Adventure Scientists

  • Home
    • About Us >
      • Mission and Values >
        • EIJ Resources
      • Annual Reports and Financials
      • Contact
    • Our Team >
      • Staff
      • Board and Advisors
      • Science Advisory Board
      • Join our Team
      • Our Partners
    • Press >
      • COVID-19 Updates
      • Films
      • Writing
      • Audio
  • For Scientists
    • Our Services >
      • Project Design & Feasibility
      • Project Build
      • Volunteer Recruiting & Screening
      • Full Project Management
    • Scientific Partners
    • Project Reports and Scientific Publications
    • Access Data Sets
  • For Adventurers
    • Volunteer Basics
    • Current Projects >
      • Mexican Coral Reefs
      • Wildlife Connectivity
      • Timber Tracking
      • Wild and Scenic Rivers
  • Our Impact
    • Past Projects
  • Blog
  • Donate
  • Home
    • About Us >
      • Mission and Values >
        • EIJ Resources
      • Annual Reports and Financials
      • Contact
    • Our Team >
      • Staff
      • Board and Advisors
      • Science Advisory Board
      • Join our Team
      • Our Partners
    • Press >
      • COVID-19 Updates
      • Films
      • Writing
      • Audio
  • For Scientists
    • Our Services >
      • Project Design & Feasibility
      • Project Build
      • Volunteer Recruiting & Screening
      • Full Project Management
    • Scientific Partners
    • Project Reports and Scientific Publications
    • Access Data Sets
  • For Adventurers
    • Volunteer Basics
    • Current Projects >
      • Mexican Coral Reefs
      • Wildlife Connectivity
      • Timber Tracking
      • Wild and Scenic Rivers
  • Our Impact
    • Past Projects
  • Blog
  • Donate

Welcome to Field Notes

Landmark Journal: Tony Mancuso

4/18/2014

 
Picture

Tony Mancuoso is a recent graduate from Mansfield University with a B.S. in geography and a minor in geology. As an undergraduate he concentrated his degree on outdoor recreation leadership.Tony grew up backpacking through the hardwood forests of Eastern Pennsylvania and now enjoys whitewater paddling, climbing, and backpacking.  For the past two years he worked as a raft guide and trip leader on the Lehigh River. He was a member of both the February and March Landmark crews. More from Tony can be found on his blog.

Picture
A large herd of pronghorn dines on the prairie.
From Tony:

Pronghorn:

Today was my first full day on the American Prairie Reserve. We spent the morning reviewing some of the technical aspects of data entry, and then went into the field in the afternoon. Not only have I never experienced terrain or a climate such as this, I have never spoken with anyone who has. The American Prairie Reserve lies between Phillips and Valley Counties; the two most sparsely populated counties in the contiguous United States. There are no words to describe the remoteness of this region. The lack of human influence here is exemplified by the abundance of wildlife. I have never seen so many wild animals in so brief a time. In our first day on the Sun Prairie, we watched a heard of roughly eighty pronghorn spring into the horizon.
Picture
Morning:
We were joined for breakfast today by a Downy Woodpecker, who understandably mistook the log sides of the White Rock Lodge to be a suitable locale for the practice of his pecking. A wind chill factor of -35˚F caused us to scrap our first attempt at hiking a survey transect. The crew from the ASC got us on the radio and issued what I’ve called in my notes the “0˚F Protocol”. If the daily high is not expected to get above zero degrees before wind chill factor, we are supposed to stay home and catalogue data.    
Picture
Grouse:
If I was forced to choose, I would think that the Greater Sage Grouse would be my favorite animal to see on the Shortgrass Prairie. They are a shatteringly striking animal in appearance. The contrast between shades of black on the belly and white on the wing and breast make this large upland bird unmistakable. However, one of the most developed camouflage patterns in nature hides this bird on the ground. With a spectrum of brown, tan and white along is back and shoulder, this bird can dissolve into the sage undetected by even the keenest vision.
Picture
Epilogue:
In total, I spent forty days living on the American Prairie Reserve. The place has evoked such an emotional response from me that it is hard to place my feelings down on a piece of paper. In my eyes, this is why the work of the American Prairie Reserve is so important. To restore and preserve a wild, native landscape is to invest in the future of our culture. People need a place that will challenge them to rise to the occasion; that will teach them how to swim through the sink-or-swim moments. To preserve the Prairie is to preserve ourselves.    

Find out more about the project and apply for a crew position on the Landmark page. Keep up with ASC by subscribing to ASC's blog, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter (@AdventurScience), Instagram (@AdventureScience) and Google+.

Comments are closed.

    Read the Landmark Notes blog:

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

Donate Now
STAY IN TOUCH
Picture
Adventure Scientists®
​PO Box 1834, Bozeman, MT 59771
406.624.3320 info@adventurescientists.org