Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration and Pantex eagerly await word on the announcement of the winner of the 2014 Presidential Migratory Bird Federal Stewardship Award. Abstracts for Pantex and the two other national finalists are now posted on the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s web page for the Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds.
Good news has come our way once again!
Work with migratory birds nets U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service award nomination
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
Normally, I would not write what looks like an obituary for one of my study animals. Having worked in this profession for more than 24 years I have seen study animals come and go and have worked die-offs, where victims number into the thousands. Nor do I normally name animals, unless it is a band number, or perhaps an ear tag color-combination. Like many of my colleagues, I’m more of a “populations” kind of guy, than becoming focused on individuals.
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
This week I have a guest blogger, one that we have collaborated with on burrowing owl research. I will follow this up next week with more information on the research project itself.
Nancy McIntyre is Professor of Biological Sciences and Curator of Birds at Texas Tech University. She writes:
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
Recently a Pantexan couple were fortunate enough to see and photograph a strange mouse at their new home in my neighborhood north of Canyon. This mouse was “different” in that it had a very short tail. Their visitor was one of the most unique mammals in our area, and I was impressed that my neighbors had already properly identified it as a grasshopper mouse.
Article by Jim Ray, Pantex Wildlife Biologist/Scientist
We take them for granted. Bugs, insects, arachnids, mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates – the little guys.
Me personally – I can walk right up to a hidden rattlesnake that I am radio-tracking and record its location with a GPS Unit. I can let a bobcat out of a trap after we have poked and prodded him.
However, that spider that I am trying to remove from the wall in the kitchen – well, let’s just say that a sudden move by the spider is likely to cause a similar reaction in me.
