Monday, July 23, 2012

So, how did we end up here?!

Check out the following link to find out how a group of high school students from the LA area ended up participating in real scientific research and spending two weeks together in the mountains and prairies of northwestern Wyoming: http://www.earthwatch.org/scap

The group during our Sunday evening walk



The Research has Begun!

After a brisk walk down the road parallel to the baronial Tetons and a view of pronghorn antelopes, bison and longhorn cattle, we were prepared for our first day in the field the next day; or so we thought. My roommate had woken me up at dawn earlier than the others to rustle their shoulders so they could wake up as well, but we all slumbered five minutes past breakfast!
After a long day's hike, everyone takes a break under the shade of the trees 
What a breathtaking view!!
Photos courtesy of Adrienne.
We set forth on our journey groggy and reticent after rising with the sun. Lugubrious layers of cumulus clouds spread like wet clay clumps rent open with stabs of sienna sunlight as we headed to the meadow. Dubious of extricating new nests from the labyrinth of willows, we were surprised to find one among a plethora of dead nests, given that it was the first nest that we did unearth. 


Charles checking out a new bird nest.
Photo courtesy of Eleanore.
Jacky, Suna, and Adrienne party as they forge through the bushwack
Despite the sweltering sunlight,  overbearing backpacks, and nests we couldn't uncover we had a productive and satisfactory day. Simply splendiferous!

- Kirsten
P.S. Happy 17th Birthday Romario!!!

Earthwatchers watch in awe at the beauty of the pond at the Conservation Research Center
Romario, David, and Josh take measurements after finding a nest
Nests can only be found by those who have keen eyes...thankfully, most of us do
While playing our second game of Camouflage, the "prey" (Jackie) outsmarted the "predator" (Josh) in the most simple and deliberate  fashion. He had no idea...
Photos courtesy of Adrienne.