loon conservation in south carolina -...

LOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA

EARTHWATCH 2017

DEAR EARTHWATCHER,

First, thank you for getting involved in this project! We very much appreciate your time and commitment. We have a long history of working together and look forward to sharing our collective knowledge of loons with you. We can promise you will see loons and learn a lot about their behavior and ecology. You will also learn a lot about the ecology of Lake Jocasee. We each have over 20 years of experience working with loons on various aspects of their behavior, vocalizations and conservation, and have been good friends for a good many years. We are both very excited about this project.

We look forward to meeting you and hearing your stories. It is our intention to provide you with a quality education and a quality experience, and our hope that you will not be disappointed. Thank you so much for your interest in the project.

Know that your contribution is meaningful and that we value your observations and input.

Sincerely,

Jim Paruk, Ph.D. Jay Mager, Ph.D.

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EARTHWATCHINSTITUTE

1LOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INFORMATION .............................. 2

TRIP PLANNER ..............................................3

THE RESEARCH ............................................ 4

DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELD .............................. 6

ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD ...................... 8

PROJECT CONDITIONS ................................. 10

SAFETY ....................................................... 12

TRAVEL TIPS ............................................... 13

EXPEDITION PACKING CHECKLIST ...............14

PROJECT STAFF .......................................... 15

RECOMMENDED READING ........................... 16

LITERATURE CITED ...................................... 16

EMERGENCY NUMBERS ............................... 17

LOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA 20172

EARTHWATCH SCIENTISTS

Jim Paruk Jay Mager Brooks Wade

RESEARCH SITE

Lake Jocassee, Devils Fork State Park, South Carolina

EXPEDITION DATES

Team 1: Jan. 22–Feb. 04, 2017

Team 1a: Jan. 22–Jan. 28, 2017

Team 1b: Jan. 29–Feb. 04, 2017

Team 2: Feb. 12–Feb 25, 2017

Team 2a: Feb. 12–Feb. 18, 2017

Team 2b: Feb. 19–Feb. 25, 2017

Team 3: Mar. 05–Mar. 11, 2017

GENERAL INFORMATIONLOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Complete travel information is not available in this version of the briefing.

Please contact Earthwatch with any questions.


Read this expedition briefing thoroughly. It provides the most accurate information available at the time of your Earthwatch scientist’s project planning, and will likely answer any questions you have about the project. However, please also keep in mind that research requires improvisation, and you may need to be flexible. Research plans evolve in response to new findings, as well as to unpredictable factors such as weather, equipment failure, and travel challenges. To enjoy your expedition to the fullest, remember to expect the unexpected, be tolerant of repetitive tasks, and try to find humor in difficult situations. If there are any major changes in the research plan or field logistics, Earthwatch will make every effort to keep you well informed before you go into the field

IMMEDIATELYq Make sure you understand and agree to Earthwatch’s

Terms and Conditions and the Participant Code of Conduct.

q If you plan to purchase additional travel insurance, note that some policies require purchase when your expedition is booked.

90 DAYS PRIOR TO EXPEDITIONq Log in at earthwatch.org to complete your

volunteer forms.

q Pay any outstanding balance for your expedition.

q Book travel arrangements (see the Travel Planning section for details).

q If traveling internationally, make sure your passport is current and, if necessary, obtain a visa for your destination country.

60 DAYS PRIOR TO EXPEDITIONq Make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations for

your project site.

q Review the Packing Checklist to make sure you have all the clothing, personal supplies and equipment needed.

30 DAYS PRIOR TO EXPEDITIONq Leave the Earthwatch 24-hour helpline number with

a relative or friend.

q Leave copies of your passport, visa, and airline tickets with a relative or friend.

TRIP PLANNERLOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA

TRIP PLANNER

http://earthwatch.org/terms-and-conditions


http://earthwatch.org/terms-and-conditions/participant-code-of-conduct

http://earthwatch.org/terms-and-conditions/participant-code-of-conduct



THE STORYIn April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, impacting many species of wildlife in the region, including the common loon (Gavia immer). For four years, Earthwatch teams collected data on the health and behavior of loons along the coast of Louisiana, an estuary near the mouth of the Mississippi River. They found that high internal concentrations of oil residues in loon blood affected their body mass and red blood cell volume.

Now, to better understand loon health and behavior, scientists are studying wintering loons in Lake Jocassee, South Carolina – a clear, freshwater ecosystem. While loons primarily winter in marine environments along coastlines, they also utilize freshwater reservoirs. The overall goal is to further our understanding of the health and condition of wintering common loons, and to examine if their foraging strategies change in a freshwater environment.

We have already seen loons along the lake foraging in small groups. This differs from the solitary feeding observed in loons wintering off Louisiana. This raises some important questions: How often do loons at Lake Jocassee feed in groups? What are they feeding on, and what condition are the birds in compared to loons wintering in coastal Louisiana?

Lake Jocasee will serve as an important comparison site to loons observed in Louisiana. With your help, we can determine whether pollution from the spill affected the behavior and health of loons and better interpret the variation in the condition of wintering loons. Importantly, this is the first study to examine the wintering behavior of common loons in a freshwater environment.

THE RESEARCHLOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA


RESEARCH AIMSQUANTIFY THE BEHAVIOR OF WINTERING LOONS. Wintering behavior of common loons utilizing freshwater environments has never been studied. In fact, our understanding of wintering behavior of loons in marine environments is incomplete. In some coastal areas it has been reported that loons forage solitarily and defend a winter foraging territory, while in other areas they forage in small groups or even large aggregations and do not defend any territory. Additional data from a new location, such as a freshwater environment, may help us better understand how much variation loons exhibit across their wintering range, and also potentially elucidate what ecological factors are responsible for this variation.

QUANTIFY THE HEALTH OF WINTERING LOONS. There are potentially many ecological factors that play a role in determining loon health. Lake Jocassee, South Carolina, is large, 7500 acre, 300-foot deep reservoir located in a relatively pristine mountain environment that has supports a large wintering population of Common Loons (150 individuals). Previous studies have shown that Common Loons are excellent bioindicators of environmental quality and preliminary data from Lake Jocassee indicate the loons wintering at this location may be in good physical condition and low in environmental contaminants. If so, this site may serve as a good comparative site with health data we have on loons wintering in coastal Louisiana that may have been exposed to petroleum contaminants.

QUANTIFY DIET IN WINTER LOONS. Stable isotopes (carbon, nitrogen) are useful in determining trophic relationships and indicate dietary history. This approach overcomes strict observational evidence. Isotope ratios give a good overall ideal of the average diet generally consumed, but they cannot prove unequivocally what has been eaten. In marine environments, loons feed on both fish and invertebrates (crabs, shrimp), but it is unclear what drives prey selection during the winter. It has been suggested loons may forage cooperatively when large schools of fish are present, and hunt alone when this is not the case.

HOW YOU WILL HELPYou will help scientists with the following activities:

OBSERVING LOON BEHAVIOR. We will find a loon on the water, then observe and code its behavior for 30 minutes. Observations will occur from the boat and from land. During your training you’ll receive a handout reference on how to code loon behavior.

CATCHING LOONS. In order to determine loon health, it will be important to catch loons so we can collect tissue samples to send to the lab for analysis. Because loons are elusive and difficult to catch during the day, we will attempt to catch them at night using a spotlight, and a long handled fishnet. Volunteers will hold and aim the light, a key role in the capture process. In addition, they will assist in holding the bird, taking measurements and recording data.

LAB WORK. You will receive training in how to process blood collected the previous night, which involves centrifuging it (spinning it at a high speed to separate particles of different densities) and creating smears on slides for later analysis. You’ll also help ensure proper data sheet maintenance and storage of all samples.

ASSESS WATER CLARITY. We will use a sechhi disc to measure water clarity at different locations in the lake.

You’ll get to know loons intimately on this project. You’ll learn a great deal about their behavior and ecology of loons on the wintering grounds, including their molt cycle.

We look forward to teaching you how to work with loons and introducing you to our beautiful “office.” The team will spend most days on the water, where we will quantify loon behavior. We will also spend 2 nights on the water catching loons each week. For loon capture, we typically work from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. In the mornings we likely won’t rise till 8:00 a.m. or so, and boat work will be conducted from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Normally, people staying for two weeks will have day 7 (departure day for some volunteers) and day 8 (arrival day of new volunteers) as free periods. The project will have arranged excursions during this time where volunteers can tour the lake area and view various waterfalls within the area. We can also help coordinate separate group excursions on these days.

You may also have other free periods during the week before or after field assignments and other work. And inevitably, weather will sometimes create unsafe and unfavorable conditions for field activities. These will be evaluated on a day-by-day basis, and alternative field projects, short programs, or activities will be planned while we await improved weather, or swapped with a different day’s activity if there is no change in unfavorable weather.

DRIVING POLICY: If you have driven yourself to the project, you may not drive your own vehicle to, from, or for project activities, including for transporting project equipment. You may choose to use your own vehicle during recreational time, but know that all driving during recreational time is at your own risk. Earthwatch discourages you from transporting other participants during recreational time. Riding in another participant’s vehicle is also done at your own risk; riding in other participants’ vehicles is not covered under their insurance policy for the expedition.

PLANS FOR YOUR TEAMUpon arrival, you’ll settle into your villa and have dinner. You will also receive a safety briefing and an overview of research activities for the week. When we begin our fieldwork, project staff will introduce and demonstrate each new task; we’ll work with you until you’re comfortable with any new activities. We will also supervise to ensure data quality. On the last day before departure, we will lead you in a discussion of possible solutions to conservation issues. In general, research days will include six –eight hours per day in the field.

DAILY ACTIVITIESEach morning, we will make breakfast and prepare a packed lunch before going over the general schedule for the day to outline what you should bring into the field and when we anticipate returning to the accommodations. Most days we will be out on the boats from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This time will be dedicated to fieldwork and data collection (loon behavior budgets, counts along transects). Around noon, we will enjoy our lunches and take a short break out in the field. After a long day of fieldwork and data collection, we will all return to the accommodations for free time before dinner. Then, on two nights during each week, we will go out to capture loons from 6:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m. For other evenings, there will be prepared lectures and time set aside for data entry.

DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELDPLANS FOR YOUR TEAM

6 LOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA 2017

ITINERARY & DAILY SCHEDULE

DAY 1: ARRIVAL• Arrive at the rendezvous airport and meet project staff

• Travel to accommodations at the park

• Unpack and settle in before having a group dinner

• Safety briefing and brief overview of research tasks

DAY 2: TRAINING AND INTRODUCTION TO FIELD WORK• Introduction to the research and field task training

(wintering plumage of loons, loon behavior, scoring of behavior). Training will be followed by an afternoon boat trip to try out new skills in the field.

• Dinner after 5:00 p.m.

• Evening Lecture – Winter Loon Ecology

DAYS 3-6• Breakfast.

• Boat work from 10:30 a.m.– 3:30 p.m. Lunch break in the field.

• 5:00 p.m. dinner.

• FOR DAYS 3 AND 6 Evening boat work 6:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

• FOR DAYS 4 AND 5, evenings will be reserved for lectures at 7:00 p.m.

DAY 7: DEPARTURE• Debrief at breakfast and discuss how the data collected

can be used to better preserve and manage loons in the park.

• Program close and depart for the airport at 9:00 a.m.



SLEEPINGYou will be staying in lakeside villas within Devils Fork State Park. The project will rent two villas, and each unit has two rooms with double beds, and one room with twin beds. Couples and single room requests are likely possible with advance notice, but this will depend upon availability and the makeup of each team. The villas have electricity, refrigerators, an open kitchen, running water and hot showers. All lodging facilities are climate-controlled. Bedding is provided, including bath towels and hand soap. Please bring your own toiletries. We also recommend bringing enough clothes for the duration of the team, as there are no laundry units.

*NOTE: quiet hours are between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

BATHROOMSVillas have hot water showers and conventional toilets. Each villa contains two full bathrooms, which will be shared by volunteers.

ELECTRICITYYou are welcome to bring electrical equipment. All lodging facilities have standard US electrical outlets throughout.

FACILITIES AND AMENITIESThe accommodations will be the main site for all group activities including meals, presentations, and relaxation time. The common area consists of a living-room type setting with two couches, comfortable chairs, and a TV screen (for presentations), a large kitchen, dining area and screened in porches. Feel free to bring cards and board games.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOODABOUT YOUR HOME IN THE FIELD


PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONSThere is free Wi-Fi available at the accommodations. Cell service is available throughout the park, but is variable on the water.

Please note that personal communication with family or friends at home is not always possible while participating in an expedition. Earthwatch encourages volunteers to minimize outgoing calls and immerse themselves in the experience; likewise, family and friends should restrict calls to urgent messages only.

VOLUNTEER CONTACT INFOADDRESS: 161 Holcombe Circle Salem, SC 29676 Park office: 864-944-2639

DISTANCE TO THE FIELD SITEResearch will take place in many different sites on the lake. On average, the boat will not be more than 20 minutes away from the main docking area. On some days, loon observations will take place from shore. Volunteers should expect varying temperatures and should bring plenty of layers to plan accordingly. During the day, the lake can be warm to mild if there is little wind. At night, temperatures drop considerably and gloves, hats, snow pants and a winter coat with a hood are necessary to stay warm.

FOOD AND WATERResearch staff will shop for all food for the volunteers. Volunteers will prepare their own breakfasts and field lunches. Research staff will lead the individual teams each night for dinner and all volunteers should expect to help with meal preparation and clean up. Typical meals include tacos, spaghetti, fish, and casseroles. Salads and dressings will be available as sides. There is a common fridge if volunteers wish to bring their own snacks and/or have specific medications that need to be kept cold.

TYPICAL MEALS

BREAKFAST Oatmeal, cereal, eggs, pancakes, toast, fruit

LUNCH Sandwiches, fruit (packed lunches prepared for the field)

DINNER Tacos, spaghetti, baked potatoes, soups, pizza, casseroles, salads (typical American fare), desserts

SNACKS Granola, fruit, vegetables, crackers, cookies

BEVERAGES Water (okay to drink from tap), juice, tea, coffee, soda, milk.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTSPlease alert Earthwatch to any special dietary requirements (e.g., diabetes, lactose intolerance, nut or other food allergies, vegetarian or vegan diets) as soon as possible, and note them in the space provided on your volunteer forms.

This project can cater to vegetarian, lactose-free and vegan diets. Gluten free diets cannot readily be accommodated.


This information is as accurate as possible, but please keep in mind that conditions may change.

You’ll be working at a temperate site approximately 1100 feet above sea level at Devil’s Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee. The temperatures from January to March are mild to cold during the day, and can drop in the evenings with wind chill. Please prepare for sun, wind, rain, and fog. Please also bring ample layers for winter temperatures in the evening.

Our 24 ft. and 25 ft. pontoon boats don’t have heads (bathrooms). We can stop at islands for bathroom breaks in the great outdoors—no restrooms will be available. Occasionally, we will ride into a headwind, especially at night, which will make some rides bumpy. It can get very cold on the nights we spend on the boat capturing loons, so please pay attention to the clothing requirements on the packing checklist to make sure you’re prepared. We will not go out if the wind creates whitecaps. The boat captains will ultimately decide if conditions are suitable for research.

GENERAL CONDITIONSHUMIDITY: 50% on averageTEMPERATURE RANGE:DAY: 16°F to 72°F (average of 46°F).NIGHT: can be 10-15 degrees cooler. See packing list for gear suggestions.RAINFALL: 3.5 inches on average in the winter.

PROJECT CONDITIONSTHE FIELD ENVIRONMENT

WATER CONDITIONSTypical water temperature during project: 50°F to 55°FTypical water visibility: 20 ft.Typical maximum water depth in area: 2 ft. to 200 ft.Types of water environments: all work will be on Lake Jocassee, which is a large lake water body surrounded by mountainsTiming of boat-based work: Both day and night

ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:All participants must be able to:

• Follow verbal and/or visual instructions.

• Wear all protective equipment recommended or required by industry standards.

• Work on a boat for approximately four to five hours at a time (day or night) with limited break options (e.g., no bathroom on the boat, except for the lake or nearby shore breaks).

• Locate, focus on, identify, and observe distant objects with the use of binoculars, both from shore and from boats.

• Be comfortable going to the bathroom off the back of the boat or on a nearby island in the lake.

• Enjoy being outdoors all day in all types of weather.

HAZARD TYPE ASSOCIATED RISKS AND PRECAUTIONS

Transportation You must wear seatbelts per South Carolina state law at all times while traveling in project-sponsored road vehicles.

Working On A Boat Loon surveys will be conducted from pontoon boats, and hazards include exposure to wind, cold temperatures, waves, and sun. Staff members will monitor weather and water conditions throughout the day and evening, and we will not work from boats during high winds, lightning, and fog events. Boats are registered and contain all federally and state-mandated safety equipment. We have cell phone coverage on most sites on the lake, and two-way radios will be used for secondary communications. While on the water, we will typically remain close to shore, and less than 30 minutes from the boat ramp. Water depth is variable and can be as deep as 200 ft. Life vests must be worn at all times for night work.

Climate/Weather Temperatures will likely be mild in the daytime and cold at night. Humidity and exposure to the sun can be intense, even in the winter months. Bring protective clothing, a hat, sunscreen, etc., and be sure to drink plenty of water when spending long periods of time in the sun. For night work, temperatures can drop, so appropriate gear and layers are essential. See the packing list for more detail.

Personal Security The research site is remote, but please stow away your valuables when not in use. Field staff members will have keys to the accommodations.

Distance from Medical Care

Due to the relative remoteness of the site, it can take up to one hour to reach the nearest hospital. Those with severe or chronic conditions that may require immediate medical care (e.g., heart problems, severe allergies that can result in anaphylactic shock, etc.) should carefully consider their participation in this project and discuss with their doctors the implications of the distance of the hospital from the project site.

Dehydration Volunteers will be advised to have two 1.5 liter water bottles on them at all times. Project staff will also carry additional water with them into the field for volunteers. Staff will instruct the team to take regular water breaks throughout the day to avoid dehydration.

Remoteness/ Getting Lost

Due to the remoteness of the site, volunteers are advised not to wander off alone and to stay in groups. If you wish to explore the area during free time, please let the field staff team know and pair up with another volunteer. Also specify where you are going and when you expect to return.

POTENTIAL HAZARDSLOON CONSERVATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA


EMERGENCIES IN THE FIELDAccommodations and vehicles all have first aid kits. In the event of a medical emergency, the Earthwatch scientists will administer first aid, and depending on the seriousness of the injury or condition, either take the volunteer to the hospital using one of the project vehicles (always available) or call emergency services by cellphone. While in the field, the scientists will carry portable two-way radios and each will carry a cell phone for emergency communication. If a volunteer has to leave the expedition early for emergency reasons, the Earthwatch scientists will determine the most appropriate form of transport to the airport (either one of the project vehicles or ambulance).

For emergency assistance in the field, please contact Earthwatch's 24-hour emergency hotline number on the last page of this briefing. Earthwatch is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; someone is always on call to respond to messages that come into our live answering service.

IMMUNIZATIONSPlease be sure your routine immunizations are up-to-date (for example: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella). Medical decisions are the responsibility of each volunteer and his or her doctor, and the following are recommendations only. Visit the Healix Travel Oracle website through the “Travel Assistance and Advice” page in your Earthwatch portal, cdc.gov or who.int for guidance on immunizations.

PROJECT VACCINATIONSREQUIRED: If traveling from countries or region where yellow fever is endemic, you must have a certificate of vaccination. You may need to present this certificate when you arrive in country.

RECOMMENDED FOR HEALTH REASONS: Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B


SAFETYHEALTH INFORMATION

http://www.cdc.gov

http://who.int/en/

YOUR DESTINATIONLANGUAGE: English

TIME ZONE: Eastern Standard Time, which equals GMT -5 hours.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS: Casual, modest dress is acceptable nearly everywhere. Tipping restaurant wait staff, taxi drivers, airport curbside baggage handlers, and hotel bellhops is customary.

ELECTRICITY: The US standard voltage used for small appliances, hair dryers, electronic equipment, etc. is 120 volts, 60Hz, supplied through type A or B sockets.

MONEY MATTERSLOCAL CURRENCY: US dollar

PERSONAL FUNDS: $100 should suffice if you’d like to purchase additional snacks or incidentals. There are ATMs at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport if you would like to withdraw cash and most locations accept credit cards. International volunteers may use credit cards and ATM cards at local banks to obtain currency in US dollars. There is also a currency exchange counter at the airport.

PASSPORTS AND VISASPassport and visa requirements are subject to change. Check with your travel advisor, embassy or consulate in your home country for requirements specific to your circumstances. Generally, passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry and a return ticket is required.

CITIZENSHIP PASSPORT REQUIRED? VISA REQUIRED?

United States No No

United Kingdom Yes No

Europe Yes No

Australia Yes No

Japan Yes No

If a visa is required, participants should apply for a TOURIST visa. Please note that obtaining a visa can take weeks or even months. We strongly recommend using a visa agency, which can both expedite and simplify the process.

CONTACT INFORMATIONYou may be required to list the following contact information on your visa application and immigration form, or if your luggage does not make it to baggage claim at your destination:

ACCOMMODATIONS ADDRESS: 161 Holcombe Cir, Salem, SC 29676

PHONE NUMBER: Brooks Wade 864-280-5501

TRAVEL TIPSSUGGESTIONS FOR THE ROAD



EXPEDITION PACKING LISTWHAT TO BRING

GENERAL

q This expedition briefing

q Your travel plans, rendezvous details, and Earthwatch’s emergency contact information

q Photocopies of your passport, flight itinerary, and credit cards in case the originals are lost or stolen; the copies should be packed separately from the original documents

q Passport and/or visa (if necessary)

q Certification of vaccination (if necessary)

q Documentation for travel by minors (if necessary)

CLOTHING/FOOTWEAR FOR FIELDWORK

q Earthwatch T-shirt

q A warm hat/ski mask along with warm winter gloves for nighttime work. These are very important—it can get very cold on the boat at night.

q Warm clothing that can be layered to wear at night on the boat including long underwear and thermals

q A water-resistant insulated winter jacket for night work

q Snow pants or insulated wind pants—these are strongly recommended to keep participants warm and comfortable during nighttime fieldwork on the boat.

q One pair of warm shoes (e.g., low-top, waterproof boot or hiking shoes) for cold days

q Long-sleeved shirts for sun protection

q A wide-brimmed hat for sun protection—should have a strap for boat travel

q One pair of lighter shoes for warm days and to wear off the boat

CLOTHING/FOOTWEAR FOR LEISURE

q At least one set of clothing to keep clean for end of expedition

q Slippers or comfy shoes for wearing around the house

FIELD SUPPLIES

q Small daypack to keep your personal items together

q Sunscreen lotion with SPF 50 or higher

q Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries and extra bulb (for walking around accommodations after dark and for fieldwork on the boat at night)

q One 1.5 liter water bottles

q Sunglasses with UV protection- these are essential for work during the day.

q Field notebook, pencil

q Binoculars for spotting birds at night and during the day.

BEDDING AND BATHING

q Personal toiletries (biodegradable soaps and shampoos are encouraged)

q Personal first aid kit (e.g., antibacterial wipes or lotion, antidiarrhea pills, antibiotics, antiseptic, itch-relief, pain reliever, bandages, blister covers, etc.) and personal medications

NOTE: Beds, pillows and sheets will be provided, so volunteers do not need a sleeping padNOTE: Towels, toilet paper and hand soap will be provided

PERSONAL SUPPLIESSpending money ($100)

OPTIONAL ITEMS

q Spotting scope

q Camera, film or memory card(s), extra camera battery. If you have a high quality camera, this will be helpful for photographing loon behavior, bands, and plumage.

q Drybag or plastic sealable bags (good for protecting equipment like cameras from dust, humidity, and water)

q Headlamp with extra batteries and extra bulb

q Hardware for sharing digital photographs at the end of the expedition

q Travel guide

q Books, games, journal, art supplies, etc. for free time

q Laptop (there is Wi-Fi at the accommodations)

NOTE: Required and optional items lists are accurate to the best of Earthwatch’s knowledge at the time of publication.

NOTE: Do not bring more luggage than you can carry and handle on your own. If traveling by air and checking your luggage, we advise you to pack an extra set of field clothing and personal essentials in your carry-on bag in case your luggage is lost or delayed.

EXPEDITION PACKING CHECKLIST


PROJECT STAFFYOUR RESOURCES IN THE FIELD

EARTHWATCH SCIENTIST DR. JAMES PARUK has spent two decades working on loon projects across North America. Currently, he is the Senior Scientist at the Center for Loon Conservation at the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) and is an adjunct professor of biology at the University of Southern Maine. He has published widely on common loons, and his hobbies include playing music, tennis, and cycling. James will be present on Teams 1a 1b and 3.

EARTHWATCH CO PI DR. JAY MAGER is an Associate Professor of Biological & Allied Health Sciences at Ohio Northern University where he teaches courses in ecology, ornithology, and animal behavior. Jay has studied loon communication and breeding behavior on breeding lakes in the United States and Canada, but will be investigating differences in loon social behavior and communication during the non-breeding season. Present on 2a and 2b.

EARTHWATCH CO-PI BROOKS WADE. Brooks is the boat captain and will be in the field with the volunteers on a daily basis. He has been observing loons at Lake Jocassee nearly daily for the past 6 years and is extremely knowledgeable about their behavior and distribution at Lake Jocassee. Brooks has authored articles on Lake Jocassee’s loon population in both South Carolina Wildlife magazine and the Jocassee Journal. He and his wife, Kay, will be the main logistics coordinators to and from the airport to the study location. Brooks will be present for all teams.

EARTHWATCH FIELD TEAM LEADER KAY WADE is the alternate boat captain and will be in the field with volunteers on a daily basis. Kay has been a student of the natural history of Jocassee Gorges for the past six years, studying Common loons in addition to the flora and fauna of the area. Her formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Western Carolina University. Kay will be present for all teams.

Brooks and Kay are the co-owners of Jocassee Lake Tours, a natural history focused tour service to Lake Jocassee and the Jocassee Gorges.

FIELD TEAM LEADER KRISTIN KOVACH became interested in wildlife and the outdoors while exploring the backyard marsh growing up in Ohio. Her interest in animals and animal cognition led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in zoology and neuroscience at Ohio Wesleyan University. She worked on research projects with dolphins and mountain plovers before earning her master’s degree in Canada, where she studied duetting and nesting behavior of tropical wren species in Costa Rica. Kristin worked as a technician on a sandhill crane project before joining BRI in 2014. She will be helping to coordinate the Restore the Call initiative in Minnesota. Present on most teams.

NOTE: Staff schedules are subject to change.


RECOMMENDED READINGYOUR RESOURCES AT HOME

BOOKS• Evers, D.C. and K. Taylor. Journey with the Loon. 2014.

FIELD GUIDES• Sibley, David Allen. 2003 (or later edition). The Sibley

Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America (or a Bird Field Guide of your choice).

• L.L. Gaddy. (2000). A Naturalist’s Guide to the Southern Blue Ridge Front.

EARTHWATCH SOCIAL MEDIA• FACEBOOK: facebook.com/Earthwatch

• TWITTER: twitter.com/earthwatch_org

• INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/earthwatch

• BLOG: earthwatchunlocked.wordpress.com

• YOUTUBE: youtube.com/earthwatchinstitute

RESOURCES

• Paruk, J.D., M. Chickering, D. Long, IV, H. Uher-Koch, A. East, E. A. Adams, K. A. Kovach, D.C. Evers. 2015. Winter site fidelity in Common Loons across North America. 2015. The Condor: Ornithological Applications 117:485-493.

• Paruk, J. D., D. Long, IV, C. Perkins, A. East, B. J. Sigel and D. C. Evers. 2014. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons detected in Common Loons wintering off coastal Louisiana. Waterbirds 37:85-93.

• Paruk, J. D., D. Long, IV, S. L. Ford and D. C. Evers. 2014. Common Loons Wintering off Louisiana Coast Tracked to Saskatchewan during the Breeding Season. Waterbirds 37: 47-52.

• Paruk, J.D., J. N, Mager, III and D.C. Evers. 2014. An Overview of Loon Research and Conservation in North America. Waterbirds 37: 1-5.

• Gray, C., J. D. Paruk, C. R. DeSorbo, L. J. Savoy, D. E. Yates, M. Chickering, R. B. Gray, K. M. Taylor, D. Long, IV., N. Schoch, W. Hanson and D. C. Evers. 2014. Strong Link between Body Mass and Migration Distance for Common Loons (Gavia immer). Waterbirds 37:64-75.

• Long, IV, D. and J. D. Paruk. 2014. Unusually large wintering foraging flock of Common Loons in the Gulf of Mexico. Southeast Naturalist 13(4): 49-51.

• Mager, J.N. and C. Walcott. 2014. Dynamics of an aggressive vocalization in the Common Loon (Gavia immer): A review. Waterbirds 37 (Special Publication 1): 37-46.

• Mager, J.N., Walcott, C., and W.H. Piper. 2012. Male common loons (Gavia immer) signal greater aggressive motivation by lengthening territorial yodels. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124: 74-81.

• Mager, J.N., Walcott, C., and W.H. Piper. 2010. Common Loons can differentiate between yodels of territorial neighbors from non-neighbors. Journal of Field Ornithology 81: 392-401.

LITERATURE CITED

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NOTES

MESSAGE FROM EARTHWATCHDEAR EARTHWATCHER,

Thank you for joining this expedition! We greatly appreciate your decision to contribute to hands-on environmental science and conservation. It is volunteers like you who fuel our mission and inspire our work.

While at Earthwatch, I’ve had the opportunity to field on a few expeditions, most recently in Kenya with one of my daughters. Each expedition has touched me deeply, and made me proud to be able to roll up my sleeves alongside my fellow volunteers and contribute to such meaningful work.

As an Earthwatch volunteer, you have the opportunity to create positive change. And while you’re out in the field working toward that change, we are committed to caring for your safety. Although risk is an inherent part of the environments in which we work, we’ve been providing volunteer field experiences with careful risk management and diligent planning for nearly 45 years. You’re in good hands.

If you have questions as you prepare for your expedition, we encourage you to contact your Earthwatch office. Thank you for your support, and enjoy your expedition!

Sincerely,

Scott Kania President and CEO, Earthwatch

Earthwatch U.S. 114 Western Ave. Boston, MA 02134United States

[email protected] earthwatch.org

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