SO MANY “THANK YOUs”

I am very happy that most of the things I was planning for this season are working out. It has been so far the BEST season at Kéköldi Hawkwatch, and I have everyone to thank for it.

First to Pablo for giving me this amazing job… Since the first day I hiked up to the tower I loved this place, and if I am still here it is because he hasn’t lost his patience with me. So I want to thank him for the responsibility he has given to me anf for believing in me. Hope to continue working with you, mae! We still have so much to do until the end of this season, so let’s keep up the good organization and we’ll be the best hawkwatch in the world! Pura vida, mae!

The volunteers are wonderful workers and have spent numerous hours in the roasting sun, counting the birds. We have now over 1.5 million raptors counted and there are so many more still on the way! So I want to thank: Carrie, Daniel, Lynette, Marcos, Oscar, Paul, and Vicky for their wonderful work. Rudy and Dimeiston, from Kéköldi have been there for us all the way and everyday as official counters, helping the volunteers with the constant training, organizing the observers, and counting raptors like crazy! Also some people that came to visit this season and helped us out: Lindsay, Christina, Daniel Martinez and Keith Larson. Thanks for your enthusiasm and I hope you can visit us again soon!

Very important indeed has been the help of Julie Tilden, a master’s student from Antioch College, who has been here all season… I want to thank Julie for all her work with the Peregrine Falcon migration, but also for her support and constant happiness and enthusiasm. She is also designing some T-shirts for the project and helping out with the data collection. Thanks for listening to me all the time! I hope those falcons continue to pass, so that you will have more than enough data for a great thesis. Also, thanks for the amazing pictures and the use of your camera! Most pictures presented on this blog are hers!

Finally, to my friends Joana, Carlos, Kate and Tony, who have come to visit me this season, taking me out of here for some deserved off days, which are so rare. Where would I be without you guys? Thanks to everyone for making Kéköldi Hawkwatch a place filled with life, and let’s keep watching that sky for more birds… we have to make it to 2.5 million, at least! :)