That's where I've been stuck... at least that's what it must seem like given my complete neglect of this blog.
Such is the nature of being extremely busy. I'll keep this very brief for now, but I'm going to post more soon (no, really), including more photos. So, I've moved, along with Anna, Jenn, and Gajee, into a new apartment in Tumon, which is much closer to the action for all of us. It's a little farther for Jenn and I to get to work, but that's a relatively small price to pay for much more happiness on other fronts. Anna and I also have a new dog, a monstrous beast named Chili: half chihuahua, half miniature dachshund... or something. Right now, I'm working in Saipan with Andy, monitoring rodent populations. I'll be working here until early October, after which I'll be back on Guam for a week or two. Soon after my return, we'll be heading to Tinian for several more weeks for additional fun with small, furry woodland creatures. Depending on the holiday schedule, and how long I stay in the Pacific, I'll probably join Andy for some more rodent adventures on Rota for a few weeks. It will be a pretty busy schedule, but fun to see the other islands. I'll be taking photos religiously, so there will be plenty of fodder for the blog... whenever I post the damn things. Now, there's plenty more to talk about, so check back soon.
The monster gecko of our native forest site.
This kingfisher is nesting in a cavity along a transect in our trapping grid. She has a few eggs in there and with any luck we may see some hatchlings on this trip.
This is a nightingale reed warbler, a rare species on Saipan. There have been a few calling near our site. These guys are very territorial. This particular male wasn't too happy with my poor attempts at calling to him.
Andy defying gravity... and loving every minute of it.
One of the many dangers in the native forest is being impaled by the jagged limestone.
This green tree skink is an introduction to Saipan. They're pretty wary during the day, but you can find them snoozing on branches at night. You can actually pick up, although they quickly wake up thereafter.
This is a shot of the reef margin while driving down the hill from our field site.