Comment by wowczarek
1 day ago
Well I'll be.
At least two of the authors are also avid chiropterologists, with an understood penchant for bunkers and other such spaces.
One summer in my late teens I sat with two of them in an urban park in NW Poland drinking beer, watching bats getting caught in a net half-submerged in water near a bridge and engaging in impromptu comedy with passers-by asking questions like "good catch? any fish?". Good times.
Engaging in field research is a wonderfully rewarding experience, a great way to spend time, meet people and do something meaningful at the same time. If you've never done it - do it. There are plenty of volunteering opportunities - you don't need to be a scientist. Birding, insects, marine life, whatever. Citizen science is also great, but if you get a chance to work alongside scientists, it gets even better. 10/10 good walk, unspoilt.
I love this!
> A ‘colony’ of Formica polyctena was found in January 2013, during winter counts of hibernating bats in the underground bunker.
And all makes sense
How did you get involved with field-working scientists, what initiated the social connection or desire to do so?
It's how I grew up. Both of my parents are naturalists and our home often served as a base camp for assorted weirdos counting, collecting or surveying things and I would have probably done the same if it wasn't for what this guy Torvalds unleashed in the 90s.
Where might one get started with citizen science as an outsider?
Nature clubs, in germany the BUND for instance. They organize guided tours and introductions, are full of enthusiasts and are happy for any newcomer to tell them all about the various ways to participate.
(This is also where ecology academics do networking)