Where have I been? On a grand quest for knowledge of fishes!
I spent the last seven weeks travelling extensively to capture all the sunfishes in the genus Lepomis. (Yes, it technically was a ‘fishing trip’ but it was for work. I swear!)
I knew I needed to physically analyze specimens of each species to ensure I was able to create a quality identification guide. Capturing specimens from different populations allowed me to gain detailed photos of characteristics that are not available for purchase or even supplied in other guide books. Now I have thoroughly collected and analyzed all the recognized species within the entire genus Lepomis! (All specimens were placed in a holding tank for photographs and data collection before being safely released.) There is a melanistic squirrel cheering for me in Wisconsin; I just know it!
This guide will be free-to-the-public. Yes, FREE! We here at Koaw Nature are all about spreading knowledge and assisting people to gain a better appreciation of our natural world. The Patrons of Koaw Nature donate because they understand the power of the work we’ve accomplished and what the future holds. #natureknights
I am in the process of finishing the last bits of research, typing up identification pages for each species as well as including a guide on hybrid identification. And for as much time as I’ve spent sloshing through swamps, wading in rivers and catching specimens from various impoundments, I’ve spent even more time at the computer researching and creating graphics. Let me tell you…I’d prefer to be swatting mosquitos from my nose while knee-deep in muck rather than stuck at a computer! (I’m sure many of use feel that way in this work-from-home era.) Alas, in order to pull quality outlines of specimens from my photos and making professional-quality graphics, I have been clicking within the Photoshop and Illustrator applications for countless hours…countless hours!
During the trip I put more than four-thousand miles of driving behind a wheel, fished in eight different states as well as the District of Columbia and caught hundreds of fishes of more than forty-five species. It was an incredible trip that was very fruitful, not just for me, but also for the people who will benefit from the guide in the future.
I was only planning on being gone for three or four weeks and it ended up being seven weeks. Time just seemed irrelevant on the trip; I only forced myself to drive back to Virginia so that I could get my vote in for Election Day. (Psst! It seems we will have a much better ally of Nature (and rationality) coming to office in a couple of months!)
What’s next?
As I mentioned, I have to finish this guide. There will be at least thirteen pages dedicated to individual sunfishes on Koaw.org as well as a similar number of videos produced. The videos will be dropping on the Koaw Nature fishing channel that is still yet to be created. I actually have a few videos already produced for the channel but I’m being patient on the release. That’s a quality I’ve gained in my old age—good old patience.
I’m sitting on footage for at least two or three videos for the Koaw Nature channel. I should probably get on the production for that. One video will have me lying down with a beautiful northern cottonmouth.
Oh—I also captured all the esocids (pikes) in North America while on my trip. So I’ll be recreating and upgrading my current guide so it’s a more practical tool.
Alas, I have once again written too much. I must go stare and click inside a Photoshop application for more countless hours!
Cheers! -K
