Day 3 - Botany
Today I had the pleasure of working with two amazing Botanists; Ryonen and Tony. They had planned to go to a sight that they had spotted from the helicopter yesterday. The thing that attracted them to this particular sight was some large ferns that were growing on and around the large boulders and ridges in this area. It was first thought that these particular ferns were previously an un-described species. On closer inspection they weren’t, but we managed to find some great samples at this sight. Today it became very apparent to me that the whole idea behind Bush Blitz is less about finding undiscovered species and more about mapping the location and distribution of species that have been previously documented.
Finding a landing spot in this area was a little difficult. Our chopper pilot Duncan, did an awesome job of landing the helicopter on very uneven, rocky and treacherous terrain. When I first got out of the chopper I was a little overwhelmed for the first 10 minutes or so; it was such a different environment to the previous two sights I had been to. There were amazing rock formations everywhere! The huge red boulders balancing precariously on smaller and more fragile rocks were spectacular, and the ferns dotted about the landscape made it feel like a dinosaur might emerge from the valley at any moment!
My first mission was to follow Tony to a far ridge to see if we could get a sample of a Mistle-Toe that was high up in a tree. We had to go through some very uncomfortable vegetation! At one point I was covered in little burrs and battling the spinifex while trying not to trip over. On the way I managed to grab a few bug samples for Nik who I work with yesterday. I managed to get him a large shield bug and two assassin bugs. When we arrived at our destination I found a cute little bonsai fig that was growing in a tiny rock crevice at the top of the hill. It had quite a thick trunk, which indicates that it has probably been growing there for a number of years.
When Tony and I arrived back at our starting point, I realised that I had dropped the small container that contained the two assassin bugs! There was only one solution; I had to go and find them. I had to employ all of my ninja skills and re-trace my steps in order to rescue the lost assassin bugs! After much looking and lots of pondering I managed to find the little red container hiding in the shade of a large rock.
While I was busy re-hunting my bugs, Ryonen was busy pressing the plant samples that we had collected. Pressing plants is an amazing process. At first you have to be very gentle, careful and considered; and then you have to use brute force to close the press.
Once we got back to the lab, we then started to double check and sort the samples that had been collected yesterday. Meeting in the lab at the end of the day is so exciting. You get to hear about all of the adventures that everyone had that day, and you also get to deliver specimens and samples that you have collected for other people. Another fantastic day of science, adventure, photography and helicopters. I can’t wait for tomorrow!
Finding a landing spot in this area was a little difficult. Our chopper pilot Duncan, did an awesome job of landing the helicopter on very uneven, rocky and treacherous terrain. When I first got out of the chopper I was a little overwhelmed for the first 10 minutes or so; it was such a different environment to the previous two sights I had been to. There were amazing rock formations everywhere! The huge red boulders balancing precariously on smaller and more fragile rocks were spectacular, and the ferns dotted about the landscape made it feel like a dinosaur might emerge from the valley at any moment!
My first mission was to follow Tony to a far ridge to see if we could get a sample of a Mistle-Toe that was high up in a tree. We had to go through some very uncomfortable vegetation! At one point I was covered in little burrs and battling the spinifex while trying not to trip over. On the way I managed to grab a few bug samples for Nik who I work with yesterday. I managed to get him a large shield bug and two assassin bugs. When we arrived at our destination I found a cute little bonsai fig that was growing in a tiny rock crevice at the top of the hill. It had quite a thick trunk, which indicates that it has probably been growing there for a number of years.
When Tony and I arrived back at our starting point, I realised that I had dropped the small container that contained the two assassin bugs! There was only one solution; I had to go and find them. I had to employ all of my ninja skills and re-trace my steps in order to rescue the lost assassin bugs! After much looking and lots of pondering I managed to find the little red container hiding in the shade of a large rock.
While I was busy re-hunting my bugs, Ryonen was busy pressing the plant samples that we had collected. Pressing plants is an amazing process. At first you have to be very gentle, careful and considered; and then you have to use brute force to close the press.
Once we got back to the lab, we then started to double check and sort the samples that had been collected yesterday. Meeting in the lab at the end of the day is so exciting. You get to hear about all of the adventures that everyone had that day, and you also get to deliver specimens and samples that you have collected for other people. Another fantastic day of science, adventure, photography and helicopters. I can’t wait for tomorrow!