Back to Lab

I've been back in lab for these past few weeks so there really hasn't been much to write about. I've been listening to lots of frog calls which is not so much fun (Thanks to the high frequency of spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) it results in given me huge headaches at the end of the day). Hopefully I'll be able to get out into the field a couple of times this week. Also work will end for me soon! And I get to fly off to see my engineer boyfriend. Exciting!! Cannot wait! I wish the time would go by faster.

Off to see the city lights

Well not really a city, and there wont be very many lights.

Me and three other of my friends from my field station are heading to the closest town for dinner to celebrate/ say goodbye due to me leaving on Saturday.
Later tonight we shall be having a bonfire which is lovely.

Frog wise:

Lets see. I have been finding some toads (Bufo americanus) in the woods on the trails I take to get to some of my sampling sites! They are quite adorable. Although the very first one I picked up tried to poison me (they have glands on their backs which secrete poison to evade predators).

I definitely do not want to leave this place. This is cottage life, but with lots of frogs! I could not ask for anything better.

But soon I will be back in lab and having to do lots of writing and researching. Doesn't sound as fun as frolicking in the woods looking for frogs but I must do it.

P.S I apologize for my previous post. I am still freaking out just on the inside. I still haven't solved the conflict.... :(

Oops

I did something bad. And I can't undo it. Data can be at stake. Holy crap! I am terrified of what to tell my supervisor. I screwed up badly and I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!

:(

Sad day at the office.

We've had people leave the station before. But this time it was worse. This time it was really sad. This time I cried. This time we all cried. It was like saying goodbye to a brother or sister. It was saying goodbye to a friend.

Working at the field station in such close courters with so few people you really start to create bonds and friendships. You laugh together and share horror stories of that days field work. And when those people leave, when you see that big green van that we named "Bessie" drive down the long and winding gravel road, you know this time you won't see it return.

We may then be miles apart, countries apart, but we will always remember what we went through and will always remember the fun we had.

Extension

I was supposed to finish my field season yesterday. But luckily for me I get to extend it for another 3 more weeks!

This is so fantastic for me!

There are so many things going on right now. So many of the frogs are finishing up metamorphosis and leaving the ponds. These frogs include Spring Peepers (Hyla crucifer), Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) and Leopard frogs (Rana pipins). They are so adorable!!

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

Wood frog (Rana sylvatica)

Spring Peeper (Hyla crucifer)

Just Keep Swimming

So... A couple of days ago I had to check on one of my field sites. I did not know exactly where it was so my professor had to come with me. He mentioned that to get to the site with the equipment I would have to wade through water that was up to my chest. He was very VERY wrong, the water was WAY above my chest. And I was quite scared to go further into the water because drowning in waders isn't very fun. So I had only one choice... swim across... yes SWIM with all of my clothes on and everything holding my equipment in one hand (god forbid it gets wet!). Anything for research. When walking back my professor asked me if I still enjoy working for him. Of course I do! I love this work, I love what I do, I love what I research. I would never change what I do for a boring office job or working behind a food counter. Yes I have bad days where I have to work in pouring rain, or I end up falling into marshes, things get stressful and there are some days where I just work for so long I get exhausted by the end. BUT never would I want to trade this. This really shows me that I want to do this for a long time. A life in research is the life for me.

Back to work [in the rain].

Got back a couple of days ago and got right back to work.
Had to modify my experiment a little, which is always lots of fun... But you at least it is flowing much better now, and my days are somewhat shortened.

It has been raining for the past couple days which makes sample collection a cold and wet. Unlike the bird people, I still must go out on rainy days because frogs aren't necessarily bothered by rain. And the tadpoles are so adorable!! They are developing from their tiny head-blobs to head-blobs with feet!

I am exhausted but soon comes a day off... kind of.. but still, soon!

Looking more like a frog!

Lots of samples!