Hi everyone! Today was a busy day in Belize! We started off the day strong with some bird watching from the station veranda from around 6-7 am followed by a delicious breakfast of eggs, beans, and papaya. Dr. Solomon and Dr. Evans revealed our first big project theme: camera trapping! Camera traps are motion-sensing cameras that take pictures of animals that cross in front of them. It was up to us to discuss as a class what scientific question we would address using camera trapping and how we would go about testing it. We decided to look at how the impact of human disturbance via the presence of man-made trails affects the biodiversity of vertebrates (mammals and birds) surrounding Las Cuevas.

After developing our methodology, we hit the trail. Each student in the class was responsible for setting up one of the 14 camera traps. Seven of us set up cameras in disturbed areas (along the trail) and seven set up cameras in undisturbed areas (50 steps off the trail). I set up a camera trap off the main road into Las Cuevas to the north of the station. Setting the trap required Dr. Solomon’s excellent machete skills to create a path through the thick underbrush.

While we were setting up the traps, we observed several new species, including green anole lizards, tailless whip scorpions, and a true scorpion (we maintained a safe distance). I also tried a new food today: termites! They actually weren’t awful to eat and tasted a bit like carrots.

We took a break from placing camera traps around noon for lunch, which was rice and beans, pico de gallo, avocado, chicken, and plantains. Side note: I’ve recently learned that rice and beans and beans and rice are two different dishes! Rice and beans are cooked together while beans and rice are served separately.

Plans for tonight include dinner followed by presentations. So far, I have yet to see an amphibian today, but maybe I will be able to find one around the station later tonight. I have met a new friend today though: the stingless bee or “Drunken Bayman.” It is called this because it tends to fly in a disorganized manner. It seems to be following me everywhere. Tomorrow, I am looking forward to another morning of bird watching and exploring the trails around the station a bit more. I have learned the safest way to flip logs which caecilians, salamanders, and frogs tend to hide under, so hopefully I will have an update with an amphibian sighting soon. That’s all for now!