New day in a new age! The newly minted mistress of science (that's M.S. degree folks) goes forth into the wide world to work as a wildlife technician in farflung places and gathering that nectar of science: data. Flowery language aside, I've arrived and settled in for my first job out of college, to help monitor the small mammals and birds of south Texas for the East Wildlife Foundation, associated with Texas A&M University. Have lost cell service, grabbed a bunk in a bunkhouse, trained laying grids and trapping for small mammals, and forayed to scenic Hebbronville, Kingsville, and Rio Grande City.
So far have seen fulvous harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys fulvescens), grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), hispid pocket mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus), along with green jay (Cyanocorax yncas), meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), Harris's hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), crested caracara (Caracara cheriway), ladder-backed woodpecker (Picoides scalaris), golden-fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiana), javelina (Pecari tajacu), coyote (Lupus latrans), and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus).
