Author: nlysiak

Day 12 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

The last two days have been full of lectures, films, and discussions.  Everyone emerged from the classroom, bleary eyed, for an adventure over to White & Seavey Islands.  We explored the rocky shore, climbed the lighthouse, and toured the blinds where researchers observe the thousands of terns and their chicks that nest on the island.  Nora, one of the researchers, showed us how they band, measure, and weigh young chicks. Everyone enjoyed meeting Diesel, the 160 pound Newfoundland who lives with them in the old light keeper’s house.

Day 10 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

Today we had two special guests, Andrea Bogomolni and Lauren Bamford, who led the students through Seal Day.  We had lectures in the morning about human impacts, ocean health, and seal conservation, followed by an afternoon necropsy of a harp seal.

Day 8 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

The students took their midterm exam this morning, after a phenomenal brunch and sleep-in.  After the test, we piled into zodiacs and headed to Smuttynose Island for the afternoon.  Some went swimming, some went on a hike – which unfortunately led right through a gull nesting colony.  We made it through the swooping and angry gulls, and got to see some of the old homes, foundations, and gravesides on the island.  After another beautiful sunset, we watched a documentary about whale communication.

Minke Whale

| nlysiak

This morning at brunch, I found myself sitting directly under the minke whale skeleton mounted on the ceiling in the dining hall.  I couldn’t resist capturing the interesting view.

Day 7 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

Hurricane Arthur brought rain in the night, and a lot of wind and choppy seas today.  The students spent most of the day in lecture, and we were interrupted by these two great black-backed gulls, who were pecking at the classroom window.  They hang out on the roof almost every day, but today they seemed very eager to learn about whale and seal bioacoustics.  The students spend most of the evening studying for their first exam, while i wrote their first exam!  Another beautiful sunset and some more fireworks displays up and down the coast rounded out a busy day.

Day 6 @ Shoals

| nlysiak

Independence Day arrived along with a prequel to Hurricane Arthur.  The storm is forecast to deflect far to the east, and so far we have only seen rainstorms out on the island.  Today the students helped hand shuck 80 ears of corn for the 4th of July BBQ – some shucking corn for the first time.  We completed a Skulls and Skeletons lab, where students sketched seal, otter, manatee, walrus, and dolphin skulls, noting the differences between groups.  We also organized a dolphin skeleton, previously contained jumbled in a box.  This task was completed very quickly and with much enthusiasm.  After the BBQ, we played a trivia game, where the prize was an additional shower (we’re restricted to 1 per week due to water shortages).  In a heartbreaking lightning round tie breaker, our team came in second place.