This is my third week interning with Environment for the Americas here in California. So far not a day has gone by that I have not been amazed, surprised or challenged by something I have found in the field. This week has started off strong with...
If you've been following along with me, you'd know that I am a Monarch and Milkweed Field Technician Intern in West Central Texas. I have been on this adventure for two years now, and this Fall will be my fourth field season tracking the monarchs! ...
Hey everyone!This week’s post takes a little detour from my usual field updates. Instead of only talking about what I found at Camp Bullis, I want to share something I learned and actually helped research. A piece of history that’s both fascinating and a little...
Hey everyone!This week’s update is all about some of the coolest critters I’ve come across recently. While a lot of my time has been focused on butterflies and pollinators, I’ve also been keeping my eyes open for reptiles and amphibians during fieldwork for my Herpotology...
People often imagine field technicians only work during migration season, but the off season is just as important. As a Texas intern, I spend hours upon hours out in the field collecting data during the spring and fall seasons, but summer looks a little different! ...
When people think of milkweed, they usually think of monarchs. But, there's a lot more living on these plants than most people realize. Every time I visit a milkweed patch, I see an entire community in action- bright orange aphids clustered along the stems, ants...
Getting up really early in the morning for biological research can be challenging if you aren’t a morning person, but experiencing the beauty of nature first thing when you wake up makes it all worth the effort. Some of the highlights of our many field...
Monarch Behavior During Winter Humans are not the only ones who huddle together to stay warm during the cold winter months. Many animals, including the monarch butterfly, instinctually utilize this strategy to endure chilly conditions and survive through the winter. Through clustering together in trees, they...
Just like the Monarchs are getting ready to take flight back to Mexico, I too have taken flight and made my way back to my home in California. What seemed like a long two months has quickly turned into my final day. My time in the...
Adult Monarch on Common Milkweed We made it to Wisconsin! Our final destination where we’re finishing up our surveys at Fort McCoy. Wisconsin did not fail us as we spotted a total of 17 Monarchs our first day out in the field. It was a memorable...