Osara.org

Hi everyone,

I hope this email finds you well and in better weather. It has been cold and rainy due to a low pressure system off Cape Horn since I have arrived. Luckily the work we are doing at the moment doesn’t require nice weather (although sun always makes for a better day in the field). I heard it has been very nice in North Carolina - how funny is that.

Otherwise, all is well. I knew when I was flying over the Cordillera Darwin, looking out at the majestic glaciers and mountains that I was really lucky to be back. I also had good luck in the technician I hired, he is very enthusiastic, hard working, and speaks english (a plus since my spanish is only so so). So hopefully both of our second languages will improve by the end of the month. There is a good group of scientists working here now - most are studying the introduced mink and birds- so it is wonderful because we can all learn from each others work. In fact, I have my first fish without electrofishing - my coworkers found some galaxiids swimming in a lake the other day and brought me a sample and I found mink tracks and Carpinteros (Magallenic woodpeckers) and took photos and GPS points for them. It is nice because we all help each other out.

I forgot to bring photos with me on my pen drive today, but I will send a photo next week - maybe after we catch some fish.

Have a good week, Michelle

So I absolutely loved South America, and the research ended up great. 36 out of the 60 artificial nests that I put out were depredated, and 17 out of the 36 nests were depredated by the mink. Most of the nests that were depredated by the mink were nests placed close to either the Beagle Channel or to Robalo River.

Travelling with Will and Amy was a blast, you couldnt ask for two more wonderful people, who made sure I didnt remain sleeping on the bus, or who didnt allow the bus to leave me when I didnt make it back on in time after bus stops. We were able to see so much in a small amount of time: the rainforest in Pucon and a mountain bike excursion I will never forget, Patagonia, El Calafate and the glacier, bus strike in Bariloche, prostitutes in Puerto Montt, giant sea lions and an empanada thanksgiving in Valdivia, gringito park in Santiago, being broke in the desert, and a wonderful end to the trip in Buenos Aires. All in all I could not have asked for anything more during my entire time in Puerto Williams or travelling. Thank you so much Ricardo and Pancha for allowing me to do research and all of your support, Chirs for making all of this possible, and Steve for helping me out so much with my project. I hope to go back to Puerto Williams in the near future and do more research on the mink and its effect on the native birds.

By Kasey Crill

NT students now have the opportunity to work at the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies’ field station at Cape Horn, Chile, where these Chilean students are working. The department of Philosophy and Religion Studies launched a field station in Cape Horn, Chile, giving opportunities to NT graduate students for internships and travel research beginning in fall 2006.

Ricardo Rozzi of the philosophy faculty said there are several ways students can get involved with this research prospect in Chile. NT students can take classes and learn about what is going on, act as research project assistants or complete their thesis or dissertation within the graduate department. (to read entire article click here).

my study of the birds is going really well, 17 out of the 60 artificial nests have been predated and some of those have been predated by mink. still searching for real nests but that is coming along well also, so all i can say about my project is dynomite!

Talk soon!

Hell yeah! Four nests found already! I truly enjoy living at the end of the world. The days begin with starting a fire, and then making something hot to drink. Then, the always exciting field work with Amy, Will, and Carolina follows. We search the forests, beaver ponds, and crevices for birds nests, and I must say that I have gotten pretty good or lucky at finding nests.

I have fallen in love with this place, and every day find something new that amazes me. Maybe we have to get away from what we know to realize what is around us. Although nothing beats waking up and looking at Argentina out your front window across the Beagle Channel. I am forced to speak Spanish, which I have never spoken before, and hope to get a grasp on the language before I leave. Overall I am having an awesome time, and the learning experience is unparralled to anything I have had before. Wish everyone that is close to me could be here too and can’t wait to see y’all.

Love Brett