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Skálanes is a private sector nature and heritage centre within a 1250 hectare nature reserve in East Iceland, 16km from the nearest town of Seyðisfjörður. For the next 5 months (April -September 2011) I will be working as a Ranger on the reserve, undertaking practical management, monitoring wildlife and leading volunteer groups.

During my time at Skálanes I aim to try and keep a regular diary of my work on the reserve and my life in this beautiful and wild country. This blog is mainly aimed at my family and friends, but I also hope it will appeal to anyone who might be interested in nature conservation.

Friday, 29 April 2011

What a lovely couple...

Izzy and I sat and watched the happy couple this morning from the centre at Skálanes. We thought it was lovely how they were so obviously into each other and wish them all the best for their future together. We loved how they even paused on the steps to allow some photographs to be taken. As you can see from the photos I have posted below, I am talking about two of our local snipe and not the latest Royal Wedding (although we do also wish William and Kate all the best).



As Izzy described in her blog yesterday, we were out looking for an Arctic Fox den. We located the den up on the lower slope of the mountain and we will now monitor the impact that the fox has on the ground nesting birds at Skálanes. We also undertook some Fixed Point Photography, where 360° photographs are repeatedly taken at set locations each month over the season.  In the short-term it allows us to see the vegetation change and in the long term allows us to see how certain species (like the Lupin) colonise different areas.

Izzy is looking at putting together some Bird/Vegetation/Invertebrate transect methodologies and I'm currently looking at a field guide, risk assessments and other fun documents for the reserve.  Anyone who thinks working as a Ranger means being outdoors all the time should take a look at some of the paperwork!

Only 16 days now until we open... 15th May!

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