March 2009 Research Trip

Overview

Our next research trip will be 13-21 March 2009 on St. Croix, USVI. We will be trapping mongoose on Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, and staying at Cottages By The Sea in Frederiksted.

We have many exciting events planned for this trip. First we will be testing out Skype technology in a video conference call with a Juniper Park Elementary School Kindergarten Class on Thursday afternoon 19 March. Second, we will test Skype using a Verizon USB card from the refuge to determine if we can actually conduct video conferences while in the filed. Third, we will be posting daily blogs (see links in the navigation bar on the left). Fourth, we will be searching for external and blood parasites in mongooses. Fifth, we will begin constructing a vegetation map of SPNWR. Sixth, we will be collecting mongoose scat for later analysis to determine what they are eating. Seventh, we will be testing a Trail Camera to determine if we can capture still and video images of mongoose in the field. Eighth, we will be testing different harness designs for future attachment of tracking devices. Ninth, we will continue our long-term population study by equipping as many animals as we can with RFID tags and recording capture and recapture data. And finally, we will have fun!

Flight Information

Depart from Bradley International Airport on Friday 13 March 2009

American Airlines (AA) #1375 leaves at 8:20 am

Arrive San Juan at 12:05 pm

Depart San Juan on AA #5064 at 1:40 pm

Arrive on St. Croix at 2:29 pm

Depart from St. Croix on Saturday 21 March 2009

Say good-bye to paradise

American Airlines (AA) #5039 leaves at 3:36 pm

Arrive San Juan at 4:22 pm

Depart San Juan on AA #1312 at 6:05 pm

Arrive in Hartford at 10:00 pm