Field work is really starting to heat up now! Not literally though, it is still somewhat cold and rainy. What I’ve learned so far in Cordova is that it doesn’t just rain for a day, it rains for a week. You know what they say, April showers bring May showers. Last week was busy, as we managed to resight some collared geese, set up camp, knock out an eagle survey, and even started nest searching!
Collaring dusky Canada geese is done every two years on the Copper River Delta. The collars provide a way to estimate population size as well as allow individuals to be tracked if they are re-sighted and reported.
Setting up camp was delayed a few days due to the rain, but we finally managed to get out and get ready. It was such a nice day, too! Our camp is set up right next to our study area and consists of two large framed tents that we sleep in, a cook tent set up far enough away from where we sleep, storage buildings for our supplies, and of course an outhouse. The views around camp are beautiful and I am really looking forward to putting in many hours out there.
Nest searching is officially under way! We have been averaging about 8 nests per day so far and we hope to keep those numbers up. Searching for nests is simple. It’s just walking around the delta until a goose jumps up and gives you a mild heart attack. If that doesn’t sound exciting enough, there is also nothing quite like walking up to a moose, finding bear tracks, and trying not to fall in the water while crossing beaver dams and sloughs. Tuesday will be the start of our first trip out at camp. With some good weather finally on its way, it appears like it will be a great week in the field!