Bwanji!

In May and June of 2007, 13 undergraduate students from Northern Michigan University are taking a field course in Zambia. Most of the students are majors in the Biology department, and all of them will be doing short field studies of their own design while on the ground in Zambia. The group will be making a stop in London on the way, spending four days seeing Zambia/Africa-related British sites (Burton's tomb, Livingstone's artefacts at the Royal Geographic Society, the British Museum of Natural History, etc.) and adjusting to the time change. The course is being led by me, Dr. Alec Lindsay, a professor in the Department of Biology at NMU, and Dr. Jackie Bird - a parasitologist in our department. We have made this blog so students can hopefully post notes thoughts, pictures and discoveries to the world. This should allow classmates, teachers, family and friends to share in their insights and keep track of their travels. Not only that, but viewers of the blog can add comments to posts - please do! We would love to hear your thoughts. Zikomo!

23 April 2007

Elephant Behavior



What I Plan to Study:
While in Zambia, I plan to observe social groups and behaviors of elephants. I want to see if there are any common behaviors that are exhibited within the different groups and observe the size differences between the groups. Another passion of mine is ticks. I would love to be able to collect some ticks and identify some of the species in Zambia.

My Concerns:
My only concern is that I am afraid that some on the groups of elephants that I will observe will be at a far distance so I will not be able to closely observe their behaviors towards on another within the groups.

Image from following site: http://www.filetransit.com/download.php?id=32110

6 comments:

Dani & Jeff said...

Wishing all of you the very best on your adventures (from Gwinn-Sawyer Vet Clinic)!

Thanks, Jess, for getting us the Blogspot address! We can't wait to see you blogging.

Anonymous said...

Jessica....a passion for ticks?...you could have stayed here for that :) I will save some Yooper ticks just for you.

Jackie said...

Hey Jess-

The girls and I can't wait to read your blog page. We'll be tracking your travels on the map. Make sure you eaat all your beans & rice.

Love Ya,

Aunt Jackie

Anonymous said...

Jessica, Best wishes on a successful Zambia field experience. We look forward to hearing all about it once you get home. Darlene and the Flodin Road neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

hey jess.
hope you guys have fun. Please set up a blog as soon as you get to zambia. Be safe luv you

~Emma~
(your favorite cousin)

Anonymous said...

hey jess hope your having fun love you be careful ~Grandma Emma~