Hello everyone!
It has been exactly a month since i posted an entry here.
For bit i did not post because I wasn't in the field and there really wasn't too much to talk about and then I got ridiculously busy.
But today, its a rainy day, and frankly, data entry can wait a bit longer while I update this instead haha.
The reason I take so many pictures of everything is not only because I enjoy it, but because i have a memory like Dory, it helps me keep track of what has transpired in the last month of so. I had a bunch of pictures on my Olympus "waterproof" that flooded and i havent tried it out again, I've been letting it live in the dry box in hopes it recuperates. I had pictures there of my awesome trip to Rocky Point (agricultural areas) with the Canadians which consisted of puppies, water crossings, and howler monkeys!
First off...THIS thing came into the house!!! Haha. I have been working on my fear of spiders for years. And i promise you I have gotten slightly better. BUT THIS WAS NOT NICE. And according to someone, we have a lot living in out backyard...YAY. But my boss Victoria caught it and we let it out. No matter how scared i was of it, I still didnt really want to kill it, i just didnt want it in my house!
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| TARANTULA MONSTER. |
After the monster was caught, I was in the field for five days, right before my birthday. And it was a gorgeous five days, not a lot of rain, plenty of sun and turts!!!
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| We have a lot of these guys on Crawl Cay where we stay. They always startle me a bit when they hop around, but thankfully I am not afraid of grasshoppers. |
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| Selfie in the water. |
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| Bunch of these guys hanging out on the point. |
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| This little dude lives on Grape Cay. BY HIMSELF. The watchman is rarely there and he never comes onto the beach, except he did this time, because i am pretty sure the little guy was STARVING. We now feed him and make sure he has water. I have ranted many a time about what a b*tch the woman is who brought him to a freaking island and left him there. Tourism can def. be harmful, and b*tches can be stupid and cruel. I'm done. |
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| STARFISH! My team found him for me and brought him over. He was safely back in the water soon after this was taken! Columbilla Cay! |
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This little guy was stuck in a nest i was excavating, survival was doubtful but we tried.
I went snorkeling when i got back after survey a lot that week. SO many of these starfish and sea urchins as well. Those i didnt pick up haha.
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And a sea cucumber :D. Unfortunately, there has been an influx of Chinese into pearl lagoon that have started new markets in sea cucumber and actually, jellyfish. This puts even more pressure on the ecosystems here.The sad fact is, there is money in it, and the job market is so bad in Nicaragua, that people will do anything.
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| I stayed up most of the nights in hopes of seeing the nest this little guy came out of, hatch. Only saw four hatchlings, but personally walked this little guy to the water :D <3 |
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| Mama hawksbill on Bottom Tawira |
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| Juvenile hawksbill on Savanna. |
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| Baby calipers for the juvie! |
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| Watched these guys break into conch. I understand people have to eat, but I'm 100% sure there is no control of take of conch in the cays... |
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| SO thats what that looks like |
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| Waltar Cay. Had a bunch of tanks for diving here. |
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Team Leader Nexlor. My team fishing for dinner!
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After a crazy five days in the field I got home and with Victoria and Laura walked to Awas, a nearby town on the water to watch the sunset. And drink some beers of course.
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Mother and Daughter team
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The following day i turned 24! Haha...yeah. Another year, another turtle project, another country! Had a great group come out!
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| With my great boss, Victoria! |
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| With my neighbor and friend, Lillieth! |
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| Haha. Greg was awesome and bought everyone beers and drove us over to Awas! The guy on the left is from Oregon and talks like a native! |
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| "Nicaraguan tradition" of eggs and flour! |
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| Blue steel look with my favorite Canadians. |
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| WCS ladies :D |
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| Everyone enjoying the drinking games! |
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| My banana, ginger, cinnamon, cake. |
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| YUM! |
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| The Canadians brought over some wine! |
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| We got a panga ride back to Pearl Lagoon from Jimmy. |
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| Day in Awas followed by a lovely dinner on the back porch with everyone! |
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| Onion rings, breadfruit, chicken and rice and beans!!! YUM! |
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Thanks everyone! It was fun!!!
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It was a fun birthday for sure. I wasnt at all homesick like i though i would be because I am surrounded by amazing people here in Nicaragua!
Luckily not only do we have hawksbills nesting here in the Pearl Cays, but it is a foraging ground for greens, leatherbacks, and loggerheads. So i have the chance to see four species while here....and hopefully have some time to go to the Pacific to see my first Olive Ridleys *crosses fingers*
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| Juvenile Green turtle |
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| Two of my team members, Harvey and Boyd! |
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| Tan as F! haha |
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| I dont eat turtle! |
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| Gorgeous!!! |
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Fishermen on the Lagoon on the way back from the Pearl Cays yesterday.
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I have been having a blast here in Nicaragua. I miss everyone dearly but this has been a good way for me to get out of South Florida and explore, meet new people, and reduce the hate on Miami enough to tolerate it when I get back ;). I am about to hit two months here (can't believe it!!!) and that means i have 7 months left. I party hard, i work hard, and i play hard. Life is good.
Until the next time.
Melissa
