Diary of a Wandering Zoologist: May 2014

It feels like it's been years since I last sat down to write an update on the research I've been doing. I'll try and make amends for that now! The term has come to an end, field-work has been wrapped up, results analysed, reports written, and presentations given to the local scientific community (and various other interested parties).

We spent much of the past term collecting data for our amphibian monitoring projects. A Rocha is collecting a long-term data set to determine where particular species are located within the local area and whether populations are declining, stable or increasing in number. As part of this, a specific project I was leading involved working out more about breeding habitat preferences for Northern Red-legged Frog (NRLF). My remit was to start a new survey to assess whether recent restoration projects at breeding sites have been effective and additionally try to work out whether the frogs ever choose to lay their eggs in ephemeral wetlands (wetlands that dry up at some point during the year). I really enjoyed the field work for this. Using kayaks and waders to reach otherwise inaccessible survey areas was a real adventure and a particular joy on sunny days.

The conservation-mobile, decked out in its kayaks!

Beautiful weather for an afternoon of kayaking...

Emily modelling the summer range of surveying attire...

Risking life and limb to collect data at the golf course!

So what did we actually find out about Northern Red-legged Frog habitat preferences? Firstly, they don't appear to lay their eggs in ephemeral wetlands at all in this area. During the survey period this year it was pretty dry and lots of the wetlands became very shallow, whilst some dried up completely. It makes sense that frogs wouldn't lay eggs in ephemeral wetlands that sometimes dry up too early for the eggs/tadpoles to survive. This doesn't mean that ephemeral wetlands are of no importance to the frogs, but it does suggest that these wetlands are not providing valuable breeding habitat for them. That's a bit of a shame because the invasive American Bullfrog (which is having a serious negative impact on Northern Red-legged Frog numbers) requires permanent pools for successful breeding and thus ephemeral wetlands could have provided the frogs with helpfully Bullfrog free breeding sites. Although a little disappointing this is valuable information to have.

In terms of working out whether restoration of particular sites has been effective, it's early days really. The restoration projects were done during summer and autumn of 2013 and it takes time for plants to grow and establish and provide the required corridors between woodlands and wetland pools. I've worked on ways to take into account year-on-year variations in egg mass counts that are independent of the restoration work done (so that we can actually draw some useful conclusions). The monitoring project is underway and A Rocha will continue to survey these sites yearly to build up a better picture of the effectiveness of restoration. So watch this space!

A dried up wetland full of aptly named skunk cabbage...

One of the restoration sites...

Almost tadpoles!

Apart from our amphibian surveys we've also continued to search for the Salish Sucker (it's a rather rare species of fish) within the Little Campbell River watershed. We actually also ventured further afield to Pepin Brook which flows through Aldergrove Regional Park to help look for the Suckers there, as well as check out the area's exciting new large-scale wetland restoration project. During the autumn term we doubled the total number of Salish Suckers trapped in the Little Campbell River, however, this term none were caught there. We did however find them in Pepin Brook. Seeing Salish Suckers was a real treat for all present!

Distracted mid Sucker trapping by some pond dipping with the education team!

Out for the day at Pepin Brook

Everyone wanted to see what we'd trapped!

A Signal Crayfish in the new large-scale wetland site near Pepin Brook.

The main wetland near Pepin Creek. I'm excited to see whether the restoration will have the desired effect!

Salish Sucker!

All trapped Suckers are measured before being put back into the rivers.

It's not always easy to get them to stay still for long enough!

Watery stuff aside, swallow surveys have been starting up as the birds migrate into the area for the summer, and we've also continued our weekly bird counts. My final bird walk happened to be on my birthday. It was wonderfully warm compared to the somewhat frosty bird walks I've experienced over the past eight months!

It's been a real pleasure to work with such a wide variety of species during my time at A Rocha, and with such a great team of conservation scientists. I've been particularly blessed by being able to spend time learning from enthusiastic and deeply knowledgeable birders and I love that I am now able to recognise so many of BC's bird species. There's something deeply satisfying about being able to walk into a wood and feel completely at home so far away from home...

A sunshiny morning...

Dandelion and birders!

Not a bird, but a beautiful find on the bird walk: a Mourning Cloak butterfly.

There has been a lot to celebrate in the past few weeks. First, there was Easter. A wonderful long weekend gave us the chance to recollect amid the hectic-ness of an intense period of field work, and reflect on the steadfast and incredible love of Christ who gave his life for us. I also got to experience some traditions that I'd never come across before. Ruth taught us how to make Ukrainian style Easter eggs. It involves lots of wax and is pretty similar to Batik in technique.


Richard Parker, a Life of Pi inspired Easter egg!

We also had a potluck meal, with everyone contributing a dish. Emily and I got round to attempting to make a traditional Mardi Gras King Cake (a little late I know) as an offering. Christina, one of out dear friends from last term had sent us a cake mix pack with instructions, all the way from Texas! The cake is a traditional part of pre-Lenten celebrations throughout the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. from Florida to Texas. We did our best to follow the instructions but the instruction 'be careful not to break the mixing bag' was promptly disobeyed as the bag split within minutes of us starting to knead the dough. Nevertheless, an extensive and thoroughly British debate about sticks of butter, a lot of confusion about the instruction to 'roll the dough like a jelly roll' and a brief pause for an Easter egg hunt, we were triumphant. It tasted particularly good with some sticky toffee sauce (courtesy of Hannah and her delicious sticky toffee pudding) poured over it!

How to make a King Cake: Step 1) Having broken the mixing bag, transfer all contents to handy metal bowl...

Step 2) Get cold waiting for dough to rise, return wearing a jumper and figure out what a jelly roll is...

Step 3) Place your attempt at a jelly roll doughnut thing onto a usefully shaped pizza baking stone and trust Steph to remember to get it out of the oven...

Pause for the Easter egg hunt (an apron was by far the best attire for this!)

Enjoying our spoils...

Back to the cake: Step 4) Look at the miraculously unburned, oddly bread-like cake.

Step 5) Decorate cake as tastefully as possible with the alarmingly coloured sugar, thank Christina and take it along to the potluck dinner.

Lots and lots of yummy potluck contributions.

Some very satisfied customers!

After Easter we headed to Galiano Island for a few days (blog to follow). Then it was back to work to prepare for the project presentations and tie up loose ends with our work. The day after the presentations was my birthday and also the official day for the community to say goodbye to this term's interns. This involved sharing thoughts about what we've all learned and gotten out of the experience, praising God and trusting Him as we prepare to go our separate ways. The weather was fabulous and in the evening we celebrated the return of warm summery days, the end of term, and my birthday by making pizza in our wonderful cob oven and having an impromptu celidh/ barn dance/ hoedown. What with this and all the birthday wishes and love from family and friends in the UK winging to Canada through the mail and across the internet, it was just a really special day... totally making up for me becoming incredibly old! Thank you one and all!