Morning came quickly and several of us met randomly in the lobby for the continental breakfast. Again, some short goodbyes as we checked our watches for the correct time. Suoko was the first to leave around 6:30 am for a long flight back to Japan. Then Judy and Kathy left together. Judy to fly directly back and Kathy was renting a car to drive to Alberqueque, NM to meet her husband for another week's vacation. John, Judy, and I took the airport shuttle together. Jared, Junko, and Natalie were staying an additonal day and Tombstone was on their list of places to go for fun and excitement. I was not sure of the remainder of our team's departures for the day.
I was definitely ready for the long flight today because I knew it would bring me home. There were so many things to share about this expediton as my family was left without the use of a computer because I brought our only working computer with me to blog. So all of these words you have faithfully read during these past 10 days have gone unread in the Stockton household. I wonder if they would prefer to just read my blog or have me tell the multitude of stories in person. Ah, I know their preference would be to read it! Thankfully, my brother, Glenn, was able to repair Gary's computer towards the end of my venture. I actually received an email from Gary on Thursday with the good news that his computer was up and running.
Some of the last words of wisdom during this expedition were from John in the airport. He said the daily devotional for this day was "Let me see".....Yes, all of us on Team #4 of Caterpillars and Climate Change have been awakened in our vision of the world around us. Our eyes see the many wonders just waiting for us in the shrubs, bushes, and trees. To know a caterpillar is to know its host plant. And to know its host plant is to know the various other creatures that inhabitat it.
We are forever grateful for the many experts who took the time to teach us about the wonderful world of caterpillars:
Dr. Lee Dyer, Dr. Mike Singer, Angela Smilanich, Dr. Dave Wagner "Wags", Ryan Wagner, Mike Thomas, Peri Mason, Tim Farkas.
Checking last minute data....
Ever meticulous John checks on his specimens with Natalie, Judy, and Junko.
Busy and Hectic Lab Work
Dissections, cleaning of fras and separation of pupae, and processing.
Our Last Dissections
The last dissections of frozen caterpillars: Jared and Jenny found beads!
Last Dissection
This is my last dissection of a frozen caterpillar: no beads today!
Tarantula Finds Me During Pingpong Game
During a pingpong game, I hit the ball off of the table and it landed on the head of this tarantula! YIKES!!!
Researchers ONLY!!!
I have been officially declared a research assistant. I hope it doesn't go to my head! ha ha
Caterpillar Fras
This is a massive collection of fras after the baggies have been emptied. The fras is thrown out behind the lab in the grass.
Dissecting a frozen caterpillar
I am in the zoo lab dissecting a caterpillar looking for encapsulated beads.
New Educational Classroom
This is the new laboratory classroom built during 2009.
A Girl's Day Out
We hiked most of the way to Silver Peak which is 4 1/2 miles up the mountain. We estimate our walking distance to be at least 3 miles. Silver Peak is to the right of the highest range in the picture.
The Closest Store
This is the closest convenience store to the ranch or research station.
Caterpillar Anatomy
This diagram will assist in understanding the lab work we performed.
Georgeous View of Portal, AZ
This is a view we had on our ascent to Silver Peak.
Hummingbird Feeding
This is an often rare view of a hummingbird feeding.
Pupa Discovery
This is a pupa attached to a juniper tree branch.
Lab Work
I am searching for caterpillars among their host plants.
Collection of Insects
This collection is kept in the office of SWRS.
Hide N Seek
Can you see 3 heads poking out from the backside of this leaf?
"Not so friendly" visitor to SWRS
This rattlesnake was caught in the garage...looking for a tuneup?
Identical caterpillars in different instars
These caterpillars are the same species, the left one is an earlier instar (molted stage).
Caterpillars being reared in the zoo lab.
John came to process a batch in his lab.
Lab Work in the "zoo"
I am removing caterpillar fras, counting the caterpillars, and looking for pupae and parasitoids.
Cautionary Sign
This sign is posted along the main road to SWRS.
Injection of Beads for an experiment
Angela injected 10 red-dyed silicon beads into a caterpillar. Her experiment is to see if it will encapsulate the beads and reject them as a parasitoids.
Visitor for Breakfast
A coatamundi came to check out breakfast set out by Reed, Owner/Manager.
Natural cave formations
View from the main road.
AMAZING VIEWS!!!
View from near the top of Chiricahua Mountains.
"Bear Country
Kathy and I pose along South Fork.
Plotting of Caterpillars
Tedious counting of ferns at Rustler's Park
Cave Creek Ranch residents
These deer come every morning for breakfast.
Hummingbird eating breakfast
It's hard to catch a still photo of one of these guys!
South Fork Road
The start of our 2 mile walk, that really turned into 6 miles!
Laboratory at Southwestern Research Station
These are our caterpillar collections after 2 days. They are being reared to the pupa stage.
Caterpillar Search
I am "beating the bushes" in search of caterpillars.
Earthwatch Fellows
This is our group of 10 fellows.
Map of Arizona - SE corner of state
This map shows the location of Portal, AZ.
Cave Creek Ranch
This is the location of where we will sleep - about 1 mile away from SWRS.
Southwestern Research Station, Portal, AZ
This is the location of our TEAM 4 Expedition.
About Me
- Karen C. Stockton
- St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
- I have been an educator for 15 years and spent my entire career at Westgate Elementary. My 3 sons, J.R., Bobby, and Gary, attended here. This is my "home"!
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