6-19
I got invited down to a special meeting with Todd and Wayne (the other field school leader) a couple of nights ago. We sat on the veranda of Todd's tent overlooking the river, and he made us fancy drinks. The discussion was about the TA who had flipped the van. Apparently the van mistake wasn't the only strike he had going against him. He had been lazy, not keeping an eye out for wildlife while the students were in the field, etc. The TA's are supposed to stay to work on independent research projects for a month after the field school, but Todd is considering sending him home. He called me and Wayne in to discuss this. It was interesting as it was the first time I've really been involved in such an important discussion as this. I sort of tried to remain neutral b/c I didn't want to be responsible for leading to someone being fired and ruining their dreams, but I didn't also want to promote someone who could lead to his or other's safety being risked due to a lack of vigilance in the field. Todd said if he stays, he needs him to be supervised and have a good example of hard work. So he wanted to know if he would be helpful to my team. The truth is, he really wouldn't, and I told Todd this, but I also said he wouldn't be a hindrance. I haven't spoken to Todd in private in a couple of days, so I am not sure what the decision is, but I am interested to hear. He seemed pretty upset (and worried, safety wise) with the guy, but Todd also forgives easy, so he wants to find a solution for the TA, so that he can be here and be helpful and be safe.
Also, the only male student on the trip ended up getting a terrible eye infection and being sent to Nairobi to a good hospital. He was a good sport about it and looked pretty ridiculous with his eye patch
The students leave soon, and I think we will have one last sundowner with them tomorrow. A couple nights ago we joined them for their Game of Thrones costume party. They did a good job and Todd was pretty funny dressed up at Tyrian (sp?) with make-up and eye shadow.
The other day on our run around the circle road of camp (with the electric fence just near us), there was an elephant and her calf just on the otherside of the fence. That's a pretty cool running experience. And today while running, Elisha let out a little scream. We turned around to see a little snake on the road that we had just run passed (as had Allison from CU just a few moments before). It was very pretty and moved off the road with some stick prodding, but I am not sure what kind. Also, today in our plots we were surrounded by elephants and other wildlife. We were of course safe in the fence, but you'd be surprised how intimidating elephant sounds can be. Elisha kept thinking they were lion roars or lions attacking Elephants. Interestingly, last week a leopard had actually somehow managed to jump the tall electric fence and had gotten inside one of the exclosures.
Probably the best encounter of the week; however, was with lions. The guys working on the "living with lions" project had located a pride of 6, plus 3 stragglers moving through Mpala on father's day. They radioed us in and led us to a spot where we could see them across a ravine. We watched them there for awhile before they moved towards a small water area. We drove there next and were up really close to them. A few were sitting on this dirt mound, just looking regal and not bothered at all by us.
6/21
Today is the summer soltice back home and mid-winters night back at my other home (Antarctica). Here, where we literally straddle the equator, we can experience both the longest day of the year and the longest night of the year at the same time.
Yesterday, we had some more good wildlife encounters.
On our way to the plots, right outside of the research centre, we came across a herd of elephants that were not scared by Kermit in the very least. They were just busy munching and tearing apart trees, just a few feet from us. They had with them several young'ens but there was a super tiny baby that was probably about 4 to 5 days old. Elisha called it a goat b/c it was so tiny.
We were working in the control (open) plot of UHURU North and a herd of Elephants came right up near where we were working. The main herd stayed a bit off, but they are so loud that they seem to be right there. A couple elephants wondered in really close, so that we could see them from where we were working. Our field assistants kept a close eye on them and we made sure we knew where the car was and where the mega-herbivore (lets all animals in except elephants and giraffes) fence was, but we were safe b/c the elephants were down-wind of us and could thus smell us and would not be surprised by our presence and would keep their little ones away. Also just outside where we were working was a herd of impalas, a herd of zebra, and a massive herd of maybe 40 giraffes, which we had fun watching when we were finished with work for the day, especially since the females appeared quite eager to mate, but the male who was going around sniffing and choosing was quite picky and just a tease.
Last night was the student's last night, so we had a sundowner at one of the view points. Todd had the ascaris build up a big fire and he had purchases "fancy" plastic wine glasses and some boxed wine to toast the end to a successful class. While we were chatting around the fire, watching the sunset, one of the students pointed out a hyena that had come quite close to check out all the commotion.
On the way back to river camp our car got a really awesome view of a leopard that was just sauntering on the road in front of us and lit up by our headlamps. It was a sweet full view of a leopard! So now Elisha has seen all of the Big 5.
Todd threw a goat roast (2 goats) for the students, the kenyans who had helped out, and those of us researchers who had also helped. It was a fun last night that eventually turned into a bit of dance party.
Today while we were working in the plots, there was a troupe of baboons making all sorts of a fuss right next to us, which made the day quite interesting. With the students gone (and Todd and Kat vacationing on the coast), Kirsten, Sid, and Patrick invited us down to river camp for a sleep-over, in part b/c I think they were a bit nervous being there all by themselves.
I got invited down to a special meeting with Todd and Wayne (the other field school leader) a couple of nights ago. We sat on the veranda of Todd's tent overlooking the river, and he made us fancy drinks. The discussion was about the TA who had flipped the van. Apparently the van mistake wasn't the only strike he had going against him. He had been lazy, not keeping an eye out for wildlife while the students were in the field, etc. The TA's are supposed to stay to work on independent research projects for a month after the field school, but Todd is considering sending him home. He called me and Wayne in to discuss this. It was interesting as it was the first time I've really been involved in such an important discussion as this. I sort of tried to remain neutral b/c I didn't want to be responsible for leading to someone being fired and ruining their dreams, but I didn't also want to promote someone who could lead to his or other's safety being risked due to a lack of vigilance in the field. Todd said if he stays, he needs him to be supervised and have a good example of hard work. So he wanted to know if he would be helpful to my team. The truth is, he really wouldn't, and I told Todd this, but I also said he wouldn't be a hindrance. I haven't spoken to Todd in private in a couple of days, so I am not sure what the decision is, but I am interested to hear. He seemed pretty upset (and worried, safety wise) with the guy, but Todd also forgives easy, so he wants to find a solution for the TA, so that he can be here and be helpful and be safe.
Also, the only male student on the trip ended up getting a terrible eye infection and being sent to Nairobi to a good hospital. He was a good sport about it and looked pretty ridiculous with his eye patch
The students leave soon, and I think we will have one last sundowner with them tomorrow. A couple nights ago we joined them for their Game of Thrones costume party. They did a good job and Todd was pretty funny dressed up at Tyrian (sp?) with make-up and eye shadow.
The other day on our run around the circle road of camp (with the electric fence just near us), there was an elephant and her calf just on the otherside of the fence. That's a pretty cool running experience. And today while running, Elisha let out a little scream. We turned around to see a little snake on the road that we had just run passed (as had Allison from CU just a few moments before). It was very pretty and moved off the road with some stick prodding, but I am not sure what kind. Also, today in our plots we were surrounded by elephants and other wildlife. We were of course safe in the fence, but you'd be surprised how intimidating elephant sounds can be. Elisha kept thinking they were lion roars or lions attacking Elephants. Interestingly, last week a leopard had actually somehow managed to jump the tall electric fence and had gotten inside one of the exclosures.
Probably the best encounter of the week; however, was with lions. The guys working on the "living with lions" project had located a pride of 6, plus 3 stragglers moving through Mpala on father's day. They radioed us in and led us to a spot where we could see them across a ravine. We watched them there for awhile before they moved towards a small water area. We drove there next and were up really close to them. A few were sitting on this dirt mound, just looking regal and not bothered at all by us.
6/21
Today is the summer soltice back home and mid-winters night back at my other home (Antarctica). Here, where we literally straddle the equator, we can experience both the longest day of the year and the longest night of the year at the same time.
Yesterday, we had some more good wildlife encounters.
On our way to the plots, right outside of the research centre, we came across a herd of elephants that were not scared by Kermit in the very least. They were just busy munching and tearing apart trees, just a few feet from us. They had with them several young'ens but there was a super tiny baby that was probably about 4 to 5 days old. Elisha called it a goat b/c it was so tiny.
We were working in the control (open) plot of UHURU North and a herd of Elephants came right up near where we were working. The main herd stayed a bit off, but they are so loud that they seem to be right there. A couple elephants wondered in really close, so that we could see them from where we were working. Our field assistants kept a close eye on them and we made sure we knew where the car was and where the mega-herbivore (lets all animals in except elephants and giraffes) fence was, but we were safe b/c the elephants were down-wind of us and could thus smell us and would not be surprised by our presence and would keep their little ones away. Also just outside where we were working was a herd of impalas, a herd of zebra, and a massive herd of maybe 40 giraffes, which we had fun watching when we were finished with work for the day, especially since the females appeared quite eager to mate, but the male who was going around sniffing and choosing was quite picky and just a tease.
Last night was the student's last night, so we had a sundowner at one of the view points. Todd had the ascaris build up a big fire and he had purchases "fancy" plastic wine glasses and some boxed wine to toast the end to a successful class. While we were chatting around the fire, watching the sunset, one of the students pointed out a hyena that had come quite close to check out all the commotion.
On the way back to river camp our car got a really awesome view of a leopard that was just sauntering on the road in front of us and lit up by our headlamps. It was a sweet full view of a leopard! So now Elisha has seen all of the Big 5.
Todd threw a goat roast (2 goats) for the students, the kenyans who had helped out, and those of us researchers who had also helped. It was a fun last night that eventually turned into a bit of dance party.
Today while we were working in the plots, there was a troupe of baboons making all sorts of a fuss right next to us, which made the day quite interesting. With the students gone (and Todd and Kat vacationing on the coast), Kirsten, Sid, and Patrick invited us down to river camp for a sleep-over, in part b/c I think they were a bit nervous being there all by themselves.
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| Add caption |
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| Leopard |
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| Zachary |
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| Peter |
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| Elisha gets the "Queen" chair |
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| The pollinator crew: Elisha, Me, JC, Zachary, Peter, and Julius |
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| can you spot the leopard?? |
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| Teaching the students |
1 comment:
Nice blog. I felt as if I were there!
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