But not while holding birds….
Beware of curators brandishing sharp objects!
Early in the day, we head to the end of the island to set-up the trapping sites. Saipan is not large… in fact the entire island is about 2 miles wide and 16 miles long. We are going to set-up nets in an area that is predominately uninhabited; the entire area is peppered with very small farm areas and memorials to the Japanese victims of world War II.
Bonsai Cliff WWII Memorial
Driving distance from our hotel to the netting site is about 20 minutes or so by road and then we have to go off-road to get into the bush to set-up the nets.
This is a road; you just have to believe!
We all unload out of the car with machetes and pruning saws in hand –ready to make the road passable. This is when I find out about the one thing that I really don’t believe was adequately discussed with me prior to coming on this trip… boonie bees!
Boonie bees are a type of paper wasp that is highly aggressive. So as we are cutting back the over grown bush – 1-2 people have to stand ready with wasp spray. The wasps are small and they build their hives on the hidden underside of leaves. If you disturb the leaves – out come the wasps and they are not happy…. Needless to say once this was explained – I made sure I had the wasp spray with me at all times.
Boonie bees--highly aggressive, but notoriously camera shy.
We worked hard for the whole day. Much of the forest of Saipan is introduced species: a lot of vines and trees that grew after the native fauna was destroyed in World War II.
The field leading into the forest.
We spent the day chopping back brush, creating trails, and setting nets. At one point I was half-way up a small tree and using a machete to clear the brush above me. We got all the areas cleared for 8 nets and my arms are sore enough to testify that it was not an easy day.
Setting up the nets.
Fun times in the forests of Saipan!
Can't see the net? Neither can the birds!
At the end of the day – while we were setting up the last net, we got our first catch: a Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons)!
Rufous Fantail
To read more about bird conservation on Saipan, click here!
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