Please take a moment to check out my photo of Duncan Brake and vote!
Thanks!
Nocturnal Lights Image Contest
Also take a moment to sign the petition to keep white sharks protected.
Best Fishes,
Jillian
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Shark Savers Community Blog
Check out some of my sharky articles from the Shark Savers Community Blog
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sharky Images and Articles
The American Elasmobranch Society is a non-profit organization that seeks to advance the scientific study of living and fossil sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras, and the promotion of education, conservation, and wise utilization of natural resources. I was honored to have one of my images selected to be the official 2011 AES postcard.
One of my other images was selected for the 2012 Calendar. This is an amazing organization and I am thrilled to be apart of their conservation and education efforts.
Also check out my article " Ghetto Shark Fishing," in the September/October issue of GAFF Magazine. The story was based on one of blogs and describes an encounter in Bimini, The Bahamas with some illegal shark fishing gear.
One of my other images was selected for the 2012 Calendar. This is an amazing organization and I am thrilled to be apart of their conservation and education efforts.
Also check out my article " Ghetto Shark Fishing," in the September/October issue of GAFF Magazine. The story was based on one of blogs and describes an encounter in Bimini, The Bahamas with some illegal shark fishing gear.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Everglades Biology: Gator Bites and Bull Shark Noodling
When the alarm blared at 6 am I opened one eye feeling like death warmed over. The late arrival into Miami, the early wake up and the jet lag from being across the pond for 3 months had left me with the kind of exhaustion where you are beyond sleep. I asked myself why I scheduled this shoot? The reason: I love the crew and it involved bull sharks! Enough said. Plenty of time to sleep when you are dead, or so they say. Along with bull sharks the shoot was set to include alligators, a critter that I have no experience filming and was keen to get up close with. Yes, another animal with large teeth.
Phil and Kirk arrived to pick us up, camera gear was loaded and off we went in a half awake blur. We drove for an hour before arriving at our home away from home for the next four nights, a USGS houseboat. Yes, a houseboat. Upon arrival we sighted a literal “houseboat, “ television, barbeque and dinning room included-not our boat. Our boat however, was not as bad as it had been described. I was told people might sleep in a tent and that there was no shower. Upon further inspection the tent story was in fact true, but there was a shower. I will admit though, that I did not use it.
I hopped on the boat to give a hand moving our floating home to a dock where all the equipment could be loaded. Standing on the swim step I threw the stern line to Duncan. We secured the boat and as I hopped off Dunk asked me if I had seen the gator? No, I had not. I looked and saw a chubby reptile floating in the sun just behind the boat. Apparently my feet were about a foot away. Nice warning me Dunk! No worries, Willy (we later learned his name) is a bit of a regular and seemed to prefer scraps from the fish cleaning station to my little toes.
Shark gear, gator gear, enough food for an army, toilet paper and our camera stuff made its way to the boat and was temporarily stowed for the journey. Not a lot of space to work with and as soon as seven other people boarded, real estate would become a hot commodity. We bid farewell to Phil and set off on our eight-hour journey to Shark River. The houseboat does not really make way, but instead cruises and we wanted to make sure we could arrive to our destination and anchor with some daylight left.
It is always crucial to know the bathroom situation when you are on a vessel. Our home for the next four days had an incina-toilet. Yes, this toilet burns human waste. Kirk gave us the run down and we learned about the little cup that goes inside, flushing and the burning process. This is a delicate machine and by the morning of day two it was off limits except for emergencies. There are porta potties strategically placed around the study sight and they were visited a couple of times. The other option was finding a place to squat over the edge of the boat. I have no problem peeing off the back of a boat and find it easier than dealing with most heads on boats. As I backed over the edge for the first time all I could think about was my white bottom suspended like the chicken that I have seen at alligator and crocodile feeding shows. I imagined a massive beast cresting the water and snatching me off the back in silence. I decided a higher perch than the swim platform would be a good idea.
In our travel induced exhaustion Duncan and I managed to forget towels, pillows and only grabbed one fleece between us. Our first night we shared the bottom bunk at the back of the boat. There were four bunks; two cots, a tent and the galley table that folded into a bed. The AC was incredible and I woke up freezing, finding Dunk with his jacket over his legs and layers of clothing on that he had not gone to bed with. We shared Monty (my stuffed traveling shark) as a pillow and did not get much sleep. When the rest of the crew arrived we gave up our bunk and were moved to the honeymoon suite-AKA the kitchen table. After dinner we took the table off its stand and removed the stand. The tabletop sat on the two bench seats and voila, bed for two. We used our duffle bag as a pillow this time and managed to use the jacket and blanket to keep us warm. Next to us was a cot and Kirk in his bunk on the other side. Phil took the second cot down the hall, with Adam and Robin in the tent on the back deck. Pat and Mike took the bunks at the back and nine people enjoyed a slumber party on the boat. Going to bathroom at 3:00 am was like trying to navigate a minefield and resulted in a bumped head and stubbed toe. Ahhh, field research!
My previous experience with the Everglades involved an airboat, a guide with about five teeth wearing cutoff denim shorts and two Florida panthers. We were crammed onto the airboat with ten other tourists (I do not consider myself a tourist being that I live in Florida) and braced ourselves for the action. Our guide ripped around corners before stopping to inspect an alligator at the surface. Said gator immediately b lined for the boat just like Pavlov had rung his bell. The alligator played his role accordingly and posed for the, “snap, snap” of cameras. Our attention was drawn away when a woman asked the guide, “ is that a wild cat? ”
Before looking up I was thinking maybe there are feral cats out here –good luck as a gator appetizer. We all looked up and saw the dark feline on top of the dyke that runs through parts of the Everglades. This was no small kitty, but a Florida panther; often believed by many to be an urban legend. On cue as though ready for a National Geographic Serengeti run, the animal set off. I have been told that these animals require seventy square miles and only come together to mate. Knowing this, I was shocked as a second cat climbed up over the bank and moved along the dyke. No way was this happening. The guide radioed back to base and they all laughed. In seventeen years as a guide he had never seen a panther and his ear-to-ear grin showed off his five glorious teeth. When we returned the base we all recounted the tail to the others, so that his story would be validated. Digital cameras also helped, showing images to the doubters.
I was expecting this trip to the Everglades to be slightly different, being that our captain had all his teeth. Anytime you are going to be filming a new animal it is exciting and also a bit nerve wracking. When Duncan and I were doing a scout on the Rainbow River in central Florida we asked our colleague what to do if you encounter a gator? He said, “ you bump them just like a shark if they come around, but they usually don’t bother.” I have done my share of establishing my space to a large shark that is encroaching and do not think twice about it; the thought however, of doing this to a gator feels very uncomfortable. I feel like I have a strong understanding of how sharks move and behave, having spent thousands of hours in the water with them. Alligators are a whole new ball game.
This was set to be a busy trip with hefty ambitions to accomplish in three days. Funding for research can be difficult to secure, so it is necessary to make the most out of opportunities that allow for collaboration. The lab at Florida International University is exceptional at working together to benefit the various members in their different focus areas. The houseboat acted as a base for the researchers to work from with their designated small boats being launched everyday. Robin led the dolphin team. Pat, Mike, Duncan and myself we usually on the film boat. Phil and Adam shared the gator and shark boat because sharks are done during the day with gators being worked with after dark. The footage will be used for an interactive kiosk at the Museum of Discovery in Miami, Florida before national distribution. Very excited to be a part of another education program.
On our first day we ventured out with Robin to look for bottlenose dolphins. I have seen many wild dolphins, but never along the mangroves, using them as tools for foraging. We sighted several groups and Robin took photographs in order to visually identify them. She knows many of the dolphins and knows where they will be hanging out. The rest of the crew arrived later that evening. Dr. Mike Heithaus was there as host for an interactive video kiosk to be shown at the Museum of Discovery in Miami and eventually throughout the United States. His PhD candidates Phil and Adam were there working on their respective projects and Kirk was our captain, mechanic, engineer, gator catcher, shark wrangle and pretty much anything you need guy.
The bull shark work that is being done includes catching and tagging juveniles. They are found further up Shark River than the larger sharks, using the mangroves as a refuge. Sharks are cannibalistic and juveniles are not safe from adults, even those genetically related. The mangroves provide a nursery until they are large enough o survive in the open ocean. Bull sharks through the process of osmoregulation can tolerate brackish and fresh water. This process allows them to maintain an internal water concentration regardless of their environmental conditions. They have been found hundreds of miles up freshwater rivers and have gained more of a monster reputation for their presence in unexpected bodies of water.
The goal was to film a juvenile being released, but this was far easier said than done. Mangroves release tannic acid, which gives the water an iron yellowy brown color. The soft silt bottom is easily disturbed and the places with shallow clear water are often in the deep shade of the mangroves. One slight step to get the shark in the right spot and a cloud would rise. We would move as quickly as possible to avoid being overcome by the blob; more often than not we were defeated, sent back to our vessel in search of a new backdrop. We maneuvered, held sticks, stood on one leg, cursed a bit and went up to our armpits in dark water, but managed to get a few shots. That is one of the reasons I love filming nature though, there are always challenges that force you to get creative. It is nothing short of an adventure each time.
Snook behave better than bull sharks. I learned this as we joined Dr. Jen Rehage and her crew for some electro fishing up river. Electro fishing allows the team to capture many fish quickly and efficiently without having to hook them. The stunned fish are held in a large tank on the boat. They are measured and tagged (PIT tags that are inserted under the skin) before being released. We needed to get a release shot of a snook and this meant that I needed to go for a swim. Everyone staying high and dry had ideas about where I should film, but I wanted a place that I could stand and see bottom. The fish team knew a rocky spot that they thought would be perfect. I slipped on my Riffe cryptic blue camo wetsuit (not exactly camouflage in this environment) and lowered myself into the water. Mike asked if I want some white sharks in there with me. “ At least I would know what I am working with. I am good with great whites.” It’s the water moccasins that I was worried about, not gators or bull sharks.
To film the snook I needed someone in the water to do a release. Jen hoped in and received a fish from her crew. She is floated in open water, well not actually open, but she was not pinned against the mangroves like I was. We worked together to get some beautiful shots of our cooperative snook and I began to relax. Jen said they swim their all the time and she assumes her students will let her know if a gator is headed her way. I passed the camera back on the boat and took a mini swim. The water was lovely and I actually wanted to stay in a while. I was shocked at my new found sense of comfort, but I guess it all what you are use to.
Filming alligators was a bit easier than the bull sharks, although shooting at night always poses a series of challenges. The first being that it is dark out and in the Everglades there is absolutely no light pollution. Working on a white boat where people are shinning massive spotlights and all wearing headlamps, aside from causing temporary blindness, can create harsh hot spots and shadows. The two teams split up as the sun went down and headed down our respective routes with a rendezvous point at the end. Adam briefed us on how the events would play out and defined everyone’s roles. We wasted no time in spotting a pair of red eyes floating just above the surface. At that point I am contemplating horror stories about young adventurers being picked off one by one by an overgrown reptile lurking in the mangroves.
As we slowly approached our target everyone was quiet and Kirk sat poised on the bow ready to pounce like a cat. Snatching an alligator is no easy task, especially in the dark among snarled mangrove roots. In one quick move the snare was around the gator and the notorious death roll began. A second snare was placed around the gator’s mouth. Kirk and Adam lift the alligator into the boat and quickly secure the mouth shut with tape. Now this may sound a bit brutal, but it is for the protection of the animal as well as the crew. Of course this is not the most comfortable experience for the animal, but the knowledge that is gained will help alligators and other species that call the Everglades home, to survive and thrive. I asked if it was a male or a female and Kirk grinned, stating that Adam would let me figure that out later. Oh boy!
Being the comedian that I am, I decided to name our little gator Einstein because Adam said they do not usually catch the really savvy animals. When I finished getting my shots I took a moment to really look at Einstein. Gators, like sharks, get a bad rap. The detail in its skin is remarkable; each scoot placed perfectly. The skin is soft to touch and the belly is a beautiful cream color. The most incredible part was the eye; not the cold space I expected, but gentle, almost soft. I studied Einstein for a long time, figuring this might be the only chance I get to be this close to a wild alligator. Powerful remnants of a past existence on the planet, they really are an amazing feat of evolutionary engineering.
Back on the houseboat each gator was worked up just like a shark. They are measured, weighed, DNA and blood samples are taken and the sex is determined. Unlike sharks, there are no obvious external sex organs, so one must do some internal investigation. When the time arrived to determine whether Einstein was a lady or not, Adam rolled up his sleeve and asked if I was ready? Sure. He lifted the rear end of the animal and showed me the slit where the cloaca was. He instructed me to insert two fingers and to tell him what sex I think it is. Not something I get to do everyday, so in the name of science I went for it. The area was smooth, so I stated that it is a female. Winner! Adam was so excited that I expected a gold star for my deduction. Einstein is a little lady.
The next gator is maneuvered for it’s workup and I am called upon once again to determine the sex. I insisted that Duncan might want to have a go, as it is something everyone should experience once. I got the, “ no way in Hell,” look from Dunk and role my sleeve up. He has just gotten back from the other boat making a last check for gators nearby our base and was not expecting to walk in on his fiancé with her hand up a gator. I reached in this time and my fingers met an obstruction. As I removed my fingers the penis followed and the gator proceeded to pee on my hand. Excellent. We didn’t even have dinner, Hell I didn’t even know his name. I will not describe the comments and jokes that followed, but allow you to use your imagination. Needless to say there was no shortage and they continued for the rest of the trip.
The last day we set off early to make our way back to port. A leisurely cruise, as the gorgeous Everglades slipped away and the ocean landscape took over. Back at the port I moved to a place on the dock where four or five people had gathered and were pointing. There were four manatees in the marina including a very small calf, nuzzling next to its mother. As I watch the mother and calf, a large manatee surfaced right below me. That walrus nose peaked into the air and the massive scars on its back shone white. Such a gentle creature and a beautiful moment tainted with the ever-present reminder of human destruction.
Burning poop, alligator cloacae, dark and scary water, electrocuted fish and a giant slumber party, pretty much sums up this adventure and I can’t wait to do it again.
Phil and Kirk arrived to pick us up, camera gear was loaded and off we went in a half awake blur. We drove for an hour before arriving at our home away from home for the next four nights, a USGS houseboat. Yes, a houseboat. Upon arrival we sighted a literal “houseboat, “ television, barbeque and dinning room included-not our boat. Our boat however, was not as bad as it had been described. I was told people might sleep in a tent and that there was no shower. Upon further inspection the tent story was in fact true, but there was a shower. I will admit though, that I did not use it.
I hopped on the boat to give a hand moving our floating home to a dock where all the equipment could be loaded. Standing on the swim step I threw the stern line to Duncan. We secured the boat and as I hopped off Dunk asked me if I had seen the gator? No, I had not. I looked and saw a chubby reptile floating in the sun just behind the boat. Apparently my feet were about a foot away. Nice warning me Dunk! No worries, Willy (we later learned his name) is a bit of a regular and seemed to prefer scraps from the fish cleaning station to my little toes.
Shark gear, gator gear, enough food for an army, toilet paper and our camera stuff made its way to the boat and was temporarily stowed for the journey. Not a lot of space to work with and as soon as seven other people boarded, real estate would become a hot commodity. We bid farewell to Phil and set off on our eight-hour journey to Shark River. The houseboat does not really make way, but instead cruises and we wanted to make sure we could arrive to our destination and anchor with some daylight left.
It is always crucial to know the bathroom situation when you are on a vessel. Our home for the next four days had an incina-toilet. Yes, this toilet burns human waste. Kirk gave us the run down and we learned about the little cup that goes inside, flushing and the burning process. This is a delicate machine and by the morning of day two it was off limits except for emergencies. There are porta potties strategically placed around the study sight and they were visited a couple of times. The other option was finding a place to squat over the edge of the boat. I have no problem peeing off the back of a boat and find it easier than dealing with most heads on boats. As I backed over the edge for the first time all I could think about was my white bottom suspended like the chicken that I have seen at alligator and crocodile feeding shows. I imagined a massive beast cresting the water and snatching me off the back in silence. I decided a higher perch than the swim platform would be a good idea.
In our travel induced exhaustion Duncan and I managed to forget towels, pillows and only grabbed one fleece between us. Our first night we shared the bottom bunk at the back of the boat. There were four bunks; two cots, a tent and the galley table that folded into a bed. The AC was incredible and I woke up freezing, finding Dunk with his jacket over his legs and layers of clothing on that he had not gone to bed with. We shared Monty (my stuffed traveling shark) as a pillow and did not get much sleep. When the rest of the crew arrived we gave up our bunk and were moved to the honeymoon suite-AKA the kitchen table. After dinner we took the table off its stand and removed the stand. The tabletop sat on the two bench seats and voila, bed for two. We used our duffle bag as a pillow this time and managed to use the jacket and blanket to keep us warm. Next to us was a cot and Kirk in his bunk on the other side. Phil took the second cot down the hall, with Adam and Robin in the tent on the back deck. Pat and Mike took the bunks at the back and nine people enjoyed a slumber party on the boat. Going to bathroom at 3:00 am was like trying to navigate a minefield and resulted in a bumped head and stubbed toe. Ahhh, field research!
My previous experience with the Everglades involved an airboat, a guide with about five teeth wearing cutoff denim shorts and two Florida panthers. We were crammed onto the airboat with ten other tourists (I do not consider myself a tourist being that I live in Florida) and braced ourselves for the action. Our guide ripped around corners before stopping to inspect an alligator at the surface. Said gator immediately b lined for the boat just like Pavlov had rung his bell. The alligator played his role accordingly and posed for the, “snap, snap” of cameras. Our attention was drawn away when a woman asked the guide, “ is that a wild cat? ”
Before looking up I was thinking maybe there are feral cats out here –good luck as a gator appetizer. We all looked up and saw the dark feline on top of the dyke that runs through parts of the Everglades. This was no small kitty, but a Florida panther; often believed by many to be an urban legend. On cue as though ready for a National Geographic Serengeti run, the animal set off. I have been told that these animals require seventy square miles and only come together to mate. Knowing this, I was shocked as a second cat climbed up over the bank and moved along the dyke. No way was this happening. The guide radioed back to base and they all laughed. In seventeen years as a guide he had never seen a panther and his ear-to-ear grin showed off his five glorious teeth. When we returned the base we all recounted the tail to the others, so that his story would be validated. Digital cameras also helped, showing images to the doubters.
I was expecting this trip to the Everglades to be slightly different, being that our captain had all his teeth. Anytime you are going to be filming a new animal it is exciting and also a bit nerve wracking. When Duncan and I were doing a scout on the Rainbow River in central Florida we asked our colleague what to do if you encounter a gator? He said, “ you bump them just like a shark if they come around, but they usually don’t bother.” I have done my share of establishing my space to a large shark that is encroaching and do not think twice about it; the thought however, of doing this to a gator feels very uncomfortable. I feel like I have a strong understanding of how sharks move and behave, having spent thousands of hours in the water with them. Alligators are a whole new ball game.
This was set to be a busy trip with hefty ambitions to accomplish in three days. Funding for research can be difficult to secure, so it is necessary to make the most out of opportunities that allow for collaboration. The lab at Florida International University is exceptional at working together to benefit the various members in their different focus areas. The houseboat acted as a base for the researchers to work from with their designated small boats being launched everyday. Robin led the dolphin team. Pat, Mike, Duncan and myself we usually on the film boat. Phil and Adam shared the gator and shark boat because sharks are done during the day with gators being worked with after dark. The footage will be used for an interactive kiosk at the Museum of Discovery in Miami, Florida before national distribution. Very excited to be a part of another education program.
On our first day we ventured out with Robin to look for bottlenose dolphins. I have seen many wild dolphins, but never along the mangroves, using them as tools for foraging. We sighted several groups and Robin took photographs in order to visually identify them. She knows many of the dolphins and knows where they will be hanging out. The rest of the crew arrived later that evening. Dr. Mike Heithaus was there as host for an interactive video kiosk to be shown at the Museum of Discovery in Miami and eventually throughout the United States. His PhD candidates Phil and Adam were there working on their respective projects and Kirk was our captain, mechanic, engineer, gator catcher, shark wrangle and pretty much anything you need guy.
The bull shark work that is being done includes catching and tagging juveniles. They are found further up Shark River than the larger sharks, using the mangroves as a refuge. Sharks are cannibalistic and juveniles are not safe from adults, even those genetically related. The mangroves provide a nursery until they are large enough o survive in the open ocean. Bull sharks through the process of osmoregulation can tolerate brackish and fresh water. This process allows them to maintain an internal water concentration regardless of their environmental conditions. They have been found hundreds of miles up freshwater rivers and have gained more of a monster reputation for their presence in unexpected bodies of water.
The goal was to film a juvenile being released, but this was far easier said than done. Mangroves release tannic acid, which gives the water an iron yellowy brown color. The soft silt bottom is easily disturbed and the places with shallow clear water are often in the deep shade of the mangroves. One slight step to get the shark in the right spot and a cloud would rise. We would move as quickly as possible to avoid being overcome by the blob; more often than not we were defeated, sent back to our vessel in search of a new backdrop. We maneuvered, held sticks, stood on one leg, cursed a bit and went up to our armpits in dark water, but managed to get a few shots. That is one of the reasons I love filming nature though, there are always challenges that force you to get creative. It is nothing short of an adventure each time.
Snook behave better than bull sharks. I learned this as we joined Dr. Jen Rehage and her crew for some electro fishing up river. Electro fishing allows the team to capture many fish quickly and efficiently without having to hook them. The stunned fish are held in a large tank on the boat. They are measured and tagged (PIT tags that are inserted under the skin) before being released. We needed to get a release shot of a snook and this meant that I needed to go for a swim. Everyone staying high and dry had ideas about where I should film, but I wanted a place that I could stand and see bottom. The fish team knew a rocky spot that they thought would be perfect. I slipped on my Riffe cryptic blue camo wetsuit (not exactly camouflage in this environment) and lowered myself into the water. Mike asked if I want some white sharks in there with me. “ At least I would know what I am working with. I am good with great whites.” It’s the water moccasins that I was worried about, not gators or bull sharks.
To film the snook I needed someone in the water to do a release. Jen hoped in and received a fish from her crew. She is floated in open water, well not actually open, but she was not pinned against the mangroves like I was. We worked together to get some beautiful shots of our cooperative snook and I began to relax. Jen said they swim their all the time and she assumes her students will let her know if a gator is headed her way. I passed the camera back on the boat and took a mini swim. The water was lovely and I actually wanted to stay in a while. I was shocked at my new found sense of comfort, but I guess it all what you are use to.
Filming alligators was a bit easier than the bull sharks, although shooting at night always poses a series of challenges. The first being that it is dark out and in the Everglades there is absolutely no light pollution. Working on a white boat where people are shinning massive spotlights and all wearing headlamps, aside from causing temporary blindness, can create harsh hot spots and shadows. The two teams split up as the sun went down and headed down our respective routes with a rendezvous point at the end. Adam briefed us on how the events would play out and defined everyone’s roles. We wasted no time in spotting a pair of red eyes floating just above the surface. At that point I am contemplating horror stories about young adventurers being picked off one by one by an overgrown reptile lurking in the mangroves.
As we slowly approached our target everyone was quiet and Kirk sat poised on the bow ready to pounce like a cat. Snatching an alligator is no easy task, especially in the dark among snarled mangrove roots. In one quick move the snare was around the gator and the notorious death roll began. A second snare was placed around the gator’s mouth. Kirk and Adam lift the alligator into the boat and quickly secure the mouth shut with tape. Now this may sound a bit brutal, but it is for the protection of the animal as well as the crew. Of course this is not the most comfortable experience for the animal, but the knowledge that is gained will help alligators and other species that call the Everglades home, to survive and thrive. I asked if it was a male or a female and Kirk grinned, stating that Adam would let me figure that out later. Oh boy!
Being the comedian that I am, I decided to name our little gator Einstein because Adam said they do not usually catch the really savvy animals. When I finished getting my shots I took a moment to really look at Einstein. Gators, like sharks, get a bad rap. The detail in its skin is remarkable; each scoot placed perfectly. The skin is soft to touch and the belly is a beautiful cream color. The most incredible part was the eye; not the cold space I expected, but gentle, almost soft. I studied Einstein for a long time, figuring this might be the only chance I get to be this close to a wild alligator. Powerful remnants of a past existence on the planet, they really are an amazing feat of evolutionary engineering.
Back on the houseboat each gator was worked up just like a shark. They are measured, weighed, DNA and blood samples are taken and the sex is determined. Unlike sharks, there are no obvious external sex organs, so one must do some internal investigation. When the time arrived to determine whether Einstein was a lady or not, Adam rolled up his sleeve and asked if I was ready? Sure. He lifted the rear end of the animal and showed me the slit where the cloaca was. He instructed me to insert two fingers and to tell him what sex I think it is. Not something I get to do everyday, so in the name of science I went for it. The area was smooth, so I stated that it is a female. Winner! Adam was so excited that I expected a gold star for my deduction. Einstein is a little lady.
The next gator is maneuvered for it’s workup and I am called upon once again to determine the sex. I insisted that Duncan might want to have a go, as it is something everyone should experience once. I got the, “ no way in Hell,” look from Dunk and role my sleeve up. He has just gotten back from the other boat making a last check for gators nearby our base and was not expecting to walk in on his fiancé with her hand up a gator. I reached in this time and my fingers met an obstruction. As I removed my fingers the penis followed and the gator proceeded to pee on my hand. Excellent. We didn’t even have dinner, Hell I didn’t even know his name. I will not describe the comments and jokes that followed, but allow you to use your imagination. Needless to say there was no shortage and they continued for the rest of the trip.
The last day we set off early to make our way back to port. A leisurely cruise, as the gorgeous Everglades slipped away and the ocean landscape took over. Back at the port I moved to a place on the dock where four or five people had gathered and were pointing. There were four manatees in the marina including a very small calf, nuzzling next to its mother. As I watch the mother and calf, a large manatee surfaced right below me. That walrus nose peaked into the air and the massive scars on its back shone white. Such a gentle creature and a beautiful moment tainted with the ever-present reminder of human destruction.
Burning poop, alligator cloacae, dark and scary water, electrocuted fish and a giant slumber party, pretty much sums up this adventure and I can’t wait to do it again.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Amphibious Warrior Scuba Wear
Amphibious Warrior Scuba Wear ( AWSW)
I am proud to be sponsored by AWSW, a clothing company that makes a difference in shark conservation. Check out their facebook page for new designs and great gear!
AWSW
I am proud to be sponsored by AWSW, a clothing company that makes a difference in shark conservation. Check out their facebook page for new designs and great gear!
AWSW
Friday, September 16, 2011
I'm Back!!!
I did not realize how much writing meant to me until I was away from it for 8 weeks. I did my best to jot notes here and there, but with limited free moments, it took a permanent place on the back burner.
Duncan and I were on a shoot for 7 weeks in the Faroe Islands for the Sea Shepherd Ferocious Isles Campaign. It was an amazing experience and I cannot wait to share it.
I have several blogs that I am furiously working on and will post as soon as possible.
In the meantime please enjoy this yummy vegan chocolate cake recipe!
Best Fishes,
Jillian
YUMMY VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
Cake Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp distilled white or apple cider vinegar
Mix all dry goods together in a bowl and create a hole in the middle. Pour the liquid ingredients into the hole. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and bubble
(making a light a fluffy cake). Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased baking pan (round or square).
Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes.
Let cool.
Frosting:
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp soy milk
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
Pour the margarine, sugar and soy into a sauce pan and stir over low heat. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn off and continue to stir until sauce thickens. Let cool.
Pour glaze over cake and serve!
If you are feeling wild and crazy make another cake and use frosting in between the layers and over the top.
Enjoy this delicious, but healthier dessert!
Duncan and I were on a shoot for 7 weeks in the Faroe Islands for the Sea Shepherd Ferocious Isles Campaign. It was an amazing experience and I cannot wait to share it.
I have several blogs that I am furiously working on and will post as soon as possible.
In the meantime please enjoy this yummy vegan chocolate cake recipe!
Best Fishes,
Jillian
YUMMY VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE
Cake Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup warm water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp distilled white or apple cider vinegar
Mix all dry goods together in a bowl and create a hole in the middle. Pour the liquid ingredients into the hole. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and bubble
(making a light a fluffy cake). Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased baking pan (round or square).
Bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes.
Let cool.
Frosting:
1/2 cup sugar
4 tbsp margarine
2 tbsp soy milk
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
Pour the margarine, sugar and soy into a sauce pan and stir over low heat. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn off and continue to stir until sauce thickens. Let cool.
Pour glaze over cake and serve!
If you are feeling wild and crazy make another cake and use frosting in between the layers and over the top.
Enjoy this delicious, but healthier dessert!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
At the End of the Day -We're in the Shetlands
July 12-17 2011
The only time I have ever made reference to the Shetlands was in regard to the miniature ponies that they are infamous for. I will openly admit that it was never on my list of places to visit. I prefer warmer backdrops, but life throws you curve balls and I must say the Shetland Islands were a pleasant surprise.
When I step into an airport I mentally prepare for the following; charge for overage, lost luggage, lost plane, delayed flight, canceled flight, a sea of stressed out angry people and or being crammed into a small seat next to a person that does not fit in aforementioned small seat. A combination of any or all of these may exist, but I have found that if you go in expecting a disaster that anything short of that is a good day on the road. With all that being said, at least if I am dealing with those issues I must be going somewhere and it is all worth it for that “ seat in the sky.”
Duncan and I marched into Manchester Airport looking for the FLYBE counter. Not an airline I am familiar with, but figured going through smaller airports means more local airlines. We pulled out our passports and itinerary ready to make a quick exchange for our tickets. The nice lady behind the counter went through standard procedures and things were moving along swimmingly until she asked about bags. Here the wheels came to a grinding halt. Apparently we were not allowed ANY bags on our ticket. Interesting! “Sorry, you have not booked a ticket that includes bags, so you cannot have luggage. “ We laughed, as though she was making a joke. Her somber face clearly meant this was not the case. We expressed that we had to have our bags (all 4 massive cases) and attempted to solve the issue. She checked us through, but explained we had to go to a special counter to pay for luggage and get issued new tickets. On we go.
This is why we arrive 3 hours before our flights. This reduces the stress and panic feel that happens when a person behind the counter informs you that your bags can and will not be traveling with you. I began chatting with the woman about our bag situation. The main issue was that we did not purchase tickets that included luggage, tricky because we didn’t actually purchase the tickets. Her first assessment of the luggage fee came back approaching £800 ($1300.00). This is where I am removing my lower jaw from the floor. At this price we contemplated buying 2 seats on the plane for our bags, as it would have been cheaper.
Now let the negotiating begin. Duncan puts on his charm and options bounce back and forth like a ping-pong ball. Then the unpacking begins. There is nothing quite like straddling your opened suitcase, exposing your life to all passersby. We had tactical dry suits, diving gear, headlamps, tools, a full pharmacy and various other items of randomness strewed out like a yard sale across the terminal. This was our attempt at shifting wait on bags to further reduce the cost. Now this is what I do not get, why if 1 bag is 5 pounds under and another is 3 over, do I then have to take those 3 pounds and shift them? All bags are going in the same place are they not? It is also common protocol to bring one piece of hand luggage and 1 personal item on the plane. Duncan and I each had our backpacks and a Pelican hard case for our laptops expecting that this might be the one thing we had done correctly in our packing. Wrong, only 1 bag as carry on luggage. Now we must attempt to squeeze 2 hard cases in our luggage along with everything else that is in the current yard sale being held at the FLYBE counter, terminal 3 Manchester Airport. The FLYBE lady holds steady, but with some coercion we managed to break her. Going once, going twice, sold for £450 ($711.00)
At this point we are both exhausted and unsure of what exactly has just occurred. We must rush to deposit our freshly repacked bags and get through security to our gate. Arriving 2.5 hours before our flight has been sucked into a black hole and now we wait at security with just under an hour before the wheels will come up on our flight into midget pony land. I stand waiting in line at security like a soldier ready for battle. I have stripped my laptop and hard drives from their cases, my liquids and gels are in their standard issue Ziploc bag and my shoes are off. Once through, I gather all my belongings and move to a clear area to strategically put the puzzle back together. I do not stand at the end of the belt, slowly retying my shoes and painstakingly placing my gels and liquids back in their assigned seat. I get annoyed with the people that do. Get your stuff and move along. They make seats just at the end for you to put your life back together, so use them!
There is some justice to the debacle that occurred with our luggage; however, we have been given a free snack voucher for the flight! Sweet, free pack of $3.00 peanuts. Life is good. Again, think about that “ seat in the sky.” We find our seats and say goodbye to Manchester on a short flight to Aberdeen, Scotland. A very brief layover that involved a magazine purchase and a snack (I slept through the flight and missed my free snack opportunity valid only for that flight) filled our time in Aberdeen and we were off again.
A quick flight where the plane gathers sufficient altitude as the stewardess is asking everyone to put their seats and tray tables in the upright position and we are descending towards a runway that ends at the sea. No room for error here. The landscape is dramatic, with steep cliffs decorated with white birds and green rolling hills disappearing into the horizon. Our local fixer Davey was waiting with the thickest accent I have encountered in a while, making Duncan's “ Scottish, “ accent seem more American than mine. The hour long drive from the airport to our base in Lerwick was a blur of gorgeous green countryside with stone houses nestled into the hills, piles of peat stacked, sheep and Shetland ponies. I will admit I was a complete tourist when I saw my first one, squealing like a little kid.
Lerwick is a quaint little fishing town, quiet and sleepy. The people are rugged and hard working, worn from years of salt air, harsh winters and the raw wilderness that surrounds the town. Summer here is not as most people would think, with the sun making occasional appearances, but nothing to write home about. Although Davey commented that if he was not working on said sunny day, he would have his lounger out on the back lawn. I was wearing pants, a fleece and a jacket. Ironically his glorious summer day felt like November in New England to me. I guess it is all in what you are use to.
Fishing is way of life in Lerwick and has been woven into their history and culture farther back than history was written. Brightly colored vessels, remnants of a Viking past, look like enlarged bathtub toys lining the docks and waterfront. None of which looked as though they could handle much more than the turbulence of legs moving inside the shallow waters of a bath. The craftsmanship of each vessel defines not only the fishing culture, but also the pride and hard working nature of the community. The Shetland Islands can be rather inhospitable and it requires a hearty soul to thrive.
The streets of Lerwick are small and winding, a challenge for the passenger vans rented to carry our crew around. Fish & chip shops line the streets with names like, The Happy Haddock (I am guessing he is not so happy anymore). Other shops are filled with any knitted item a person could possibly want and Shetland pony paraphernalia. The people are very accommodating and friendly.
Outside of Lerwick the “city life,” quickly disappears and wide-open farmland consumes the landscape. Windy roads with only room for one car are the freeways of this island, evidence of a much slower pace of life. They are not without major amenities, but life’s seems less rushed, less hectic. Despite the cold climate the smiles on people’s faces are warm and welcoming. People are outside enjoying the summer and going about their lives as they do each day.
Duncan and I went in search of some scenic beauty shots outside the main harbor and found ourselves in towns like Scalloway and Twatt.. My main concern was finding Shetland ponies as I only had a quick glimpse as we passed by them on our way from the airport. Lush green hillsides slipping into deep blue locks, with cows peeking up to see what the commotion is, not pausing their 15 hour day of chewing. Not even the animals seem to get worked up or concerned about much. The sea is dark and cold with little seal faces popping up to say hello and see if you might have a free snack. The ocean smells crisp and rugged, of seaweed washed on the beach and weighs heavy in the air. It is not like the ocean in Florida or The Bahamas, it is a unique aroma that stays in your lungs when you take a deep breath in.
We find some ponies that, to my disappointment, do not seem interested in admirers at all. Our day passes and we are making our way back to base when we spot 2 faces at the edge of road peering over a fence. We park quickly and move the cameras. We creep slowly as to maybe catch a quick moment, but there is no need. These ponies seem more interested in us than we are in them. A handful of grass (lush green stuff that I assess to be tasty) and we are lifelong pals. They pose, taking all the right stances that a tourist would want, most likely professionals at this game! For little ponies, they have big personalities and big teeth.
Our first encounter with the Shetlands ends after just 5 days, as we board our vessel and begin the 16 hour journey to the Faroe Islands.
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