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.