Well, the weather isn't that good, but that doesn't really matter to me as I have a day off today. I'm being very lazy and just reading and blogging, keeping out of the rain. Sam, Nathan and Gosia are all working today. Gosia and Sam had a day off yesterday and Nathan still has a few more days work till he has a day free.
- Saturday 11th July 2009
I would have been leading the residential trip on a tour of the island, but as it was cancelled on the Friday due to a poor weather outlook predicted, I spent the day setting up a stock control spread sheet. Hopefully the formulas and conditional formatting will all work when new data is added?! Therefore, I didn't spend much time outside, but I can make up that time on my day off.
- Sunday 12th July 2009
Well, it is my day off today. So far I have been relaxing, reading my book and listening to the radio.
Since I started this placement in April, I have seen the island and its inhabitants change. At the beginning everything was new to me. I hadn't ever spent more than a day at a time volunteering for different natural organisations. I have volunteered for the local Arboretum near to my home, as well as volunteering for local wildlife groups. The Flat Holm Project, is my first full-time volunteering experience.
I will have spent four months here when I take my shore leave later this month. I will only have two months left of the six month placement. I've really enjoyed myself so far and have experienced lots of different activities that I can expect to encounter in this line of work. If anyone reading this blog is thinking of starting work in this sector, this "Trainee Warden" post is a really good opportunity to apply for. You will gain a great understanding of the activities and r
esponsibilities you would encounter in paid employment and there are plenty of opportunities to lead groups of different ages, in different activities to build up your confidence and abilities. I'm really hoping that this experience will put me in a good position to gain relevant employment and set me on the path to reach my ultimate goal of working in a National Park in the States or Canada.
Spending time on the island has allowed me to apply the knowledge I learnt in my degree course to the habitats present here. Watching the gulls through their breeding season has been thoroughly interesting. Their behaviour and voices change throughout the season from very manic, when nests are being built and eggs laid, to a more relaxed attitude as the chicks are beginning to be fledged. The likelihood of being "white washed" is reducing, but the chances of being kicked are still high.
The south-easterly side of the island, left for the gulls, has changed from a busy, crowd
ed, noisy and intimidating place to a quieter, calmer environment. Many of the nests, though not very nest-like to begin with, have become very flattened and indistinct as the chicks have grown and trampled them. The chicks can still be seen in the local vicinity of the nest and still make the same high-pitched squeak to gain their parents' attention. Even though most have made the transformation into larger and darker adolescent forms, from the cute white fluff-balls when first hatched, they are still quite cute.
It will be a shame to leave the island, but I will always remember my experience here and I still have two months left! Anyway I think I'll go and get some lunch now ... Standing by.
Since I started this placement in April, I have seen the island and its inhabitants change. At the beginning everything was new to me. I hadn't ever spent more than a day at a time volunteering for different natural organisations. I have volunteered for the local Arboretum near to my home, as well as volunteering for local wildlife groups. The Flat Holm Project, is my first full-time volunteering experience.
I will have spent four months here when I take my shore leave later this month. I will only have two months left of the six month placement. I've really enjoyed myself so far and have experienced lots of different activities that I can expect to encounter in this line of work. If anyone reading this blog is thinking of starting work in this sector, this "Trainee Warden" post is a really good opportunity to apply for. You will gain a great understanding of the activities and r
esponsibilities you would encounter in paid employment and there are plenty of opportunities to lead groups of different ages, in different activities to build up your confidence and abilities. I'm really hoping that this experience will put me in a good position to gain relevant employment and set me on the path to reach my ultimate goal of working in a National Park in the States or Canada.Spending time on the island has allowed me to apply the knowledge I learnt in my degree course to the habitats present here. Watching the gulls through their breeding season has been thoroughly interesting. Their behaviour and voices change throughout the season from very manic, when nests are being built and eggs laid, to a more relaxed attitude as the chicks are beginning to be fledged. The likelihood of being "white washed" is reducing, but the chances of being kicked are still high.
The south-easterly side of the island, left for the gulls, has changed from a busy, crowd
ed, noisy and intimidating place to a quieter, calmer environment. Many of the nests, though not very nest-like to begin with, have become very flattened and indistinct as the chicks have grown and trampled them. The chicks can still be seen in the local vicinity of the nest and still make the same high-pitched squeak to gain their parents' attention. Even though most have made the transformation into larger and darker adolescent forms, from the cute white fluff-balls when first hatched, they are still quite cute.It will be a shame to leave the island, but I will always remember my experience here and I still have two months left! Anyway I think I'll go and get some lunch now ... Standing by.
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