Big Bend Specialist Certification 4/09/2017

Dave Scott organized a Track and Sign Specialist Certification at Big Bend National Park, Texas on April 8-9, 2017. Specialist Certifications are arduous. Participants have to answer 57 very difficult questions over 2 days. Two evaluators (1 standard and 1 external) are present at Specialist Certifications to ensure reliability and consistency. Casey McFarland served as external evaluator.

We saw the tracks of 34 species, including 17 mammals, 7 birds, 5 herps, 4 invertebrates, and the marks of a tumbleweed being blown down a sandy wash. We spent both days on the western portion of the park and camped in Cottonwood Campground. See the photos below, there were some really fantastic tracks.

Congratulations to Dave Scott, who earned specialist in his second region. Also congratulations to Jason Kleinert and Chris Hyde who earned their first specialist certificates!

A big thanks to Dave Scott for organizing this certification. I also want to thank Price Rumbelow and Jon Anderson for assisting.