Sunday, October 26, 2014

Goodbye, Summer. Hello, Autumn!

Phew!

What an amazing summer! My research with reptiles and amphibians at Selu Conservancy has been one of the best experiences of my life. I most certainly have a deeper appreciation for the wildlife that surrounds us. I always used to think that in order to see interesting animals that I would need to go to the zoo. I was completely wrong. There are exquisite creatures well within reach. My goodness, are they ever wonderful!
Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)

So I guess you could say that my favorite part of research is the animals I get to work with. The reptiles and amphibians are just one piece (ok, a large one) of what has been involved in my research. This summer was more than just coo-ing over adorable toads, frogs, salamanders, and snakes. I also learned a great deal of very useful skills, got to meet a lot of interesting new people, and met some challenges.

Yes, that's right. Challenges. As in all things in life, my plans for this summer didn't always turn out the way I wanted them to. I have a few funny stories (soon to come) and some insights I am forever grateful to have.

I definitely discovered that blogging in the middle of a summer of fieldwork and Organic Chemistry (that's right, O-chem over the summer!) is not easy. As you can tell, I fell behind on my blog posts.

That being said, I now have the opportunity to share my experiences after taking the time to reflect on them.

 Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)