pristine Blacktail Pond, in Grand Teton National Park; a wooded site called Jackson; a mixed conifer and aspen site at Kelly; and Karns Meadow. Located in a marsh behind a gas station and next to a road, it's considered a distressed site, and is included to see how bird species respond to noise and habitat reduction.
Karns was also our least favorite site. We needed knee-high boots to get through it, and the mosquitoes were the size of prairie chickens. They can bite through several layers of clothing, so the only defense against them is to wear a raincoat. We groaned when Megan declared that it would be Friday's research site.
On Friday, when we arrived before dawn, the mosquitoes were still sleeping. So were the birds. But as they woke up, we suddenly had outstanding success identifying them. That morning, in the muck and mosquitoes, we identified 11 birds with banded legs--more than any previous group. I identified a song sparrow, who had the good grace to stand on a branch and show off his bands.
Here is a photo each from Blacktail Pond, Jackson, and Kelly:
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