From the Top

As a Natural History and Humanities (NHH) major from Texas Tech University, I have been given the opportunity to join Dr. Kenneth Schmidt, Dr. Kara Belinksky, Quinn Emmering and Janice Kelly at their research site in southeastern New York. The NHH program is unique in the way that it prepares students for careers in communicating science, rather than science specific jobs. It is an interdisciplinary degree program that focuses on nature and the environment through studies in science, philosophy, literature, visual arts, and outdoor learning. The coursework assigned throughout the undergraduate career is dedicated to teaching students to think independently and critically about basic principles of environmental science. It focuses on key writers and artist associated with literature and art of nature, and environmental and social issues as they pertain to nature. We are taught to communicate effectively through writing and the visual arts about nature and the environment. As students, we are encouraged and challenged through coursework to develop our own environmental ethic. While doing so, we learn to work comfortably in outdoor environments as it relates to our own personal fields of study.

My purpose for joining the crew is to be exposed to scientific research. Exposure to scientific research can result in a more developed view of the Nature of Science. The program questions whether exposure to scientific research can produce better science writers? Can experience in research improve students’ ability to convey not only factual information but also a refined understanding of Nature of Science? In my four remaining weeks (having spent an entire week getting familiar with the research and area thus far), I will have several post. Each post will cover research on a specific topic. All the research is part of Dr. Schmidt’s lab larger research program that will be discussed on this blog in the near future.

Dr. Schmidt and his graduate students' research is based out of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, located in Dutchess County in Southeastern New York. The forest consists of 803 acres. The Cary Institute property consists of eastern deciduous forest dominated by oaks (Quercus rubra and Q. prinus) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) in the canopy. I will focus on interpreting research developed by Dr. Kenneth Schmidt and the members of his lab: Dr. Kara Belinsky (postdoctoral associate) Quinn Emmering (PhD student) and Janice Kelly (masters student), following them and their research experiments for a five-week period.

Dr. Kenneth Schmidt

Dr. Kara Belinsky

Quinn Emmering

Janice Kelly

Alongside the academic researchers is a field crew that is responsible for a great deal of field work. They are field assistants that I will follow frequently throughout this process. In future posts, you will see the work they do and how important their jobs are for collecting accurate data and how essential they are for facilitating large-scale projects making them the back-bone for all the research conducted throughout the summer.

Bird Crew (Field Assistants) for 2009:

Jeff Garcia is the crew leader for the field assistants. Jeff is from California, he graduated with Honors and holds a B.S. from UC Santa Cruz in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Jeff plans to attend graduate school for a PhD in Behavioral Ecology. He is a naturalist by heart and hopes to teach Biology at a junior college one day. Jeff has several years of experience in ecology lab work at UC Santa Cruz. Jeff has experience in field research in British Columbia, the White Mountains in California and in Panama. He likes birding, botanizing and he enjoys folk music. Jeff's favorite Neil Young album is "Tonight's the Night" and can play you Neil Young songs on guitar. He always has plans for future endeavors, whether it is climbing, backpacking, or exploring.

Ethan Duke is quite a character, having short conversations here and there I have gathered scattered information of this travelin' man. Ethan is the song recordist for the research team - waking up before dawn to record the songs of all the veeries. Ethan is a resident of Tennessee. He has been in the army, lived in Cambridge and attended college there during his stay. He thinks birds are great and has a background in electronic media. Ethan is a carnivore and has opinions. He has made over three miles of pizza at a job he had once. New York is his birth place - to see Ethan wander the woods, its obvious that he is back in his natal landscape. Ethan has also co-founded the NGO "Missouri River Bird Observatory."

Jason Winiarski is a Rhode Island Native and received his B.S. from the University of Rhode Island in Wildlife Biology. Jason is a bander for the research team. For the past two summers Jason has worked with a Masters student and a PhD student from URI on Block Island. Block Island was named by the The Nature Conservancy as one of twelve sites in its list of "The Last Great Places" in the Western Hemisphere. Roughly 20% of the Island has been set aside for conservation. Jason plans to attend graduate school to obtain his M.S. in Wildlife Biology after he has gained more experience in fieldwork.

Dana Ripper is a resident of Missouri. She has a B.S. and M.S. in Biology. Dana is a bander for the research team, she has banded many birds in her lifetime. She is in the process of writing grant applications and trying to get funded for opening her own banding station in her state, which I know will be a success. Dana is a wine enthusiast, drives her jeep like nobody's business and can always lift your spirit.

Jason Croft is a bander from Alaska. Jason received his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jason will get his M.S. one day and is still undecided on where he would go to further his education. Jason had to leave the Hudson Valley earlier than planned. We will all miss him, he was comic relief for everyone who had the privilege in working with him. When Jason is not doing field-work, he is in Anchorage baking bread at a family owned bakery.

Jessica Vitale is a undergraduate at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. She is double majoring in Biology and Environmental Studies. Jessica is originally from Minneapolis and really enjoys her city. Jessica plans to attend graduate school for an M.S. in Behavioral Ecology. She always has a book at hand and it always seems to be a book I have on my reading list. She enjoys the writings of David Sedaris and Kurt Vonnegut. Her favorite bird is the Southern Ground hornbill in South Africa.

Samantha San Francisco is a undergraduate student from Eckerd College in Florida, she is going to be a junior in fall of 2009. Samantha assist the research by hiking endless amounts of steps in search of nest. Samantha is majoring in Marine Biology and enjoys it very much. She is a native of Lubbock, Texas, enjoys gymnastics and she can sure carry a tune.

Cara Krieg is a senior Biology major from Grinnell College in Iowa. She is in the REU program through the Cary Institute (research experience for undergraduates). Cara is assisting Dr. Kara Belinski on her research. Cara plans to attend graduate school in the future to obtain an M.S. in Behavioral Ecology. If Cara could do field work anywhere in the world, she would do research in Northern Minnesota. One of her favorite birds is the cardinal.

My name is Daisy Dominguez, I reside in west Texas and enjoy every minute of it. I love forget-me-nots and I recently spotted a painted bunting for the first time. I will follow this crew of ten and gain knowledge in their fields of specialization for the next four weeks. I will share my experiences and document the surroundings in a style of my own.