I am currently writing to you all while I am happily on sipping on some pineapple coconut water in the cool weather of San Diego. Although it’s nice to have a mini vacation from the now “cool” climate in Phoenix (thank goodness for the monsoon season…), I will be more than happy to return to participating in another Desert Tortoise survey and helping conduct sensitive status species (SSS) plant searches forAgave murpheyi. Most recently, I was able to attend a presentation on mountain lions hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. I was excited to learn that my mentor had taken part of the research study when it was first formed and had asked numerous questions involving the how’s, why’s, and where’s of the research.

I will be sad to say that we conducted our last Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo survey last week and I never did see one, however, my bird identification skills have definitely increased since the beginning of this internship! And now I only have 3 more weeks left…so that means I have to try and fill up my days with as much knowledge and skills as I possibly can since the end is so soon!! 🙁 I can’t wait to update you all with what I have in store for my remaining weeks as CLM intern!