Real World Field Experience
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands Summer 2023 The Galapagos Islands, lying 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, offer a unique opportunity for the study of natural history. The PBAU field oriented course I undertook focused on the geological history of the Islands, the colonization of the Islands by animals and plants, adaptations displayed by the flora and fauna, and the impact of humans on the Islands' ecology, Getting the privilege to travel to the Galapagos Islands a second time was truly an exciting opportunity. The itinerary was different this time which afforded me opportunities to visit new islands and observe new species. This field interaction with wildlife in their own environments along with my previous experience in the Galapagos helped me to:
- Enhance my abilities to locate more species while trekking and snorkeling.
- Explore different islands and ecosystems and build a solid understanding of the “living lab” that is the Galapagos Islands.
- Witnessed and recorded rare animal behavior and interactions, such as mating, nursing pups, nest building and Galapagos Sharks hunting in groups of over hundred in the late evening.
Highlights of this research field trip were:
- Observation of new native species in Ecuador such as Great Thrush, Tropical Mockingbird, Sparkling Violetear and more.
- On North Seymour Island we got to observe great breeding colonies of Blue-Footed Boobies, Magnificent and Great Frigate birds, Swallow-Tailed Gulls and also saw the courting displays of Lava Lizards.
- Exploring the new islands and locations of Wolf Rock and San Cristobal, where I got to see my first San Cristobal Lava Lizards,
- Espanola provided the chance to view the 4 target species I had been looking forward to observing: the Espanola Mockingbird, Espanola Racer, Espanola Marine Iguana, and the top species, the Galapagos Waved Albatross.
- On the final full day we visited Floreana Island, the southernmost Island in Galapagos and got to see lava lizards, flamingos, flycatchers and more.
- For more on this field experience, please visit my website at https://attenboroughslegacy.net/the-galapagos-islands
Costa Rica Mountains to the Sea Summer 2022 Costa Rica is home to 5% of the world's biodiversity, with 25% of the country set aside as protected areas. This course examines the varying landscape and biota of Costa Rica such as the montane cloud forest, tropical rain forest, and coastal marine habitats. The project research included geography, geology, and biology of tropical systems. This education and observation were achieved by staying at biological field stations, such as La Selva and other select locations in Costa Rica
- Spent 3 weeks trekking through tough, but beautiful and diverse environments such as thick rainforest, highlands, and montane rainforest.
- Observed multitudes of species and recorded them, such as the Fer De Lance, Eyelash Viper, Collard Peccary, Panamanian White-Headed Capuchin and many others.
- Experienced daytime and nighttime hiking and learned valuable skills in observation, documentation and field-craft.
- Led a study of amphibian diversity.
- Group teamwork to combine information for species identification.
- For more on this field experience, please visit my website at https://attenboroughslegacy.net/costa-rica
Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands Summer 2021
This eco field trip was a once in a lifetime experience as the PBAU group was the first eco-tourists and researchers back on the Galapagos Island after over a year of Covid driven isolation. This gave us a unique experience of observing the wildlife of the Galapagos when they had become less familiar with humans. Highlights of this educational and experience gaining trip were:
- On Baltra Island I immediately observed locusts and some of Darwin's famous Finches as well as Galapagos Land Iguanas.
- From the boat we were staying upon I experienced Land Iguanas, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Galapagos Brown Noddy, Magnificent Frigate birds and Blacktip Sharks
- On Santa Cruz Island I got to interact with the Galapagos Giant Tortoise on its natural environment.
- Snorkeling off Isabella Island and hiking on Fernandina.
- Observing and documenting the behavior of an endemic iguana species, the Santa Fe Land Iguana.
- Learned observational skills on how to locate and identify different species.
- Took observational field data of animal behavior and species interactions.
- Retraced the steps that Darwin took as we explored the places he visited.
- Learned about the culture of the people of Ecuador and Galapagos.
- Experienced environmental challenges and how to adapt and overcome them to view native species in their own environments.
- For more on this field experience, please visit my website at https://attenboroughslegacy.net/the-galapagos-islands
