Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Forest Ecosystems
Thoughts and experiences while working at Congaree National Park in South Carolina
While walking around Congaree with antenna in hand, strangers often ask what I’m listening for. I tell them, Bats! Some understand how telemetry works and others don’t. A few thought I could hear their high pitched sounds with that grand ole antenna I was lugging. This episode aims to dispel the misconceptions and show you the cool tools we use to listen for bats.
My days at Congaree National Park are often filled with fascinations. Sometimes, I am lucky enough to post my observations on Facebook or include them in my vlog. More often, I encounter things and events that aren’t recorded, except in memory. This is a short story of a captivating event where I was in the right place at the right time.
Throughout the week or even a day for that matter, we all experience highs and lows. My time in Congaree is no exception. This episode shares some of the highlights of this week and includes a little dash of humor – well, maybe more than a dash!
During my days afield this week, I shot some video while prowling the park. The topics were so different that I struggled to incorporate them in this week’s video. By the end of the week, I still hadn’t settled on a theme for this episode; I managed, however, to toss together the hodgepodge of clips and smooth it out with a heavy dose of humor.
Come along for a tour of the fieldhouse. The dorm is my home away from home for the five months that I’m chasing bats through the swamps of Congaree. Living with six people in a communal setting, there has been much speculation on this arrangement. Let the rumors rest after watching this video!
I’m planning on making a “meet the roomies” episode but I think it’s best to develop my relationships with the new arrivals before putting them in front of the camera. I promise this will not turn into a reality show!
As promised, I’m taking you into the field this week to see a typical day. This video shows you how I go about finding bat roosts in tree cavities and tracking individuals that have been “transmittered”. This is what I do on most days in Congaree. Hope you enjoy and let me know if you have any questions.
Finished week two at Congaree and things are going well. I was hoping to get some video of us netting the other night but we got too busy. Next week, I’m planning on taking you into the field to show you one of my typical days. Here is a little update in the meanwhile.
I’ve been having great success with my blog and I’ve very grateful for the support and readership my work has received. Since arriving at Congaree National Park, I’ve decided to start a video blog series to share my experience. I’m hoping to post once a week.
Hired by Clemson University, I assist a master’s student with her research studying the roosting habits of the southeastern myotis. I live in a field house at the park and my days are spent roaming the swamps and chasing bats. Often there is a gray line between work and play. Here is episode 1 that introduces this series.