#7. Stargazing

Nothing puts things into perspective than looking far into the deep reaches of space and realizing just how small we all are. I borrowed a planisphere but never got around to memorizing more than the basic big dipper and Orion constellations. I have spent countless nights sitting on the front porch and enjoyed watching the moon rise above the trees. Away from the glow of city lights I had front row seats to the milky way galaxy and shooting stars streak across the sky (I always missed meteor showers because of timing or clouds). Sometimes the cheapest and easiest therapy is to tilt your head 90 degrees upwards towards the heavens and stare in open-mouthed at the beauty of the stars and space.

Top 10 things I will miss

Today I completed my wildfire pack test! I walked with a 25lb pack for 2 miles in 30 minutes (no running allowed, it was much harder than it sounds). This completes my requirement for my wildfire red card- making me eligible to participate in prescribed burning with a fire crew. Since we are planning on burning a couple of pastures here at the refuge this winter, I have received my fire gear and can now help burn.

#8. The peace and quiet

Being from the capital city I am more than familiar with the hustle and bustle of city life. A year out here with its simplicity, while haunting at first quickly became my escape. I routinely left my bedroom window open and grew accustomed to the sounds of birds chirping in the morning and coyotes howling in the evening. I retreated deep into the prairie where the sounds of traffic faded away. There I was able to find quite and comfortable spots- an iron bridge by the creek, a 20ft tall dirt pile or under a large tree on the abandoned river road to do some meditation. During a year sprinkled with some heartache and homesickness, nothing was more therapeutic than closing my eyes, breathing slowly and using that time for mindfulness and introspection.

Top 10 Things I'll miss about the Refuge

#9. Working Outdoors

I consider myself very lucky to be where I am now. I worked all year long outdoors on a large, native grassland prairie (who can often say that?!). I got more than my fair share of sunshine and fresh air. Even with all the sunscreen applied, I got the most tan that I have ever gotten this summer working in the field. I've  conquered my pollen and cedar allergies. I often reminisce about nesting season, when I lugged large bales of 50ft chicken wire and buckets full of bent stakes across the prairie to build fences around a hen and her eggs. Ahh, summer months spent riding around in the ATV or Polaris- listening to music, singing loudly (there's no one around for miles) and spraying herbicide on invasive rose. I loved doing the wildlife surveys, GPSing areas and just tromping across vast fields of little bluestem and switchgrass. It was great experiencing all of the seasons outside on the prairie- springtime bloom, summer heat, fall leaves and winter's bitter cold. After this, it'll be very tough transitioning to an indoor job.

It was a very long ordeal but I secretly enjoyed feeding the chicks.

 It gave me a chance to see them everyday

Checking traps for the small mammal survey

Finally! A picture of me and an APC

Holding and changing the radiocollar of a newly released bird

Top 10 things I will miss from this internship

The end is very near. My last day is January 27th. That's less than 3 weeks left! I am very excited about starting a new adventure after this internship but a little nervous about leaving the comforting confines of the prairie. There has been a lot of fun times and fond memories as well as difficult occasions that I had to endure during this internship. I've decided to look back and think about all of the great experiences and memories that I had here and compile a list of some of the things I will miss the most about my year here at the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR.

#10. The Sunsets/Sunrises

Nothing can beat the panoramic views here at the refuge and I have been lucky enough to witness some of these beautiful events. I have enjoyed countless foggy early morning sunrises and sunsets during my afternoon runs that looked as if the sky were on fire. The photos that I take can never do these scenes enough justice.

"Watch more sunsets. Cherish its beauty and marvel at its briefness. For every time is different than what it was before. It lives in the memory of your mind"