Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 7
It’s always bittersweet leaving family and friends back home to embark upon adventure. The same was true after spending the holidays at home and returning to Congaree. I’m two out of five months into this assignment. I’m happy to report that I continue to be enriched by this experience.
It’s true, first week back after the holidays, I was greeted with high water and threats of Snowmageddon looming in the forecast. The heavy rains on my travel back down to South Carolina certainly foreshadowed the rise of Cedar Creek. The high water certainly keeps things interesting and adds additional challenge to the job but I’m having fun nonetheless. Snow was in the forecast and I enjoyed listening to the media insight panic among the populace. I couldn’t laugh too hard at the weather wimps of South Carolina because the same excitement happens back home in Pennsylvania with every snow event.
I upgraded my phone over the holiday and decided to shoot video with it rather than my tablet. I think you will agree that the sound and video is much better. My “selfie-stick” provides more options and I’m having fun experimenting with the angles. I’m happy not to be lugging my vulnerable tablet in the field, especially with more water on the landscape. The phone is supposed to be waterproof to a certain degree. Maybe one day, I’ll invest in a video camera that is robust yet small enough for the field – go fund me!
All in all, I’m having a good time with these vlogs. This is my way of promoting some educational outreach of our natural world. It’s also a way to check in with loved ones. So many people asked me what I was going to do with my degree – a park ranger, I was asked often. I love showing people what I’m doing in this early stage of my career. Part of this is a journal to record and reflect on my experiences. I’m hoping to shed some light on one possible career path in wildlife.