This summer, one of the focus species I am documenting at Minute National Historical Park is the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Blanding’s turtles are medium-sized, semi-aquatic and freshwater inhabitants. These turtles can be identified with its yellow and black lower shell (plastron), and most noticeably,...
"What I love most about rivers is, you can't step in the same river twice. The water's always changing, always flowing." Yes this song was stuck in my head each time I stepped into the canoe to paddle to our survey sites. It's basically the theme...
In the middle of the night when the tide is high, a wave will wash over the sand filling the beach with small silver fish wiggling under the night sky. Then, just as quickly as they appeared, when the next wave crashes, the fish will...
At Lava Beds even walking through the sage brush and juniper is a learning experience. From scoping out eagle’s nests to scrambling over lava rock to find a cave to inventory vegetation, to setting up acoustic monitors, everything in this desert is fascinating. Since my...
Being a geologist isn’t always about mining rocks & minerals or unearthing fossils. It can involve mitigating hazardous situations and damage to infrastructure. The dangers of rockfalls and landslides are commonplace at any mountain range. Such issues are tackled by the Imminent Threats Program at Mount...
This past week we’ve taken several groups out crayfishing in the park. These jaunts in the creek are run by our very own Crayfish Corps, of which I’m a proud member. Crayfish Corps educates the public about both native and invasive crayfish, and allows those...
[caption id="attachment_6876" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Overlook from Montezuma Pass. Elevation: 7600 Feet[/caption] Ever since coming to Arizona, I never expected to learn so much. I've learned to record data usefully and also how to go to caves often. Going to Mexico on the weekends has been a...
Founded in 1935, the goal of Shenandoah National Park was to create a national park in the East. The first national parks were created in the late 1800’s and were mainly in the West. In the east, the land was already developed and settled, making...
Living in Canada and studying Natural Resource Conservation at the University of British Columbia, I am not very familiar with the common plants of the Eastern forests. I am currently learning to identify the common plants found within Shenandoah National Park, along the Blue Ridge...
Tomorrow will be the start of my 5th week here in Cuyahoga Valley NP. It is crazy to think that I have been here for that long. Time has flown here! Lately, I have been getting things together to for this week of sampling. I...