Wait...where's the bathroom?

Have i ever told you how being completely dry is amazing? I arrived earlier today from 5 days in the field. Five days in which i was either jumping in and out of the boat or getting poured on while trying to mark nests. I love fieldwork i really do. But sometimes I'd rather be clean and dry hahaha!

My title says it all. There is no latrine (as of yet, its been promised) on our island yet. The only bathroom that is available happens to basically be a hole that opens into the ocean...OH THE WASTE MANAGEMENT issues i have with that one. I usually wait until we get to Water Cay where there is a TOILET!!!  But i digress...thats been enough bathroom talk. ;)

Base camp has finally been built, i took some pictures of it without the zinc roof and forgot to take more  when it was finished but I will when i go out next week to train the next team!

Getting our gear inside and finishing up base camp!

Our panga and the gorgeous sunset!

Sleeping in my hammock can either be rather cozy or too damn hot! Its quite the coccon, I'll post a picture of it set up next time as well.

Our first day out, we were playing catch up because we hadn't been out in about a week. So we worked up about 15 nests on the cays we were able to reach. The weather was not conducive for getting out to Columbilla, a cay that is not only further away but has a really tricky entrance. 

We did go out to a cay that we rarely visit to see if anything had nested. It is a very rocky cay, with a bit of a tricky entrance as well, but gorgeous. Those hawksbill do love their crazy rocky beaches! The sad part was the collection of GARBAGE on this island. Nobody lives on this island, yet it is a landfill for plastic bottles on its backside, saddening. 

Cow Cram (sp?) A view of part of the entrance, very rocky.

THE WORST PART, this collection of nasty plastic!!

 After working all morning (5:30 am we set out!) until lunchtime, with only some cookies to sustain us. Some yummy Bon bread and chocoloco warmed us right up!!! Love this pairing!

YUUMMM. Que rico!!

 I know you are supposedly (miami accent inserted) not to swim for thirty minutes after you eat pero like what had happened was...i was already soaked from the rain so I decided to jump in!

Yes. This happened.

Lots of fun logs to pose on (or trip over)

Here are some pictures from some of the fieldwork done in the last couple of days. Havent gotten pictures marking nests because I've been training the team, but there were some visitors recently, and one has a nice DSLR so im waiting for some sweet shots soon!

FINALLY a good hawksbill crawl!

Beaut!

Finally free!

Farewell Mama Hawksbill!

Thanks for reading everyone, I head out again Tuesday!

Melissa

Hot Mess

Frankly,

I don't know how to start this. I had my two-week-aversary here in Pearl Lagoon yesterday.

Its been a crazy, hot mess of a two weeks.

I came here knowing I would have a lot to do, but was maybe not truly aware of how behind we were.

Basically the project should have started in June, but instead its just about to start this week, half-way through July. Therefore, it's been a crazy catch-up of marking nests, training,  and placing data-loggers.

Now, for those of you who don't know this is not my first sea-turtle project. I worked with the UCF Marine Turtle Group for two seasons (and always go back for visits) and then last year worked with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. And each project has its up and downs and complications.

This project is unique to the last two in the fact that we have to travel to cays off the coast to work with the sea turtles. Therefore, there has to be a camp, food, etc etc. prepared beforehand.

Grape Cay


There is no hard day and night of survey and patrol and going home to electricity and interwebz here....lol


It's hard. Truly, its the toughest project I've been on, and not just physically, but mentally.
The culture here is completely different (more similar to STC in Costa Rica). Many fishermen, and lobster divers etc that use the cays will say that "no we are not taking the eggs" when in fact they are.

Also, there is a green turtle fishery here that is completely legal, they do have a "veda" a time where there is a ban on fishing, but it is still allowed. And it is painful to see turtle fishermen and talk to them and realize what they do. That their livelihoods are to kill the very species you have worked to conserve. And have to smile at them and be friendly. I understand that they have to make a living, i know the economy is tough here. But to kill a species that takes so long to reach reproductive age, at the prime of its life, is painful to watch...

Male Green Turtle being dragged to shade. 

Male Green Turtle.

What is also painful to watch is the destruction that is occurring on the beautiful Pearl Cays. So many natural resources are being abused. Mangrove swamps being cut and burned, vegetation being cleared, and massive erosion on most cays.


But enough environment talk, for now...:D


I've been making friends with some locals and with a bunch of Canadians here on a project with a local school, so I've been slowly adjusting. I miss my family and friends tons though. And tonight I'm buying my ticket to go home in December for two weeks!!! So see you soon---ishhh LOL

Some pictures of my adventures!

Lime Cay

Fourth of July spent with fellow Americans and BBQ!!!

A nest I relocated :D

Female Hawksbill hel by local fishermen. They hold them for us so we can tag and work them up.

My first Ei hatchling was a bit deformed but still loved. Good luck Freddy!

<3 Turts

My walk through an inundated section on the way to Awas. 

Bathing in the creek by the roadside

The town of Raitipura behind me. 

Watching the sunset and children play in Pearl Lagoon in Awas.

Thanks for reading :)

Melissa

Tough Love

I am starting this blog in the hope that i will actually keep up with it and write down this experience i just embarked on in Nicaragua. I want to record the highs, the lows, and all the crap that happens in between. But I also want to express some sentiments before I delve into the nitty gritty of living in Pearl Lagoon, Nicaragua.

I was thinking about how i got to this point.
Before the schooling, the internships and jobs...it all started with my parents.

Mom and Dad,

You have survived the last 23 (almost 24) years of this crazy, temperamental child of yours. Thank you for putting up with me and most of all thank you for all your support. I know you were both skeptical when i first decided to switch my major during Undergrad but when you came out to see me do my thing, out in Melbourne Beach, you caught a glimpse of what drives me. And you both saw that i would work hard to make a place for myself. Something I am still fighting to do.

Thank you for supporting me both mentally and financially at times when i decide to work for very little or no pay to conserve these amazing creatures. Thank you for listening to me, for debating with me on pros and cons, but most of all thank you for being yourselves.

I love both of you for who you are, no matter what happens, no matter where we all end up. Know that I would not be the person I am without both your positive influences.


You crazy, turtle loving daughter,

Melissa




P.S. I know this was really sappy, i promise turtley goodness in the next post. For your patience....a view of my commute:

I wouldn't be to jealous, the rain will get me. :D