Charming insects, upcoming adventures, Yosemite-as-homework & braving the fair...

'Round the Property

This young grasshopper nymph TOTALLY stole my heart. SO TINY.

European honeybee descending into a California poppy

This year I noticed California poppies' first appearances in the morning.

I'd never noticed them undressing like this, before. Super cool.

Upcoming Adventures

I'll be doing fieldwork regularly starting next week. Here's the new job site.

Technically that is across the street fm. the "action area"

but that means it's beautiful and will stay that way.

So, I will be out and about pretty much every week,

so hopefully will get lotsa fun photos phor you. =)

Took a side route home fm. the 1st job site visit so I could check out

BLM's Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern. 

That SUPER DRY, pale blue & green & grey stuff on the hill is very Red Hills-y.

Lots of clarkia were blooming their HEARTS out.

I believe this is Clarkia biloba.

And this during a multi-year drought.

I have so much respect for how tough clarkia are.

Homework

So, to prep for upcoming fieldwork, I did some nature-study in Yosemite last weekend.

It was rough, as you might expect. =)

The western azalea is blooming in Yosemite Valley, and it smells AMAZING.

And we saw cobalt milkweed beetles that day, too.

Absolutely STUNNING insects. Photos can't do their shining magnificence justice.

Photo Phrenzy

Just turned in photos to a nearby county fair,

so I'll def. post about how that went,

EVEN if I win absolutely nothing. =)

This is the post on the results of my 1st fair photo entries,

but that was for our county.

What I entered just now is a nearby county's fair.

And it's MUCH bigger.

So I could definitely get NOTHING.

But, it's just a great opportunity to ogle other people's work,

and to force myself to print and mount some of my images.

And thanks to Shelly at MObugs for getting me blogging again.

=)

Mwa!

xoxobb

What WAS I doing? PHOTO QUIZ PHRIDAY phieldwork phun...

 Just got this photo from a USGS friend & figured I'd share it

'cause it initially confused ME, staring at the me of years ago,

wondering what the h I was doing.

Then I remembered & laughed.

So, WHAT do YOU think I am doing?

Based on presence of chamise, I think it's one of the Navy sites,

near Cabrillo National Monument, in San Diego,

my employer at the time (hence kickin' NPS ballcap).

Based on the buckwheat, it's fall.

Per usual, any and all (family friendly) guesses (in comments) are greatly appreciated,

whether fueled by decades of wildlife experience,

or just a bowl of sugary cereal & NO clue.

And please forgive me for showing a photo where I am SO COOL in blue coveralls. =)

Don't hate me 'cause I'm stylish.

The reward for the most accurate guess & most creative guess is:

Steeping in the Glory of Your Own Genius

I will post the answer next week, and winning guesses.

=)

xoxo biobabbler

Science dudes! Ecological dynamics rap. Heaven.

=)

bb

women doing fieldwork in Greenland (science) -- FUN, short video =)

So many things hit home. Esp. sunscreen & Rite in Rain notebooks. And being OUT there, regardless of the weather. Yeah, baby! xobb

Tumbling photos, field work hazards, & rain saves my butt

My guess: Edith's checkerspot (Euphydryas editha)

on yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum).

1. Am doling out more photos from the (fairly glorious)

CNPS hike along the Merced River,

including wildflowers, butterflies, etc.,

on Tumblr (click on that!) 'cause it's faster. For now.

Hope that's alright. xoxoxo

2. Hazards of field work, part 12

Found a good site for Saturday's mushroom hike: hooray!

Unfortunately, also found poison oak on my body.

I knew I'd gone through a patch 2 days ago,

during an exploratory hike of a potential site,

so washed my clothes with Tecnu.

Forgot to wash MYSELF with Tecnu.

Oops.

3. The recent RAIN we got saved my hiney!

Until about 10 days ago, we had almost NO mushrooms visible anywhere.

Cruised through a potential hike in the Sierra NF yesterday,

and saw over 6 species.

Some kinda TINY, beautiful, BRIGHT mushroom.

No clue, re: ID. In the Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake District.

Thus, I am saved.

From a mushroom-free mushroom hike.

And mushroom-free mushroom-seekers.

Who would need someone to blame.

And pelt with pinecones.

Thank you to the rain + warmth that --> MUSHROOMS!

And thank you, in advance, to the Sierra National Forest

for having handy, fruitful, and free forests for us to roam.

I'll think of you if/when I write a check to the IRS this year.

xoxoxo!

bb

office: summer 2007, wordless

You can take the girl out of the field...

Grace Kelly would never do this.

A year ago I got a lagniappe (gift-with-purchase):

a small, black sequined purse.

Having no idea what to do w/it,

I flung it into my closet.

6 months later, at an REI sidewalk sale,

I got a fabulous deal on some bomber boots. 

And when I got home, flung those pups into the closet.

I only just noticed today, another 6 months later,

that I'd CRUSHED this tiny, delicate, evening clutch

with my gigantic, lug soled, all-leather (not light) boots.

*sigh*

Conclusions

800th post potpourri

classic bb photo of yore: taken whilst upside down & mega happy

at Mt. Rainier NP, hiking w/ marvelous friends.

So, not that I think numbers like this really matter, but

800 posts?!?

Apparently "biobabbler" was apt.

FUN combo of teddy bear sunflowers & pole beans I planted.

Frozen whimsey. Heaven.

I'd been thinking about what this one might be,

like a potpourri of random bio-dorky things

I've been doing & seeing & thinking lately.

'Cause that's what this blog is, really.

freakishly HUGE hole in our heads,

a.k.a. the sinus cavity. FREAKS me OUT.

But, then I randomly clicked on "insert image" in blogger,

and it brought up ALL the photos from this blog.

Trip down memory lane.

Amazing post-storm sunset after cruising Yosemite.

So, I'll share my recent things later.

For today, a random smattering of previous postage.

wetland outside New Orleans, weirdo lighting heaven.

Hi! 

Western toad at our house. Note wee size via clover comparison. *sigh*

& the 4 letter code for it is (was) WETO so we biodorks call it "wee-toe". It is wee.

bb training volunteers in rocky intertidal monitoring by doing a demo plot.

At Cabrillo NM years ago. Upgraded water wear since then. =) & now I am a volunteer.

Bambi in the yard! teeter, teeter....

Point Reyes National Seashore. Heart. Majorly.

beloved coworkers' tootsies. Good shoes for Rattlesnake Land.

Note snake gaiters on lower right. Smart. But, HOT.

Freaky things lakes do when they freeze. Had no idea. Tenaya Lake, Yosemite.

k.

Thank you all for checking in and commenting, etc., over the years.

You are are the BEST!

800 hugs.

bb

Sh*t birders say -- Audubon video is a RIOT

The first time I really enjoyed it. The second time I had tears in my eyes.



Jason Kessler is the genius behind all this, apparently.

*sigh*

=)

Enjoy.

bb

p.s. Can anyone tell me what "we dipped" means? I have no idea.

bio dork humor, & I'm gettin' in the FIELD!!

 
Howdy, gangstas.* An "I'm not dead!" post (w/real time update @#6):

1. Laugh and laugh again
Ran across this photo from 2 summers ago and it made me laugh. Again:

It's a bio pun.

I wrote "DNA" using DNA-laden pollen.

What I think is funny is that

I still think it's funny.

Easily amused. =)

2. If I'm cleaning the chicken coop, then it must be time for fieldwork

Just got a call (from the day job), and I will be HEADING OUT into the field very soon! $weet!

Apparently those little birdies are thinking about romance, rendering us biologist types useful so we can ensure construction/other ground disturbance doesn't take any of the little darlings out.

It doesn't take a lot to dramatically reduce the impacts of construction (or your basic ground disturbance) upon wildlife and wildlife habitat.

So, that's exciting. Gonna be paid to be outside, tromping around. Nice!

But, before I'm in the field, I need to

• wrestle this LAST (oh-so-resistant) paper into shape to be done w/my fatty editing project,
• clean the chicken coop 'so the hens are happy whilst I'm away, then
• BUY BOMBER FIELD BOOTS.

3. Bio Dork crisis! My FAVORITE field clothes are gone. =(

bb & coworkers. Can you tell all-leather boots are kinda important??

The perfect set. 

This is a tragedy I've been holding inside

("Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way"**)

save for occasionally mumbling about it to my husband,

who is usually in the next room and doesn't hear.

If you've done fieldwork at all regularly, you get this--
am I right, fieldies? (pray share your feeling in comments)

I probably left them in a hotel somewhere whilst on assignment.

Like back in the pre-MP3 days, I used to always lose my favorite tunes

'cause I'd bring them everywhere with me.

The crappy stuff NEVER got lost;

just sat at home, growing ever-more dusty & annoying.
Same with field clothes.

Anyhow, the perfect set included:

• my lovely $$$ all leather Vasque boots
• my favorite fleece (9 mile-long skinny sleeves (recall I'm female and 6' 1") in a vibrating chartreuse hue that made me v. happy)
• and some magic material socks ($martwool, no doubt).

A moment of silence....

4. Chartreuse aside

Factoid from Wiki: "Chartreuse in nature... Birds: Lovebirds are colored various bright tones of chartreuse..."

Photo by David (http://flickr.com/photos/81804231@N00).

aw... and terribly cute! =)

5. I-am-not-a-freak shopping

But, my loss also means I "must" find and shop at an REI.

While I am NOT a shopper, I DO love a good REI.

One of the only stores where I feel pretty normal and relaxed.

They have stuff I need (and want).

They are unphased at the mention of mud and freezing,

hiking (entirely) off trail in the rain, mud, wind, and amid-rattlesnakes.

'sno big. they get it.

Sort of like graduate school.
When I found myself in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment,
I realized that for the first time in my life,
I was around people who were like me.

Super into the planet and conservation and learning,
way enthusiastic and driven,
and SO excited to be there.

It was heaven.

Anyhow...

6. Time travel--whoosh!

Full disclosure, THIS part of this post is written TODAY, Monday Feb 13th, AFTER my fieldwork.

Did 2 days of fieldwork sans camera,

knowing I had more fieldwork the next week, so I'd bring my camera THEN,

once I'd gotten up to speed w/coworkers.

THEN they hired 2 new people & I was reassigned to the office to edit.

oops.

So, VERY SORRY, readers, precious little to SHOW re: fieldwork.

Do have 1 or 2 from last partial day in field (Saturday) that I'll share next.

And I still have 2 old nests (abandoned from last year, our task to remove)

that I'll photograph, share, and try to figure out who made them.

And I picked up owl pellets & various bones, so when I retrieve them,

I'll share that, as well.

Anyhow, I'm back home (for now), alive, and its' SNOWING!!!

Right now the sun is peeking through, brightening snowflakes,

and rendering the foraging deer ever-more glamorous. =)

Yup, life's rough.

And you? How've you been?

xoxoxobb

*Wrote this last week, before I left. Am now back. For now.

*from Pink Floyd's (somewhat painfully genius) song "Time." bb is, in part, English ethnically and (so a Scotsman tells me, more than a little bit) culturally.

been in the field, pardon... =) 2 rattlers, today!!

 
So, my fatty Nikon D50 is harder to carry around, yank out of my pack at a rattler, etc. BUT, it has the advantage of me knowing how to USE it to actually, you know, FOCUS. On the SUBJECT.

Today's BEST shot of a rattlesnake. (erg.)

The BIGGEST rattlesnake, of course, I did NOT get a picture of. My task was to grab it out of a burrow and move it to the happy side of the wildlife fencing (i.e. the side that does NOT lead to cars and squishing). Did not succeed 'cause it decided it did NOT want to move so glided further into a ground squirrel burrow complex (outtareach and undaground).

I will admit that it was HUGE, I was a little intimidated.

Here's a co-worker moving a very cranky gopher snake to the happy side of the fence.

Doin'

the go-fa-snake

shuf-fle.

Zoom in on me. The chick who took my photo cannot use her new camera, so every time she crops a shot, well, almost, the computer says the new shot is 0KB. And I'm handsome!

Honestly, I just ate a scone post dinner (what's up with that??) so I gotta get to the gym right now. More some other time. When?? Hard 2 say.

=) Back in the field next week, more snaky rescue, possibly with my bulky-yet-beloved Nikon fatty. =)

Hope y'all are well!

xobb

fieldwork

  
I like this shot 'cause it's a good indicator of what I do/like/require

At the top is my suitcase with field clothes galore (rain, no rain, cold, not cold, all possible weather), my computer backpack (love), field guides, water bottle, rain gear and mittens, backpack, jumbo boots, "cosmetic" bag (not a lot of cosmetics in there), and giant thing 'o' water (left over from something else, don't normally buy water). Oh, and you can just see my yoga mat at the top, and my camera is in there somewhere.

Add food, and this is all biobabbler needs. Although, it looks like a lot.

Here's a lovely loggerhead shrike that I saw while I was "riding fences" Monday. They have a more variable song repertoire than I'd thought. Super cool creatures, and my next post will feature a few of the gnarly meals this guy or a neighbor'd jammed onto the barbed wire. Serious birds!

Weather's been amazingly nice. Only rained last 30 min. of work day yesterday, so that was great, and I learned some parts of how to assemble an electrified fence and a wildlife barrier fence.

My favorite part was being a runner (for electrified fence). You take a big spool of orange thread (that has a VERY fine metal thread within it) stuff it onto a pole so it can spin, then run around the enclosure, clamping the thread at every T post, and that's it. So, paid to be a hyper spaz and run/speed walk all around the site, twice. Fun!

Anyhow, today is the last day for me then I'm out.


Flooding predicted at Yosemite NP (the valley) so that may wreak havoc with the Christmas Bird Count. The evening meeting (the tally) is in the valley, so we'll see if that happens.

=) Either way I've pledged to make a lasagna for all the birders, so I will, even if I have to hand it off to someone in a boat for delivery. =)

biobabbler

'tis the season...

  
Got this from Cakewrecks, but it's a creation of the a-MA-zing people at Highland Bakery in Atlanta, GA.

I am posting this because it's slightly biological (marine theme is always near and dear to my heart) and it's incredible and might inspire folks to try something OUT there (or even just get a piping bag for cookie decorating) for the holidays. =)

Mostly, though, it's just freaking cool.

 

Check out the (amazingly realistic) octopus gluing on shell roof tiles with a piping bag. WOW!

Not your ordinary gingerbread house, eh?

Am in the field next week so may post little or none. However, have had NO GUESSES so far re: the photo quiz. Anyone? Anyone? =)

biobabbler

okay: time for yoga. then bed. then, again, outtahere!

 
Incoming biobabbler drought:  WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING!

Taking off tomorrow for fieldwork. Back this weekend.

But first, of course, before tomorrow, is tonight. Which means that now, 10:43 p.m., I must stop THIS:

surfysurfysurfysurfy, bloggybloggybloggybloggy

and start doing THAT:

That'd be "tree," a  yoga pose. Plus a few more. Before beddy-bye.

So, talk to you later, and have a great week!

xobb

more and less? extension on fieldwork...

   
My posts will probably be infrequent in the coming week 'cause as it turns out work is short on bodies, so I'll be either in the field or office all week. Judging by last week, my days may be LONG.

Hopefully, I'll get more fresh-from-the-field photos for y'all. At some point.

As for now, once my laundry is done (packed for 3 days, staying 8), I'm off to crank out a bunch of maps for WHOMEVER gets to search for froggy habitat tomorrow.

ribbit!

biobabbler

heading out, again...

So may not post for a few days (office work then fieldwork for dayssss) but I'll bring my camera and MAYBE actually get to use it?!?

(this is not where I'm going, I'm just plying you with photos so you'll come back. =) )

And of course, now that I have my trusty huge leather boot-o-ramas, I will be safe. =)

Saturday will be a new kind of survey for me, if I get to do it, and I'll tell you all about it--when I get back.

In the meantime, might there be some adventures you could plan for your very own self?

biobabbler

heading out, again...

     
More fieldwork on tap. Will chuck up (as opposed to upchuck) what I wrote earlier today for your Wednesday, then I'm out until at LEAST the weekend, possibly later.

Have a great week end and weekend.

And consider an outing. An adventure.

If you could take one, where would you go? What would you do?

And why not do it? Or at least plan it. Or something comparable, which can prepare you for "the big one"?

How might YOU suffuse your boots with mysterious scent?

Do tell.  =)


biobabbler

Sign of a good weekend...

  

Luggage, field backpack, sundry outdoor gear, fuel, and a box of new trail-running shoes! (city time = shopping time)

Don't normally need this much for 2 days, but I had 2 days of sampling, 2 parties, and decided to actually dress for the parties vs. show up algae-covered, salty and smelling like dying pelagic micro-fauna...

Good times!

Science Friday on Talk of the Nation = aquatic caterpillars, and Snacks = Science

                 
I was driving south on I-5 last Friday afternoon (3/26/2010), headed to my rocky intertidal sampling locale, and my companion and I decided to tune in to Science Friday, the special weekly science injection courtesy of Talk of the Nation, a national radio program.

First thing I notice is the phrase amphibious caterpillars...next thing I realize is, it's Dan's voice!

Dan, Dr. Daniel Rubinoff to the public at large, was being interviewed about his discoveries, and did a GREAT job. Very interesting and fun. Dan's one of those rare breeds: a scientist with great people skills. Not just good, but great. So the interviewers were also clearly enjoying themselves. I highly recommend the podcast.

During the interview, Dan was describing the names they've come up with for some of the sacs the caterpillars cover part of their bodies with. Mind you, this is not just the aquatic caterpillar, it's the 80+ species they've discovered in the Hawaiian chain of islands. Names like burrito, bugle (the snack, not the musical instrument), candy wrapper, and the interviewer commented that it seems like there's a lot of names associated with food. And Dan said, "When you do fieldwork, you think about food."

Couldn't agree more.

During my first interaction with Dan, when he visited the park I worked at, looking for a research permit to sample there, he and I walked down a trail, he looking for his bugs and their habitat, me chatting to get to know him and his work, and doing my usual "here's what to expect doing research in this park" spiel.

At one point we were both getting spacey, not articulating at all well. Then he produced a giant bag of generic cheetos, so we munched on extremely orange snack food for a while. Before long, we could both speak coherently again, and continued our conversation.

Fieldwork needs to be fed.

And I was reminded of this just this morning.

I dined in one of my favorite breakfast places, and ate a LOT. And I was rather surprised, not usually being such a big eater. Then I was reminded that I'd done hours and hours of field work yesterday, and was going to do more  today, so it was probably a very good thing. And necessary.

Years ago, doing fieldwork with a crew of mostly volunteers, I learned that a fed volunteer is a happy volunteer. You can see people's eyes light up when presented with an array of homemade scones, or a dozen doughnuts. It's kind of amazing.

Have snacks, will sample.

So here's to Dan's discoveries, their snacky names, and all the people doing fieldwork, paid and otherwise.

While snacking with one hand, and collecting data with the other, they are also feeding the public information about the amazing natural world we all live in. Ultimately, providing us with information on the proper care and feeding of a planet.

Nice work!