I am graciously awoken by the Seagull Alarm Service (now to be named SAS) at approximately 7:00 AM, and prepare myself for breakfast. Similar to yesterday, due to our requirement of high tide to collect data, we have time in the morning to prepare ourselves. My partner and I still debate as to whether or not we should make one final trip during high tide to see if we can collect more data. Yesterday was already a very difficult day to collect data with, and today is supposed to be even worse. I am not fond to collect more data today, but today would be better than the remainder of days we have, and I know that 10 samples is very few, even for a small project like this. We have another morning lecture after breakfast, and everything goes well. After lecture, my partner and I begin to write the introduction and methods portion of our experiment before lunch, which occurs at 12:30 PM. I take my apple, and I leave to sit to myself for a few minutes before everyone returns from lunch. It is nice to sit in silence. My partner returns to me, and informs us that we should prepare for the next high tide. We continue writing for another 20 minutes, then we prepare to leave for high tide. We leave about an hour early to find an ideal spot and to map our plan of action with the brutal waters. Then, we enter the water. The water is not cold today, however, less clear than I am accustomed to. One of the first things I see is an absolutely gigantic school of fairly decent-sized parrotfish, all looking at me simultaneously. I couldn't help but laugh quietly to myself. We were off to a good start, with one school presenting themselves to us. At first, I am fine in the water. I am patient with the waves, but after thirty minutes I begin to get very restless very quickly. My feet cramp from swimming, and it is hard to keep myself in a location that I want to stay in. I was not recording the time today, so I could not always follow his movements. Normally I record what we do, as well as what the fish do while my partner records his personal observations. This day, I left my camera so that I could swim better. I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to write today. I continuously look around to see if there are any larger animals nearby. Normally we see sharks, rays, and even turtles. Today, however, I see only mostly small fishes. After a sickening ride in the water, my partner informs me he has collected a few more samples. We still do not have many, but with how time-restricted we are, we must analyze what we can get. We return to shore, which is very difficult today with the large layers of slippery rocks and the waves constantly battering you into the surrounding sharp rocks. I eventually get out, as does my partner fortunately. I return to my dorm, however my partner goes with others to swim again. He enjoys swimming more than I do. I shower, dry myself, and return to the lab. I spend one hour again to calm myself and relax before my partner returns and supper begins. My partner and I decide that we will take all of tomorrow to analyze our data, as it will be our only free day from now on. Supper is well, and I take myself a small portion of meat before leaving the cafeteria. I debate on what I wish to do. I see Aimee and her camera crew recording something with the fish tanks here, and they invite me to watch and help. It was very fun to see professional photographers and videographers work with their equipment. They are very skilled, and what I see as an okay photo they see ways to improve it still. I help with lighting mostly, but I always look at how they operate the cameras. Photography has always been something that has interested me greatly, and I had wished to beocme a photographer when I was younger, but had decided and promised to myself that I would simply take that on as a hobby when I can afford it. After helping, I meet with some of the other students to play some games of cards before bed. I finish this blog at 11:08 PM. Tasmanian Thornbill
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AuthorMy name is Serafin Cardeli. I am Twenty years old and studying to become a Conservation & Restoration Ecologist. I wish to combine education, outreach, and legitimate scientific research to better environmental health and increase public awareness through applicable and relatable methodology. I attempt to specialize in all Canids. Categories |