HOBOs along the Lower Colorado River

One of the goals of the Lower Colorado River Riparian Birds project has been to quantify habitat preferences of some of our target birds (Gila Woodpecker, Yellow Warbler, Bell’s Vireo, and Summer Tanager). From 2011 to 2014, we collected this veg data in the fall with a small team of gung-ho surveyors. Part of the process each year is to deploy 40-50 Hobo units (it’s a brand name). These fairly small data loggers collect temperature and humidity data for a year within a bird’s territory or a control site. Each logger is housed in a protective solar shield and mounted on a ~7-foot fence post. The units are downloaded three or four times a year, then moved to a new site during the next veg season.

Data output from a Hobo logger: temperature in black and humidity in blue. Note the temperature scale on the left axis!

In 2015, we had no veg season, so it was time to bring the Hobos in out of the field, not a small task without a field crew! Dawn and Lauren started the charge in October, and got out to the most challenging locations. We tag-teamed Hobos in places like Mosquito Flats and North Burn on the Bill Williams River NWR. We also removed the charred fence posts from the eight Hobos that were completely destroyed in the Willow Fire in August on the Havasu NWR. 

In January, Lauren wrapped up the Hobo collection, traveling to Blythe and Yuma, hiking out to distant (but easier) sections of the Bill Williams River NWR, and kayaking to pick up the remaining Hobos at Havasu NWR.

The second to last Hobo standing had a tree laying on it!

It was a bittersweet moment when the last Hobos were removed from the field: it felt like a huge accomplishment, but these data loggers have practically become part of the team over the years. We hope that the wealth of temperature and humidity data gathered over these four years will lead to some interesting analyses and publications in the near future!

 -Lauren