Report From Parker Levinson:
Christchurch, New Zealand: People frequently ask me how I feel about returning to Antarctica for another season, and, surprisingly, my answer is “a sense of relief and excitement”. We started planning for 2023 field season months ago, in early March, and have worked steadily since then to make sure we have everything in place for a productive time on “The Ice”. As soon as I leave the United States, I feel this incredible sense of relief; all of the hard work has paid off! True, we are not in Antarctica yet, but we’re on our way!
Now I start getting excited. I envision first stepping off of the plane and breathing in the dry, cold Antarctic air. I think about the snowmobile drives with beautiful, snow covered mountains in the distance. I remember how exciting it is when each technician tags their first seal pup. Of course, there are always hurdles and changes, but that’s part of what makes it fun to work down there - a never-ending logistical puzzle.
This season, we’ll be working out of McMurdo Station again, instead of from the field camp which we’ve had for more than 40 years of the project. Although working from Station increases our daily commute by a lot, it does have some perks. It provides access to showers, a frequent ability to do laundry, and an endless supply of delicious baked goods.
With some spare time, we headed over to the Antarctic Center and
snapped our first team photo. From left to right,
Rebecca, Kelsey, Parker, Abram, and Nate.
Before the field season gets underway, I wanted to take this time for the crew to introduce themselves and share what they’ve been up to....
Nate Jourdannais (he/him) grew up in Missoula, Montana and has worked as a wildlife research technician all over the state of Montana, primarily with ungulates (deer, elk, pronghorn). He’s currently enjoying Christchurch, New Zealand, taking in the views and enjoying new food. He’s excited to work in Antarctica for the harsh, unique, and diverse experience it will provide, and is looking forward to pushing himself out of his comfort zone and getting the opportunity to work hard in an entirely new ecosystem and part of the world. This is Nate's first year on the project, and first time in Antarctica.
Abram Brown (he/him) graduated from Montana State University in Spring of this year. He has previously worked in various field jobs including in Yellowstone National Park. In his free time he enjoys skiing and biking with friends. He is most excited to meet some baby seals and start his winter early in Antarctica. This is Abram's's first year on the project, and first time in Antarctica.
Kelsey Cronin (she/her) is a birder, biker, baker, and biologist deeply interested in how wildlife populations respond to threats like climate change and habitat loss. Though originally from Southern Oregon, Kelsey has lived in seven states in the past six years, traveling all around the West to assist on a variety of wildlife research projects. In her spare time, she enjoys creating memes, eating pastries, and reading food magazines. This is Kelsey's first year on the project, and first time in Antarctica.
Rebecca Ballard (she/her) grew up in Maryland but has spent the past seven-ish years based out of Montana, finishing a Wildlife Biology B.S. at the University of Montana and working a variety of wildlife jobs from studies on pika to bears to wolves. In her free time back home she likes to hike, backpack, roller skate, try a lot of different craft projects without ever getting too good at any of them, and hang out with her two goofy dogs. This is Rebecca's first year on the project, and first time in Antarctica.
And lastly, me. I’m Parker Levinson (she/her) - a graduate student on this project. This will be my 5th season down in Antarctica, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the seals again. My research focuses on why there are more seal pups now than in previous decades and how that might impact the population in the future.
We’re excited to share the journey with you - ups and downs - so stay tuned. Reach out to us on Instagram if you have specific questions!
- Parker Levinson (she/her), 2023 Field Team Leader and Montana State University Masters Student
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