Muchas dias en el campo

We've had more days out in the field, and luckily it's been mild weather. We've enjoyed the sun, but we're working in the forest plots, so we've also enjoyed the shade and breeze. As part of our journey, we have the fun of opening and closing gates as we pass through. We trade days to drive our work truck, and the other person has "fence duty." The main goal here is to open and close the gate without being stuck by any wires, or step in any cow or horse poop. Sometimes that is more difficult than you may think.

I was so excited to see at one of our study sites that my grazing plots are actually being grazed. We spotted cattle enjoying the forage in and around our sampling area. I did a little bit of a happy dance knowing that my grazed and ungrazed plots should actually show some differences next time I return to sample these permanent plots.

In addition to the cattle and horse herds we've seen at the study sites, we've noticed some more fauna diversity. Notice the hole I stepped into the other day in one of the sample plots. Apparently armadillo like to live in holes in the forest, and they are good meat. We have yet to ask Sonia if she can find an armadillo for us and show us how to cook it.

These discoveries of fun animals are a much needed break from our strenuous work. As you can see, Scott is laboring over a study plot, cursing his fortune that he had to come down to Uruguay. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it (and someone's got to help me get it done).

After a long tiring day (mentally exhausting, perhaps, but probably not physically, unless you count the gatekeeping job), we get rewarded once in a while by a ñandú sighting. These guys are still hilarious. The other day we spotted two, right near La Corona. I hopped out of the truck and for some reason, they weren't extremely skittish like usual (chalk it up to female pheromones or something). This guy (I assume) did, however, have to strut his stuff.

I wonder if he took my giggle for an insult...