June 30th, 2008

Long-tailed Jaegers and mosquitoes. Those were the highlights and lowlights of the day. It was very warm and not very windy in the beginning of the day, around 60 degrees, so the mosquitoes really came out. They were annoying while dragging the ropes. Luckily, I borrowed a head net and they were bearable. We had a flock of 5 Long-tailed Jaegers, and shortly after, a flock of 17! I was told they can be seen traveling in flocks, but I never thought I would see that many! There was also a Parasitic Jaeger in with them, and Pomarines were chasing the flock. All 3 Jaegers in the same view!

I figured out what is wrong with my camera, and now my memory card works, sometimes. It worked today, and I got some pictures of the nesting White-rumped Sandpiper. I like this one, it has a weird appearance, almost like it was fake.

Tomorrow will be the last day of rope dragging. A lot of nests are hatching, or near hatching, and things are about to get crazy. We will be banding the morning and night.

There is another, bigger festival coming up on July 4th. I was thinking about trying the blanket toss, but it is hard to get on because so many people want on, and the first to jump on gets it, no line. You also have to pull the blanket before you can participate. A lot of people fall off, and if you are pulling the blanket, you have to catch the people falling off. It seems to be very dangerous, a lot of people get hurt. I think I am fine just watching and taking pictures!

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