Dispatches From The Field

14 July, 2003 -- Suzy M.

If I had known what I was in for, I'm not sure if I would have volunteered so eagerly. After helping the EZAKA ladies wash up the breakfast plates, we hopped in the truck for the ride down the road to the trail at JBA. We hiked through the forest, keeping our eyes peeled
for birds and, of course, insects. We hiked through the forest and out onto the savannah. Still we hiked. Ted and our Malagasy colleagues checked our bearings with compasses and GPS devices. We tromped on through the tall dry grass clumps, tripping over the termite mounds along the way.

Finally we reached the small island of a forest, situated in the middle of the savannah. After consulting the GPS once again, Ted found the entrance to the forest, where we were warmly welcomed by a chameleon sitting in a tree. At each small discovery, we took our time to observe and enjoy. We checked the buckets for specimens. They were buried up to the rim, a tricky trap for our six legged friends (among others). Ted, the Park Biodiversity Specialist trainees, and our Malagasy collaborators had them in a row, one every six feet. The anticipation approaching each bucket was intense. We discovered a scorpions, a small lizard, ants, grasshoppers and other insects. There was even evidence of wild pig urine in one of the buckets.

We examined and collected data on each sample, and then we hiked back through the hot savannah, to the larger forest, to do the tough job, digging the new holes to place the buckets in their area. But first, Ted had to do the crazy bugman dance. Waving his net around, scooping up insects. "Sweepnetting" as he calls it. After this fine professional performance, we began digging the holes, being sure to make the edges of the trap look very deceiving. Our Malagasy colleagues and ANGAP friends were impressed!

I must admit, I only dug two of the eight holes, fighting the stubborn roots along the way. The sweat bees mobbed us like nobody's business, and my stomach was growling beyond belief, but researchers' study must not be interrupted. We continued digging. When we finally finished, we slowly clomped back to the entrance of the trail, stopping to observe the amazing birds along the way. Back at camp, rice and vegetables never tasted so good.