Field Report From Crew Leader and MS Student Parker Levinson:
The B-009 field team has made it to McMurdo! It’s always a little tricky getting down to Antarctica, and this year was no exception. Some members of the team were routed through Sydney, Australia on the way down to New Zealand, resulting in some very long travel days. They were able to explore the Sydney Harbor (while following COVID-19 protocols) during their long 10-hour layover.
We finally all made it to Christchurch, New Zealand and met Tuesday morning on our way to the clothing distribution center where we received our extreme cold weather gear. Up until that point, most of our interactions have been through email or Zoom, so it was really great to meet everyone in person and start gearing up for the season.
B-009 crew at the Christchurch Clothing Distribution Center awaiting their “Ice Flight".
From left to right: Mairan Smith, Parker Levinson, John Hobgood, Brandon Davis,
Morgan Anderson, and Avalon Conklin. Photo Credit: Fellow USAP participant.
Wednesday was our scheduled “Ice Flight”. After a very early morning, we checked-in all our luggage and boarded the C-17 (US Air Force transport plane) to fly to Antarctica.
Some of the crew (from left to right: Mairan, Avalon, Parker, and John) on the C-17 awaiting takeoff.
Photo Credit: Brandon Davis.
However, due to very minor mechanical issues, they decided to delay the flight a little over 24 hours so we all unloaded and went back to the hotel. We were able to catch up on sleep before exploring Christchurch. Luckily, we had a very seamless flight day on Thursday and made it to McMurdo Station by the evening!
Crew members (from left to right: John, Morgan, Mairan, Avalon, and Brandon) pose in their Big Reds
having just landed in Antarctica with the C-17 in the back. Photo Credit: Parker Levinson.
Now that we’re all on the Ice, let’s introduce the crew!
Avalon (she/her) graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz in June 2022 with a degree in marine biology. She has spent the last year assisting in research projects on elephant seals and California sea lions at Año Nuevo Reserve and is excited to apply her experience a little further South. When she isn't outdoors, she enjoys writing and painting.
Brandon (he/him) graduated with his Masters in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 2019. He has a wide variety of field experience from studying weasel moult patterns to looking at how lynx use certain resources. This is his second season working with B-009, and he’s excited to be back on the ice!
John (he/him) graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Montana State University. Prior to completing his degree, John served 6 years in the United States Air Force as an Aerospace Propulsion Engineer. He recently worked as a research technician studying how anthropogenic barriers affect macroinvertebrate communities in freshwater systems. In his free time, John enjoys playing with his dogs, hiking, looking at trees, sarcasm, and well-made breakfast burritos.
Mairan (she/her) graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington where she studied the diet of urban raccoons and opossums. She has since worked on a range of field projects including trapping bobcats and setting up trail cameras this past year with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. On the weekends Mairan enjoys playing cribbage, finding the best bagels around, jumping in cold water and reading!
Morgan (she/her) graduated from Montana State University in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in fish and wildlife management and ecology. She has worked on projects studying American pika, anadromous fish, and White-tailed Ptarmigan. In her free time, she enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, and running sled dogs.
Parker (she/her) is a current masters student on the project studying the factors that influence how many pups are born each year. She's worked on a variety of population monitoring projects from leatherback sea turtles to Adélie penguins. This is her fourth season in Antarctica, and she's looking forward to another great year! In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, playing volleyball, and doing jigsaw puzzles.
Enjoying a sunset in McMurdo before the 24-hour daylight begins. Photo Credit: Andrew Thurber.
The next week is full of trainings and gear prep as we get ready for another pupping season. After all the travel, it’s nice to get back into a work routine and settle into this unique continent!
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