NOAA researcher and marine mammal acoustician, Arial Brewer, shares her fascination with animal communication and love of the sea!
Category: Field Notes
Field Notes: Jungle Prozac
Jungle Prozac, my mom calls it. A potent drug, elements unknown. Possible components include the slurry of plant-produced volatile compounds infusing the air, the pleasing fractal dimensions of so many trees, adventure-induced hormone cascades, frequent exercise, a vegetative buffer from the anxieties of society, and a palm-framed view of Lake Gatun, Panama. Whatever its true…
Field Notes: PhD Research or Arts-n-Crafts Hour… Why Not Both?
When you’re in the business of making nearly a thousand clay caterpillars by hand, there are a few must-have investments: Spotify premium (for hours’ worth of podcasts), ludicrous amounts of alcohol wipes (to scrub your stubbornly ink-dyed hands), more Copic marker refills than you think you would ever need (so you don’t have to drive…
Field Notes: Breaking up (with your study species) is hard to do!
They say you never forget your first love, and I know that to be true…for birds. If you’re a regular reader of the Ethogram, you know that we put our hearts and souls into our study species. I’m often asked “Why that bird?” and while it’s easy to respond “Because they’re awesome!” there are actually…
Field Notes: There is something in the water.
Splish-splashing for science? Researcher Amelia Munson shows the benefits of working in a different type of “field” environment!
Field Notes: Singing Titi Monkeys
A typical morning of titi monkey vocalization recording starts off with a 4:30 AM alarm. I roll out of bed, start coffee, and am out in the door in under ten minutes. The 20-minute drive goes by quickly as I mechanically drink my coffee. As I gather my recorder, microphone, and camera, interns begin to show…
Field Notes- The Tale of the Pilot Study: Where little goes as planned and not all data fits into a spreadsheet.
“Please put your tray tables up and your seats in their upright position to prepare for landing.” Looking out the window, a mosaic of vivid aqua, bright cerulean, and deep indigo below indicates that we have reached our island destination in the middle of the Pacific. The flight attendant’s announcement instigated a flurry of activity…
Field Notes: The highs and lows of technology
Ever wanted to know what equipment is a must have for field researchers? Ryane Logsdon gives us insight into the highs and lows of technology.
Field Notes: A tale of extremes
Field work often leads you through many extremes.
Field Notes: IQ tests for Urban Monkeys – How intelligent are the monkeys of Malaysia?
It’s humid and hot, and the taxi has finally arrived at the attraction of the day for this foreigner’s vacation – a Hindu temple situated in a lush Malaysian rainforest. As you pay the taxi driver and get out of the car, you notice a visitor approaching you from the corner of your eye. You…
