Ware Lab Blog at Rutgers

Past Guyana Trip Day 3

Rest of the team arrived

We awoke to bad news that the Caribbean Airlines flight that as to arrive just prior to the flight the rest of the lab were on crash landed in Georgetown. Worse, it broke into two pieces and all incoming flights were delayed. We spent the day doing laundry and curating our material. We went over to the farm, and got caught in a nice rain storm. We came back and had Dal, rice and plantain for lunch. When our team arrived, better late than never, we went for a walk over the the farm and then to Splashmin’s.

Here’s Ian:

It has been an adventure so far, and we just got here. We survived the chaotic Caribbean airports (plane crashes, rough weather, rowdy crowds, endless lines). . . so the rain forest will be a walk in the park.

Here’s Liz:

Sixteen hours from my apartment to CEIBA. Sleeping on an airport floor waiting for the next available flight. Needless to say I’m running on fumes. PHEW! the hard parts over. Let the jungle fun begin :-)

Manpreet’s turn:

Oh my gosh, Guyana is so great. Everything is so green compared to New Jersey. It really is awesome. So cool. I am a little tired from the trip but I REALLY want to go around and see all the cool stuff.

And now Nicole:

Guyana is beautiful!! Happy we made it here safely:) Looking forward to a productive trip. Ohh and some more fun taxi rides with our driver!!!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Past Guyana Trip Day 2

Georgetown

Jessica and Melissa here. Today we rode with Waja to Georgetown. We were excited to get our permits, and be able to head to the field. But, since they were not ready, we’ll talk about the rest of our day. We ate pumpkin curry at Shanta’s on Camp Street. We saw people riding standing up in the back of a pick up truck, not holding on, just balancing.

We finally had internet access today! We updated our facebook status and called the rest of the troop that is coming tomorrow. We also checked our mails and the most important we download Angry Birds Season into the Ipad!!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Past Guyana Trip!

Guyana CEIBA July 26-28, 2011

Jessica: We have had a lot of luck so far! The weather has been warm and sunny, with afternoon rains at 3-4 PM. We have collected at abandoned farms, near a spring, along the edge of a tributary of the Demarara and in the forest around CEIBA. We have caught some cool Libelluloidea: Erythemis, Erythrodiplax, Macrothemis, Rhodopygia, and Pantala. We have had some luck with Aeshnidae: Coryphaeschna and a few others. Damselflies have not been sparse either, but I’ll leave that for Melissa to describe. CEIBA is a wonderful biological station. The food has been delicious, and the lodging consists of Benabs with beds and mosquito netting. There is outdoor plumbing, and filtered drinking water. Most especially amazing during our stay has been the assistance of our colleague, Dr. Goddfrey Bourne, whose knowledge of the animals and plants of Guyana has been most helpful to us.

Where are we?

6.29’57.75” N, 58.13.07.23” W. Elevation 19m

Madewini, Guyana

40 km SE of Georgetown, and 17

Melissa: well talking about damselflies ... mostly Coenagrionidae: Argia, Leptobasis and something I’ve never seen before ... Hope to see more damsels in Rewa!!

Today July 28th we caught the coolest thing, an Erythemis vesiculosa eating a Satyrinae butterfly .... it was amazing!!! It finish the poor butterfly completely in almost 15 minutes.... soo cool !! But I now I will let Dominic finish ...

Dominic: While the others are justifiably enthusiastic about catching so many insects that are exciting, beautiful and new, this being my first trip to the tropics, I am more interested in the general experience. Just seeing the trees and the sky is inspiring for me. All of the monkeys, agouti, fish, lizards, toads, and innumerable insects makes me wonder why Georgetown has a zoo. How could it be any better inside walls of the zoo than the outside?

Thursday, July 28, 2011