I just purchased a used Garmin eTrex 20 GPS for almost half the normal price. It works well and is almost brand new. I also found my machete to add to the list of gear items that I already have. On Thursday, I will be submitting an application for a passport, hopefully it will come by April. As of now the target date for the trip is the summer of 2016.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Preparation
I'm starting to plan my trip to the Amazon. I have just purchased field guides that I will need.
Birds of Peru: Princeton Field Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: an Ecotourist's Guide
Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a Field Guide
My next step will be getting a passport and possibly a handheld GPS. Other items to be purchased include a headlamp, rain pants, rubber boots, field shirt, machete, extra camera batteries and memory, DEET, Lifestraw water filter, and iPhone Lifeproof case. In addition, I will also try to learn more Spanish from my co-workers, along with research survival tips. I have decided that the Peruvian Amazon will be my destination, because of the ecosystem diversity, and the possibility of new species discoveries. The next decision is whether to go to Iquitos or Cusco; Picaya Samiria National Preserve or Manu Biosphere Reserve. I'd like to join a real research expedition, but I have not found one yet, so it may be that I'll be just a tourist. One may show up though because it may be a couple years till I'll have the funds to proceed.
A quick side note: I forgot to mention in my last post, that in May I will be going with my family to California for my brothers master degree graduation. We will then visit my grandparents, and that means we will be stopping at Yosemite!
Birds of Peru: Princeton Field Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: an Ecotourist's Guide
Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: a Field Guide
My next step will be getting a passport and possibly a handheld GPS. Other items to be purchased include a headlamp, rain pants, rubber boots, field shirt, machete, extra camera batteries and memory, DEET, Lifestraw water filter, and iPhone Lifeproof case. In addition, I will also try to learn more Spanish from my co-workers, along with research survival tips. I have decided that the Peruvian Amazon will be my destination, because of the ecosystem diversity, and the possibility of new species discoveries. The next decision is whether to go to Iquitos or Cusco; Picaya Samiria National Preserve or Manu Biosphere Reserve. I'd like to join a real research expedition, but I have not found one yet, so it may be that I'll be just a tourist. One may show up though because it may be a couple years till I'll have the funds to proceed.
A quick side note: I forgot to mention in my last post, that in May I will be going with my family to California for my brothers master degree graduation. We will then visit my grandparents, and that means we will be stopping at Yosemite!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
2015
Okay so, its been a while. I never got around to making a post of my roadtrip to the U.P., and I apologize for my laziness. I had a good trip and got two new life birds; Sharp-tailed Grouse and Evening Grosbeak. In addition, I saw Moose, Pine Marten, and Boreal Chickadee. In August, I saw a Short-billed Dowitcher at the Muskegon Wastewater. In December, I found my first ever Snow Goose at Versluis Lake. I ended my 2014 Michigan State list at 222 species, and my Kent County list at 174.
Now 2015 has come. I had planned a Cannon Township big year, but I have not been diligent with it at all. I am at 30 species, when I hoped to be around 45 by the end of this month. This is my last semester of high school, and I will finish with 33 college credits. In "celebration" of finishing, I am in the process of planning a backpacking trip somewhere in the U.P. with a few friends in June. Furthermore, I would like to further pursue the reality of going to the Amazon Rainforest, which has been a dream of mine. I will be saving money starting now to actual go there in the near future. As you see on the right of the page, I have set up a "gofundme" page if anyone would like to help me in my quest to explore the most bio-diverse place on the planet.
Now 2015 has come. I had planned a Cannon Township big year, but I have not been diligent with it at all. I am at 30 species, when I hoped to be around 45 by the end of this month. This is my last semester of high school, and I will finish with 33 college credits. In "celebration" of finishing, I am in the process of planning a backpacking trip somewhere in the U.P. with a few friends in June. Furthermore, I would like to further pursue the reality of going to the Amazon Rainforest, which has been a dream of mine. I will be saving money starting now to actual go there in the near future. As you see on the right of the page, I have set up a "gofundme" page if anyone would like to help me in my quest to explore the most bio-diverse place on the planet.
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