The beginning of 2023 is the perfect opportunity to re-evaluate how I am getting on and prioritise tasks for the new year.

My wallaby poster and survey are up for final review this month which means that soon I will be able to circulate and start collecting data. It hasn’t been the easiest journey; I think I have done 5 or 6 different drafts of it all! I am happy with it all as it is now though, so it has been worth it. I am looking forward to seeing the data it collects.

We will also soon be finding out if MWT has access to the calf in 2023. If MWT does receive then I have the green light to begin researching wood mouse ecology. It is my aim to find out if wood mice have potential to breed on the small island and what impacts they could have on ecology – good and bad. 

Since long tails were eradicated from the island there has been an increase in ground nesting bird activity, but a decrease in birds that would prey on mice and long tails. The mice would also spread seeds and potentially provide other microhabitats, increasing biodiversity. It is a very early-stage project but makes me very excited!

I have also accepted a role in assisting with the State of Nature document currently in draft. I will be helping with any GIS work that is required to illustrate species abundance and any other spatial data. I enjoy learning more about this software because of the interesting applications that it has in conservation monitoring.

In December I finally decided on a masters course that I would like to pursue after finishing my undergraduate degree. This level of organisation has settled me because now I know exactly what I need to be working on to be accepted onto the course! And I have a year to do it! I will be continuing to work on my coding and research on my now designated “Self-development Wednesday” – not very catchy, but very handy now that I also have a part time job. I will be working from home on this day where I can improve skills independently.

So, it is a busy 8 months ahead of me, but I know it is going to fly by. I am also sure that there are going to be all sorts of amazing opportunities along the way as MWT celebrates their 50^th anniversary.

As usual, be sure to follow my Instagram page for more updates @rachels_placement and feel free to send any questions to rachelsmith@mwt.im