Hi
everyone, I am Austin Nash and this summer is my first at RMBL. It was still
quite snowy when I arrived here on May 20th and I cannot wait to
watch spring unfold around me.
I love being outdoors and whether I
am fly fishing, trail running, or wildlife watching I am quite content.
Observing the marmots of the East River Valley has been a treat and I am
excited to continue my work in the field.
As
snowstorms have come and gone I have seen the landscape and the marmots
themselves change quite a bit. Some days at the beginning or end of a storm,
with snow lightly falling, the marmots will do no more than stand next to their
burrows before retreating back inside. However, on warm sunny days I have seen
rambunctious yearlings play boxing and wrestling! I have especially enjoyed
seeing my neighbors Stitches, Campfire, and Kite sitting on the porches of the
cabins next to mine as I do the same.
I am originally from Los Angeles, about three
minutes from the beach, but the mountains have always been a part of my life. I
started downhill skiing at 4 years old in the Sierras. In college I have
enjoyed much closer access to the mountains and the wonderful ecological
gradients they hold. I just finished my first year at the University of
Colorado at Boulder, where I study Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and have
begun getting to know the Rocky Mountains and its wonderful wildlife. In high
school, I conducted field research on the impacts of stormwater runoff on Giant
Kelp and the effect of recreation on wildlife activity and diversity. I have
also worked hands on with Nurse Sharks as a research assistant in Belize. With
the marmots, I am looking at how parasites and stress affect the probability of
a marmot alarm calling. Working with the Blumstein Lab is a precious opportunity
and I can’t wait to learn from all of my amazing labmates.
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