April Abuzz !

It's been fun to ride Bryan's coat-tails and join him on random work-related trips. One day we went up to Spring Valley to obtain some bat data. Willow was skeptical at first. But, as soon as she held a flashlight she eagerly and happily led the way....

I really like these adventures with my bad-ass Biologist  :)

Willow and I joined him on a (diurnal) owl survey one early evening. We headed towards Crystal Peak. Stopping and glassing with binoculars. Didn't end up seeing any feathered friends of that kind.

We watched the day's last light dance upon the peak.....

The sunset painting the porous rocks..... what a gorgeous evening!

"You come into the world an original. Don't leave as a copy." 

 I made a drastic change to my hair..... chop chop! I was ready for a summer, low maintenance style. Thanks Chandra!

Beautiful and exciting signs of spring........ abuzz ! 

Then of course there's the wet spring snow. Typical high desert yo yo weather patterns. 50 degrees one day 75 degrees the next :)

"Whoa" we got snow......

My neighbor, Dave, dropped us off at Kious Basin (above Baker) with our bikes. It was such a thrill to ride down! I sure missed our adventures on wheels. We all really enjoy it.

Only a month left until summer break. Tick Tock!

Sssspring Ssssnake Processing

This is the time of year when Bryan's field work takes off as he continues to study den sites. We like to go out with him occasionally. Especially when we can soak in the 70 degree rays of the sun. There's always great excitement this time of year. Seeing flowers, leaves, and critters emerging from their long slumber. Snakes shedding their skins. We our shedding layers of clothes :)

We saw just under a dozen whip snakes and managed to catch two. Just to look at them up close. This one was a baby....

Bryan was focused on another kind of snake. His long-term study continues ~ learning about the Great Basin Rattlesnake.

Another day of herpin' .......

The processing of rattlesnakes includes weighing, measuring, identifying (pit-tagging) individuals.

Then they are returned to the den sites and released....

Safety first! It's really neat to learn about the ecology of our local, essential reptiles!