another day.

So, the night wasn't too bad. I slept fairly well, if only for around 7 hours. We got up at 5:20, ate some breakfast and headed out to work by 6:00. We started off the day attempting to locate some nests through observation with spotting scopes. We went to a prime location but because of the intense wind, it wasn't very productive. Jeremy was able to peg a few nests currently being built and I was able to locate one with four eggs. I was also able to hang out atop an abandoned bunker to get a good view of the field in which we were searching, and it was pretty stellar up there on such a windy day. However, relatively speaking, the few hours we spent in the morning weren't very fruitful so we chose to head back to the office for some coffee.

We took about an hour break for coffee and some small talk with a couple of the guys that work here, and headed back out to do some "rope drags," which are just as they sound. We take a fairly heavy rope, each hold one end, stretch out, and drag it over the ground to flush out any female birds on nests. We found three of for more this way in the location that had previously been a bit of a bust, so we were satisfied with that. Once again, extremely exhausted, we headed out to lunch.

We drove to "town," which is seriously po-dunk and has more bars per area than downtown Bowling Green. The name of the town is Savanna, Illinois, and it is right on the Mississippi. Pretty cool views, and I find it so exciting to finally get to see the Mississippi, a river that has been such a significant part of our nation's history, but I digress. Anyway, we dined on some ever-tasty Pizza Hut, while watching the radar on the TV there. Inclement weather was headed our way (actually, more like the entire country's way). We finished up and went to a grocery store, because I, being the genius I am, forgot my toothbrush and toothpaste at home. (At least that means I brushed my teeth before leaving home yesterday morning!) So, I purchased those necessary items and also grabbed some "Tylenol Congestion," because, ever so fortunately, I am also in the beginning stages of a cold in these hard, outside work, travel, long hours, and sleep deprived circumstances. I am trying my hardest to fight it off, but I imagine it will only get worse given my current circumstances. Hopefully it will only make this trip mildly, and not incredibly miserable. :-) And hopefully my prediction is incorrect and it gets better instead of worse.

Anyway, we came back from Savanna to the Lost Mound Unit, but didn't go back outside right away because it was sprinkling and still seriously windy. I was granted the opportunity to take a nap, which I jumped on. Jeremy woke me up a little more than an hour later, at 5:00, but we realized after a few minutes of planning for tomorrow that the slight rain had not abated, and decided to wait it out a bit longer. Both of us then took up a book (I am reading Alive, which is horrifically fascinating), and read until 7:00, when Jeremy decided today was a lost cause. So, here I am now.

Because we have not been able to do any mist-netting as of yet due to wind, tomorrow we are getting up quite early (4:00!) to start mist-netting by 5:00. We are hoping that once the storms of the evening are through, the wind will have died down. We need to have a productive day of mist-netting tomorrow because it will be our last day here this round. Saturday morning we will be traveling to the site in Nebraska, staying there for about a week, and then heading back here for a few more days.

Well, I think that's it for now. Now, it is time for sleep. I am going to try to get as much as possible, to fight off my extreme exhaustion and irritating cold which combine to form a lovely general feeling of badness. :-) Plus, it's darn hot, dirty, and there are no showers here, so that doesn't help.

Despite all of those circumstances, I cannot say I am having a bad time. So far, days are passing rather quickly and I am attempting to retain my optimism.

I saw a couple of cute little lizards scuttling around today while I was looking for nests.
And fragile prickly pear cacti might be state-endangered, but I still curse them when they stick in the back of my ankles and calves.

Anyway, that is all, except this video of the sunset taken from the window right next to where I sleep.