Devil's Den State Park

Sometimes, we just need to get away. Sarah, Sarah and I went camping this past weekend at Devil's Den State Park, just south of Fayetteville, AR. We talked, ate s'mores, hiked, and explored a cave in search of bats. The weather was wonderful: cool at night and slightly warmer than "just right" during the day. Also, it was nice to be surrounded by the Ozark Mountains because it is such a different ecoregion from the Mississippi Delta, where Jonesboro is nestled. Although we only stayed two nights, the trip was the perfect amount of "change" that we all needed to recharge in order to tackle another week of grad school!

Results from the best birthday gift!

For my birthday this year, Paul presented me with a Nikon D40X camera, complete with two lenses, two DVDs on photography, and a bag in which to carry everything! Below are some of the results of my first shots with my new camera - thank you, dearest Paul.

P.S. I had no theme in mind when I took these (and several other) photos, but it is obvious that our cats were sleeping in proximity at the time.

Old vs. New Equipment

My field boots needed to be replaced. After the first week of my research season, I discovered that my right boot was no longer waterproof. The morning dew of three tower searches was more than enough to make my foot look like a big pink raisin, so it was time for new equipment. I loved these boots so much that I ordered another pair. LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE!

Research surprises

At the beginning of my research seasons, there is always stress due to the fact that I have NO IDEA how the survey areas will look when I arrive. The hope is that the vegetation is such that walking transects and looking for birds is "do-able." Sometimes, this is not the case, and then that site is lost for the season of data. Here are two pictures representing what I hope for (bottom) and, sometimes, what I get (top).

Ah, to be a cat.

Snowy Range - forgot to share!

Now that we are back from "out west," it is time to get organized (somewhat) before a research season (me) and business trips (Paul). Our new friends we met during our birding trip to the Snowy Range of Wyoming have shared the group photos from the trip, and Lori got a nice shot of Paul and I exploring the rocks. Paul and I a couple of good ones that I thought I would share as well. Enjoy!

Chipmunk for Mom

I am speaking tomorrow after lunch, but I needed a break from praticing my talk! I cycled through the pictures from our time in RMNP and came across one of MANY pictures of chipmunks. I don't see them very often in northeast Arkansas, nor did we have them in Florida growing up. However, I enjoy seeing them when I can and I know Mom would appreciate this picture.

The chipmunks in RMNP were accustomed to people along the paths within the park, probably a result of people feeding them! We did not feed them, but they are just so darn cute. Many of them were so bold that I was afraid they would get stepped on! This little guy was working very hard to find food, and in this shot it looks as though he found something to nibble on.

Snowy Range, Wyoming

Paul signed us up for an all-day birding tour of the Snowy Range, approximately 30 miles outside of Laramie, WY. Actually, I'm not sure how far we drove, but we had a fabulous time! Although we were not lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the elusive American Dipper, I added some species to my life list and I think Paul enjoyed his first birding tour. He came equipped with brand new binoculars, and I think he got more than a few good looks at most of the birds.

The final view at the end of the tour was really spectacular. Despite the elevation and snow, most of us felt more heat than cold, especially when the wind was still. We saw marmots among the rocks, which was a new mammal for us. Mostly, we just enjoyed the scenery and tried to fathom just how high up we really were (10,500-ft).

Rocky Mountain National Park - Day 2

We recognized our limits and elected NOT to climb one of the 8+ mile hikes up to any of several peaks higher than 10000 ft. Instead, we took a 5.8-mile out-and-back hike through a different part of the park to check out 3 waterfalls. Although I was disappointed not to have trekked to a high peak, I must admit that we would need better preparation and training for something like that. I wonder how many visitors come to RMNP thinking they will ascend to the peaks and meet reality halfway up?

This is a beautiful place, and I hope we can return someday to see more of it.

Rocky Mountain National Park - Day 1

Our flight into Denver was smooth, uneventful, and 10 minutes early! Unheard of nowadays, but we were happy to arrive sooner than later. Seeing the mountains and taking a few hikes were some of our goals for this trip, and we were ready to "get at it" and enjoy time away from the daily grind (not coffee).

The altitude is definitely a force to be reckoned with, for those of us from the relatively low-lying east coast. Our pace for our first hike might be considered slow, but it was really the best we could manage. We did our best to keep hydrated and took many breaks, and we did see everything we had planned for that day. The most amazing thing about this altitude is that no matter how deep you breathe, there never seems to be enough oxygen!

Handsome Kona

Paul thinks that the photo of Kona I posted yesterday

is not very flattering. So, I have selected another

pictures of Kona, minus his tongue.

Feel free to weigh in on this issue:

is yesterday's pic of Kona really awful?

A face only a mother could love....

Sarah captured this shot of Kona

some time ago - so long ago I forget

when! She finally purchased the correct

wires to download her photos to her new

computer and was kind enough to send me

a copy of this PRICELESS shot.

Truly, timing is everything.

Back on the air?

I though I should post something before the end of July, so that there would only be a TWO month gap in writing! HAH!

The time since mid-April until now has been filled with a 4-week field season, a trip to California to see my godson (Jason and Betzy should be proud to have such a beautiful son!), analysis of data and a write-up of this season's progress. Also, my sister and I have been rearing a kitten whose mother died within a week of giving birth. Bottle-feeding a 3-oz kitten had its challenges and sadnesses, but he is doing well and we have named him Button. Since I like pictures with each post, here is one of Button at 3 weeks. He is much bigger now and, if it is possible, cuter.

Nesting in an urban world

While preparing for my upcoming research season last week, I discovered a nest of an American Kestrel. I was not really surprised by the location, as kestrels nest in cavities. But I did wonder if the entrance and exit to this particular nest was at all inconvenient for the bird! I hope the plastic cover for the "window" to this box is not replaced anytime soon...

Amateur Researcher

OK, so after my article about the Cedar Waxwing Window Fatality Event, I was interviewed by the Jonesboro Sun for another article. The focus of this article was "The Great Backyard Bird Count" and participation in Jonesboro. Admittedly, this year was the first time I have ever participated in such an event, and I only exerted the absolute MINIMUM amount of effort requested by the sponsors, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology!

The requirements are that you watch birds for at least 15 minutes at a time in a single location and record the largest number of individuals of a species that you see within that window of time. You can conduct more counts at other locations and submit separate lists for each location, as long as you observe for at least 15 minutes. My effort in 2007: 15 minutes of observation of my backyard bird feeders, in my PJs, coffee cup in hand!

I guess my minimum effort earned me the title of "amateur researcher," which occurred in the actual paper but is missing from the electronic copy. My labmates enjoyed that very much, and now there is a sign above my desk that reads "Erin Macchia, Amateur Researcher." My mother will be so proud.

Here is the link for the article: http://www.jonesborosun.com/archived_story.php?ID=26967 Not sure how long it will be posted, but I also have a digital copy if you would like to read it.

NOTE: I would like to correctly capitalize the names of the species of birds listed at the beginning. The common names of species should appear as: Ruddy Duck, American Kestrel, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and Carolina Wren.

23 March 2007

OK, so maybe this will be a blog that is updated monthly, rather than weekly or daily. That was not my intent when I began this for Paul and I, but I did not take into account my upcoming research season!

On 1 April 2007, I will have an article in the Jonesboro Sun regarding bird collisions with windows - more common than you might think! - and it will feature this picture. At least 60 Cedar Waxwings were killed after colliding with a window earlier this month. I am not sure of the exact number, as they were discovered only when someone noticed "a bunch of birds on the ground" and they were in an area where stray cats are not uncommon. The focus of the article is to inform the public about the Ornithology Collection at Arkansas State University and to encourage people to donate birds (in good condition!) to the collection so they can be preserved for science and educational purposes. It is one good use that comes from an unfortunate event.

Let me know if you would like to read the entire article, as I have PDF copies of it.

P.S. The cell phone (second row, far right) was placed on the sheet for scale, and the editors of the paper asked me to take it out because they didn't want people writing in to the editor with silly comments like "I didn't know cell phones could crash into windows." I suggested a disclaimer in the photo caption to the effect that it is there as a reference, but that was a no-go.

Day 1: the beginning

Paul and I are far from family, and so we are thinking of ways to keep in touch so that the distance doesn't seem so great.

Unfortunately, nothing momentous happened today and so this blog may begin on a mundane note, but at least it is beginning.

As some of you know, we visited Erin's parents in Florida in January. The weather was not quite sunny and bright, but we did spend a good afternoon at Blue Springs State Park and caught a nice shot of a manatee. Evidently, the year-round 72-degree temperature of the water was not comfortable for all present!