These recent weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. \u00a0After returning from a long vacation I got back into the office and strait to work. \u00a0I had to catch up on my ongoing eagle monitoring whilst juggling various other projects with seemingly ever shortening due dates. \u00a0We headed up to the Columbia River to check on Washington Ground Squirrels while they are still active. \u00a0They are only active from March till early June and then they spend the summer and winter underground. \u00a0That is the life! \u00a0Those surveys proved to be long days, but we did locate some new colonies and confirm previously mapped colonies.<\/p>\n
More recently I have been working on Special Recreation Permits (SRP’s) as the\u00a0wildlife point of contact. \u00a0I have really enjoyed the SRP’s as it brings together field work and decision making together to determine the effects of a proposal and whether or not it should go forward. \u00a0Hopefully I will be able to work on more projects like these including some NEPA work, possibly CX’s or other smaller projects.<\/p>\n
Currently temperatures have spiked into the 90’s, making hiking up and down hills slightly less exciting and surely more exhausting. \u00a0The silver lining is that roads are no longer muddy messes and instead are a wonderful dusty beige just waiting to be explored. \u00a0It looks like it is going to cool down for the next couple of days, so that will be a welcome respite.<\/p>\n
In my spare time I have been working on a owl survey with a local birder and I am having a great time. \u00a0Surveys can run a little late (1am) and waking up the next morning to work isn’t always the most fun. \u00a0However, it is a wonderful opportunity and we have already heard great-horned owl, northern-pygmy owl (We saw it fly over and it was calling non-stop from within 15ft) and even Flammulated Owl, the bird for which we were surveying. \u00a0I have continued to go birding and have had a great time watching the great horned owl chicks around town goofily walk and fly around.<\/p>\n
The next weeks and months are sure to be busy, so I will try to enjoy a relaxing Memorial weekend and keep everybody updated to my goings on as they go on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
These recent weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. \u00a0After returning from a long vacation I got back into the office and strait to work. \u00a0I had to catch up on my ongoing eagle monitoring whilst juggling various other projects … Continue reading