The Pines Sage-Grouse Habitat

Finally.  I am at a computer with internet and have time to write an update concerning my thesis research.  A month ago, I learned that I did not recieve funding for graduate research.  I would have been hard pressed to come up with money on  my own to travel to Oregon where I wanted to do my research on the effects of horse grazing to sage-grouse habitat.  The past few weeks have been hectic as I have tried to pull together a new study. 

My new thesis research will entail studying cattle grazing on the Wild Horse Wind Farm.  They have set aside an area identified by Mike Schroeder from Washington Fish and Wildlife as prime sage-grouse nesting and brood rearing habitat.  Grazing is not to occur in this area.  However, due to fencing issues, the cows were inside the fence today. Hopefully, the fencing problem will get solved in the next week so I can make the comparison by September between grazed and ungrazed.  I also plan to visit the site next spring and see how a year of no grazing has benefited the habitat for sage-grouse.

While my study no longer involves horses, it does involve something I am still passionate about.  Range and habitat management.  Although I am bummed that I was not able to do my study in Oregon on the Riddle Mountain HMA, I am glad my funding did not come through.  I never heard back about getting my study sites set up and now the Kigers were gathered earlier than scheduled.  At least now, my study is local and more manageable.

Shifting Directions..

Wow.  What a day.  Last day of course work for the quarter (still have TA work).  I had a presentation this morning.  Saige was up crying last night.  She went through three changes of clothes this morning all while I was trying to prepare myself for the presentation.  I have been sick for the past week and a half.  Stressed.  Tired.  Sick.  But, I have completed my first year of graduate school.

Incoming....bad news to add to my day.  Due to the holes that were in my methods section (which I have now resolved, but to no avail), my proposal was not funded for research this summer.  What does this mean?  It means that I cannot afford, working minimum wage, to drive to Oregon where my original study site was to be located.

What am I going to do now?

Well, something local.  This means that my thesis may no longer pertain to free-roaming horses.  My fall back is hopefully to do something with livestock grazing in Kittitas County.  Or, there's the possibility I could do something with Yakama horses that have strayed off reservation land.  With any luck, I'll be able to turn around a new proposal and start research/data gathering within the next couple weeks....

Not to worry, my interest will always be with wild horses even if my research takes me elsewhere.  Though, I must admit, I have been rather burned out on the topic the last few months.

Stay tuned for what my future research might entail....

Poster Presentation

SOURCE, the Symposium of University Research and Expression, was a success!  I fumbled at first with the first few people, but by the end of the two hours, I was babbling away about my project proposal.  Too bad those judges don't wait until the last half hour to come grill you about your poster.  All in all, I think I did well enough. 

You can see more about my poster HERE in a previous post.

And, since my vision is awful right now (oncoming headache), it's time to go relax on the couch with the Saige-monster!