week four

Week Four

Think it's about time I gave you a little insight into our work in the lab... 

A fantastic little office, somewhere I feel instantly at peace when opening my ears to the sounds of the forest (when the generator in not running!). At other times, the heat is unreal and we try our best to work efficiently, knowing that as soon as darkness falls the flies and mosquitos will descend on mass to harass our concentrated faces. It is the brain of our project, where decisions are made, equipment prepared, and each sample sorted and stored. Though the process of photographing every butterfly and recording all our data is a lengthy one, it is very rewarding to see the results of a hard collection day. 

In addition to the boxes of bags, rope, face masks, gloves, helmets... We have some new 'stuff' that who else but a pernickety scientist would get excited about - fresh envelopes, tubes and fitted labels, thank you Gabriela! How the small things can make research a million times easier. I don't want to know how much time we've spent before this cutting tiny pieces of paper to fit the tubes and making envelopes for the butterflies - futile tasks now history.

I suspect that some of the workers wonder what on earth we get up to in the lab, busying about with laptops, strange equipment, plastic cups, string and polystyrene take-out dishes (these we use to make waterproof houses for the temperature and humidity data loggers). I often explain (in somewhat limited Spanish) the purpose of these exercises and am pleased to say that many people take an interest, though some, despite my attempts, will still stand there looking blank and bewildered! I know that a majority do care as much about the project as our own well-being, which is a great relief. 

... on that note, I better get back to sorting butterflies! 

Saludos, 

​Tish

Butterfly Databasing