Viewing details of messages, sorted by time of last reply ("sticky messages" first)
Sticky Message
Earthwatch
The new 2009 Expedition Guide is here!
There are research projects you can join, running in 30 countries worldwide, working on climate change, ocean health, threatened natural resources and cultures. Want to take a look at them all online right now? Just go here:
view link
Prefer to leaf through our new printed Guide? Just go here and request your free Guide today!
view link
There are research projects you can join, running in 30 countries worldwide, working on climate change, ocean health, threatened natural resources and cultures. Want to take a look at them all online right now? Just go here:
view link
Prefer to leaf through our new printed Guide? Just go here and request your free Guide today!
view link
Costa Rican Sea Turtles!
On my expedition (Costa Rican Sea Turtles, January 2008) we patrolled the beaches at night to watch for nesting Leatherback turtles. One night as we were walking to meet up with the group on North beach, our team leader said she thought there was a turtle in front us. They typically come in around high tide. High tide was at 4:40am and it can be dangerous for a turtle since she can overheat as the sun comes up. We carefully walked beyond her and met up with the North group.
They were going to head back to the station and see if anyone wanted to come see the “morning turtle”. It is so rare that a turtle will come ashore that close to daylight plus once the sun is up, it is a rare opportunity to photograph the turtle (photography is prohibited at night). Out of 200 or so turtles, at that point in the nesting season, only 5 had been ‘morning turtles’.
Since Eric, my fellow group mate had counted eggs with the last turtle – it was my turn!! The group around the turtle quickly grew. A large group from the station came to watch and people were out for a morning walk on the beach. I got into position behind her as she dug the egg chamber. She very carefully dips her rear flippers in one at a time and carefully scoops sand out – probably about 1 cup or 2 at a time. The egg chamber will be about 75cm (about the length of your arm) deep. So it can take a while for her to dig the egg chamber. Once she started laying her eggs, I gently moved her flipper and using my head lamp (with red bulb) I counted the eggs she was laying. This turtle was average size. She was 149 cm in length ( close to ~1.5 yards). She laid 80 eggs.
After she was done she carefully covered her nest, camouflaged its location and headed back to the ocean. It was amazing to be able to work with the turtles at night and such an unforgettable experience to see and work with a turtle in daylight. I’m still struck, all these months later, by the fact that I had an experience like that with an animal that some day could be extinct and that our efforts can ‘make or break’ that outcome. ~ Allison R
They were going to head back to the station and see if anyone wanted to come see the “morning turtle”. It is so rare that a turtle will come ashore that close to daylight plus once the sun is up, it is a rare opportunity to photograph the turtle (photography is prohibited at night). Out of 200 or so turtles, at that point in the nesting season, only 5 had been ‘morning turtles’.
Since Eric, my fellow group mate had counted eggs with the last turtle – it was my turn!! The group around the turtle quickly grew. A large group from the station came to watch and people were out for a morning walk on the beach. I got into position behind her as she dug the egg chamber. She very carefully dips her rear flippers in one at a time and carefully scoops sand out – probably about 1 cup or 2 at a time. The egg chamber will be about 75cm (about the length of your arm) deep. So it can take a while for her to dig the egg chamber. Once she started laying her eggs, I gently moved her flipper and using my head lamp (with red bulb) I counted the eggs she was laying. This turtle was average size. She was 149 cm in length ( close to ~1.5 yards). She laid 80 eggs.
After she was done she carefully covered her nest, camouflaged its location and headed back to the ocean. It was amazing to be able to work with the turtles at night and such an unforgettable experience to see and work with a turtle in daylight. I’m still struck, all these months later, by the fact that I had an experience like that with an animal that some day could be extinct and that our efforts can ‘make or break’ that outcome. ~ Allison R
The Pribilof Islands!
I SO want to go on the Alaskan Fur Seals expedition in Alaska! view link
Can you imagine spending 10 days in an American village that is so remote it uses a diesel generator for electricity? And seeing not only hundreds of fur seals - and pups - but reindeer!
Have you been to St. George? What's it like? Please post photos if you have them!
tx,
Kathy, the Earthwatch webmaster
Can you imagine spending 10 days in an American village that is so remote it uses a diesel generator for electricity? And seeing not only hundreds of fur seals - and pups - but reindeer!
Have you been to St. George? What's it like? Please post photos if you have them!
tx,
Kathy, the Earthwatch webmaster
Volunteering in the rainforest - what to bring
I volunteered on Puerto Rico's Rainforest last year, and I'm very glad I read the briefing thoroughly before I went, as it had lots of good suggestions. Here's what I found most useful to bring:
- lightweight boots - on this particular project, you're climbing hills and it's often muddy and slippery, so ankle protection is really necessary. And you either want boots that dry quickly, or that are waterproof. I chose quick-drying, and they were fine - but my feet did get wet every day.
- non-cotton pants with zip-off legs - I'm soooo glad I got these - they're quick to dry, not too hot to wear, and if you're in an area that's just too brushy or thorny for shorts, you can leave them half-zipped and get some air circulation.
- wickers or other non-cotton quick-drying shirts. I got long sleeved-tshirts, but other people had button shirts with vents that they loved
- flip-flops - you don't want to clump around in your dirty boots, and you don't want to shower barefoot, so this is what you need around your living area.
- a really good, small flashlight, with extra batteries. I know $30 - $40 sounds like a lot for a 4" flashlight, but when you're looking for tiny frogs, or trying to get to the toilet in the middle of the night, it's worth its weight in gold. Check out brightguy.com
- little packets of Crystal Light - these are great for any expedition, if you don't like the taste of tepid water that's been in a jug or bottle for a while. Most people don't drink enough during the day, which makes you tired and cranky by quitting time.
- separate clothes for non-work time. All of your work clothes get damp and muddy, and you don't want to look too disreputable on your days off - or your flight home :)
In general, expect to get wet, muddy, and sweaty every day, and to never quite get dry - like when you go on vacation in Florida and your swimsuit never really dries...
By the way, I had a WONDERFUL time - the staff is awesome, the work is fun, the coqui frogs are great - and you learn to salsa dance!
Kathy, the Earthwatch Webmaster
- lightweight boots - on this particular project, you're climbing hills and it's often muddy and slippery, so ankle protection is really necessary. And you either want boots that dry quickly, or that are waterproof. I chose quick-drying, and they were fine - but my feet did get wet every day.
- non-cotton pants with zip-off legs - I'm soooo glad I got these - they're quick to dry, not too hot to wear, and if you're in an area that's just too brushy or thorny for shorts, you can leave them half-zipped and get some air circulation.
- wickers or other non-cotton quick-drying shirts. I got long sleeved-tshirts, but other people had button shirts with vents that they loved
- flip-flops - you don't want to clump around in your dirty boots, and you don't want to shower barefoot, so this is what you need around your living area.
- a really good, small flashlight, with extra batteries. I know $30 - $40 sounds like a lot for a 4" flashlight, but when you're looking for tiny frogs, or trying to get to the toilet in the middle of the night, it's worth its weight in gold. Check out brightguy.com
- little packets of Crystal Light - these are great for any expedition, if you don't like the taste of tepid water that's been in a jug or bottle for a while. Most people don't drink enough during the day, which makes you tired and cranky by quitting time.
- separate clothes for non-work time. All of your work clothes get damp and muddy, and you don't want to look too disreputable on your days off - or your flight home :)
In general, expect to get wet, muddy, and sweaty every day, and to never quite get dry - like when you go on vacation in Florida and your swimsuit never really dries...
By the way, I had a WONDERFUL time - the staff is awesome, the work is fun, the coqui frogs are great - and you learn to salsa dance!
Kathy, the Earthwatch Webmaster
