I remember a time in college when I didn't understand why professors conducted research far away from where they taught. It seemed like there was plenty to study in our own backyards. And yet, here I am, disappearing from my native lands for months at a time to study birds in some other part of the world. Looking back, I know how little I understood about research and the scientific community. Still, there is something to the argument ... and I do love when I get to do fieldwork around home.
Recently I got to help out for a day on a friend's project - and was reminded of all the great reasons to get out to local parks, whether for work or fun. We were really there to look at lichens:
But we saw a few other signs of life along our way, and some were even ready for their close-ups:
Gray Tree Frog (
Hyla versicolor)
Five-lined Skink (
Plestiodon fasciatus)
It was a lot of fun, but also made me appreciate not having ticks bearing Lyme Disease at my usual research sites. :P
Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor)
Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
