Any one else here do fieldwork??

[janeothejungle]

It's cold and raining. and I have no desire to drive up to my research site to listen to amorous frogs and toads for 4 hours straight tonight. Need motivation to leave my warm apt.

All my student interns are whining too. The temptation to give them a night off is high, yet the weather is going to be like this all weekend and if I have to suffer, so do they (I'm such a good boss).

I'm still hoping for a mulligan. Maybe the sun will come out and shine and the night will be warm and dry (fat chance). At times, field research is just not what it's cracked up to be. Ah well. Luckily, the majority of the time, it is exactly what it's cracked up to be. No more whining, I'm done now. Thanks.



Cheers,
Kat

[Reediculous]

It's cold and raining. and I have no desire to drive up to my research site to listen to amorous frogs and toads for 4 hours straight tonight. Need motivation to leave my warm apt.

All my student interns are whining too. The temptation to give them a night off is high, yet the weather is going to be like this all weekend and if I have to suffer, so do they (I'm such a good boss).

I'm still hoping for a mulligan. Maybe the sun will come out and shine and the night will be warm and dry (fat chance). At times, field research is just not what it's cracked up to be. Ah well. Luckily, the majority of the time, it is exactly what it's cracked up to be. No more whining, I'm done now. Thanks.



Cheers,
Kat

Give'em the night off!

[Snakeman]

yeah, as a field biology student the last thing i need is to go out on field trips with the rest of my class on a rainy day (like lately).

[Ginevive]

I would adore going out in a rain to hear frogs now. All I hear outside now is 2 feet of snow burying everything and my bones slowly freezing as I stand there!

[Shelby]

Yeah me too.. I love the sound of frogs in the spring.. though I guess 4 hours could get a bit tiring.

Better than freezing in -30 windchill! Brrr...

[joepythons]

I would adore going out in a rain to hear frogs now. All I hear outside now is 2 feet of snow burying everything and my bones slowly freezing as I stand there!

Amen

[CeraDigital]

I used to field herp alot. During, and after rains are some of the best time to find wild reptiles, and amphibians, along with invertebrates! Especially when it comes to land turtles, tortoises, and most snakes!

[janeothejungle]

Alright, I was cruel. I dragged them all out, but I did buy them all hot beverages on the way home. And we did get spadey's calling which we haven't heard since last season.

And I'll point out that herping is one thing, fieldwork is another. 4 days a week, data has to be collected like clockwork, on schedule, even when the temps are freezing and you know you are not likely to see anything during the circuit. Unfortunately science doesn't let you slack off too much. Those are the days I have to find something else to make the trip worthwhile (like a cool bug).

Thankfully, in another month, the weather will be warmer and I will be loving the job. Just have to survive the numb feet and the bouts of bronchitis.

[herpmajor]

It was a good life experience for them.

[PJ FF]

Sounds fun and I will deffently vouch for you that field work is a LOT different than field herping. Who do you work for? I helped out a different branch within my department on a project in September (I think.) Here are the hours we worked... Friday 1800-Saturday 0800. Then the next work shift (Saturday to Sonday) we did it again but it was an hour shorter.
Its way cold but I can handle it. Others whine and anoy you. There are usually for of us in a group and a group will then split up. 2 people stay in the truck and drive around with spotlights looking for eyes. Then you send 2 people out on feet that carry 30 pound packs (car battery for spotlights). You rotate and I* try and get my groups to do 2 hour shifts walking but some and most do 1 hour shifts like that.

We do it again in March.... YIPPIE!