A summer in the field with the Upper Mississippi Center

This summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Upper Mississippi Center (UMC) on a new project at Milan Bottoms, and it has been one of my favorite experiences at Augustana so far!

As a biology and environmental studies major with a minor in geographic information systems technologies (GIST), I was immediately drawn to the work being done at Milan Bottoms. I was especially excited about working on a project that was focused on protecting a local area that is home to so many species and habitats, especially an important roosting habitat for bald eagles. 
 

Every day was different

It is very hard to explain a typical day at UMC. Some mornings started very early in the field, collecting and analyzing water samples, conducting habitat assessments or monitoring birds. Other days involved analyzing data in the lab or preparing for our next trip into the field.

We spent plenty of time trekking through deep mud and tall grass, but every trip into the field brought something new to learn. I gained hands-on experience with water quality testing equipment, bat call analysis via Kaleidoscope acoustic software, camera-trap data management, and habitat assessments to better understand the species relying on Milan Bottoms.

A major highlight of my summer, and now into the fall, was working with bats. Using acoustic monitors, we recorded bat calls and activity to understand how different species utilize various habitats. I was surprised by how much I learned about white-nose syndrome and its contrasting impacts on different bat populations. It was especially exciting to detect some of the species of conservation concern in our area, including the little brown bat. 

The best part was the people 

One of my favorite parts of my UMC experience was collaborating with other students in the field and lab. I built relationships with people I might not otherwise have met, and we learned a lot by working through challenges together.

A lot of the learning happened together. We were always figuring out new things in the field and helping each other. Those experiences made the internship feel very enjoyable and rewarding, which was much more than I expected.

I am also really grateful for my mentors, Kevin Geedey, Michael Reisner and Alyssa Klauer, who taught me so much and supported me throughout the summer. 
 

Moving forward 

My classes at Augustana greatly helped prepare me for this internship, but so did the relationships that I have with my professors. Over time, I learned to reach out, ask questions and express my interests early on. This helped me find opportunities that matched what I wanted to learn.

This experience also gave me a much better idea of what I might want to do after I graduate in spring. From this, I learned that I am even more interested in conservation, and the many different paths within it. I have become especially passionate about local projects and figuring out how we can better understand an area and find the best ways to protect it.

I started the summer with an open mind and a lot of ideas. I finished with new skills, lasting friendships and a better sense of where I want to go next. I'm looking forward to building on what I've learned as I finish my senior year and prepare for my career.