, the Black-headed Grosbeak and the Song Sparrow. In addition to their distinctive coloring, they have distinctive calls (which Jen played for us) and make distinctive nests.
When we find a nest, we will need to mark its location using hand-held GPS. To practice using the devices, we marked a few waypoints in the lab before heading out in search of a mystery bird. We were like kids on a treasure hunt as we attempted to find the "blue-winged funny bird" using only the nest coordinates. Although it wasn't a live bird, it was a great way for us to practice our identification skills.
We followed it up by checking out the funny bird's nest and using the mirror to look for eggs since the nest was above eye level (photo of egg investigation coming soon). By this time, all of us realized that looking for nests was going to be challenging work. Birds place their nests in places where they can be somewhat protected in an effort to ensure "nest success." For more practice, we hid fake nests for our partners and then described their location so that a future researcher could check the progress.
By this time, it was about 4 o'clock and we were exhausted. We got time for a short break before dinner and then a group of us headed down the road for a nice walk. You would think that after a long day on our feet we would be tired but we had spent so much time listening and learning, it was nice to have the time to just walk and observe.
Tomorrow, we head out to our first field site. Today was just a dry run and tomorrow will be the real thing. We are all hoping to find a nest but at the same time, feeling a little overwhelmed at all the information we have to keep track of.
HOORAHS!
When did the common tupperware begin to bring so much joy into our lives?
Day one when we learned that a sandwich and carrots/chips fit perfectly into a tupperware and would be our lunch box.
What name does this mystifying tupperware have?
It is not tupperware but a HOORAH!
What goes into this magically box?
A sandwich made of bread (even gluten free bread) with any toppings: meat, cheese, hummus, tomato, cucumbers, pickles, mustard, mayo, lettuce or spinach. In the second compartment: cucumbers, carrots, and a salty snack (fritos, tortilla chips, pretzels, chips) to replace salt we loose from sweating in the field.
What joy does it bring?
There is nothing like working in 80 degree weather, fighting off mosquitoes, walking almost knee deep (just below our water boots) in water, getting sunburns on all places as the sun comes from every direction for 3 or 4 hours and THEN hearing "find a shady spot and eat your lunch".
It is like opening a birthday present as you peer into your backpack and see the hoorah hiding under your gear. You quickly and excitedly rush into your pack and pull out your hoorah with a big smile as you open it and remember what you packed for lunch just 4 hours ago. The food inside the hoorah tasted like the best food you have EVER eaten in your life, even the soggy chips. Eating takes under half an hour. There is a moment of sadness when you look down and see you empty hoorah and slowly put the lid back on and put it back into your pack. Then up again to do another hour or two of nest searching with a full stomach of food and happiness brought on by the wonderful HOORAH!
I will never look at tupperware the same again. How simply a tupperware brought us both excitement and nourishment at the same time and probably never will be the same again!
Day one when we learned that a sandwich and carrots/chips fit perfectly into a tupperware and would be our lunch box.
What name does this mystifying tupperware have?
It is not tupperware but a HOORAH!
What goes into this magically box?
A sandwich made of bread (even gluten free bread) with any toppings: meat, cheese, hummus, tomato, cucumbers, pickles, mustard, mayo, lettuce or spinach. In the second compartment: cucumbers, carrots, and a salty snack (fritos, tortilla chips, pretzels, chips) to replace salt we loose from sweating in the field.
What joy does it bring?
There is nothing like working in 80 degree weather, fighting off mosquitoes, walking almost knee deep (just below our water boots) in water, getting sunburns on all places as the sun comes from every direction for 3 or 4 hours and THEN hearing "find a shady spot and eat your lunch".
It is like opening a birthday present as you peer into your backpack and see the hoorah hiding under your gear. You quickly and excitedly rush into your pack and pull out your hoorah with a big smile as you open it and remember what you packed for lunch just 4 hours ago. The food inside the hoorah tasted like the best food you have EVER eaten in your life, even the soggy chips. Eating takes under half an hour. There is a moment of sadness when you look down and see you empty hoorah and slowly put the lid back on and put it back into your pack. Then up again to do another hour or two of nest searching with a full stomach of food and happiness brought on by the wonderful HOORAH!
I will never look at tupperware the same again. How simply a tupperware brought us both excitement and nourishment at the same time and probably never will be the same again!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Day 1 - Welcome to Jackson Hole!
"Wow - a lot of snow," I kept repeating to the child seated next to me as I descended toward Jackson Airport. Coming from hot, muggy, South Jersey in July, I stared at the snow-covered mountains surrounding the airport. The Grand Tetons -- our destination and research site for our nine-day Songbirds of the Rocky Mountains expedition with the Earthwatch Institute.I stepped onto the runway and inhaled the clear mountain air. 6500 feet elevation, clear blue sky, not a trace of humidity.
I entered the airport through the elk antler arch that welcomes visitors to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and was greeted by a smiling young woman in an Earthwatch shirt -- Colleen, our host from Teton Science Schools. I was happy to arrive -- bad weather in Chicago had delayed my departure and caused my flight to re-route, leaving less than 15 minutes to make my connection to Jackson. There were twelve of us flying in from the east coast, and I was one of the lucky ones who had made my flight. Two more teacher fellows were arriving on the next flight several hours later, and two more wouldn't arrive until the next day due to weather problems and cancellations.
Introductions, baggage, travel tales... and we were off to Teton Science Schools. From the airport to the campus is a 40-minute drive through the Antelope Flats of Grand Teton National Park, and, true to its name, welcomed us with views of pronghorn antelope and bison. Snow-covered mountains rising from a field of sagebrush under a clear blue sky. We breathed in the cool, clear, mountain air, and looked forward to an incredible experience.
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