Welcome to 2010!

Well, it's 2010 already! The blog was severely neglected during the last few months of my research, but I stumbled upon it again today and felt like it needed some closure...

So, my thesis was completed and successfully defended on Earth Day 2009 (April 22)! It was incredibly rewarding to be able to see all the results come together and make my hard work worthwhile. If you need something incredibly long and boring to read, check out my thesis in electronic format: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05042009-150307/

I attended the most recent (and my last) "dog-and-pony" show down at the Powell River Project on September 9, 2009 (9-9-9!!). This year my research was the Field Tour highlight, so my advisor and I got to lead a tour of some of my field sites and talk about what we did and what we found. It definitely neat to be able to talk with some miners and other state agency folks to see what they thought about the results of my research. And, of course, it didn't hurt to have another delicious steak/ potato/salad dinner. :)

And the work still isn't done! Right now I'm working on an extension publication for Virginia Cooperative Extension about my research, and also putting together a manuscript for a peer-reviewed wildlife science journal. I decided to move my office around the corner, pick up a couple of new advisors and start all over with a new project! Stay tuned!

Salamanders, birds, bears, and bees

I got to visit my study areas last week for another (and potentially final) salamander cover board check. My advisor accompanied me this time, so it was nice to show him around more down there and help him see what I've been doing. We actually made out pretty well- caught three salamanders, one longtail and two slimys. After spending most of the day in the field, we attended the annual symposium dinner, basically what they call the "dog and pony show" for the year. I pretty much have to show up, say hello to some folks, thank them for funding my project, and turn in my annual progress report. Oh, and the dinner is awesome- steak, potato, and salad= very good. I almost got roped into doing a tour of some of my study sites, but one of the forestry professors who does a lot of his work there is retiring, and they wanted to give him the chance to host a tour. I wasn't disappointed!

While in the field, we saw some excellent bear tracks in the mud, and then later, saw the bear! We didn't see many at all during field season this year, so that was a treat. And luckily we were in the car, which was also a treat as opposed to surprising the bugger in the field. The only negative of the day (well there was two) was the oppressive heat (gets pretty hot on the mine sites without that lovely canopy cover) and my encounter with some form of stinging insect, most likely a yellow jacket I think. I hadn't been stung in so long, I actually had forgotten how badly it hurt. I got stung right on my finger as well, so my whole hand swelled up for the evening, which was really fun at the "dog and pony show." "Hi, nice to meet you, yes, my hand is huge."

All in all, it was a good, but very long day. We didn't get back to Blacksburg until almost midnight that evening. Unfortunately my advisor was the photographer for the day since he has an awesome camera, so I don't have pictures yet. But there should be some good ones, so I'll be sure to post them soon.

I'll be keeping up with the blog sporadically- I may have another trip down to Powell River Project next month for an extension program about birds on minelands. Apparently this group thinks that birds don't use these areas, therefore it would be my job to tell them otherwise:)

August salamanders and snakes

Well things have been primarily office-based for the last few weeks. I was able to turn in my progress report last week, which was a huge relief! Although, that means that now it's on to the comprehensive report and associated documents (a.k.a. the thesis). Eeek.


This past Thursday, we made a day trip down to the sites to check coverboards. Salamander activity is generally slow in the heat of summer, but it has been rather stormy, so we thought we'd give it a shot. We found only one salamander- a longtail, and proceeded to continually torture him by trying to stage the perfect picture. We also flipped over one of the boards and found....a SNAKE! Luckily, it was a worm snake (very small and completely harmless). Therefore, we proceeded to barage him with pictures as well (see below).

I've got one more official trip down scheduled for September 3. Each year the Powell River Project site hosts a symposium, which is like a workshop where all the researchers doing work there come together to talk about results and stuff. Plus, there is a social and dinner that takes place at the pavilion on site (right next to the field house we stayed in for the first 10 days of the season). Since I just finished and don't have a whole lot of results yet, I'm going to check coverboards in the earlier part of the day, and then hit up the social to schmooze the coal mine executives (and thank them for the funding!).

Enjoy the pictures!

For more info on the longtail salamander: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/?s=020033
For more info on the worm snake: http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/caramo.htm

Me and the longtail salamander

Longtail salamander, Eurycea longicauda

Some coverboards in action (this array is where we found the longtail).

Worm snake, Carphophis amoenus

Bye bye birdies...

I'm afraid I've been negligent with my blog over the past couple of weeks! It's been busy to say the least. Well, 10 days after my last post we finished the bulk of work associated with field season. I was away for a few days in there for a wedding, but other than that, we really crammed the work in! It stormed a little bit the last two days we were there, so we were able to get in one more frog count, and one night salamander search. Unfortunately, the salamanders weren't too active and we only found a few.

We came back to Blacksburg on July 10, and since then I've been all over visiting and collecting Abby (my dog) from my parents. I'm now spending some time in the office organizing data and preparing my 2008 progress report, which is due in early August. Since I've already got one progress report under my belt, should be a piece of cake (*knock on wood)!

I have to say that "the end" came as a relief this year. Work is physically and mentally exhausting out there, so I was desperately in need of a break. Although, it is kind of bittersweet, since my coal mine experience is "almost" over. I'll probably regret saying that as I wade through the data and begin to write my thesis...

I've included a few more pictures for you! We'll likely be visiting the sites a few more times for salamander work, so I will continue updating, although it will be a bit irregularly:)

Box turtle enjoying some mud.

Looks like the Hokie bird himself has been here....(gobble gobble).

They're always watching....waiting to get a lick at the car...

These big rock walls are typical of older mine sites that weren't formally "reclaimed."

Rattlesnake Video

Birch Knob Observation Tower...and a Timber Rattlesnake!!

Yesterday I had some free time, so I took a drive up to Birch Knob Observation Tower in the Jefferson National Forest. The tower is at an elevation over 3,000 ft., and you can see 5 states from it's summit (Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and sometimes even Ohio on a clear day!). Although the day was a bit overcast, it was still quite a view! I also found a lost dog stuck at the top of the tower, but luckily I was able to call his owner from the information on his tag and let him know where he was. Seems that Kane the dog was from Kentucky and had been lost a few days ago while his owner was out hunting with him. I was glad he was able to make it home safely!

Today we were out doing salamander coverboard checks- the weather finally cleared, as this is the first day in 5 that we have not had any thunderstorms. I think all the reptiles were enjoying the sunny but still fairly cool weather (upper 70s). We found a timber rattlesnake in the dirt road while driving around checking the boards! He (or she) was real pretty, and we were glad we got to see it up close and personal in a safe way.


I took some good pictures, enjoy!

The staircase leading up to the observation tower. There are 183 steps!

View of Pine Mountain from the top of the tower. Pine Mtn. separates Kentucky (left) from Virginia (right). The tower is actually in Va.

View from the top of Birch Knob Tower. Va and then Tennessee in the distance, I think.

Timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus. Love the scientific name! He's rattling at us in this one.

Attempting to move off the road after rattling at us for 10min.

Making a break for cover.

The Magic School Bus

Yup, that's right a big yellow school bus. We found it yesterday at one of my sites called Wildcat Spur. The cows that are grazed on site are transported up the mountain and between pastures in the back of an old rickety school bus up steep, rough dirt roads. I don't know how this is possible, but you can see for yourself in the pictures! If anyone has seen the movie or heard about the book Into the Wild, this bus reminds me of the one the guy lives in while he's in the Alaskan wilderness.

Into the Wild, right here in Dickenson County, Va!!