Magnetic Island Field Trip

My field trip heading to Maggie Island to observe coral reef ecosystems
at low tide and observe the abundance of marine organisms

Townsville Harbor

Maggie Island!

Research zone - Picnic Bay

Tube Worm

Hairy-legged Hermit Crab

Sponge Coral

Low tide!Spiny Oyster buried in the sand

Dolphin Snail

Sponge

Playing with the little crab

Different Sponge Dolphin Snail with a huge FOOT!

Brown Algae

Knee deep in the algae...yuck!

Starfish with crazy snake-like legs

It is crazy to see how the organisms depend on each other for habitat survival

Road trip to Mackay

My first road trip was to Mackay, Queensland! Mackay is four hours south of Townsville, but still on the coast. We traveled down through Ayr, Bowen, Proserpine and finally Mackay.






















Mackay hosts horse races throughout the year... and I could use a couple hundred bucks in my pocket!




And all I had to do was serve champagne, and occasionally help myself to a glass :)





The people that attended the horse race got all dress up in their stelletos, bonnets and button-up shirts on this 90 degree day. I was hot in a tank top and shorts never mind walking in stelletos on the grass!





The nightlife was similar to Townsville - wild, crazy outfits. I ever saw a girl wearing a Minnie Mouse costume! What's up with that Australia? .. weird.





We were only there for one day and one night, so it was a quick road trip for some quick money...well worth it!

Yes, I go to school smack dab in the middle of the rain forest!

These pictures are the central locations of my beautiful campus :

James Cook University - Townsville

James Cook Drive - Sunbus route and all major traffic on campus

Student Mall

My residence hall - I live on the third floor, with a balcony just above the trees so I can see the beautiful mountain range.
Biology Building

The Library

Sitting areas between buildings keep you out of the sun, but still in the rainforest

Walking into the center of campus
Uni Club!
Because of the rainfall these sidewalk/bridges are everywhere on campus - If you look at the black color toward the base of the trees you can estimate the most common water level during this rainfall season.