Grand Tetons
This summer I'll be spending about 4 weeks in Grand Tetons National Park helping out on a research project that my thesis advisor is leading. We flew out to Wyoming to set up the project in the park with our colleagues from Boise State. Though we were there for almost a week, the project set-up only took 2 1/2 days! Meaning, we had the opportunity to be tourists in the park! We floated the Snake River, drove Moose-Wilson Rd, stopped to look at frolicking bear cubs, and kayaked on Jackson Lake while the sun set over the mountains. All in all, it was a pretty lovely visit! I'm excited to go back later this summer!
we arrived at night, so I woke up in the morning to eat breakfast and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this amazing view!! We're staying at the AMK research station, which is a collaborative housing area for researchers through the National Park Service (like us) and University of Wyoming.
the view from just outside of our cabin
the project includes these signs that will hopefully reduce traffic noise in our study area. the concept is that reduced noise will improve visitor experience in the park as well as alleviate the human disturbance to wildlife, potentially leading to more wildlife viewings from the road. but, we'll see what the data says :)
our job this week was to scout one of the most beautiful regions of the park, called Oxbow Bend, for locations where we can survey bird activity and set up acoustic recording units.. so we just got to hike off-trail in gorgeous landscapes like this for 2 days!
sometimes, field work is pretty great
and here is Oxbow Bend, a wide region of the Snake River
came across a White-Crowned Sparrow nest!
the closest anyone can get to a moose :P
Jesse, Clint, Mitch and Hunter. Jesse and Clint are the PhD's leading the project. Mitch is the other graduate student who is conducting all the bird surveys. Hunter is our undergraduate assistant, who is also a National Park Service intern working on a study of bat distribution in the park
kayaking Jackson Lake... not bad, eh?
setting up the signs
when traveling with birders... look, a Western Tanager!!
a deer inspecting our cabin one morning
photo taken from the kitchen table
a bear and her cub! Hard to see, taken with an iPhone held up to my binoculars haha..
LOTS of people watching the bear. This bear is called #399 and she is 22 years old. She has raised many many cubs and has learned over her life that staying near roads helps limit interactions with territorial male bears that might try to kill her cubs. As a result, 399 has a huge team of followers and is likely the most studied bear in North America. And we got to see her! Her cub this year is adorable, he was climbing on this log while his mom was foraging. Cool sighting!
Berrol Lodge at AMK Ranch, the main building at the research station. Built in 1944!
the view from the lodge
a nice conference room
sunset from the boat dock, which is only 100 yards from the cabin
stunning sunset on our last night
looking forward to returning and taking even more photos!!
we arrived at night, so I woke up in the morning to eat breakfast and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this amazing view!! We're staying at the AMK research station, which is a collaborative housing area for researchers through the National Park Service (like us) and University of Wyoming.
the view from just outside of our cabin
the project includes these signs that will hopefully reduce traffic noise in our study area. the concept is that reduced noise will improve visitor experience in the park as well as alleviate the human disturbance to wildlife, potentially leading to more wildlife viewings from the road. but, we'll see what the data says :)
our job this week was to scout one of the most beautiful regions of the park, called Oxbow Bend, for locations where we can survey bird activity and set up acoustic recording units.. so we just got to hike off-trail in gorgeous landscapes like this for 2 days!
sometimes, field work is pretty great
and here is Oxbow Bend, a wide region of the Snake River
came across a White-Crowned Sparrow nest!
the closest anyone can get to a moose :P
Jesse, Clint, Mitch and Hunter. Jesse and Clint are the PhD's leading the project. Mitch is the other graduate student who is conducting all the bird surveys. Hunter is our undergraduate assistant, who is also a National Park Service intern working on a study of bat distribution in the park
kayaking Jackson Lake... not bad, eh?
setting up the signs
when traveling with birders... look, a Western Tanager!!
a deer inspecting our cabin one morning
photo taken from the kitchen table
a bear and her cub! Hard to see, taken with an iPhone held up to my binoculars haha..
LOTS of people watching the bear. This bear is called #399 and she is 22 years old. She has raised many many cubs and has learned over her life that staying near roads helps limit interactions with territorial male bears that might try to kill her cubs. As a result, 399 has a huge team of followers and is likely the most studied bear in North America. And we got to see her! Her cub this year is adorable, he was climbing on this log while his mom was foraging. Cool sighting!
Berrol Lodge at AMK Ranch, the main building at the research station. Built in 1944!
the view from the lodge
a nice conference room
sunset from the boat dock, which is only 100 yards from the cabin
stunning sunset on our last night
looking forward to returning and taking even more photos!!