REMEMBER:
Find me around the net:
http://www.transscendsurvival.org/
https://github.com/Jesssullivan/
Sketchup/trimble: Jess Sullivan_Overflow + aliases
Fred miranda: Jess_Sullivan
Soundcloud:
Cross Post: How to Query KML point data as CSV using QGIS and R
Here you can see more than 800 points, each describing an observation of an individual bird. This data is in the form of KML, a sort of XML document from Google for spatial data.
I want to know which points have “pair” or “female” in the description text nodes using R. This way, I can quickly make and update a .csv in Excel of only the paired birds (based on color bands).
Even if there was a description string search function in Google Earth Pro (or other organization-centric GIS/waypoint software), this method is more
robust, as I can work immediately with the output as a data frame in R, rather than a list of results.
First, open an instance of QGIS. I am running ~2.8 on OSX. Add a vector layer of your KML. “Command-A” in the point dialog to select all before import!
Next, under “Vector”, select “Merge vector layers” via Data Management Tools.
Select CSV and elect to save the file instead of use a temporary/scratch file (this is a common error).
Open your csv in Excel for verification! 
_
The R bit:
# query for paired birds
data <- data.frame(fread("Bird_CSV.csv"))
pair_rows <- contains("pair", vars = data$description)
fem_rows <- contains("fem", vars = data$description)
result <- combine(pair_rows, fem_rows)
result <- data[result,]
write_csv(result, "Paired_Birds.csv")
Tada!
-Jess
Cross Post: Visual NH Research Update :)
I’ll let the photos to the talking: welcome to my world! 🙂 !!!!
http://www.transscendsurvival.org/2018/06/08/visual-nh-research-update/
-Jess
Cross Post: Solar Upgrades!
(See in context: Solar upgrades!)
Incredibly, the hut we are working from actually had another solar panel just laying around. 🙂
This 50w square panel had a junction box with MC4 connectors, the standard for small scale solar installations. As I was unsure how to know when we are running low on electricity reserves, I decided to make some adjustments.
(Everything is still solder, hot glue, alligator clips, and zip-ties I’m afraid…)
I traded my NEMA / USA two-prong connection with two MC4 splitters, such that both panels can run in parallel (into a standard USA 110v extension cord that goes into our hut). This way we should make well over one of the two 35ah batteries-worth of electricity a day.
I also added a cheap 12v battery level indicator. It is not very accurate (as it fluctuates with solar input) but it does give us some insight about how much “juice” we have available. (I also wired and glued the remote-on switch to the back of the input for stability.)
🙂
-Jess
Cross Post: Research Year Two: Three Photos
To see this post in context: Click here!
The field season has officially started in Northern NH!
Male Common Yellowthroat warbler (COYE): This fellow is defending a small territory in a patch of open thicket. These warblers rely on early succession forest- patches of substrate that haven’t really grown in yet- to build cryptic, ground-level nests. They develop complex systems to divert/confuse predators away from their nests.
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler (BTBW): I was lucky to see this female. She is paired with a male who defends a large mature forest territory. They have quite a few BTBW neighbors, which makes for a lot of skirmishes among the males over land. The females are often silent and move very fast…
Male Mourning Warbler (MOWA): This is a rare bird here. Even more amazing, it is defending a territory in our research site- and trying to chase out a male COYE while doing so. The two species “share” resources, which means thy can’t stand each other. 🙂 Each time the male COYE sings near the MOWA, it gets berated and chased away- and vice versa. It appears the COYE isn’t budging either, probably because it hasn’t had this domestic, neighborly problem before.
-Jess
Cross Post: Gathering point data using Compass 55 on Apple iOS
Visit http://www.transscendsurvival.org/ to see this post in context! 🙂
Keeping track of birds is tricky!
Click here for our team’s workflow with Compass 55. From the Kml, we go into Google Earth Pro – ArcGIS Desktop (arcmap). QGIS is sometimes used too.
Note: because this is not a properly permissed WordPress installation, average HTML iFrames do not work. Visit to see basic internet document embedding.
Cheers,
-Jess
840 Watts of Solar Power!!!
See this post in context at http://www.transscendsurvival.org/
Equipment used:
Inverter/PWM Controller: http://a.co/fdl9YzI
2x 35ah Batteries: http://a.co/5JBIxTC
100w solar panel: http://a.co/5JBIxTC
We need power! While doing bird research in the wilds of northern NH, it became evident we needed electricity to power computers, big cameras, and phones/GPS units.
Below is a table of the system and our expected electricity needs:
| System | Solar 100w | 35ah universal (x2) | ||
| Ah per day: | 33.33333333 | 35 | TOTAL Ah Reserve: | 70 |
| V | 12 | 12 | Parallel wiring: | 12v |
| Wh in: | 400 | 420 | TOTAL Wh Reserve: | 840 |
| W | 100 | |||
| Cost | $105.00 | $64.00 | ||
| ah/$ | 2 | |||
| Sun Hour / Multiplier | 4 | 2 | ||
| Need/Day | Wh | multiplier | consump. in Wh = | 259.36 |
| Computer | 100 | 2.5 | 250 | |
| iPhone | 1.7 | 2 | 3.4 | |
| AAs | 11.2 | 0.3 | 3.36 | |
| Camera | 2.6 | 1 | 2.6 |
*The milk crate system below can charge a 100 watt MacBook Pro around 8-9 times from being completely empty.
**Remember: V*A=W, W/V=A, and Watts over time is Wh.
-Jess
Birding at Plumb Island!
While somewhat of a historical entry: (repost)
Below are some of the few photos I took while birding on may 5, 2018- GLOBAL BIG DAY! Be sure to read about it here: https://ebird.org/news/global-big-day-5-may-2018
Myself and my father contributed 64 species, including the below Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Female Northern waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat warbler, and Northern Parula.
See this post in context:
http://www.transscendsurvival.org/2018/05/23/birding-at-plumb-island/
-Jess
