Oh. Well hello there, strangers. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? My quality time with these internets are awfully fleeting. I am working/living/playing pretty much in the middle of nowhere and no longer really know how to interact with other people. It’s all awkward-organism-like when I’m in public these days.
I’m a total dirtball. I’m averaging one shower every 7-10 days. It’s not my fault, It’s just that I’m in the field for that long and living in a truck/pop-up tent. It’s actually really sweet.
There’s a good change you’ll be really jealous when I post photos of my field sites and where I’m hanging out.
Or, if not, you’ll just be totally disgusted and grossed out by the fact I live in a dirty tent that smells like sage and rarely have a chance to shower.
I happen to dig it.
The only downside to this field season has been the weather. The !!%?*!? weather! This last 6 day stretch, it snowed pretty much every. single. day. Temps at night have been below freezing 98 percent of the time, with a few mornings in teens. All our water froze (as did my contacts, in their solution, almond milk, bananas, etc) a couple mornings, which resulted in NO COFFEE! At 0430, in 17 degrees, this was a real bummer.
No one (uh, the two of us) were in good moods that day. I am happy and proud to say I have survived these many nights (and days) of below freezing weather. If you know me at all, you know I do not thrive in cold temperatures. At all. I lose feeling in my fingers and toes at about 60 degrees, so I have been spending a gross amount of money on hand/toe/feet/body warmers. Shit, those fools should sponsor me…
Anyway, hey! Here’s some birds! These are not birds I’m working with but here they are anyway, for your enjoyment. From the top, we’ve got: Brewer’s Blackbird in a fluffball bath (ahh…bird baths!), a rock wren singing his cute little heart out, a trumpeter swan pair, and a yellow-headed blackbird showing off. (All taken in the Ruby Valley, Nevada)
Jill Wussow
Jill Wussow, 31, is a seasonal field biologist, nature photographer and nomad. She has worked with several federally endangered bird species (including the Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo and Piping Plover), sea turtles, and bats all over the United States. She is rarely in one place for more than a few months at a time and her whereabouts are often confusing. Field work has given her great opportunity to travel often and meshes with her passion for wildlife and nature photography perfectly. Through her photography, Jill hopes to convey her love and respect of the natural world.
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