Here at CNHP, we’re kicking off the summer with our 2017 Siegele interns! We are so happy to have Riley, Neal, Cora, Lauren, Toryn, and Kira join our team in the name of conservation science. This past week our interns had training, orientation, and were introduced to their mentors and projects they will be working on this season. These projects include a bat study, surveying rare plants, and researching rare animal species.
Because we know our interns love the outdoors, we took them on a “mini field day” to show them a day in the life of an ecologist! They spent time studying the region at Coyote Ridge Natural Area with a focus on occurrences of the rare and endemic Bell’s twinpod (Physaria bellii), a neat little plant with a very specific habitat range. We’re glad our newest CNHP members got a chance to enjoy the beautiful summer day while searching for the twinpod.
The interns are also becoming fast experts on our citizen science app, iNaturalist, where anyone can upload pictures of cool plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife species they see when out and about. We used the app dozens of times during the field day, and we are excited to see what plants and animals our interns will document during their projects this summer.
We’ll keep you updated on our interns’ work as the season progresses. Whether it’s exploring wetlands, romping around the Great Sand Dunes, or going on bioblitzes with other CNHP crew members, our interns are set to have an exciting and fun summer!
 |
| The interns and volunteers meet Bill and Diane Siegele and learn about the projects they’ll be working on. |
 |
| Some interns count Bell’s twinpod with an attentive Pam standing nearby. |
 |
| Talking about all things conservation science! |
 |
| Interns Riley and Neal with volunteer Lexie take in the beauty of Coyote Ridge. |
