Try to hunt down some “Tanglefoot” (=sticky substance used as an insect barrier). Supposedly the lab had a ton of it, but find out it’s all gone. Hit up researcher coming in a few weeks if she has any space; perhaps the folks could ship some out, too.

Watch a Spotted morning thrush outside of office window. Another lab had some rat babies hanging out in the corner behind the door; the mom came by this morning to relocate (i.e. carry each one individually in her mouth) outside.

Try to come up with a prototype to make some mesh bags to keep ants off the nectaries. Brought a bunch of mosquito netting and a needle and nylon thread. Time to refresh (er…, learn) some sewing skills.Also spy a Chin-spot Batis and a Lesser Honeyguide outside the lab.

News of dead giraffe nearby the station. During the late afternoon some folks had seen it stumbling, by early evening it was down for good. We check it out and at first I’m struck at the quiet sad beauty of seeing some so magnificent, lifeless.

But then the childlike, curious scientists decide see how long its tongue is and try to lift its (surprisingly heavy) head. Check it out periodically thru the late afternoon and night, but it’s still in tact.