We have been training new personnel and have a fairly large crew for this summer's horned lizard work. The UAZ folks want to do intensive Mark-Recapture surveys before construction for the airstrip begins later this summer. In addition to their group of 6-7 people, we hired a "local" crew, consisting of Robbie, Ryan, Arthur (he's almost local because he's been here before several times), and Genifer (she's local because she was born and raised here even though she's been living away for the past several years, plus she worked for us 7 years ago).
These pictures show how much fun this job is.
Here we have tracks of a large snake.
Snakes are cool.
This lizard is a survivor!
Note that it is missing most of its tail.
Very fresh FTHL tracks--note the distinct body impression
Genifer is taking data on this lizard.
"The Boys" have bonded over this experience. Robbie and Arthur first bonded when Robbie and his wife rescued Arthur from the Greyhound Bus Station in Phoenix, where he was stuck due to a broken-down bus, but that is another story in itself and must be told by Arthur himself.
Robbie loves his lizards!
Ryan likes to catch lizards too, and he is a tad competitive.
So we all get together in the wee morning hours and drive out to the study site to start our surveys as the sun rises. Getting paid to catch lizards is a pretty good job.
