Ahoy Maties!

Greetings from the Rainforest! On friday we left Cairns after 5 days in town, recuperating from our camping trip, refueling and relaxing. (Although we did have class every day, plus we were all working hard on finishing up our Intensive Interview Projects.) While we were on the camping trip we were all supposed to break up into groups and conduct a interview/survey with either Uncle Russell, Darren and/or Imogen about an Australian Aboriginal issue. For example, one group was curious about the role of religion and spirituality in Aboriginal culture. My group was looking at the Aboriginal people's views on endangered species and species conservation. Uncle Russell and Darren were both very adamant that conservation was necessary and felt sad about the growing risk of extinction for the Sea Turtle and the Dugong, two species that used to be traditionally hunted by the Bandjin and other aboriginal tribes. Today the Bandjin people have enacted hunting limitations within their territory on both of these animals. It is already illegal for white Australian's to hunt Dugongs and Sea Turtles, but the Bandjin people feel that they have to do their part as well, and thanks to their preservation, both species' populations are doing well (at least within the Bandjin lands). A little way upstream, a population located in a place called Palm Island, have not done such a good job managing their turtle and Dugong populations - they are hunted without limits to the point where the animals flee if they hear a boat motor start. Uncle Russell and Darren admitted that this was selfish behavior and that something needed to be done. However things are looking up: the government is making big strides in starting to include aboriginal opinions and thoughts when it comes to new development projects, and any time a new project starts, the local tribes are consulted for their input. (to see if there is any sacred land, prime species habitat that needs protecting etc). 

Darren and Russell left us with inspiring words: even if the situation seems depressing and hopeless, if someone is doing something wrong, you need to stand up to them. Even if they get angry and fight back, you need to have your voice be heard. In my field of Environmental Studies it is sometimes hard to stay positive and true to what you believe in, especially at times when the situation gets tough. But it's always inspiring to meet people who still believe in the cause and are reusing to give up, even if it means taking it one small step at a time.

Sorry - I digress. To sum it all up, once we had collected perspectives from Uncle Rus and Darren, we returned to Cairns to figure out whether the rest of the Australian population (or at least the population in Cairns) had similar views. We had to come up with a short survey and then walk around asking random citizens on the street to take it. While the study was statistically insignificant and this was not a professional study, it was very fascinating to see the differences between the two societies. Most people in Cairns thought, yes, humans had had a negative effect on the environment, however most were not aware of specific pressing env. issues that existed in the country, nor were many involved in conservation projects or organizations themselves.  All the results of this project were collected and put into a powerpoint which we then presented to the rest of the group. 

So on friday we left for the Rainforest section of the program. Our first destination was Mission Beach. Along the way we stopped at Licuala State Forest for a short hike in the jungle, as well as a VERY rainy hike up Clump Hill. (Ironically, when Tony our AD had done this hike last semester with the SIT students during the Wet Season, the area had been hot and sunny. Just our luck that it was the exact reverse this time.) Here was when i realized the difference between "water proof" and "water resistant," and that my rain jacket and hiking pants were of the later kind :P Some people in our group also discovered the hard way that the rainforest is full of leeches and other things which like to bite. (Luckily I have not been bitten by a leech yet). However, throughout our time here so far we’ve seen a myriad of cool and unique wildlife including a cassowary! (I kid you not, it is the equivalent of a winged dinosaur. See picture below).

Cassoraptor-Velocawary

They are flightless birds, related to emus and kiwis and they have three long claws on the end of their feet that they use to kick out and attack predators with (including occasionally humans). People aren’t entirely sure what the crest on the top of their head is used for although some hypotheses are that they use it to pick up ultrasonic vibrations made by other cassowaries, and it also acts as a sort of battering ram, pushing away the oncoming vegetation as the Cassowary runs through the jungle. If feeds mostly on rainforest seeds and fruit and is the main disperser for many plants whose seeds are inedible to other creatures. So it plays a crucial role in maintaining rainforest ecosystems. All in all, a really cool bird. (My friends and I joke that it should be renamed, “Cassoraptor velossowary” after the dinosaur it resembles.) We also saw a Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo that literally hopped off the tree right in front of us and posed for several pictures. It was definitely not scared of people at all – such an incredible interaction with nature.

The Tree Kangaroo that landed right in front of us. (For an 

Here's what they look like from the front. So cute! (Thanks Google)

Impressively tall Kauri pine trees

Also got to see a Kookaburra! 

We've also had some less than savory experiences with nature. Once we stopped for lunch at a picnic spot that was swarming with March Flies. These flies are very similar to the Horse Flies we have back home in the states. And they love to take a bite at any people that stand still long enough. It was actually a rather humorous situation: watching everyone trying to eat lunch while stamping and jumping around trying to avoid the flies. But we managed to ditch the flies when we left for a hike down to a waterfall (see story below). But when we came back we discovered that our van was filled with about a hundred of them. A massive extermination attempt ensued with several people jumping on the bus and swatting at them with whatever tool they had handy. :P it was not pretty.  (The March Fly Massacre of 2012 will be remembered forever). 

The back of my friend Laura's pants - flies apparently love dark colors.

We spent the first 2 nights at this cute, hip hostel called Scottys, which was filled with a group of backpackers from the UK (my two friends who used to live in England, one still does, called them “chavs” aka “British white trash,” ha ha) but it was a really funky place and we had a good time there. (we had some epic rounds of mad libs both nights).

A plank stretched across the pool? What else are you supposed to do with it? 

After two days we headed towards the Atherton Tablelands (which we had visited during orientation). While we’ve been here, we’ve been exploring and learning a lot about environmental corridors, stretches of replanted vegetation that helps connect patches of forest that have been isolated due to logging/agriculture. Animals that are trapped in these remaining sections of rainforest are often cut off from other members of their species or parts of their territories, preventing them from mating or successfully finding food. But conservationists have started this trend of gradually replanting corridors of trees that provide safe passage for animals (and some plants too) to go from patch to patch. For the past five days we’ve been staying at Lake Eacham on the Atherton Tablelands, where we visited during orientation. We also got to visit another amazingly beautiful waterfall – Nandroya Falls, where we all went swimming. It was glorious and so refreshing! (Hopefully I’ll have some more pictures to show you soon!)

Swimming waterfalls - just another school day

Happy SIT Students :)

The other night we went spotlighting where we walked along the main road with a big spotlight and tried to spot nocturnal wildlife. It was a bit creepy but also really fun. We mostly had to rely on hearing instead of sight. We got to see some Coppery Brush Tail Possums and some cute little Bandicoots (see pictures below)

Copper-Brush Tailed Possum

Bandicoot

Side story: Three days ago I unfortunately woke up with a pretty bad scratch in my left cornea, which caused me to have to rush to the nearby Atherton Hospital. For some reason the pain was so bad that I wasn’t able to open my right eye either, so I was temporarily blind for most of the morning, until I got some medication and an eye patch (I got to walk around the rest of the day feeling/looking like a pirate. Don’t worry – plenty of pirate jokes ensued). Luckily I woke up yesterday feeling much better and when Meryl (a woman who works with Tony our AD), took me into Cairns for an appointment with an ophthalmologist that morning, I was told that my eye is already starting to heal, which is great news. Apparently in this climate, bacterial infections in the eyes run rampant, so it was a good thing I caught my scratch early. The doctor told me that he’d already seen 3 people this year who ended up losing the vision in one eye due to an infection. (yikes!) but I’m feeling much better now and hopefully it will only continue to get better. 

I can’t believe the semester is moving so quickly! It’s already been over a month and this time next month we’ll be at our ISPs. Speaking of which, it looks like I may have gotten an ISP studying penguins with a graduate student (Sandra Vogel) at the University of New South Wales! She’s looking at population dynamics of several different colonies in Jervis Bay and Bowen Island, which are off the coast of NSW (close to Canberra). Her research involves tagging penguins with microchips and checking for those that are already tagged, something that’s called “mark and recapture.” I’ll also possibly be helping her check burrow occupancy as well. I’m really excited since this is exactly what I was hoping to be doing for my ISP! I'll get to learn how to handle/catch penguins, check them for tags and also get a first-hand experience doing conservation field work. Dream come true! 

Here in Australia they're called "Fairy Penguins" cause they're so small! 

I've been out of the field for the past few days letting my eye heal up, so that's all the updates i have for now. But hopefully I’ll be adding some more pictures soon! We leave on Sunday to head back to Cairns for a few days before doing a quick turn around and flying out to Lizard Island for 10 days on Thursday. 

Yes - this is where we get to go to school :)

Also, shout-outs of congratulations to all my friends who have been accepted to study abroad next semester! I love you all even though it means it will be a year before I see you again, but I know you will all do great things and that you're going to have a fantabulous time! (I know I am!) <3  

Peace, so much love and keep your eyes peeled for any Cassoraptor-velocowaries! 

Katie