venezuelan odyssey

pics from the 2005 field season in northern venezuela studying phylogenetics (whatever that means) of desert birds with adriana rodriguez, a phd candidate from u. of missouri-st louis. the study involved blood and feather sampling different populations of six endemic species to determine if the populations had genetically diverged into subspecies due to spatial separation. we began in the northwest near coro, on the paraguana pennisula, our next site was near barquisimeto. then a couple days off in caracas and on to isla de margarita.




taking blood samples with adriana in the field


during banding in coro we had torrential rains and flooding; 3-4 ft in the streets of adicora. here we are cleaning our nets after they were swept away by floodwaters. the house had a couple inches of water on the floor for the entire week (notice the water seeping through the walls of the house). oh the joy of field work!!!


adriana's little jeep did its best with the conditions, but needed help occasionally.

the amazing troupial, the national bird of venezuela






ooo la la hot stud. drawing blood from a brown headed parrotlet












andrew and the girls; dr. virginia sans, me, and adriana on the ferry back from isla de margarita

at the airport with adriana before my departure