tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6786198638860157372024-03-13T11:41:14.726-06:00the Aspiring EcologistAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-14998725407596329162018-12-09T02:40:00.000-07:002018-12-09T02:43:06.705-07:00Seals from the sky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q0FRHSw1e9ETSL38ndYQ3MpgVazMmXCNFV8Qjo2k6MZOo2g3xHM8NQzB0yjr9dfRtJsx0Gp7jTMjdqyuVcQJklT1oqDeUKC-n4QV_YIOxsI1ypL_AWOheuGyQSw3d60h9uMXP8xHDljN/s1600/P1200374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q0FRHSw1e9ETSL38ndYQ3MpgVazMmXCNFV8Qjo2k6MZOo2g3xHM8NQzB0yjr9dfRtJsx0Gp7jTMjdqyuVcQJklT1oqDeUKC-n4QV_YIOxsI1ypL_AWOheuGyQSw3d60h9uMXP8xHDljN/s1600/P1200374.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helicopter recce flight departing Big Razorback camp.</td></tr>
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Each season, we take two helicopter flights on a 'recce' seal mission to locate any seals in our study area that we can not find from the ground. These flights often reveal groups of seals or a mom with a pup in some hidden pocket amidst the glacial jumbles frozen in the sea ice. It's always a great flight (though sometimes turbulent) for seeing the extent and expanse of the study area and surrounds. I figured a post of aerial images might give you a different and interesting perspective of the Erebus Bay that the seals call home. Enjoy the flight!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaGuZ6hc4VO4NW33sVjPkrJ0mxTrbqfpco9e3a2v_IcgJLXgdTiHfOgF-3Wje3IucsPB6Ov2XOfWj_ZHU-eDPJxzXSE6C3RMKZCxnRjjTiXW5wVFV3Jv-Vf9JUTSFieRJNeV3JHZ66Gvz/s1600/P1200325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaGuZ6hc4VO4NW33sVjPkrJ0mxTrbqfpco9e3a2v_IcgJLXgdTiHfOgF-3Wje3IucsPB6Ov2XOfWj_ZHU-eDPJxzXSE6C3RMKZCxnRjjTiXW5wVFV3Jv-Vf9JUTSFieRJNeV3JHZ66Gvz/s1600/P1200325.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding Tent Island's southern point with pressure ridges 15+ feet tall forming where the sea ice is getting pushed up against the fast ice connected to the island. Note the smattering of seals on the right side of the photo. Locations of other seal colonies can be seen: Little Razorback (top left) and Big Razorback (top middle) in the near background and Turk's Head (behind Big Razorback) in the far background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUszhfJqihgx-5kUu5EbPrZV9YE7zM5-rGDTooPCWrdu7_XKXDogJOs2nrdS_rVxZPsxTzkVISP_JBX0jP9GbUuWJUucdYrKlogjFrV7JLlOLYkX7IACjKe5pe127aVx-BpO0-JSAB7qdO/s1600/P1200330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUszhfJqihgx-5kUu5EbPrZV9YE7zM5-rGDTooPCWrdu7_XKXDogJOs2nrdS_rVxZPsxTzkVISP_JBX0jP9GbUuWJUucdYrKlogjFrV7JLlOLYkX7IACjKe5pe127aVx-BpO0-JSAB7qdO/s1600/P1200330.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The northern end of Tent Island. Most of the colony is located on the right (west) side of the island. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHrfNj9pZJvopAaqnuCEu7tYmEB4EZAZ685WpjgD_2n7QmirBN_dfbldEAfhZ5I_5hxH1ulmGcp7XHVGRDQJfOPfbOu7r88MiFZAp4EryOt-r-bqe5xEchaxT6uEGp5XyPN1hrAWW6IjI/s1600/P1200332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHrfNj9pZJvopAaqnuCEu7tYmEB4EZAZ685WpjgD_2n7QmirBN_dfbldEAfhZ5I_5hxH1ulmGcp7XHVGRDQJfOPfbOu7r88MiFZAp4EryOt-r-bqe5xEchaxT6uEGp5XyPN1hrAWW6IjI/s1600/P1200332.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inaccessible Island. The singles club. We don't find many moms and pups here; most of the seals that occupy this island during this time of year appear to be sub-adult or non-breeding seals. Some seals (black dots) can be seen here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaHB8MaoziedklL-RSXQ08yTr_sMAqhnlJAqN4s_Pde2x8MYsZtClY_vXwZceXVZBYMwOXgR-1FD9eMKhF1-cbS-k6hBkFzPkRhZYdLZ-aedChz7NiFLZWQqX6tJOlTXXLIjQ2s9Wbji3/s1600/P1200336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaHB8MaoziedklL-RSXQ08yTr_sMAqhnlJAqN4s_Pde2x8MYsZtClY_vXwZceXVZBYMwOXgR-1FD9eMKhF1-cbS-k6hBkFzPkRhZYdLZ-aedChz7NiFLZWQqX6tJOlTXXLIjQ2s9Wbji3/s1600/P1200336.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Evans Wall, a popular spot for the fish scientists to put their fish huts (hut can be seen at the center of the photo below the triangle cliff of the glacier). The jumble of ice to the left leads up to Mt. Erebus, and Turk's Head (one of the seal colonies) can be seen in the far distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sIPjHILGDdxAMZSlMd4hXU68ETlWXs4vyB8jMnzCT3Zk3JK4E4s35CGItpNnl0Jw0jQ4RDKRVzai-PW80_m-Yd4eCaEHec_lhEq6EpIoORuQQmBi_Wm-pnx16h1iezZ8nbsK9AplaPuH/s1600/P1200340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sIPjHILGDdxAMZSlMd4hXU68ETlWXs4vyB8jMnzCT3Zk3JK4E4s35CGItpNnl0Jw0jQ4RDKRVzai-PW80_m-Yd4eCaEHec_lhEq6EpIoORuQQmBi_Wm-pnx16h1iezZ8nbsK9AplaPuH/s1600/P1200340.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Flying along the terminus of Erebus's extensive glaciers where it meets the sea. Often the pressure of the glaciers create cracks in the sea ice that seals can use to get on top of the ice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBAyX0-hcGGXQjfozBbmGVElRoF-L3D9EbJEoB1X_LeQCrMfFlqYcTXx7QdH8n19efD2MV_wpPbAgRrptJEOfHdm2rYyRpvsKbeKCs7pz3aag36VoDOSWET51lcld5pbernXcPmJa4WUf/s1600/P1200345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBAyX0-hcGGXQjfozBbmGVElRoF-L3D9EbJEoB1X_LeQCrMfFlqYcTXx7QdH8n19efD2MV_wpPbAgRrptJEOfHdm2rYyRpvsKbeKCs7pz3aag36VoDOSWET51lcld5pbernXcPmJa4WUf/s1600/P1200345.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glaciers pouring down from Erebus and into the sea sometimes form ice tongues, where the glacier runs aground underwater and prevents the glacier from breaking and floating away when the sea ice melts. Pressure from these ice tongues getting pushed into the sea ice creates cracks that seals often use. One such ice tongue is Tryggve Point. This is another colony that is typically occupied by non-breeding seals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLiV_chPVnazNkaUlEt6tBcPehrnyOygX1av1UUlHEAJQF8zuHu7lJtknDRvH7eZQn9r4XNxFAN3LWu6y1D18XOE7BFZW6fo3Xfp9VQlukjyxFTf77TddZoNm8LlZ8hiTBEhg-V0ZZa93/s1600/P1200346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLiV_chPVnazNkaUlEt6tBcPehrnyOygX1av1UUlHEAJQF8zuHu7lJtknDRvH7eZQn9r4XNxFAN3LWu6y1D18XOE7BFZW6fo3Xfp9VQlukjyxFTf77TddZoNm8LlZ8hiTBEhg-V0ZZa93/s1600/P1200346.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking straight down at a lone seal where the glaciers meet the sea. I like the aesthetic of this shot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4H52T0Wvvds0ohXiv7Li1Axx8706FHT6252Go0jCzX2AgMXnPE3hI0XmRetyDEa_eI0ojNVgCbAQwQfkPPYEMJyYq7Y-DpRZfNSmYsyR020Vp5k8QCodwimGHN1yxpIMBY6LK9Q43CIE/s1600/P1200347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4H52T0Wvvds0ohXiv7Li1Axx8706FHT6252Go0jCzX2AgMXnPE3hI0XmRetyDEa_eI0ojNVgCbAQwQfkPPYEMJyYq7Y-DpRZfNSmYsyR020Vp5k8QCodwimGHN1yxpIMBY6LK9Q43CIE/s1600/P1200347.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another (unnamed) glacier tongue, but no seal cracks are formed on this one. This is looking back at Cape Evans (center) and Inaccessible Island (left).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0kbMtmXocXQNuP4FYuAXhEGlgVTXROBYDoGATsf-3iczoV3riUiLrh13IYzD2Y89L-IB-bGYBj_wOE15AWlo3cINLDP_j0Gn-0i-RdwhP9f08gmwVyoQ7PnOkLPCn4thwKl786lb7idF/s1600/P1200348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0kbMtmXocXQNuP4FYuAXhEGlgVTXROBYDoGATsf-3iczoV3riUiLrh13IYzD2Y89L-IB-bGYBj_wOE15AWlo3cINLDP_j0Gn-0i-RdwhP9f08gmwVyoQ7PnOkLPCn4thwKl786lb7idF/s1600/P1200348.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turk's Head; one of the larger seal colonies. This area always produces some pretty dramatic and extensive crack systems.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNvXpLTpEJVvjotX-w21XjxoEXNlnd81gzGIG4nUB6r-_3j6S-u3m-GjsR0J0exZll0JWV9nA_SY9zIkMbGfKr6cMB7Nxgo8dGkOtF6ASL6anVVDdFKvnuKJ7GG06aO3LS_xVWDetSdtf/s1600/P1200355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPNvXpLTpEJVvjotX-w21XjxoEXNlnd81gzGIG4nUB6r-_3j6S-u3m-GjsR0J0exZll0JWV9nA_SY9zIkMbGfKr6cMB7Nxgo8dGkOtF6ASL6anVVDdFKvnuKJ7GG06aO3LS_xVWDetSdtf/s1600/P1200355.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at Mt. Erebus at 12,500 feet. The chunks of ice here are as large as or larger than your house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEible_4Rd2uckdtBEFf7-vSt4Qi6zi7SzGCbixYmcF97R7nY-N8EGx0XrB5gG6P_3fSYc3wwD1kvfhf-rFa9fisFp4rJHvCaJsslAgC5s_XlNBnfLIl-KclY8CmgcQM1YoHVrXh1iF6TGK2/s1600/P1200360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEible_4Rd2uckdtBEFf7-vSt4Qi6zi7SzGCbixYmcF97R7nY-N8EGx0XrB5gG6P_3fSYc3wwD1kvfhf-rFa9fisFp4rJHvCaJsslAgC5s_XlNBnfLIl-KclY8CmgcQM1YoHVrXh1iF6TGK2/s1600/P1200360.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Erebus Glacier Tongue is the largest glacier tongue in the region and can have seals hidden in it's giant lobes. Tent Island (far background) and Big Razorback (near background) in the upper right. View is looking west towards the Transantarctic Mountains.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQMg1xxUx-nvg2_34u6WiPKBK135MSBtnmezZ4XADcf7chKMUdQND8uYbOEAk9PZPpNt-e_ps5b_pR7Tg2nqfoRVF_YvoJ0Bx0je4P796jZ1havDjQGROscDeR76bhP0RL9EAwJlPImHn/s1600/P1200364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQMg1xxUx-nvg2_34u6WiPKBK135MSBtnmezZ4XADcf7chKMUdQND8uYbOEAk9PZPpNt-e_ps5b_pR7Tg2nqfoRVF_YvoJ0Bx0je4P796jZ1havDjQGROscDeR76bhP0RL9EAwJlPImHn/s1600/P1200364.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south along Hut Point Peninsula of Ross Island. Hutton Cliffs (the glacial wall below the rock) and Turtle Rock (out in the sea ice) colonies are the furthest south colonies of substantial size. Small colonies occur further south at Scott Base (at the very tip of the peninsula) and at White Island (the southernmost mammals in the world...see my <a href="http://www.aspiringecologist.com/2012/12/white-islanders.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>). Mount Discovery (ancient volcano), Black Island (above Turtle Rock). and the Transantarctic Mountains in the background. The high point on the peninsula is Castle Rock, a popular recreational hike and climb that can be made from McMurdo.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-60510361840273197572018-11-15T13:04:00.000-07:002018-11-26T02:28:09.495-07:00To weigh a pup<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn2phnLMtlb1AgFbplnvlVTVLWO0EaHQKSIScfIhl6cJFU1Ah6wuXMA5aYrYmFWuhNaTt5eIH_Kt3FdedvPqJDvf2SAf-_gVSCxGxs8qnaF_AjeG82g9ZulmZg3uWmtNd6IJie7MlpCcF/s1600/P1200181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOn2phnLMtlb1AgFbplnvlVTVLWO0EaHQKSIScfIhl6cJFU1Ah6wuXMA5aYrYmFWuhNaTt5eIH_Kt3FdedvPqJDvf2SAf-_gVSCxGxs8qnaF_AjeG82g9ZulmZg3uWmtNd6IJie7MlpCcF/s640/P1200181.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pup in</b>: specially-designed duffel bags allow us to roll in and zip up the pups quickly and efficiently to minimize disturbance. One of the benefits of working with Weddell seals is their calm demeanor. There's not very many 1,000+ lbs carnivores that you can walk right up to and don't mind you borrowing their offspring for a moment! It's likely that because Weddell seals are only adapted to ocean-going predators and these maternal colonies don't experience any predators during the pupping season, they don't have any reason to fear two-legged creatures on the ice. <br /><br />The data collected here is part of our maternal investment study to examine how much mass is transferred to the pup through nursing and what influence this may have on future survival and reproduction of the pups. We only weigh a sample of pups, and only those that are from known-age moms (i.e., we tagged mom when she was a pup in the study area - you can barely see her yellow "alpha" tags in her rear flippers).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMVSKCuEhazzjyoi11Aq6JidQqsj2407hH1mG0VthMo87MstHakO7fYy_UMQ5OwfGhuHK1-bHEHCq6JXtfN_Xqj_OGn2z2-gRwpvAUEhLyNhrH48G_4CA5ozgILe2tWAbnhtOXj4gYa9h/s1600/P1200187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMVSKCuEhazzjyoi11Aq6JidQqsj2407hH1mG0VthMo87MstHakO7fYy_UMQ5OwfGhuHK1-bHEHCq6JXtfN_Xqj_OGn2z2-gRwpvAUEhLyNhrH48G_4CA5ozgILe2tWAbnhtOXj4gYa9h/s640/P1200187.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pup up</b>: using a padded pole and a scale bar, two researchers lift the pup off the ice. "147 POUNDS!". This is a 20 day old pup and it already weighs more than me. We weigh them at birth, 20 days old, and 35 days old (approximately weaning). From birth to weaning, they basically quadruple to quintuple their body weight. And ALL of this delivered through nursing. During this time, on average, mom transfers a third of her body weight to the pup. By weaning time, the fairly rotund mom above will be looking quite thin and showing her bony hips. There is little evidence that mom feeds during this period; her observed lethargy by weaning time lends support to this. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eND8pIX8CJlF388QJUDD2CArgfSqCItp1eK-rDkiaCuMEUcJUnr9pFGz9DklozIz-4uuh7W56n9LeW6Ulqlc8iCIg6v3272ecFuABBibDQqw3bkLGE3OccIbhFn55Yo3Z2PHEhyRj8Ne/s1600/P1200192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eND8pIX8CJlF388QJUDD2CArgfSqCItp1eK-rDkiaCuMEUcJUnr9pFGz9DklozIz-4uuh7W56n9LeW6Ulqlc8iCIg6v3272ecFuABBibDQqw3bkLGE3OccIbhFn55Yo3Z2PHEhyRj8Ne/s640/P1200192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Pup out</b>: Once released from the bag, the pup, with a slightly confused look on its face, quickly reunites itself with mom. It won't be long before pup is resuming normal duties: nursing, swimming, scratching, or sleeping. Researchers here are (left to right) Victor Villalobos, Kaitlin Macdonald, and Shane Petch.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-50521607305743306282018-11-11T03:34:00.001-07:002018-11-12T00:52:36.873-07:00An evening amidst the seals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuQg9THFpnKtbuNP63yEIS1Lq5sD3HuIusKAdGcyzURjfYdzyx6qDOo5OdZsAIYBsagto7Rbaq5X5uIxcTIqKq0xHlQi6DT4dzmQ86hcMFJtt1x4FYxmDl8pel6lKCAIpiohdjO-K1z3h/s1600/P1200070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuQg9THFpnKtbuNP63yEIS1Lq5sD3HuIusKAdGcyzURjfYdzyx6qDOo5OdZsAIYBsagto7Rbaq5X5uIxcTIqKq0xHlQi6DT4dzmQ86hcMFJtt1x4FYxmDl8pel6lKCAIpiohdjO-K1z3h/s640/P1200070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tidal crack: as the tide rises and falls, so does the sea ice, an action that, in some areas like Big Razorback Island, maintains a crack large enough for seals to go in and out (they also maintain their own holes by scraping at the ice with their incisors). The ice on the left is called "fast ice" because it is fastened to the island and does not move up or down, whereas the ice on the right is free floating, following tidal action.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WzB2yCaOjVhHphd3cwgwYzG7AwhmRSmkBACL9OVgC5jVQXjDpp61oy9ArRCFdF6eZtWvB3G_tpmmY5fRnm9PMBVKSzHItu4qyMpukBQblYSCzvISn5GDZ9PDc9e7WiZvVJJOPbDnDvc6/s1600/P1200071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WzB2yCaOjVhHphd3cwgwYzG7AwhmRSmkBACL9OVgC5jVQXjDpp61oy9ArRCFdF6eZtWvB3G_tpmmY5fRnm9PMBVKSzHItu4qyMpukBQblYSCzvISn5GDZ9PDc9e7WiZvVJJOPbDnDvc6/s640/P1200071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ice during the evening is typically full of hauled out seals, mostly just snoozing. The tidal crack is right behind me in this picture. Sometimes they galumph a distance from the crack to nurse and sleep.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HAGkGrNSkFO54sgp7EmvIbd0-2N4qRjS-pk_0vLW5LYL0jdy7HBihfWMR0pCL-lp6Nu45zQTGRxhq6IPqbeTB2vtXk_Jy97eFHC5qFWTBc7w7S8kfkUpINyB8-wt2dI7DZhuph3gPteE/s1600/P1200072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HAGkGrNSkFO54sgp7EmvIbd0-2N4qRjS-pk_0vLW5LYL0jdy7HBihfWMR0pCL-lp6Nu45zQTGRxhq6IPqbeTB2vtXk_Jy97eFHC5qFWTBc7w7S8kfkUpINyB8-wt2dI7DZhuph3gPteE/s640/P1200072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom-pup pairs are scattered about. Most of the pups are now old enough to be swimming, and some of them are exceedingly robust! I guess swimming is made easier when you grow your own water wings. We are just about to start weighing a sample of pups at their 20th day of life. These pups should be at least twice their birth weight of 65 pounds!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENGLvd-ki4CeER_z3FC3jMukbe_55yVEt7HFSwKlzbfa8A2vos_roRvTF5PuTDa7O3tRySe_bwFpgMS8R0hJOISx-CInjAOWrmqJW6Vy2sqmqjPegZ8roW-BH023iNdmdLbzlYUtm9bA-/s1600/P1200075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENGLvd-ki4CeER_z3FC3jMukbe_55yVEt7HFSwKlzbfa8A2vos_roRvTF5PuTDa7O3tRySe_bwFpgMS8R0hJOISx-CInjAOWrmqJW6Vy2sqmqjPegZ8roW-BH023iNdmdLbzlYUtm9bA-/s640/P1200075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some snooze unmoving for considerable periods of time...come storm or blowing snow. With 3-4 inches of blubber to keep you warm, this is just a day at the beach during summer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOd7KkPxdiRSxTc4FW46_kmPL488IwyQeqC3h6by40BTJZ0TogvxKTJScuUAAqlAzE1zqOMY6ajyMm0s4Uh7JL6qYwNC5qTmfjPLKkSgdIcltULm37VaImNOxllDgA-9c6xA0PKdTxAIm/s1600/P1200084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOd7KkPxdiRSxTc4FW46_kmPL488IwyQeqC3h6by40BTJZ0TogvxKTJScuUAAqlAzE1zqOMY6ajyMm0s4Uh7JL6qYwNC5qTmfjPLKkSgdIcltULm37VaImNOxllDgA-9c6xA0PKdTxAIm/s640/P1200084.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious pup trying out 90 degrees. Mom snoozing in background (copper color is her mouth).</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-57838221837440871662018-11-02T01:29:00.003-06:002018-11-02T23:11:55.313-06:00Back to Big Razorback<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vlEdTSbce72DX4O9dg4NhyphenhyphenhKkqAM29fjhrvHJZhPjlQjDrMxBFQMHRZZVrlcQQ9spzvjGiu_fo3AibOo8TJcjT_HRkGsn-Pagg-vLEv23r_pOmCVIpAHdAKzIzn1EGf23koZxhrAPDWg/s1600/P1190997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vlEdTSbce72DX4O9dg4NhyphenhyphenhKkqAM29fjhrvHJZhPjlQjDrMxBFQMHRZZVrlcQQ9spzvjGiu_fo3AibOo8TJcjT_HRkGsn-Pagg-vLEv23r_pOmCVIpAHdAKzIzn1EGf23koZxhrAPDWg/s640/P1190997.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The grand arrival of the huts to Big Razorback on October 23. This event brings me such joy! Our 5 huts consist of: 1 gear hut (hut #11), 1 kitchen hut (#05), 2 sleeping huts (#18 & 13), and 1 "Center of Excellence" (aka, the thunder house, aka the outhouse). The 4 main huts are pulled by a challenger tractor, while the Center and fuel for snowmobiles pulled by a pisten bully. The sea ice is at least 1 meter deep here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOnGQAfjr1AOrLpTxkxRydJJ27zE4SrY7RdRIUD9bZdc7uKsyPr2BJKUL9BoAUXzEPu1RXagF-ugiMBA5aJt3cApMU1XtulvOiKjSqjXCwcDpf5OMhcucWA3DW2S7oxqBvO3m_VdadzeG/s1600/P1200010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOnGQAfjr1AOrLpTxkxRydJJ27zE4SrY7RdRIUD9bZdc7uKsyPr2BJKUL9BoAUXzEPu1RXagF-ugiMBA5aJt3cApMU1XtulvOiKjSqjXCwcDpf5OMhcucWA3DW2S7oxqBvO3m_VdadzeG/s640/P1200010.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The huts are then masterfully arranged by the heavy equipment operator (we are very particular about the order and arrangement of the huts considering direction of storms, line of sight with Crater Hill near McMurdo for our communications antennae, and between-hut movement efficiency) and lashed to the sea ice to prevent them from moving in the wind. Here, the kitchen hut (far left) and the equipment hut (far right) sandwich the women's and men's ("hello Victor!") hut. The Center of Excellence is hidden behind the huts in this photo (see next photo).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1toHx61vVEAGgIHMMqK88sYnJGoWU_BFeKplajc_G6DrEEl0yyZikWj_vQZ91qzk-dwYNsoSF2f_EiMRab4eQKGMlJJmgm8Oq-RAHzxZLLCVepuSZzl6IS6sIEdSK_Jj5Ulq39G3dfsD8/s1600/P1200024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1toHx61vVEAGgIHMMqK88sYnJGoWU_BFeKplajc_G6DrEEl0yyZikWj_vQZ91qzk-dwYNsoSF2f_EiMRab4eQKGMlJJmgm8Oq-RAHzxZLLCVepuSZzl6IS6sIEdSK_Jj5Ulq39G3dfsD8/s640/P1200024.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's the Center of Excellence hiding behind the main huts. Can you see the penguin stuffed animal near the door (looks like a hand grenade!)? That's our indicator of occupancy. The penguin sometimes lies to the consternation of some (i.e., someone forgets to move the penguin from "occupied" to "unoccupied"). This picture was taken in the midst of a storm caking spindrift snow onto the huts. The Center gets lashed down to the ice extensively (yes, we have lost the Center to the wind in the past!).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV78U7_J38ahSQUNmSTO-3WIxqXkSxvPPN8i0uANmLc0hW4VR6K2ftFjm4ZB0IBjPsxekOTlFjbJ4CqoB4FtZGjo3aTeIt9V2q2HSYVMcUd-AYQM1uzMzdbw6RQlumYnPdUXjU7I8H2qa/s1600/P1200011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV78U7_J38ahSQUNmSTO-3WIxqXkSxvPPN8i0uANmLc0hW4VR6K2ftFjm4ZB0IBjPsxekOTlFjbJ4CqoB4FtZGjo3aTeIt9V2q2HSYVMcUd-AYQM1uzMzdbw6RQlumYnPdUXjU7I8H2qa/s640/P1200011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A minor example of what happens when we don't lash things down properly. This is one of our (upended) siglund sleds used for transporting our survival bag, flags, and research gear. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ55uGoGRizPMvRa4Ff955xv8PnxtME1AIhM_FhV1roy7dnLtZr-xrNA5W8oCuOYGw-FcbN26vAACP7n4v-Nw7LLMEdts3GaaGxNJON1DetQ80D02mVuNf5-YITfTXGIjBwAYoQrAYVj9/s1600/P1200009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ55uGoGRizPMvRa4Ff955xv8PnxtME1AIhM_FhV1roy7dnLtZr-xrNA5W8oCuOYGw-FcbN26vAACP7n4v-Nw7LLMEdts3GaaGxNJON1DetQ80D02mVuNf5-YITfTXGIjBwAYoQrAYVj9/s640/P1200009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bonus of Big Razorback camp are the views!! Inaccessible Island lit up to the west. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1oUGVz8l-NswSkZmFM7iQInupiPcC3O9oH3ufUM04paK83q_csGr143FEIBf5iFtaSpv46Jc7Z1qRf9KOf60i6AyXcRr_yALsEKbaAkOX-1hi4keBF3pWvwB0ubYBcv7rzJsz3IB3geK/s1600/P1200018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1oUGVz8l-NswSkZmFM7iQInupiPcC3O9oH3ufUM04paK83q_csGr143FEIBf5iFtaSpv46Jc7Z1qRf9KOf60i6AyXcRr_yALsEKbaAkOX-1hi4keBF3pWvwB0ubYBcv7rzJsz3IB3geK/s640/P1200018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the north-east, Little Razorback Island (triangle rock far left) and looming Mt. Erebus (haloed) and lower crevassed snowfields of Erebus. Bottom right is the northern end of Big Razorback Island and keen eyes can see our crew (and snowmobiles) out on the ice collecting data on the seals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxKI1JbyJF7aIWkL92PdROCo4B4QZMaFNeA4tioBHaJ_LjBWh_aGkIJQ2nb37bxfKqvwDLqNRetITnn-pbLmv57bFKH_nh4Uxyic1LBLY8OHTf3RsNSIc17r38-FcwDQoRKsytSmP8s63/s1600/P1200021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxKI1JbyJF7aIWkL92PdROCo4B4QZMaFNeA4tioBHaJ_LjBWh_aGkIJQ2nb37bxfKqvwDLqNRetITnn-pbLmv57bFKH_nh4Uxyic1LBLY8OHTf3RsNSIc17r38-FcwDQoRKsytSmP8s63/s640/P1200021.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this place real?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK59QeAIhUu2rFvi7YeqAslVyUyOLbIiKIakFdof58MifQz2GRPXUPLYRGcC7-0E1STtd1mow4fDOcl_kLGx4U-eMPiYj-HNAcU2pZrKpQSALDlWyWOsKRGsGAVuYUHvNYzHcNbmOADEw/s1600/P1200032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLK59QeAIhUu2rFvi7YeqAslVyUyOLbIiKIakFdof58MifQz2GRPXUPLYRGcC7-0E1STtd1mow4fDOcl_kLGx4U-eMPiYj-HNAcU2pZrKpQSALDlWyWOsKRGsGAVuYUHvNYzHcNbmOADEw/s640/P1200032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Little Razorback Island, a very small maternal colony is present. Just a handful of pups are born here each year. Here, spindrift covered mom and day old pup dabble in a snowdrift.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0yqR_XTjthl00XULBkA5DTD3JWpw5Uu6y7CNEgDEk8-rT79zoKtGixDd7KumI1GvOsEQa7wvJlFM2pGv9VptkTDxt1ygO8u3h1BYHR6lsvQTT7pR0a272yFJleEIYremLfurE7z54eRF/s1600/P1200008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0yqR_XTjthl00XULBkA5DTD3JWpw5Uu6y7CNEgDEk8-rT79zoKtGixDd7KumI1GvOsEQa7wvJlFM2pGv9VptkTDxt1ygO8u3h1BYHR6lsvQTT7pR0a272yFJleEIYremLfurE7z54eRF/s640/P1200008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now, with camp in place and the seals pupping, we can really get rolling on the data collection! Here's the entire team, raring to mark and count Weddell seals for science! L to R: Jay Rotella (Principal Investigator), William Link (statistician and photographer), Alissa Anderson (field tech), Shane Petch (Masters student), Kaitlin Macdonald (PhD student), Victor Villalobos (field tech), Kit Cunningham (field tech), and Jesse DeVoe (field tech).</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-66568609564148925882018-10-22T02:48:00.001-06:002018-11-02T01:35:17.460-06:00Flags and first tags<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFXMRRDprSOxkIDH9HcpProgTXiIxrCh7PWPgnn6maXiGWkvO3sncGNmG_aMvUHl7MU7MVjDexLWwZZKzEss8NkrBQ6-LWuBToj8JwC9RqZbkaxOyoaqyUD3cjBeWOv9-LBuCXByzP9cc/s1600/P1190976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFXMRRDprSOxkIDH9HcpProgTXiIxrCh7PWPgnn6maXiGWkvO3sncGNmG_aMvUHl7MU7MVjDexLWwZZKzEss8NkrBQ6-LWuBToj8JwC9RqZbkaxOyoaqyUD3cjBeWOv9-LBuCXByzP9cc/s640/P1190976.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, we are so happy to be in the field! Bill Link (passionate statistician and photographer) staying warm and enjoying every moment. We are finally all geared up to get out on the sea ice. The first task?? Flagging roads for the bad weather days when all we can see...is the next flag. The rope seen lying on the snow gets pulled behind a snowmobile, is 50 m long and marks the distance between flags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicshriWivLPuM4aDEHxTjg9K4oHMa06QtJD0Dr2IF4oH51FU6njcd1kj-31MPnSQ8VCCPX1AkagWxSvaaMcpbu8ofX7yrfTyldlt_0GfbzO37fNVzZgPMxblz97QNj2RMsvQ0brt7ihe19/s1600/P1190977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicshriWivLPuM4aDEHxTjg9K4oHMa06QtJD0Dr2IF4oH51FU6njcd1kj-31MPnSQ8VCCPX1AkagWxSvaaMcpbu8ofX7yrfTyldlt_0GfbzO37fNVzZgPMxblz97QNj2RMsvQ0brt7ihe19/s640/P1190977.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kit demonstrating solid drilling skills to lay a road to Turtle Rock. We drill through the snow and ice to plant the flags. In the far background is Mt Terror, with the snowy Hutton Cliffs (one of our major seal colonies) below it and Turtle Rock (the black hill near center which is not connected to Hutton Cliffs as it may appear). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Up-eAEelNradmCVZYgXTao1i21LeJhQKtA8KHwqV8UfJ33QGRPBAu3BSyAalRv7ndc39vP4dpn4tJJhA3B9O_Y8UZJI-XKPj8Pjg_cYMjQjL4UA5S9djkXsXCtEo07fuqWHJWrpDA-ma/s1600/P1190980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Up-eAEelNradmCVZYgXTao1i21LeJhQKtA8KHwqV8UfJ33QGRPBAu3BSyAalRv7ndc39vP4dpn4tJJhA3B9O_Y8UZJI-XKPj8Pjg_cYMjQjL4UA5S9djkXsXCtEo07fuqWHJWrpDA-ma/s640/P1190980.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We carry the flags on the Siglin sleds pulled behind snowmobiles. Red flags are used to designate safe travel routes, black flags are used to indicate danger or cracks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkrr-guPdcX-NhbDRh_FyL586ZeSos-Cic3VrMJOw-al1DmHOHgbPSVzrSEfFeHJ4bgDtA9cLP14bYCbkhI-lTaDoY-Syd09nYJGAsDV-2jEuVa2KBIGrCXDNRJn1q7dH_Yrwt1GTHyTV/s1600/P1190981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkrr-guPdcX-NhbDRh_FyL586ZeSos-Cic3VrMJOw-al1DmHOHgbPSVzrSEfFeHJ4bgDtA9cLP14bYCbkhI-lTaDoY-Syd09nYJGAsDV-2jEuVa2KBIGrCXDNRJn1q7dH_Yrwt1GTHyTV/s640/P1190981.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally! Seals! While flagging, we also looked for new pups. These little gals and guys need some new tags.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7yg9IQG_6xOiP5YwuMjAWD-Q7Mw1qhX8IHA9H0d53JKsl5SU49n-y3kwb6NDXtLzfstl5PxlbwQ3SHPIrjoAiomUAWhPkURVcUB93Mg0npdb1JWOKoSXTMAE-D1q-d3GRCLA1Ck_Buh8/s1600/P1190991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7yg9IQG_6xOiP5YwuMjAWD-Q7Mw1qhX8IHA9H0d53JKsl5SU49n-y3kwb6NDXtLzfstl5PxlbwQ3SHPIrjoAiomUAWhPkURVcUB93Mg0npdb1JWOKoSXTMAE-D1q-d3GRCLA1Ck_Buh8/s640/P1190991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kit (right) tagging her first Weddell seal pup, assisted by Jay Rotella, the principal investigator for the project. We place two numbered tags on the rear flippers. The simple number tags give each individual a unique identifier and allow us to track the animal for the remainder of their lives. Tagging pups is a critical part of the study and every single pup is tagged every season. This has happened for the past 50 years, and, we hope, for many more.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JI58Dle-BDNamq6rVLHKTGdmGT74_yE6QtoxiQ0xBBX99FstkCYpXlVkWzFztmhbwQgX3LnHoKdPvw44xC2khDmgsZsOQ6kd4f4Zrhw5PPOfVzcNyRXciIKwpTq92-OMX17iXrgKdq6y/s1600/P1190994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JI58Dle-BDNamq6rVLHKTGdmGT74_yE6QtoxiQ0xBBX99FstkCYpXlVkWzFztmhbwQgX3LnHoKdPvw44xC2khDmgsZsOQ6kd4f4Zrhw5PPOfVzcNyRXciIKwpTq92-OMX17iXrgKdq6y/s640/P1190994.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally finally! Back to Big Razorback! This will be our home for the rest of the season....starting TOMORROW. Huts are to be pulled out in the morning and we are all really looking forward to it. We stopped by yesterday to check for new pups and flag a road from Big Razorback Island to Little Razorback Island, a smaller island (obviously) with a smaller colony.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-52227452783118905522018-10-19T01:33:00.001-06:002018-10-19T01:33:22.898-06:00All the things: food, gear, snowmobiles, & tags<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTPwLqFoXLT7NhYWI7If5oM5T6dW9WzxG4vaaE1iEVp3nx_zPVbRYIpkwZIg51JLc7oDNs4oiiikV5IloEotEUeusHCDojj4EHLLpeU87cQEtBtCH4sHsVEEk-BbfZPl1XecWP6rIAaXb/s1600/P1190949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTPwLqFoXLT7NhYWI7If5oM5T6dW9WzxG4vaaE1iEVp3nx_zPVbRYIpkwZIg51JLc7oDNs4oiiikV5IloEotEUeusHCDojj4EHLLpeU87cQEtBtCH4sHsVEEk-BbfZPl1XecWP6rIAaXb/s640/P1190949.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shane and Kaitlin collecting our pre-ordered food to feed 8 people for the first half of the season in camp. I'd say we eat very well on the ice...in addition to this line up we have a large diversity of frozen foods, and, when team members go in to McMurdo for a day off, we can pick up freshies (bread, fruit, cookies, etc) to bring back to camp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz7ZgHD_Pr-CLuM3ZqBB9Z3hlz0QUvFKVkVtIh0oYnB0X1eKLovKnxVz-nk6tyyUM9ueJEMF5GNQemGVTQV4rvKMCo5PuOUGshaBmhSP3UWuz2RgXU7LgMSz20zGO3AIGQkzJOHOonOgN/s1600/P1190953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz7ZgHD_Pr-CLuM3ZqBB9Z3hlz0QUvFKVkVtIh0oYnB0X1eKLovKnxVz-nk6tyyUM9ueJEMF5GNQemGVTQV4rvKMCo5PuOUGshaBmhSP3UWuz2RgXU7LgMSz20zGO3AIGQkzJOHOonOgN/s640/P1190953.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaitlin separating DNF (Do Not Freeze!) items for separate transport: freezable foods get packed into our huts before they are pulled out to our field camp location, non-freezables will be transported the day we move everyone to camp and the huts are warmed up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHLI9N5EeiN4TXn42aCcTFyWXrhBCka111z0HYyOjU8I4-Wx4OYi0L17LRldIrxOKaRT6lruLkUeOaICn42x4kMpmLd7GvIKpo2LrfpnZwcXN70aJGY6DNDH5T8jx5SjqoPLX2T2fNMpL/s1600/P1190956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHLI9N5EeiN4TXn42aCcTFyWXrhBCka111z0HYyOjU8I4-Wx4OYi0L17LRldIrxOKaRT6lruLkUeOaICn42x4kMpmLd7GvIKpo2LrfpnZwcXN70aJGY6DNDH5T8jx5SjqoPLX2T2fNMpL/s640/P1190956.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drive a lot of trucks early season to help us move gear to and from science support work centers (that have prepared/organized the gear for us), staging areas, and our huts (like #15 hut pictured here. These are basically heated cargo containers!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsF2eRyRMDO4CRvD89mWPfim6OxrTQ6th9JyLRRNNYEzup06rs4ejGdTsY4Y00QrEaQfJ1F4qymzWWMFCoNHHLYcVgPItl6MiO6iEUT2tmmKg1KGpw_g7rjrQR8s9WLcj-RCaoPC_zfCj/s1600/P1190965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsF2eRyRMDO4CRvD89mWPfim6OxrTQ6th9JyLRRNNYEzup06rs4ejGdTsY4Y00QrEaQfJ1F4qymzWWMFCoNHHLYcVgPItl6MiO6iEUT2tmmKg1KGpw_g7rjrQR8s9WLcj-RCaoPC_zfCj/s640/P1190965.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowmobile training is required every season, which gives us a great opportunity to learn tricks of start up, maintenance, and repair in the field. We put more miles on snowmachines than any other science team in order to do our research. And with so many miles every season, breakdowns and mishaps are guaranteed. Luckily, we have good training and lots of experience on the team.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ElrsMA9U73ZLqrYyK2SrTaV_1YymZPtI3Ni5vtTSUfk_d9f5-nz_xBAhPb0ER8tPvXEGu1O1TVns7sV78t7TfYRl7tplwKjsh-uo-vO_VZ8IVzulxS-4jYxI_fFkTuqy9MZ4RJL6_jq/s1600/P1190966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ElrsMA9U73ZLqrYyK2SrTaV_1YymZPtI3Ni5vtTSUfk_d9f5-nz_xBAhPb0ER8tPvXEGu1O1TVns7sV78t7TfYRl7tplwKjsh-uo-vO_VZ8IVzulxS-4jYxI_fFkTuqy9MZ4RJL6_jq/s640/P1190966.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And lastly, but certainly not least, we finished stringing our seal tags! We have >1,000 charlie ("C" for cerulean) tags ready for the seals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nghOd-FCfuFSflsDnUx2qaxANzKm34byXuUPJpwr2vseZPkh0xjAAuiK7rEixSQJ-boAj8Q05kHc-FxaYDtEq0JIG2Vc8v_UiZ3KSCirL1kWMPvnxsLlspwMswHTKnZ_E9_-gVde2x2-/s1600/P1190969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nghOd-FCfuFSflsDnUx2qaxANzKm34byXuUPJpwr2vseZPkh0xjAAuiK7rEixSQJ-boAj8Q05kHc-FxaYDtEq0JIG2Vc8v_UiZ3KSCirL1kWMPvnxsLlspwMswHTKnZ_E9_-gVde2x2-/s640/P1190969.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box o' delight to seal scientists eyes!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-74935277360780362962018-10-18T02:39:00.000-06:002018-10-19T00:53:29.220-06:00Finally, we deploy!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtGymlCDA61FgaGomz7j6qMeCk1qQ8a0cor6S9TSNfVTdRuB18XzayGwSpAFTR0hY8G2rODsINyHrS35FdsRUq_to4xYQrM39FQSlY6uregEwvnTT4WW9YNsfNWAbjzICZ4S7kpWa2GRJ/s1600/P1190880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtGymlCDA61FgaGomz7j6qMeCk1qQ8a0cor6S9TSNfVTdRuB18XzayGwSpAFTR0hY8G2rODsINyHrS35FdsRUq_to4xYQrM39FQSlY6uregEwvnTT4WW9YNsfNWAbjzICZ4S7kpWa2GRJ/s640/P1190880.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 14 days of weather delays (one of the longest delays in the history of summer deployments), we boarded an Airbus (YAY for windows!) and flew the 5.5 hours from Christchurch, New Zealand to the ice runway at McMurdo Station. While much of Antarctica is the bleak, flat white that most might imagine, we flew almost the entirety of the Transantarctic Mountains where the continent meets the sea ice, and it is anything but flat. Glaciers amidst mountains, crevasses and plateaus, valleys and cliffs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C0P1cOCBIci6ZHA-bt9YVMy-P_xyPN1k8senweQRdkfHhYU39CaN7Ijj0-Uao0pDzJOBuBY2niKxh4xCJVc5HkONGDd7B1p1CG2cQ50B5YwEf0Di8qTF3vDYOLC2yv6kWZI73x7dccAd/s1600/P1190887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9C0P1cOCBIci6ZHA-bt9YVMy-P_xyPN1k8senweQRdkfHhYU39CaN7Ijj0-Uao0pDzJOBuBY2niKxh4xCJVc5HkONGDd7B1p1CG2cQ50B5YwEf0Di8qTF3vDYOLC2yv6kWZI73x7dccAd/s640/P1190887.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, our boots on the ice! Myself, Alissa Anderson, Victor Villalobos, and Kit Cunningham deployed separately from our crew leads Kaitlin Macdonald and Shane Petch (they deployed on the C17 down just prior to us).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6GAnwxxjH7xWyH04C-XY0PMLS4B-9hD_TKQUVKjgxXds0JiDmOSV6oifkbVOqBnSaREgfnaCDHceh95eo6NLgC3EglmnYrp3IvWxIboXAkwfQPfc4-4du49GzpkL7N4qEN0Uyp1lbDhk/s1600/P1190913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6GAnwxxjH7xWyH04C-XY0PMLS4B-9hD_TKQUVKjgxXds0JiDmOSV6oifkbVOqBnSaREgfnaCDHceh95eo6NLgC3EglmnYrp3IvWxIboXAkwfQPfc4-4du49GzpkL7N4qEN0Uyp1lbDhk/s640/P1190913.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2018 <a href="http://www.weddellsealscience.com/" target="_blank">Weddell Seal Science </a>crew very excited to be studying seals in paradise. Left to right: Jesse DeVoe (me), Shane Petch (Master's student), Victor Villalobos, Kit Cunningham, Kaitlin Macdonald (PhD student), and Alissa Anderson. The project's principal investigator, Jay Rotella, and statistician and photographer Bill Link, have just arrived on today's C17 flight (not pictured).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And right to work we go, making up for lost time. Part of the work is prepping 1,000 seal tags, here with Victor and Alissa hard at work putting together strands of tags. We need to make sure we have 2 pairs of tags (all the same number) for each seal, we string 25 numbers on a wire for efficient removal in the field when tagging (such that the first tags pulled off have the lowest number; this also requires drilling some of the tags to secure to the wire string).</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-280515522974977402018-01-23T20:20:00.003-07:002018-01-24T09:03:04.198-07:00Fare thee well, seals of Erebus Bay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The 49th season of the Erebus Bay Weddell seal population study is complete! In early December, the crew tagged and surveyed the last few seals, packed up the sea ice camp at Big Razorback, and pulled all the bamboo flags marking the sea ice roads. An astounding season and a top-notch crew. Be sure to check out the <a href="http://inmotion.typepad.com/weddell_seal_science/" target="_blank">final blog post for the project</a> and if you missed crew member <a href="https://aubreyraypower.wixsite.com/wanderingweddell" target="_blank">Aubrey Power's blog</a>, check it out too. In mid-December, the last of the crew piled into a C130 and dispersed, either to travel or return home (I'm writing this from my Missoula, Montana home). This marks my last blog post for this season, but if you'd like to stay connected to Aspiring Ecologist, be sure to follow @aspiringecologist on Facebook, @aspiringecol on Twitter, or @jessedevoe on Instagram. Check out more about our science at <a href="http://weddellsealscience.com/">weddellsealscience.com</a>.</div>
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All photos acquired under NMFS Permit #21158</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIVWdSwwB46xDP0rzxrFMEqbiYlx45BxNwUUSjM-6t1qT5CXx2J6zq0O8qPiRl1etAQ_F6S4CT9BtzvZzt9rRUNEBvr91iZgWo6AHySNtCARbD_yqr2ObBlhsavv-iV884ncjgPQgvNC7/s1600/P1170591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIVWdSwwB46xDP0rzxrFMEqbiYlx45BxNwUUSjM-6t1qT5CXx2J6zq0O8qPiRl1etAQ_F6S4CT9BtzvZzt9rRUNEBvr91iZgWo6AHySNtCARbD_yqr2ObBlhsavv-iV884ncjgPQgvNC7/s640/P1170591.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weddell pups (right) averaged a whopping 214 pounds at weaning (~35 days old). Imagine this life for a moment: over the course of about 1 month, you would gain just over 4 pounds per day (go ahead and grab the pound of butter in your fridge to get a sense of it). Even in America that'd be tough! This is mom and pup at Big Razorback Island colony. Unknowing to the pup, mom is about to say "au revoir!".</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But for now, ignorance is bliss and life is good: "this calls for some flipper chewing!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiFrkeTkX88Gi9Ucp89-cAaUy2tIafCwHhRN4mEJSOAVlk_MjkTVVUiJPcgKL6xKnlwsW006AT3jM2cM3xS8985XLKRBIDqNPDPU4N3xuRFAnlw1YPwNY0Qj8UVS8QaeJWLjpq_zGi4ax/s1600/P1170667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiFrkeTkX88Gi9Ucp89-cAaUy2tIafCwHhRN4mEJSOAVlk_MjkTVVUiJPcgKL6xKnlwsW006AT3jM2cM3xS8985XLKRBIDqNPDPU4N3xuRFAnlw1YPwNY0Qj8UVS8QaeJWLjpq_zGi4ax/s640/P1170667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weddell seals live out their lives in some beautiful places. They never migrate away from the Antarctic. In fact, it is likely that the great majority of them don't go far at all, remaining in McMurdo Sound or around the Erebus Bay archipelago year round. Here, Weddell seals lounge amongst the ridges and rifts of the sea ice (caused by pressures being put on the ice by the continual push of the glaciers on Ross Island and Mount Erebus seen in the background) at Big Razorback Island. This may be open ocean in a few months.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDs1S_K2V-zfySpdRmMP2YhTZpMBsKK1cYpZIBQddldNfu6zbMVsOqItrT2RZuieQO7T8lhfukEK_lhTPiKrn3o-Lk7uLzqJ1tnPM8EyXlaH4LmBAXFqQl5GzYuA7f9l5ObUainQft3Cd/s1600/P1170678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDs1S_K2V-zfySpdRmMP2YhTZpMBsKK1cYpZIBQddldNfu6zbMVsOqItrT2RZuieQO7T8lhfukEK_lhTPiKrn3o-Lk7uLzqJ1tnPM8EyXlaH4LmBAXFqQl5GzYuA7f9l5ObUainQft3Cd/s640/P1170678.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on the North Base seal colony during a helicopter reconnaissance flight. This gives a reasonable perspective of how long it might take for researchers to "work" one of our ~7 seal colonies: every other day, our team visits each colony, requiring us to essentially check every single seal. As you can see, it isn't always straight forward travel (we arrive to the colony by snowmobile, but travel within colonies is by foot) across the pressure ridges, around melt pools, across cracks, and all while trying to minimize our disturbance to the seals. The big ice chunks are collapsing glaciers coming down from Mount Erebus that are frozen into the sea ice, waiting to be released at the next ice break-up (which may not be for several years). The seals are hauled out onto frozen ocean.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQCRpnWcOnUm3x1gog-Fe3byPs78XDdDRL4uiE__QGjeDEDFyhflkToZfUpuXDxZmP-4MKlqRZ3zpQ-6-uhZkbQ7TEVEU01bJJu2KC_KvedXlRDWkhRxannKMi8KPlhp1vyY8Y3QOsZ4B/s1600/P1170710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQCRpnWcOnUm3x1gog-Fe3byPs78XDdDRL4uiE__QGjeDEDFyhflkToZfUpuXDxZmP-4MKlqRZ3zpQ-6-uhZkbQ7TEVEU01bJJu2KC_KvedXlRDWkhRxannKMi8KPlhp1vyY8Y3QOsZ4B/s640/P1170710.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view looking South, down along Hut Point Peninsula (McMurdo is several miles in that direction, where Scott's hut from early expedition days is located - <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@-77.8459586,166.642134,2a,75y,352.2h,79.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soEbTeD_GZN6gqlckjJHNFg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656" target="_blank">go ahead take a look and go inside!</a>). Look closely for the few seals hauled out in the jumble of the South Base colony. Some of these ice chunks are several stories high. These seals are so hard to access that our crew only was able to visit them once this year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvxNTRQEGWl0VYUOxh7iWwE0dr2ludyqVL72tZC-0xduuzYNF54sG5VmT5tDI1CEc64NYiwKolrqHVflCkQkuBJURmCf11gF3df2i0jovmiNU8IZpLK7IxDAzsHjbmb37KL2-YFz9HzsA/s1600/P1180004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvxNTRQEGWl0VYUOxh7iWwE0dr2ludyqVL72tZC-0xduuzYNF54sG5VmT5tDI1CEc64NYiwKolrqHVflCkQkuBJURmCf11gF3df2i0jovmiNU8IZpLK7IxDAzsHjbmb37KL2-YFz9HzsA/s640/P1180004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A morning departure from Big Razorback camp. We go everywhere by snowmobile, and cannot accomplish our work without these tools. Our team has been using the same sleds for at least a decade now, and while keeping them running is always a challenge and sometimes very frustrating, we are fond of them and their variable personalities! The red sled being towed is a siglund sled, with all our gear for the day - tagging supplies, lunch, bamboo flags, probing poles, ice axes, and a survival bag.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa2Qmesiw37wC8Oauu4L31ZiyAkM4F5mJaUTi7diqCj1uOxoSd1YywbKEdiqnYvJ2ZYSHESaWpbkBYVkRFiVf2h6RRJs6BLyFhdx7TjvHHzRXtK4shElIO32-QSI95nLkVtJIDcOqIX3N/s1600/P1180040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDa2Qmesiw37wC8Oauu4L31ZiyAkM4F5mJaUTi7diqCj1uOxoSd1YywbKEdiqnYvJ2ZYSHESaWpbkBYVkRFiVf2h6RRJs6BLyFhdx7TjvHHzRXtK4shElIO32-QSI95nLkVtJIDcOqIX3N/s640/P1180040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fare thee well, oh Weddell seal pup. It won't be long before the sea ice melts and brings a whole set of challenges for the new pups (the most terrifying being the killer whales and leopard seals!). They must learn many new skills to survive. Our studies are trying to make the connection of nature or nurture when it comes to seal survival. How much fat did mom transfer? How much did she teach you to swim? What genes did you inherit? And will you survive to see us in the future??? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sad departure, loading onto the C130 (though, it's pretty rad to fly in one of these!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out from a port hole at the open ocean and sea ice interface.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sardines. We spent most of our time looking out the window though.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out across the vast, endless Victoria Land.</td></tr>
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All photos acquired under NMFS Permit #21158</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-35281181825137114622017-11-25T19:18:00.002-07:002017-11-25T21:17:23.137-07:00The field season wanes and the pups wean...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy Thanksgiving! Here is your fresh delivery of photos from the Erebus Bay Weddell seal colonies. This season has been a wild one, with excessive storms bringing lots of snow and many delays for our crew in the field. But we have hardy and motivated team members who have tagged 650 pups, heading toward a record of over 700 new pups. Many pups are getting pretty chunky while their moms are getting very lean; the 35-day-old pups are reaching upwards of 260 pounds!! The pups are spending more time in the water, gaining valuable swimming skills that will help them survive when the sea ice melts and breaks up. Each season we try to complete 6 surveys of the seals in the study area. This entails reading the numbered tags of every individual lying on the sea ice and takes two days to complete, given the near-record number of seals in the study population of approximately 1,500 seals.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzneVurg6BCJ-UQA5J8FD2LDYodpyJW8OS69qpe7upWiTa-FFnGBSAwiPdCojGRnKpWwwa50iqAOnf-PJY5QzlqUxN7pIuc3U-G-g1EIgYWIzyhb3MeVLYmnNO8LPWX0LTYhHI-v7f1ARx/s1600/P1170333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzneVurg6BCJ-UQA5J8FD2LDYodpyJW8OS69qpe7upWiTa-FFnGBSAwiPdCojGRnKpWwwa50iqAOnf-PJY5QzlqUxN7pIuc3U-G-g1EIgYWIzyhb3MeVLYmnNO8LPWX0LTYhHI-v7f1ARx/s640/P1170333.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Erebus shrouded in the background with Little Razorback (left black triangle) and part of Big Razorback (right) in the foreground.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnYpTc7IT42VM7nfU1wlxhQxOuC9ahmL2r8SXBrvsIZKU6Q1LQhoVPWAJdEJxXjODGwkrVy7uhiR5okP76mx8Udl-wsAd06nrTc-n-jQHxY6mm1I059xcWo38nJUI0UlctKcW4YY_1T58/s1600/P1170348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnYpTc7IT42VM7nfU1wlxhQxOuC9ahmL2r8SXBrvsIZKU6Q1LQhoVPWAJdEJxXjODGwkrVy7uhiR5okP76mx8Udl-wsAd06nrTc-n-jQHxY6mm1I059xcWo38nJUI0UlctKcW4YY_1T58/s640/P1170348.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduate student Shane Petch, checking in with other crew members and finding himself mesmerized by the view. Strange that a marine mammal should exist on this landscape...!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZJ2suncUEzYvIUSXNi9YvbncdI0oUDyk9J60JLpYHye2GXPYhvtQIVcOeyKuAotB8AzUoM5ZRcTR8oOwebCa-zYIv8hzZRQv2tP1UKjweNs_B4L4QLMZOse5PnW4q8kYzWfCUDOouq75/s1600/P1170035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZJ2suncUEzYvIUSXNi9YvbncdI0oUDyk9J60JLpYHye2GXPYhvtQIVcOeyKuAotB8AzUoM5ZRcTR8oOwebCa-zYIv8hzZRQv2tP1UKjweNs_B4L4QLMZOse5PnW4q8kYzWfCUDOouq75/s640/P1170035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult male blending in at Inaccessible Island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix68m11sUxXuZ5Zusb-TGjElnhLAMpO9QogAl9rOqnUHOSBB873zkxuukNUg942VHgrSm8D8IKO2adEVWGKZgiodahMYFFUxjbafEGpBZlgbsYa8Hpc0rTUewW9MAawvUML6RIo-d8Xhav/s1600/P1170073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix68m11sUxXuZ5Zusb-TGjElnhLAMpO9QogAl9rOqnUHOSBB873zkxuukNUg942VHgrSm8D8IKO2adEVWGKZgiodahMYFFUxjbafEGpBZlgbsYa8Hpc0rTUewW9MAawvUML6RIo-d8Xhav/s640/P1170073.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's a good girl</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS82YqELQFcVzWLgBwaHVUq8Rwh2zMpoevyRjBcueE6hdf2cuuxmy8iVWrN2eVMe9v0gYzFKwU2NPLIYO-Q4sCBwz-cDyI4zQw7UqvdTH7W7AS70v8Tq8k2CMKYlj4jF4a7cl0bqvFp5np/s1600/P1170232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS82YqELQFcVzWLgBwaHVUq8Rwh2zMpoevyRjBcueE6hdf2cuuxmy8iVWrN2eVMe9v0gYzFKwU2NPLIYO-Q4sCBwz-cDyI4zQw7UqvdTH7W7AS70v8Tq8k2CMKYlj4jF4a7cl0bqvFp5np/s640/P1170232.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Turtle Rock colony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2o_5Ibrba8_NF2nTWGUy0SPJl7w0IxBUgh_3OVSEGK4KidFTjcHLpE4IKLfVs3SMGQRvMHHnAs9B1jl97wpw5LWste1DDXAxwBrWWLTdAMQcxF2OlzwGdNc5veza-aKYab3QvJ5EoKoG/s1600/P1170293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2o_5Ibrba8_NF2nTWGUy0SPJl7w0IxBUgh_3OVSEGK4KidFTjcHLpE4IKLfVs3SMGQRvMHHnAs9B1jl97wpw5LWste1DDXAxwBrWWLTdAMQcxF2OlzwGdNc5veza-aKYab3QvJ5EoKoG/s640/P1170293.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal signatures in the fresh snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzlMZHRmg5AqyiRFnrMx-0TVRUDUBl0YQrx3Xi7Ch61nkjFMveCmIfCYNPMnoD1k7BLJoxupQzFWo1tjQITdqoUyVnWpWn2aRbUjNpSZhZpoMqFka0WViQ1Z97niIdotsgICHJv-rN1_O/s1600/P1170537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzlMZHRmg5AqyiRFnrMx-0TVRUDUBl0YQrx3Xi7Ch61nkjFMveCmIfCYNPMnoD1k7BLJoxupQzFWo1tjQITdqoUyVnWpWn2aRbUjNpSZhZpoMqFka0WViQ1Z97niIdotsgICHJv-rN1_O/s640/P1170537.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Big Razorback pup gaining swimming skills.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
All photos acquired under NMFS Permit #21158.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-58948315807518750122017-11-10T12:30:00.000-07:002017-11-10T12:30:38.488-07:00Quick P'updateI have a brief morning in McMurdo (i.e., land of internet) to help satiate your Weddell seal addiction with some photos:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdGLa41Y0lzwLwOk12XMNuGwX62UwlVcfMhL-SZUEWHfcS0wgIoPUOJZzAIlTZVHpdbXqciO7CN2eDNT9Y3hWE9HNHCLqYPxPk6i3Xzt3NYEG4IvLh4G-LhAFHwWuAlYqTdPuqDlDv9S_/s1600/P1160953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdGLa41Y0lzwLwOk12XMNuGwX62UwlVcfMhL-SZUEWHfcS0wgIoPUOJZzAIlTZVHpdbXqciO7CN2eDNT9Y3hWE9HNHCLqYPxPk6i3Xzt3NYEG4IvLh4G-LhAFHwWuAlYqTdPuqDlDv9S_/s640/P1160953.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinobLyBMlltpCpKaTLcl3848HTd6vjrHlxKGVWLVBnWZOFBoLLkJOjEpHSsJms5Yu_FrcMPeqRY5rVKR2vJlj-1_Nz-Iy_LC9lplRvrj6ThQE2rC720qZOPMbzsOiH2gv9x3mFHIRFKng5/s1600/P1160955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinobLyBMlltpCpKaTLcl3848HTd6vjrHlxKGVWLVBnWZOFBoLLkJOjEpHSsJms5Yu_FrcMPeqRY5rVKR2vJlj-1_Nz-Iy_LC9lplRvrj6ThQE2rC720qZOPMbzsOiH2gv9x3mFHIRFKng5/s640/P1160955.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY2qjNST8yqBl3CsdrajNfBsk_2pwDG0SwFRx6OrY2AJXihkWRSccVhHP4gAggORaxDNgBo4HaqZbzCQt0jTZSh5Fh8q19-iIFloU5XqSOtSUSJ2cKUX64-BTOHRoBMcR9afRWFEuYOJp/s1600/P1160907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY2qjNST8yqBl3CsdrajNfBsk_2pwDG0SwFRx6OrY2AJXihkWRSccVhHP4gAggORaxDNgBo4HaqZbzCQt0jTZSh5Fh8q19-iIFloU5XqSOtSUSJ2cKUX64-BTOHRoBMcR9afRWFEuYOJp/s640/P1160907.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL9bNWxLfCpi4uANt2WkWY14qbN5UsrYM9AQH7B2TnMdbS9LCs8OYhedLrnvkeXF4JqUQVJ3HZx85JUnQ2JN8Cs5orhnxoDnv7Rp5wbBDeWBTL6PaMO2oHPVMx2eQrhfJ9GRfjnBPQLrX/s1600/P1160816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL9bNWxLfCpi4uANt2WkWY14qbN5UsrYM9AQH7B2TnMdbS9LCs8OYhedLrnvkeXF4JqUQVJ3HZx85JUnQ2JN8Cs5orhnxoDnv7Rp5wbBDeWBTL6PaMO2oHPVMx2eQrhfJ9GRfjnBPQLrX/s640/P1160816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUspRPBWnL3eTP1jEfhGhs_uR-5seT3v6rQc1R8Fy2h5a0-PCsFUJ3icE1BFNCH3PiJ5lR-tkcRyArFVJp6x_eH2SX8DYK47QOr7KhZPmzsFvW6OowvOY8yfVdoKLSCZranQHUST-wcc5/s1600/P1160763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUspRPBWnL3eTP1jEfhGhs_uR-5seT3v6rQc1R8Fy2h5a0-PCsFUJ3icE1BFNCH3PiJ5lR-tkcRyArFVJp6x_eH2SX8DYK47QOr7KhZPmzsFvW6OowvOY8yfVdoKLSCZranQHUST-wcc5/s640/P1160763.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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All photos acquired under NMFS Permit #21158<span style="color: white; font-family: Vollkorn;"><span style="background-color: #424242;">.</span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-30474130963709233052017-10-31T17:16:00.001-06:002017-11-09T22:23:57.866-07:00Pup Catch-upIt has been quite a whirlwind for our seal team! Upon arrival at McMurdo, the support staff on station, which includes a whole variety of folks (for Antarctic science, it takes a village!), including but not limited to the Crary Laboratory (where the scientists are provided with offices, labs, and lab gear), Field Safety (providing sea ice training, monitoring and flagging of roads on the sea ice, and glacier travel if needed), MacOps (the communication center), and the MEC (providing snowmobiles and pistenbully and associated training), equipped our team in a few short days. This allowed us to quickly mobilize and get out to our field camp at Big Razorback Island, and we were immediately thrust into Weddell seal pupping season!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGe2t_BTTrp_TjvVHatGItOtf0L6fAQWlg6h_Z2bxeDqGReJZ2ymAp8K-cZpgPMD1ReXdUuVPrk-PG4zjggJ39QcA41DhF9J7-CLT5ngX_HsQdppWB5rjvVs-T2W2_gh9esf5B1pg2V0K/s1600/P1160296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGe2t_BTTrp_TjvVHatGItOtf0L6fAQWlg6h_Z2bxeDqGReJZ2ymAp8K-cZpgPMD1ReXdUuVPrk-PG4zjggJ39QcA41DhF9J7-CLT5ngX_HsQdppWB5rjvVs-T2W2_gh9esf5B1pg2V0K/s640/P1160296.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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View from the back of the Pistenbully, crew members Thomas and Shane following behind.</div>
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Big Razorback Camp - home sweet home. 5 total huts: kitchen, gear, men's, womens, and the Center of Excellence (aka, the outhouse). We are powered by solar panels and heated by propane.</div>
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One of the project's biggest priorities is to tag every new pup in the study area. With a few low visibility weather days thrown in the mix, preventing us from getting out to the pupping colonies, we've had some big days out on the ice when the weather clears. However, an even bigger priority is safety on the ice, which means first creating "roads" to the pupping colonies. We drill holes into the sea ice and plant bamboo flags every 100m. These are our safety lines if weather goes bad, and can be our only means of navigating back to station or field camp.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ_tAfUNr4gWQikd-6DuluH1EhguDUM_OKV6tllqqc9-R8OnqSjHDrgyEn8N1pTqaWDq7nwa6LdQNueMs1JNwEutET2kzZVIinIKbKf_lyxuX1nB5dCTXoai6XdBMLwchMnAuKGjSigXw/s1600/P1160337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJ_tAfUNr4gWQikd-6DuluH1EhguDUM_OKV6tllqqc9-R8OnqSjHDrgyEn8N1pTqaWDq7nwa6LdQNueMs1JNwEutET2kzZVIinIKbKf_lyxuX1nB5dCTXoai6XdBMLwchMnAuKGjSigXw/s640/P1160337.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pulling a 100 m rope behind a snowmobile, we are able to measure out distance between bamboo flags. Making straight roads is an art! Hutton Cliffs pupping colony is in the background.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jPwxA7NIBvZ6okI-snPTM50ciV8DVUx75fdPbFAOfpm_VAFDhI4DXHZLWaI52jNAyqDMJBbQHrEdHMOtob7wvFQdbI986j7h38s0wz364t1vlc1KRSq8wsJ8K_flT_hyzkrqe0xPDCfr/s1600/P1160324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jPwxA7NIBvZ6okI-snPTM50ciV8DVUx75fdPbFAOfpm_VAFDhI4DXHZLWaI52jNAyqDMJBbQHrEdHMOtob7wvFQdbI986j7h38s0wz364t1vlc1KRSq8wsJ8K_flT_hyzkrqe0xPDCfr/s640/P1160324.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Alissa may look cold, but she's actually overheated from drilling! Note the flag line in the background. The Delbridge Islands - Big Razorback blurred with Tent Island - are on the right side of the photo, the Royal Society Range in the background.</div>
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Kaitlin in a losing battle ;)</div>
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Several storms have dropped an unusually (from my past experiences) large amount of snow that is blowing and drifting. These are the yellow steps into the men's hut and the kitchen hut with the yellow door is in the background. An extra generator is in the red box in case we need it.</div>
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The pupping is going gang-busters this season and we are all looking forward to seeing the final tally. Our team of 8 are on the ice every day (weather permitting) working long, exhausting hours trying to keep up with the pupping. We need to know when pups are being born and who is giving birth to whom.</div>
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The team, attired in our "Little Reds", getting trained by Kaitlin. This is the "thumbs up" south side of Big Razorback Island where many seals haul out onto the ice. The tidal crack along the island allows them access to the airy world.</div>
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Setting out to check seal tags along Big Razorback Island, looking to the north. Some seals are visible, having hauled out along the edge of the island.</div>
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Emperor penguins have made a big showing this year with the sea ice edge so close to the study area. They are, as their name suggests, quite regal in their behavior. This is a male Weddell seal in the background, just chillin' like Weddells do. Our field camp is at the far left, Little Razorback Island is center, Big Razorback is far right, and the active and steaming volcano, Mt. Erebus, is in the background.</div>
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How many seal scientists does it take to enter data into a field computer, stay organized, and prepare pup tags? Here's your answer! Just kidding, still in training here!</div>
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Strolling back to the snowmobiles after checking for pups. This is the view looking south from Turtle Rock, another pupping colony. Red-flagged poles are our probes which we use to determine safe places to walk when near the cracks that the seals love, oh, so much.</div>
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The reason for the season. A "freshie". Mom will wean the pup in 35 days after transferring her well-earned mass to the pup. More on that to come!<br />
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All photos acquired under NMFS Permit #21158.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-82435480674881477472017-10-14T02:43:00.000-06:002017-10-14T02:48:54.481-06:00Deployment to the 77th Parallel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday morning, we finally did <i><b>not </b></i>hear that wretched hotel room phone ring at 4:45 AM informing of us of yet another 24 hour delay. We were to fly south! We excitedly assembled at the Clothing Distribution Center to do our last bit of packing, ensure we had enough stuff if we "boomerang" (e.g., be forced to turn around mid-flight and return to Christchurch due to poor conditions on the ice. Once our checked bags are loaded, they do not return them to us if we boomerang, so we only have our carry-on), check and weigh our bags (max 85 pounds total), and board the C17 that would wing us to the ice. </div>
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Because of the multiple delays, the number of passengers aboard our fight multiplied, as there were supposed to be several flights over the past few days. This is part of the main body deployment when they move lots of support staff and scientists down for the summer season. </div>
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The lack of windows for the 4+ hour flight makes peering through one of the few peep holes extremely exciting, particularly when the vast ice and topography of the Antarctic comes into view. We basically flew straight south from the 43rd parallel in Christchurch to the 77th parallel in McMurdo.</div>
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A successful landing on a beautiful day (very little wind, about 10 F). The C17 lands on its wheels on the ice shelf, which is very thick (probably several hundred meters...I don't know the figure, but its real thick) glacial ice (frozen fresh water) floating atop sea ice (frozen salt water). Somehow, ice shelf seems to work really well to land on.<br />
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We then load up on buses (we got to ride the infamous Ivan, below) and drive about 30-45 minutes to Ross Island where McMurdo is nestled.</div>
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We are now settling into McMurdo life, but we can't get too comfortable because we'll be heading out to our sea ice camp soon. But not until we've completed all our training. Because the Weddell seals haul out on the sea ice to give birth, we completed sea ice training today to prepare us for our extensive traveling on the frozen ocean throughout the season. The course was designed to help us assess the risks and dangers out on the ice, such as evaluating the width and depth of cracks to make a "go or no go" decision on whether it is safe to cross the crack on foot or by vehicle (unfortunately, no pics!).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-48403903658634456672017-10-12T02:34:00.002-06:002017-10-13T20:56:19.939-06:00A Delay Day Trek to Godley HeadThe storm in McMurdo rages on. This is delay day #4! It will make the arrival that much sweeter. Luckily, the crew on the ice is getting things done. Even in the weather, our <a href="http://www.aspiringecologist.com/2012/10/colonizing-big-razorback.html" target="_blank">camp</a> was pulled about 13 miles from McMurdo across the sea ice to Big Razorback Island using heavy equipment (the ice is that thick!). Safe routes have been flagged (by placing bamboo poles every 20 m or so) throughout the study area, some acting as main "highways" for science teams, others leading to specific places, like Turtle Rock where seals like to haul out on the ice. Hazards, like cracks, are flagged so they are easily seen. There is still more flagging to be done, camp needs to be organized, and the second half of the team (that's the three of us stuck in Christchurch) needs to arrive! Instead, we are making the most of our time in Christchurch. Today, we trekked out to Godley Head Park, where remnants from World War II turret pads and embattlements remain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful area and well worth the miles of hiking</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alissa looking for penguins (none were seen)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World War II turret protecting Lyttleton Harbor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back toward Christchurch (in the far distance)</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-40922117974539047852017-10-12T01:53:00.001-06:002018-01-24T14:23:33.695-07:00A Weddell seal orchestra<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG9r-E2dpeZb8-wXPgGWUROOH_odFTT9bxpTVxwQ1uzMw5UZOghUnIe-8Qn5V4amNnJv8PILUXtMgbrYN3WrVcbzOmjamMcLMoGp0c2Yujq9jyfHcigFdLwdxh3NHs0CgT7Ds6ffk3bIb/s1600/PB061160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG9r-E2dpeZb8-wXPgGWUROOH_odFTT9bxpTVxwQ1uzMw5UZOghUnIe-8Qn5V4amNnJv8PILUXtMgbrYN3WrVcbzOmjamMcLMoGp0c2Yujq9jyfHcigFdLwdxh3NHs0CgT7Ds6ffk3bIb/s640/PB061160.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seals, ice, and a tidal crack. Photo from 2012.</td></tr>
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Have you ever wondered what a Weddell seal sounds like?? Get ready to be astounded! Here is your meditation opportunity for the day: take 3 minutes from your busy day, close your eyes, imagine you are in a land of cold and ice, now, drop down below the ice into the water, and press play:</div>
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<iframe class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i9.ytimg.com/vi/o3XqSLxt76s/default.jpg?sqp=COTP584F&rs=AOn4CLCXHX5W1tKj1nj3Ck9ZFp_NQ4zffA" frameborder="0" height="100" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o3XqSLxt76s?feature=player_embedded" width="361"></iframe></div>
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<b>Recordings obtained under NMFS permit 1032-1917</b></div>
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This is a collection of coalesced recordings from 2010. While they don't necessarily represent what one might hear in a 3 min span under the water (it can get pretty noisy under there though!), they do give you an idea of the diversity of sounds made by the seals.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-71401571749886390942017-10-10T02:29:00.000-06:002017-10-10T02:30:56.957-06:00Delay Day DosThe Antarctic is in charge! Conditions were not up to snuff on the runway, yet again. I do hope I get to post about the ice soon. With a 24 hour delay in our back pocket, we headed to the coastal town of Sumner to walk the beaches, search for critters in the tide pools, and PID (positively identify) birds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyOibdxSKisqdJj0TqipmAKVdLfy_vmaAlqyP3YUBRiha8Jjfp7tmfY7pPwGLlr-bR8-4-LMBG8OQzapnRCa-F3Xu3GGeCsyacm1aQCp1AmkgCnnYpfnuyfgjQDWjCNPPnc9qRMbG6sTB/s1600/GOPR0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyOibdxSKisqdJj0TqipmAKVdLfy_vmaAlqyP3YUBRiha8Jjfp7tmfY7pPwGLlr-bR8-4-LMBG8OQzapnRCa-F3Xu3GGeCsyacm1aQCp1AmkgCnnYpfnuyfgjQDWjCNPPnc9qRMbG6sTB/s640/GOPR0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIiLFhqOq1jd-ZvQ8E0UTmr_Iia06evJOeS3G5U5z5aqkqKnoaDnN-4dIzaEcyxVYwqUdfPR5cPstlV-cLhZPpPkwjZq2V2j6jB_o8yKAOZsOUSBil35V89LCnr3QXut7ML1by5vNuZ1r/s1600/GOPR0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIiLFhqOq1jd-ZvQ8E0UTmr_Iia06evJOeS3G5U5z5aqkqKnoaDnN-4dIzaEcyxVYwqUdfPR5cPstlV-cLhZPpPkwjZq2V2j6jB_o8yKAOZsOUSBil35V89LCnr3QXut7ML1by5vNuZ1r/s640/GOPR0009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scientists (seal physiologists, seal ecologists, glaciologists) walk the beach. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-billed gull nesting colony</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9ZBLEIUQ_bStTXIKuAFHBYd_mVDtoDhgZBI0qeROEbTunr4J6D3a1gHV5ispGwm0iQaKhngo_P1MgQK07w2HZrLgzzmGgsFvkPZ9F_4UsoNfubCLnwuMnAQh-Rt38tIdAtlwJv_W0c61/s1600/GOPR0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9ZBLEIUQ_bStTXIKuAFHBYd_mVDtoDhgZBI0qeROEbTunr4J6D3a1gHV5ispGwm0iQaKhngo_P1MgQK07w2HZrLgzzmGgsFvkPZ9F_4UsoNfubCLnwuMnAQh-Rt38tIdAtlwJv_W0c61/s640/GOPR0011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-billed gull overlooking Sumner beach. The gull nesting colony is just below in the cliffs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4hyphenhyphen_HXuqK4wlK01xC_iqFTUDLhd_5p7JMMzROw-mhYlLC-0Cs1zTy2LlFY8RvY9JPQt5FVLayjJtmhlnvssEBBKBR3K76uyuyxq-O6PrXeNPMME0MCkQP686iojzn6ts6W9DRUv63ciU/s1600/GOPR0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4hyphenhyphen_HXuqK4wlK01xC_iqFTUDLhd_5p7JMMzROw-mhYlLC-0Cs1zTy2LlFY8RvY9JPQt5FVLayjJtmhlnvssEBBKBR3K76uyuyxq-O6PrXeNPMME0MCkQP686iojzn6ts6W9DRUv63ciU/s640/GOPR0014.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The red-billed gulls find delight in bathing in the clean water of the children's pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn8OV1GPVtMGoyzTcwTwhPBtsWmUTOVjzs87FcUQtIJTG8DFHC0gBWpXzpgZcJElgdMznhO_xnlxmCiarjNbOawCezaFct8YPj_1dforjBHJiOWfoYeg7Gtl0mu389gVD4L4as17uellb/s1600/GOPR0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn8OV1GPVtMGoyzTcwTwhPBtsWmUTOVjzs87FcUQtIJTG8DFHC0gBWpXzpgZcJElgdMznhO_xnlxmCiarjNbOawCezaFct8YPj_1dforjBHJiOWfoYeg7Gtl0mu389gVD4L4as17uellb/s640/GOPR0016.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alissa with a commanding view of Sumner</td></tr>
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The report from the ice is that sea ice conditions are improving, meaning that cracks (these are formed from opposing forces from glaciers pushing out to sea or from tidal action) are healing (freezing or becoming smaller) and ice is thickening. Our on-the-ice seal crew has been driving a piston bully (no snowmobile travel allowed yet) to lay roads, which entails drilling holes in the ice and placing bamboo flags every 20 meters or so. This allows the team to travel safely, flag to flag, knowing where all the cracks are and able to navigate under poor visibility conditions.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-31814170136919813162017-10-09T01:28:00.002-06:002017-10-09T01:32:45.352-06:00Diamond Harbour Delay DayA 9PM phone call last night from the US Antarctic Program informed us that we had a 24 hour delay on our deployment to the ice. I have not verified the reason, but rumors were that a previous storm laid more snow than could be cleared off the ice runway in time for the arrival of our <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/lc130.jsp" target="_blank">LC-130</a>. So, with my adventurous co-workers Alissa and Aubrey, we set out to explore more of the Christchurch area, in the rain of course. To Diamond Harbour it was - a highly under-visited and highly rated (by us) place to visit! An easy bus ride to the port town of Lyttleton, and a cheap ferry ride across the bay. If you go, plan to walk the tracks along the coast and eat at the Preserved Cook School & Eatery (weird name, excellent food).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-QAaiBGS_7JIrdCTLmcEXGbKiLq9l2jJYIDX7bJuktUG80E-pi8BSkLd7quhM0MDSiBq_Qe4mTxg2omF-pRHw7_tXsKyC8Fzzqcbb_AT2jwf3e_7B8AK_RszNkc-bAcwSnPS1-FcAAP/s1600/GOPR0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-QAaiBGS_7JIrdCTLmcEXGbKiLq9l2jJYIDX7bJuktUG80E-pi8BSkLd7quhM0MDSiBq_Qe4mTxg2omF-pRHw7_tXsKyC8Fzzqcbb_AT2jwf3e_7B8AK_RszNkc-bAcwSnPS1-FcAAP/s640/GOPR0032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port town of Lyttleton on Banks Peninsula, serving the Christchurch and Canterbury area. Looked like massive forest product exports.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyttleton port operations</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmH6dCx0u5C21eflk4oRxU5mdepKdUpGF_lSyibCEl0ynpKu_xlhpwqfnGII1ePd5mmiLjwh9Wtp34lCwt9ErsAfHBq2BmjwomLBWVmP_pw-BVmByayyNP4G3wPNwrLfq98JxFI8qvc_tz/s1600/P1160284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmH6dCx0u5C21eflk4oRxU5mdepKdUpGF_lSyibCEl0ynpKu_xlhpwqfnGII1ePd5mmiLjwh9Wtp34lCwt9ErsAfHBq2BmjwomLBWVmP_pw-BVmByayyNP4G3wPNwrLfq98JxFI8qvc_tz/s640/P1160284.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, looking back at Lyttleton from Diamond Harbour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring time flowers!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking tracks go out from Diamond Harbour along the coastline, providing excellent vistas and exotic vegetation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piling back on to the ferry for return to Lyttleton. </td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-90750700384757293072017-10-07T03:16:00.001-06:002017-10-07T03:41:07.216-06:00[re]Packing & Aotearoa Arrival<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Some think it's crazy that we'd look forward to going to a place that looks like this out your front window: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The view from a McMurdo window (that's a railing in the foreground) out onto the sea ice during a Condition 2 (almost the worst rating) storm taken by Weddell seal project graduate student Kaitlin Macdonald just 4 days ago.</td></tr>
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But, that is undeniably the case. We are stoked! Two days ago, the second half of the Weddell seal team departed from the continental US (Alissa and Aubrey from Montana and myself from Idaho) and flew about 18 hours to Christchurch, New Zealand (Aotearoa). Here's a very quick vid of my last minute preparation (toying with the new GoPro), which included a complete repack of already packed bags (just to be sure I had everything!). Yes, that is my mother, whom I am always grateful for in her assistance and advice provision.</div>
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In Christchurch, we were greeted with the greenness and freshness of spring time. Flowers blooming everywhere, birds singing and courting, and rain! But it did not stop us from venturing to the Botanical Gardens and Cathedral Square (still recovering from the 2011 earthquakes):</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The New Zealand native plants garden in the Botanical Gardens</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Myself, Alissa, and Aubrey enjoying the rain and the Botanical Gardens</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cathedral Square recovering from the earthquake</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Many art projects have sprung up all over downtown, serving to enliven and bring hope for full recovery</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I stood within the cathedral prior to the earthquakes and my previous escapades to the Antarctic. It is disheartening to see it as such.</span></td></tr>
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And I'll leave you with a New Zealand fantail...definitely one of my faves:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-88512882051589978782017-09-14T22:18:00.002-06:002017-09-18T21:47:43.168-06:00Peering to our icy futureI've spent the past week getting prepped for my next little gig...a return to the Antarctic! I'm pretty ecstatic to be returning for my 4th round. One can never go enough times, particularly to study these cute little guys:<br />
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Tearing apart my dufflebag of winter gear stuffed in the deep recesses of the closet (oh, that delightful smell of old polypro and fusty gloves!), waterproofing and treating my 8-year-old pack boots to fend off the salty ice and water, prepping a "town" bag and a "camp" bag (nice to have duplicated toiletries, towel, shoes, etc. so one does not have to pack for town, then pack for camp, then pack for town throughout the season), asking myself, "should I bring my crocs?" (and then remembering that someone once told me that if I ask that question, the answer is always yes), finding out that I do NOT have enough socks for the season, contemplating what clothing items I am OK with ultimately smelling like a seal (I cannot come up with the words to describe the smell...ask me upon my return!).<br />
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Half of our crew will be departing on Monday and are probably right now frantically considering all these things and many others left un-thought for the past week. I will be leaving in a second wave on Oct 5. For those unfamiliar, our route to the ice takes us to the opposite side of the globe....to Christchurch, NZ, where we will get equipped and ready to depart straight south to <a href="https://youtu.be/2YKgnfYxMHY" target="_blank">McMurdo</a>, the largest research base in Antarctica.<br />
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Our project? The <a href="http://www.weddellsealscience.com/" target="_blank">Erebus Bay Weddell Seal Project</a>. You will see and hear more as the season progresses. They're celebrating their 49th year!! Incredible.<br />
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Amidst the packing, I decided to take a look at aerial imagery to see the furthest extent the ice broke away at the end of the last Antarctic summer (April 2017) and how much ice there will be when we arrive, now that winter is about to subside (Sept 2017):<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">April 5, 2017 - the furthest extent of ice breakout from last summer. The grey outlined feature is Ross Island, and McMurdo is located at the very tip of the long northern arm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PV3zFQikAoCzV-Q6HZ3uniKconUahpg-P9lWmTp71Odp9bpe59LywbpnG2CBYE3PLhBoAi4DEQ2HkhalEiO4V1TPBETE9haKKWa7OfSyVpyznzR5JqY9MDsHnOGoJcokmVvljAIv12J3/s1600/2017SEP13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PV3zFQikAoCzV-Q6HZ3uniKconUahpg-P9lWmTp71Odp9bpe59LywbpnG2CBYE3PLhBoAi4DEQ2HkhalEiO4V1TPBETE9haKKWa7OfSyVpyznzR5JqY9MDsHnOGoJcokmVvljAIv12J3/s1600/2017SEP13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sept 13, 2017 - the current extent of ice breakout. The sharply peaked shadow belongs to Mount Erebus, an active volcano. Our study area is essentially located in the shadow, where the island meets the sea ice. This is where tidal cracks form, and the Erebus seal population hauls out on the ice, mostly to give birth and to breed.</span></td></tr>
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So what do these images tell me? The first image tells me that there will be quite a lot of "first-year" ice...which typically means very flat and smooth snowmobile riding, as "multi-year" ice bends, rifts, breaks, buckles, and rots, much like mountain ranges. Which can result in slow snowmobiling trying to route around these features. But, one never knows how much sastrugi will form (wind drift snow banks beautifully carved and hollowed out), which can be hard as rock.<br />
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The second image tells me that we are likely to have a fairly productive pupping year. Years where the sea ice edge is further away tend to yield fewer returning seals (but they usually come back another year!). It also means that the chance of seeing Adelie and Emperor penguins is very good!!<br />
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And just to show the annual variation that occurs, here's 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, all from the SEPTEMBER each year:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRaLflyI9EUtU_SU98S4TvsHOOLUGL9aJBmoDbCndYD5lQwVzc2_CjngJA5SE-v1kVaTwzNJ7sUuudUlbD61def2yptuLZDL1zLlUQTwDyacbxwINI9LG0N1n-BE5OsVfGH8tRL82hWAU/s1600/2015SEP21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwRaLflyI9EUtU_SU98S4TvsHOOLUGL9aJBmoDbCndYD5lQwVzc2_CjngJA5SE-v1kVaTwzNJ7sUuudUlbD61def2yptuLZDL1zLlUQTwDyacbxwINI9LG0N1n-BE5OsVfGH8tRL82hWAU/s1600/2015SEP21.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPeRLmF2LiUMgkYFCWcC5IkCAch0cInjD3p4eSsbA7s2hZhZ2z9KPXN7YQrEvhlvRjwCXDPf5r1vLUqznHAf6DtS4AtXFWSKAth4qaWu-HPJ2HFeTcDcBtpYt-H8WTRXAJf7eaivQYyPB/s1600/2016SEP13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPeRLmF2LiUMgkYFCWcC5IkCAch0cInjD3p4eSsbA7s2hZhZ2z9KPXN7YQrEvhlvRjwCXDPf5r1vLUqznHAf6DtS4AtXFWSKAth4qaWu-HPJ2HFeTcDcBtpYt-H8WTRXAJf7eaivQYyPB/s1600/2016SEP13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnd5j58-JiNARipKO8HctXU5RIlLnje8Y_dTG244E9_DNVQUEpSE3w9eF6gwBQvJxZp4SuqrJ9AZFW0lw8fS6FTgokGAy40P6h5AzpC__TxJMnwTfpDaOva2Hske5fGz5iOh33wyuOGtt/s1600/2017SEP13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnd5j58-JiNARipKO8HctXU5RIlLnje8Y_dTG244E9_DNVQUEpSE3w9eF6gwBQvJxZp4SuqrJ9AZFW0lw8fS6FTgokGAy40P6h5AzpC__TxJMnwTfpDaOva2Hske5fGz5iOh33wyuOGtt/s1600/2017SEP13.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2017</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-11688805603482021052017-06-22T22:38:00.001-06:002017-06-22T22:44:36.628-06:00The Cry Baby CollectiveI couldn't help myself with this one. It's been over 6 years since I posted Cry Baby Learns to Swim on YouTube, and it has since garnered over 1.2 million views and counting. Cry Baby was even featured on Discover Channel Canada at one point. My pride and joy! While it's awesome that so many people have really enjoyed that little pup (some find entertainment in the Russian translation of one of Cry Baby's blabberings...I'll let you search the video comments if you want to find out), I have fun discovering the remixed versions of Cry Baby that take the pup to whole new levels. And I've decided to share them all in one place....just for fun...Cry Baby's Hall of Fame. Let me know if you find more versions and I'll post them!<br />
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First, of course, the original:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-68269981574605491872017-06-07T22:23:00.000-06:002017-06-09T08:26:41.187-06:00Capturing CalvesIt's spring time! For us Montanans, it means a respite from the winter months, pleasantly warm days enticing us to play outside, and brilliant greening and flowering of vegetation that helps fill the soul after the excitement of snow and white wears off. It's a rejuvenating season for most. But for our Rocky Mountain elk, the spring season ushers in more than just a feel-good time. Over the past few weeks, pregnant female elk (cows) have been separating themselves from the herd, seeking secretive spots to give birth to the next generation. This could be in dense vegetation with no visibility such as that provided by willows in riparian corridors, in the new regrowth and difficult to traverse deadfall of previously burned areas, or anywhere that will conceal a newborn calf that struggles to stand or walk in its first day of life. The newborn calf, about the same weight of a mid-sized dog, needs a couple of days to gain strength and learn how to walk. After these episodes of standing, walking, and nursing, the calf must lie quiet and motionless to avoid predators, including but not limited to bears, coyotes, foxes, mountain lions, and wolves.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXMynGMAWxahntpRJWMGH7fr6r4Lk-8GBRmzhK1UctePhlerdPy6vYWJGDPDaXg8-3yr-lVomEUIm_lNxVknk4JUD6_hmb7wdnRgN01G9hFJRmBgGjZsMUD9UQfoTGT0X2_m6_opq_-09/s1600/P1150487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXMynGMAWxahntpRJWMGH7fr6r4Lk-8GBRmzhK1UctePhlerdPy6vYWJGDPDaXg8-3yr-lVomEUIm_lNxVknk4JUD6_hmb7wdnRgN01G9hFJRmBgGjZsMUD9UQfoTGT0X2_m6_opq_-09/s640/P1150487.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>If I don't move and don't make a sound, you can't find me!!</i></td></tr>
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Calf survival plays an important role in future population growth or decline. And that's exactly why researchers from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana State University have been leading a calf-capture operation each spring. Without capturing, radio-tagging, and monitoring calves (they'll be monitored for the next year or more of life), it is next to impossible for biologists to understand calf survival and what factors might be causing mortalities. Furthermore, it enhances our understanding of how the <a href="http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2014/BitterrootElkResults.htm#.WTi-8uvyttQ" target="_blank">entire population operates</a>, as well as how <a href="http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/researchers-return-to-bitterroot-to-monitor-elk-calves/article_42d4f8f8-8dc8-5ba0-ae1d-003d39e542e6.html" target="_blank">changes in predator management impact elk</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUFTHsb1j6PiC6RCVSmR27E7h-ghnU7II0bvBSH-NGZownuJSdYX3F3NHyubbMHB7YMPdThsJIZFlW6x2KkUDn2SXR1hxCd7noNABiGJG-_anyld0rp7bVjnBp9ObdVa0_-vHh6s4Nkja/s1600/P1150477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUFTHsb1j6PiC6RCVSmR27E7h-ghnU7II0bvBSH-NGZownuJSdYX3F3NHyubbMHB7YMPdThsJIZFlW6x2KkUDn2SXR1hxCd7noNABiGJG-_anyld0rp7bVjnBp9ObdVa0_-vHh6s4Nkja/s640/P1150477.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The ear tag is part of a small VHF transmitter (hidden on the other side of the ear) so researchers can continue monitoring the calf as it gets older.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Scanning for suspicious cows and hidden calves. Photo credit: Teagan Hayes.</i></td></tr>
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It's an ungulate sting operation of sorts. Scan for "suspicious" lone cows. Sneak into the area. Grid-search the area until you find the calf and pounce on it before it attempts to get away. If you're lucky, it's a day-old calf and an easy snatch. If you're not lucky, it's 5 days old with legs like a gazelle and leaves you empty handed. It doesn't take many days for them to gain strength and be able to outmaneuver and leave a human in the dust. Calf <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1</span>, researcher <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">0</span>. Can you imagine having a baby, and five days later its faster than Usain Bolt?? Respect.<br />
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Even with that speed, they do have a rough go in the first few weeks of life "for the night is dark and full of terrors." While many predators know its calving time, not all mortalities are due to predators. Some just don't make it. Bad weather, poor condition, disease, and other environmental factors can come into play. Mortality can be as high as 30% during this time. And thanks to research such as this, we can gain a more informed grasp on calf survival that can help us make better management decisions for elk and predators.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguekBgq9A_w2Q5gDKlwPF-LDhyulN9JEiHcErCW_s9df-2ujmbia3p6fN6lEIRnIjEyfUmVqmYBIWTqkMVpFdieil3PkJ_3BQ29eWAo0XfiVqh2M8YCoVHEiDmOIiceJzHyo0IN9BzsRsB/s1600/P1150444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguekBgq9A_w2Q5gDKlwPF-LDhyulN9JEiHcErCW_s9df-2ujmbia3p6fN6lEIRnIjEyfUmVqmYBIWTqkMVpFdieil3PkJ_3BQ29eWAo0XfiVqh2M8YCoVHEiDmOIiceJzHyo0IN9BzsRsB/s640/P1150444.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>40 pounder. Here with MPG Ranch biologist and former Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist, Craig Jourdonnais.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQscsbkJa672gcMT2mLyr_HGnxnMmOnTbbwzE8b-V3jPNOtMvqMYkC8rlrXzKDyI8pZvGSBzBtIHmtZzzom4GPy1M_QJm4i0IadNbzqmpG7gVgYPxE2a-yr1CVc3NFCUxrScql7cDHaMHW/s1600/P1150459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQscsbkJa672gcMT2mLyr_HGnxnMmOnTbbwzE8b-V3jPNOtMvqMYkC8rlrXzKDyI8pZvGSBzBtIHmtZzzom4GPy1M_QJm4i0IadNbzqmpG7gVgYPxE2a-yr1CVc3NFCUxrScql7cDHaMHW/s640/P1150459.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hobbles on the legs prevent escape as well as injury, and the blindfold helps to keep the calf at ease.</i></td></tr>
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Much thanks to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana State University crew for providing the opportunity to be a part of this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpR07l0pZ_Fo74J_D5GJH62rZZaeB6osftWryIdh-A1VhnzGUbKTi6d63IJXU6lYd9oyRcDCMfAtPJrsaaTafeMVCJ5AnCDOewnxRhhsxL_1dXiZOLyBCW8ezqBZZ1ZBs8-lW7XpC8keW/s1600/P1150444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0Ravalli County, MT, USA45.824971457966072 -113.977661132812545.470534957966073 -114.6231081328125 46.17940795796607 -113.3322141328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-49667970882181275422015-06-19T13:03:00.001-06:002015-06-19T13:03:26.811-06:00The Lionesses of Lafupa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Lafupa Pride - here showing two of the three females we witnessed stalking a mixed herd of zebra and hartebeast. The lady in the back is likely pregnant, and didn't take part in the hunting activities, choosing to stay in the nice shade instead! This hunt was unsuccessful.<br />
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The lions are nearly invisible out here, with their coloration as well as their behavior. They can be bedded down in the grass, taking a siesta...and you can drive right up to them without a response. So if you decide you need to stop and take a pee, and you didn't detect them, you may regret it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-11261485102100957402015-05-16T18:05:00.000-06:002015-05-16T18:05:00.906-06:00The Packing Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The challenge: pack almost 50 VHF collars in checked luggage along with all our personal items, staying under the required weight (50 lbs), and not getting arrested because we appear to be smuggling expensive items into the country to be sold! The line of collars in the far back are for wild dog and cheetah, the middle row collars for lions and hyenas, the front collars for wildebeest.</div>
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Many already know, but for those who don't, I successfully completed my Master's degree at Montana State University (what a relief!), and have accepted a position with the <a href="http://zambiacarnivores.org/" target="_blank">Zambian Carnivore Programme</a>, where I'll be stationed in Kafue National Park studying most of the animals that are capable of eating me. I'm leaving May 19th, and will be in Zambia for approximately 7 months, returning in December-ish (with a quick return in Aug for my roommates', Aaron and Amber's, wedding!).</div>
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Stay tuned for more....</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-46572258035040402132015-02-09T16:15:00.004-07:002015-02-09T16:15:55.087-07:00Defended<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The reason for the two year silence (wow, I can't believe its been over two years since I've posted on here last!):</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tddzZPCnw5M/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tddzZPCnw5M?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-72164670030998209222012-12-09T22:24:00.000-07:002012-12-11T13:27:04.407-07:00A Friendly Penguin Wave (Goodbye?!)The 2012 Weddell seal science season for our crew is just about wrapped up, sadly enough. Our camp has been pulled off the ice, and we've been busy scurrying around, returning equipment and gear, cleaning and washing everything. We leave in 7 days! Aaack!<br />
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It has been an incredible season with a lot of valuable data collected by a solid crew. There are literally hundreds of people to thank for making this project a success...a substantial proportion of them working as support staff here on station. Nothing would be possible without their wonderful and friendly support. And I certainly can't forget to thank YOU (if you are a tax-paying American citizen). Because this project is completely funded by the National Science Foundation, YOU are paying for it.<br />
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This may be my last season here on the ice, and so I hope you have enjoyed some of my attempts to capture not only the project, but also the incredible scenery and majesty of this place. I may have a few more posts left in me, and then I predict Aspiring Ecologist to go silent for an indeterminate period.<br />
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A big, final THANK YOU to all my blog followers! I received so much encouraging feedback, which helped me to keep at it, and I'm stoked there is so much interest in the Antarctic and the seals. <br />
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To the elementary classrooms that have been following along, THANK YOU too! Keep admiring the world around you...even in your own backyard, there are incredible examples of how diverse, complex, and beautiful the natural world is. And nothing is better to lift the spirits than to waddle around like a penguin for a bit. Or even a seal if you can manage it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adios Amigos!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-678619863886015737.post-77525308524148706762012-12-08T03:24:00.001-07:002012-12-08T03:24:38.752-07:00The Pack Ice is In<div style="text-align: center;">
The sea ice edge transformed by fast flowing pack ice and peculiar penguins:</div>
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Darren, over at Nature and Noise, has a great photo of some <a href="http://www.natureandnoise.com/2012/12/friday-night-lights.html" target="_blank">ice caves in the Erebus Glacier Tongue</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040524233223926425noreply@blogger.com0