Pearl Beach Field Trip 2000

PEARL BEACH TRIP REPORT 2000
BY VICTORIA COLE (PUBLICITY OFFICER 2000 / CHITON ENTHUSIAST)

Only a short drive from Sydney, we arrived at holiday-like Pearl Beach.  We arrived at Sydney Uni's research station, "Warrah", on Friday night.  It began with us sitting around on the deck talking and eagerly looking forward to the weekend's planned activities.  Others took time to stargaze through Eric's telescope and make the most of the lovely clear evening. 

In what seemed like only a few hours later, we awoke for pre-dawn bird-watching.  With bird-watching books and "binos" in hand we trekked through the bush looking for birds.  As I discovered, it takes much patience, quiet and a keen eye (skills that I am yet to master!).  Eric pointed out and identified the calls of different species of birds.  Reaching the lookout, we stopped to admire the spectacular views over the Hawkesbury.

After returning from bird-watching we went down to Pearl Beach.  A group of us went snorkeling in the freezing water, but were unable to see much.  However, the real action was on the rocky shore!  Brendan showed us around the rock pools and enlightened us with details of the tulip-shaped "magic pool".  In the magic pool, all animals and ecology are correctly positioned.  We also helped Brendan collect samples of coralline algae for his chiton (Polyplacophora!) research.  Back at Warrah some of us sorted the samples and our eyes became trained to spot the tiny chitons.  Others went trekking through the wet bush in search of the allusive waterfall (where Colin nearly "nadsed" himself). 

After dinner we had the opportunity of seeing Eric's amazing slides of beautiful places around the world, the birds which inhabit them, and convinced us all to be bird ecologists!  Brendan inspired us further with his enthusiasm for marine ecology and his chiton research.

In the evening we played extremely competitive giant twister and enjoyed many variations to the game, including three-legged twister and relay twister.  Following twister, hackie-sac and cards were also played.

Our last morning we played a game of hide and seek with radio tracking equipment.  Three groups set out in different directions while the others attempted to follow with their tracking signals.  Eventually all were found, accidently bumped into or just returned.   If nothing else, we all learnt just how hard it is to radiotrack an animal (especially when the animal you are looking for is sitting in a café in town).

It was a great opportunity to get away, have fun, be with friends and enjoy biology!  It would not have been possible without the tremendous effort put in by Eric Dorfman, Brendan Kelaher and the BIOLSOC committee members. And most of all, a very big thank you to our Excursions Officer ? Heidi Tugwell and President ? James Perry!