You call this Work?

Here are a few pics & videos from my recent research trip. As with most of the work I do, its underwater. In this case, underwater in Tortugas Ecological Reserve, part of the Dry Tortugas National Park and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off the vessel M/V Spree. We had one weather day, so I got to explore the fort and see if any migratory birds were hanging around enroute north.

The M/V Spree

On anchor looking at Fort Jefferson

Frigates gliding in the 30kt winds

More frigates

While snorkeling around the fort...I love frigate birds

Smooth trunkfish

Neon gobies

Christmas tree worms and coral on fort wall

Hogfish

As far as the work goes...we were focused on deploying cameras and hydrophones at some of the stations we survey. These were deployed to try and catch some grouper spawning. Last year this same array caught some cool stuff, including mutton snapper spawning and a Great White shark! We couple the gear on the bottom with SCUBA diver visual fish surveys, and fisheries sonar transects. Check out the video below showing some of the other fish species that are around TER....

Last but not least, on April 24, before I hit I-95 southbound, I managed to get out turkey hunting one last time. I headed out to Pender County to a friends farm that I had hunted openning day. I arrived at the farm at 6:15am, and was done by 7:00am... Can't beat it when a plan comes together. 22.5lbs, 11.5" beard, and matching very thick 1.5" spurs.

----Brian