Tag: Bats

High Water & Snowmageddon

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.

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Listening for Bats

Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 6

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.

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Breakfast on the Boardwalk

December 14, 2016

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.

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Highs and Lows

Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 5

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.

The Fieldhouse

Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 4

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!

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Just an Update for Now

Chasing Bats at Congaree – Episode 2

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.

 

Chasing Bats at Congaree

Welcome to Congaree – Episode 1

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.