goodbye Texas

I am late in writing this final entry to the 2009 season because my last week was very hectic trying to wrap up everything. I was out in the field every day until 7 or 8 at night. Friday, May 8 (my last day in Texas) I was in Bastrop where my dad and brother were picking up my vehicle before the big drive. I ended up missing a lunch and meeting in Austin I planned on going to, but I got my ride fixed!

I got one final morning of banding in on Thurs and banded 2 more bringing our grand total to 100!

Century bird was nicknamed stoplight (guess why):

We had a great turn-out to our mini-open house and everyone seemed to enjoy the show!

The final results for the season: 104 GCWAs banded (4 banded after I left), ~95 by me

32 nests found (as of when I left), 22 found by me (my best result since I was usually doing banding or point counts and I finished May 7)

2 rounds of point counts

I was presented this special cake at the May staff meeting:

I had a fabulous, exhilerating, and exhausting field season.

I headed north on I-35 Friday afternoon, spent the night in Ardmore, OK and arrived in KC the following afternoon. Randy and I enjoyed his birthday (our 1st together since I am always in field season mode).

Sunday I picked up a field assistant at the airport and thus began field season #2.

I miss my GCWAs already. Until next year...