field and lab skills.
We've had two modules this trimester that ended back at the end of March, and our assessments were last due in April 27th.
Since April 30, we've started our third module over the course of two weeks -- Field and Lab Skills.
In it, we're honing our plant ID/botany skills, learning/honing GPS, learning bird ID/song, how to survey birds, bats, and different styles of trapping for invertebrates and small mammals.
Two days last week it was sunny and we were out 9-5 on the hill, and then in St. Abb's on the cliffs counting seabirds. This resulted in a sunburn for everyone, which has now resulted in freckles and color.
Today, we were setting up pitfall traps. You'd think scientists do things fancy, but no. Pitfall traps are basically a cup dug into the ground to ground level and filled in with dirt around it, filled with some sort of fluid to kill invertebrates, in which they walk and fall into. Of course these traps can be biased, etc. But, if you are interested in checking out the invertebrate biodiversity in your yard, feel free to dig a cup in the ground, lined on the bottom with about 2 cm of a fluid that will kill them but isn't dangerous to other living things, including people, and cover it with some open meshy thing so things like mice can't fall in. I think we used Ethyl Propyl, but don't take my word on it, plus I don't like that much, because it's no good for cats. You can probably use water, though it's a slower death for the invertebrates...anyway.
Digging around to set up our pitfall traps, I placed my hand on the ground, right on a giant nettle. So, I was stung across the palm of my hand. If you haven't been stung by a nettle, you're not missing out. It leaves this really annoying dull stinging sensation, and the area gets red with white bumps. I rubbed some dock leaf on it, but it still has a dull sting now and the palm of my hand is red, and a bit cut.
Though, I could've been Gorka, who got stung on the ass through his pants. Hahaha.
That's a view from Blackford hill, which is ~30 minute walk away, where we are most of the time.
Mom: Oh, I couldn't reach you, so I thought you were partying all week.
Me: Yea, if partying is being on a hill from 9-5. I guess it's partying, partying with nature.
Kim: That's such a Neal joke.
Hahaha.
Oh yea, the ecotourists were laughing because it looks like we've all been away, like they are going to be. We will laugh at them when they're worse off in Tobago. Though I'm quite jelly they're going to the Caribbean for three weeks. (Third week is just extra on their own, their course is 2 weeks also.)
Our course was supposed to be in Estonia, but that mysteriously fell apart. Surprisingly though, our Prof has put this together really well and it's always nice to see more of Scotland. I really love it here. Plus, I can save my money to go somewhere after my thesis and lie on the beach like Crete or Cyprus. Right, right?
"Please tell me why I should ever leave Scotland." - Me
Taty aka Pledge Mom: To see your alpha sigs :)
Mom: We miss you.
Aunt Dodo: Because you miss us??
Christian (my classmate): after your sorority sisters posted that, I was going to be like, fuck off, we're keeping Elisabetta, but I didn't know if they'd be offended.
Vikki (flatmate): Yea, please stay here, I like you.
lolol.
<33 I love you all.