Out into the field by 8 am (a reasonably late start). I was teamed up with Menna and Paul and our job was to work with Chris and his team to set up permanent habitat transects at each camera trap site, record dominant species of plants at each site and take photos of the vegetation looking N, E, S and W.
By the time we had bush-bashed to each camera trap on foot then bush-bashed along each 20m transect at five sites our time was up for the morning and we returned home for lunch. It was interesting that the sites we were working at were not sites I had been to in previous years as I had not been involved in working with the camera traps before. Unfortunately we were unable to complete the task as the lidar technology (a Zebedee scanner) had a flat battery so that task was to be done later.
After lunch we were booked on a cruise up the Arthur River. This was another first for me this year and it was great to see such a pristine river flanked by dense forest so typical of Tasmania. We were lucky to see a number of sea eagles and their huge nests as we travelled along. Afternoon tea was supplied and augmented with delicious slice from Gail and Ian.
At the furthest point the boat docked and we were taken on a walk through the forest and treated to wine and nibbles at the half-way camp site. The guides Les and Greg gave a most informative commentary as well as taking time to chat to small groups of us during the afternoon or supplying pillows when required.
Home then to dinner which was supplied by one of the locals tonight. The wallaby pad-thai was fabulous and there were accompanying dishes as well. Gail supplied dessert of passionfruit slice, caramel slice, strawberries and blueberries.
My homework for the night was to ID the plants we had collected in the morning and begin the botany wall for the week.
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