Who's idea was this anyway

On paper all field work looks so easy. Methods: Juncos were captured between December 1st and March 1st at baited mist nets and potter traps. Individuals were weighed, measured, and banded on capture... In reality, field work is far more complex because the essence of field work is what those two sentences aren't saying. In real life they should read: Juncos were captured between December 1st and March 1st in the dead of winter during all sorts of weather except heavy snow, rain, winds greater than 25mph, and temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit at baited mist nets and potter traps that were set up before dawn (ie. when it's still dark outside). Individuals were generally uncooperative, sometimes quite saucy, and pooped all over the place while being weighed, measured, and banded...

Ah glorious field work! Oh sure I complain but the alternative, some desk job, seems far more torturous. I love being able to handle birds, to get to know their personalities. Tiny little chickadees, for example, have a serious complex and think they are big and bad- little balls of hate when you get them in the net. Blue Jays on the other end of the scale are so calm. Besides I swear bird poop is good for the nails. And while my particular brand of field work means I risk losing toes and fingers to the bitter cold (is tingling and soreness in my fingertips a problem?) I will consider all lost fingers a badge of honor: I survived winter field work... okay, MOST of me survived winter field work.