Day In The Life…

Of a avian field biologist.  I’ve done this a few times before from my jobs in Florida and Texas, so I thought I’d give you a California version!

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4.30am: Honey jumps at the slightest movement of my toes under the blanket.  Dangit, means it’s time to get up.

4.35am: I’m still laying in bed.  I smell cat breath.

4.40am: What? It’s 55 degrees in my apartment!  Heat.On.Now!

4.45-5.30: Make lunch.  Make breakfast.  Feed cat.  Put in eyeballs (aka contacts). Layer up with every piece of clothing I own.  Drink tea.

5.45:  Out the door.  Time to start the day.

6.30: Field time…sun in coming up finally.  It’s still in the 40’s.  Ouch.

Sunrise: First point of the day!  And time for breakfast!  Thank goodness I’m a multi-tasker and can hold my binoculars with one hand while eating pb apple oats off a spoon in the other.  Oh yeah, I’m that good.

7.00: Scan scan and scan the sky and ground some more.  Write down every bird for a certain distance.

7.05: Do you see anything?  It’s ok, neither do I.

7.10: Scan the sky above my head.

7.12: Anything?

7.16: Is it time to go yet?

1/2 hr after arrival: NEXT POINT!

Drive time:

8ish: Stare at the sky.  Find nothing.

8:15: Disappointment.

8:16: WAIT!!!   We have birds!!!

1/2 hour later: Next point! With a new view.

8ish: Stare at the sky some more…

Few minutes later:

I have to go there next?  That drive is so sketchy.

9ish: Next point!  I made it up the crazy scary hill!

9ish: Stare at the sky again.  for a 1/2 hour.

Late 9ish: Next point! (I forgot a picture.  But it’s more staring at the sky.  No birds)  Of course there are always the things you run into…or try not to run over.

Can you see it…look really close!

Baby tarantula!!!!

10ish: Last point for this project!  New view…

Right along the highway.  Mmmm…exhaust.

And since it’s been like 5 hours, it’s time for lunch…at 10.45.  I don’t go by clocks, I go by my belly, and it says eat woman!

Of course that’s as soon as I get feeling back in my fingers…it’s a tad bit chilly out there.  Purple skin to the max.

11ish: Time for a long drive to another point for another project…I do a lot of driving and sitting in the car.  Thank goodness I was graced with satellite radio in this car.  Or I would die.

12:15: Last destination, new view…and no birds.

It sure as heck is colder though.  And windier.  Time to layer up.

1ish: Bumpy ride back to civilization ensues…I have grapes to keep me conscious.  Because you know at this point I’m falling asleep.

2ish: Return home to a warm apartment…my crazy cat:

And some delicious food, like homemade banana bread with pb slathered on.  I bring a limited amount of food into the field so I don’t eat out of boredom when it’s really slow.  Don’t worry, I always have emergency bars available, but only when I feel like I’m going to die.

And there you have it.  That’s is basically what a typical day is for me.  Rising early for hours of driving, standing outside and counting birds and recording their behaviors.  It’s nice to get done at such an early hour, especially with the light going down so much soon, but it just leads to me wanting to go and take a nap, or snacking because I’m sleeping but don’t want to sleep.  Like today; chocolate covered edamame anyone?

Let’s just say the afternoon didn’t go as well as the morning and early noon hours because I was exhausted, but in the end, I did Jillian Michael's NMTZ.  Ouchie ouch ouch!

Guilt trip over and hopefully gone, I get ready for Whit to come over and I made dinner.  What, it’s below 45*F outside?  This calls for soup and toast!

Toasted slices of Artisan Garlic Focaccia Bread…I really need to get brave and make this on my own…

I had a tad bit of pumpkin leftover from last weekend so after finally getting a chance to make dinner at home I spent the time to make Zucchini Pumpkin Soup:

Ingredients:

• 2 cloves of garlic, diced or smashed
• 1/2 a large onion, diced
• 1T olive oil
• 2.5C Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
• 1.5C Canned Pumpkin
• Italian Herbs, dried (few shakes)
• Few shakes of Sea Salt
• Dozen shakes of curry and cumin powder, each
• 1 zucchini, sliced

Directions:

1. Dice up garlic and onion, sauté in olive oil until cooked through.

2. Add in vegetable broth and pumpkin, mix to combine.

3. Mix in herbs, salt and other seasonings to taste.

4. Cut up zucchini and add to soup.

5. Cook on low until zucchini is soft and cooked through.

6. Serve with toasted bread.

Now it’s time to tame this crazy cat (who btw I was destined to own because hellllooooo? Do you not see all the colors of a Red-tailed Hawk on her?!!?!?!?!?!?!?! YES!!!!!)

And stop ignoring Whit by typing up this long post.

Happy Weekend!!!!  Have a great one!