Poke the science
Last Saturday heralded the end of my behavioral experiments... at least for year one. It ended more with a mumble of victory rather than a shout, as sometimes occurs. The last jay pair I tested were highly suspicious of the raccoon mount I set out. They responded by sitting in a tree during the whole trial, eying me as if to say "Um, would you kindly move that scary thing so I can get to those tasty peanuts kthanx." It was a quiet and polite trial, but still valid data. Hurrah for datums!!! Now I just have to finish entering it and analyzing. Let there be graphs bwa ha ha ha ha can't wait!

Although my experimental trials are done for now, my "field season" is hardly over. The birds are gearing up to start families, and I've had the pleasure of already witnessing some nest building. It is now my duty to monitor the birds during the nesting/chick rearing process. It would be easier if it was an interview:
"Excuse me, sir, have you successfully contributed to the next generation of fluffy blue squawkers or have they been eaten by a cat?"

It is what it is. Guess that makes me... Fluke Jaystalker. But see, since I'm going to be out in the field collecting breeding information, there has to be some sort of observational foraging data I could amass that would contribute to my thesis (daaataaaa...Imean, braaaaaains). Yesterday I saw an impressive thesis defense by another grad, and it made me want to give another tug at the ambition reins. There are so many questions to explore! I can't necessarily come up with essential management implications for the various aspects of my study, but there is science there. I want to poke it.

Other wildlife grads here get to trek the wilds of Alaska or the jungles of Costa Rica. Yet they are envious that I get to ride around town with a taxidermy raccoon clamped to my bicycle. Seriously, it's badass. ...Alternatively, I am an object of departmental ridicule and don't even know it. Meh. They will be the first victims of the Steller's jay uprising.

Have a nice day.