This summer, I’m living and working in Yellowstone National Park! I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I am proud of myself for working hard to get myself here. “A Summer in Yellowstone” is a new blog series that I created to share my experience. Continue reading “A Summer in Yellowstone”
Category: Blogs & Vlogs
These are all of my blogs and vlogs in chronological order
Badass in the Badlands
I recall crossing the Missouri River. The landscape began to change. No longer was the ground flat and heavily farmed. Rolling hills began to pop up and soon, rugged rocks could be seen in the distance. I was getting closer to something different — something that I never experienced before in my life.
Here I Go Again
Travel should contain a good dose of tangent and so does my writing. The open road spawns adventure and introspection. I relish where I’m going and I take pride of where I’ve been. Truthfully however, the path from here to there is what is most rewarding.
A Wooden Ring
It’s been too long since I’ve been woodworking! Life as a wildlife professional has kept me away from home and shop. Sadly, at least from a woodworker’s perspective, I’ll be traveling again and won’t have much woodworking time between now and then.
While away, I’ve been missing those creative outlets. It’s quite impractical to take my woodworking fascination with me on the road. However, I thought about hand tools or even carving. Looking at the cost of a decent set of knifes, I thought that I should try whittling first. Wow, it take a long time, even with a sharp knife!
Nonetheless, on this rainy afternoon, I decided to indulge my creative side by making a project that I’ve been meaning to try for a long time – a wooden ring. Earlier in the week, my friend Glenn reminded me of this idea. He was looking for a simple yet thoughtful gift. That evening, I coached him through the construction and then, I perfected my method the following day.
Made on the drill press, I was mindful of the sequence of steps. I decided that I would only find the center hole at first. Cutting the outer diameter before the inside meant that I could easily chuck the ring into the drill press and shape the outside edge. Then, I used the drill press like a lathe to sand and shape the ring. Lastly, I bored out the center and hand sanded the ring, inside and out.
What About Jill?
When I tell people of my next adventure, I am often asked, “What about Jill?” People are often concerned about how the distance will affect our marriage. Some are curious about how we weather the separation for such lengthy periods of time. I am continuously thankful for those who offer their love and support. Continue reading “What About Jill?”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Escape to the Mountains
Congaree was wonderful; however, after five months of flat, homogeneous land, I yearned for the mountains. The mountains are home. I missed the northern hardwoods, spring ephemerals, and trout streams. Hell, I even missed the rocks and Ericaceous species that I so often complained about. Springtime of the coastal lowland simply isn’t the striking rebirth that we see at more northern latitudes or higher elevations.
April may be considered the “off-season” for visiting our national parks. Only the hardy folks come out to enjoy nature in its rawest form – early spring. Among those ranks, I enjoy the appeal of having the place almost all to myself. What may look like a lifeless, cold, and wet landscape is actually the beginnings of a rebirth. The Great Smoky Mountains was not only going to renew my spirit but would also open my eyes to the great divide in our country. Continue reading “Great Smoky Mountains National Park”
Nothin’ but Bat Bliss
Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 12
Going through the media on my phone, I tripped upon some cool bat video that I never used. It was the perfect excuse to make one last episode in this series and it certainly highlights my enthusiasm of working in Congaree.
I enjoyed making these videos; they were fun to create and share. They were a great way to keep in touch with friends and family and let them know what I was up to. I’m also glad that I kept a record of my adventure in Congaree. Perhaps I will create another vlog for my adventures Yellowstone!
Without further adieu, here is the last episode: Nothin’ but Bat Bliss!
A Life Plan That is Working
Fieldnote 4
January 14, 2017
Congaree National Park – Bates Ferry
I’m enjoying a Saturday afternoon break. Today, I began the final push to wrap up the glow stick project. A couple hours in front of the computer, I had to get outdoors. I’m not used to spending that much time staring at the monitor or sitting in one spot for that much time. Nothing wrong with a slight diversion, right?
Bates Ferry Trail provided the break that I needed. It’s only a little over a mile from the trailhead down to the river and it’s a quiet, seldom used trail. I doubt that I will see another soul out here.
On the bank of the Congaree River, I am writing. My life back home seems so far away. It’s cold there and this afternoon, it’s warm here. I’ve never spent a January like this. I am warm and comfortable as I sit in my flannel shirt. I’m contemplating what to do next – maybe Alaska!
Life has changed so much since quitting my job at Pride Mobility. Times may have been rough in that year between then and school but I survived. Continuing my education, I had a vague direction; I didn’t know where this path would lead. I’m happy that it lead here – the outdoors.
My career is unfolding before me. I made a life plan that is working. I earned my education and identified great opportunities along the way. It has been fulfilling. For instance, last night, I was netting for bats at Congaree National Park in South Carolina. I do good work and the experience is rewarding. Five years ago, I could not imagine the possibility!
A thousand miles away on the shores of the Congaree River. Who would have thought? Maybe one day, it will be at the very top of the Alaskan Highway or out west somewhere. For now, I am content to sit in the warm sun, chasing bats through the swamp, and finishing my manuscript.
I am forever grateful to those who have supported me on this journey. A career in wildlife isn’t an easy one, but the reward is grand. I could have never attained this success without you.
~ Michael
Piggies of the Floodplain
Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 11
With less than a week remaining, it’s hard to believe that five months have passed! Although I absolutely enjoyed this chapter, I’m eager to head home to my old stomping grounds, see my loved ones, and pursue my next adventure.
In this episode, I present some video of the feral pigs that I encounter almost daily in Congaree. More accurately, they are animals that have descended from domesticated pigs and have established a population in the wild. While relatively benign to park visitors and me, they negatively impact the ecosystem by out-competing native species and extensively disturbing the forest floor. Often, such as the case in Congaree, they have no natural predators to restrict their growth. I have mixed feelings about them like I do with most invasive species.
There’s a Raccoon on My Log
Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 10
Over a month has passed since I’ve posted an update to my vlog. Lately, I’ve been very busy at work and on my free time. During the past several weeks, I’ve been in a hurry to capture canopy photos and survey vegetation plots throughout the study area before leaf-out. Spring arrived a few weeks early and shortened the timetable to complete this work. Searching for the next adventure, many of my off hours have been spent on the job hunt. Lately, I haven’t had much time to relax.
This hectic period certainly doesn’t mean that I wasn’t enjoying my time outdoors. My travels often took me to new places in the park and I watched Congaree come alive in the essence of springtime.
One of my favorite moments was a visit from a raccoon. I was sitting quietly on a log, consulting my notes, when I heard something walking towards me. Oblivious to my presence, a raccoon walked near. I stealthily employed my phone to capture some video of the close encounter. Certainly, I did not think that I would be sharing the log with this visitor!