Long time no post

Ok so its been a long time since I posted, but Ive been busy.

Started my experiment this week. Basically the idea is to test the ants aggression response to moving enemies, versus enemies that are hiding (potentially by their immobile behavior). So I have been walking aroud with a cooler, freezing ants and spiders to make them immoblie and then putting them to the test on the acacia trees. I feel like I am set up gladiator matches. I found a formidable opponent to the acacia ant with my "palm ants" (thats what I call them now, before I know what species they are. They are a arboral ant common on the research plot so they are my unvoluntary volunteers.

Other than that, have seen some cool things this past weeks (two weeks). Like Crocidiles, Glasswing butterflys and the Sunbittern, which is this colorful heron type bird that lives near forest streams. You should have seen how excited Dr. Styrsky was to see it haha.


And Jaguarundis! Now thats exciting! you can check out more about them at http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/Jaguarundi.html

I finished reading The Hobbit It good but not what I expected. I have not read the lord of the rings, but I guess the author is so hyped that I expected an amazing book. Guess ill have move on the the series.

I also got through Mere Christianity. I like the book and the way its based on C.S Lewis radio broadcasts, I dont agree with maybe about half the things the book has to say, but it was a good read and informative.

So now I am moved on to The Constant Princess, a Phillipa Gregory book, of whom I read many. So its typical but good, very detailed historical fiction about Queen Katherine of England (originally from spain) who was Henry VIII's first wife. So its mostly about marriage...having sons... and not getting executed by the king, which is always intriguing.

Not sure whats on deck, I have read 7 or 8 books by now, I've lost count.

Gotta run, off to see Harry Potter in a bit!

Love,

Loriann

Rain

Its been raining for the past two days...so no field work for us. Which is both good and bad. The good is there is no ant stinging involved in the daily plans. The bad is that there is not much to do around here, especially when its raining.

I finished reading one flew over the cuckoos nest and it was okay. Good book, but crazy old men are only interesting to a point. But at least now I know what the hubub in my 1960s class was all about. I dont feel so ignorant now.

Other than that me and Kaitlen went up to the canopy tower this past weekend. Tried to catch the sunset, but it was cloudy....(surprise).

Heres a quick bird update (these are not my photos).

Ringed Kingfisher

Slaty Tailed Trogon

Thats all I got for the birds right now. I want to post more, but Im on the Mac again and its proving tricky.

So just trying to keep myself entertained in the rain........Guess ill go running later if it calms down.
Love,
LA

Experiment Update

We finished exterminating ants today!! yay!! Hopefully no more 20 sting days for the rest of the summer....its kinda painful. No rain no storm could stop us. Our theme song was "Let the bodies hit the floor" by Drowning Pool. There were also many fly casualities because they wouldnt leave me alone. So I made them leave me alone.

Anyways 15 plants ant free using pesticide and syringes. We look like a bunch of drugges in the forest.

So other than that....just looking forward to the weekend so I can sleep in a little bit....might go home and make myself some pancakes today. Craving striaght up American food really bad....someone send me some steak fries!

Love,

LA