Introduction to Sedgehead (me)

This is a test. This is only a test. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. And, the bombs are not falling, yet.

I have already posted a general introduction on this website and I've decided to start blogging here occasionally, mainly to track days of photographs and locations. Here's the general intro I currently use:

"As of joining [this website] in August 2018, I'm a 66 year old botanist / ecologist / writer / editor / semi-retired former US Forest Service Regional Ecologist for the Southern Region (Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma, south to Puerto Rico) who is teaching himself Chinese. This year, I'm looking for Nabalas species (Prenanthes) in north central Arkansas, but am the world's expert on Arkansas Carex sedges."

I've found this site quite fascinating. I've been writing in Chinese for years on http://lang-8.com/330589/journals, a language-learning site which, for nearly two years, has unfortunately not accepted new members.

My original interest, in birds, started at age 14 in 1966 (you do the math) on a field trip while camping with my parents. That led to a degree in zoology (1974) and later a master's degree in botany (1991). I always wanted to be able to identify any species and this site is a great way to improve those skills.

One of several reasons I started to learn Chinese was to communicate with Chinese biologists. But as I like to say, "Learning Chinese (since 2004) is dangerous. It can result in grandchildren." As a result, I've been to China three times now (2014 for six weeks, 2015 four weeks, and 2018 for 12 weeks). This year, I completed my first "grand tour" visiting Shanghai, Yangzhou, Changsha Jinjing where I taught English for six weeks, Chengdu, Sichuan Liangshan Yi, Guangzhou, Hong Kong (for 30 minutes to get a new 60 days on my Chinese visa), Shenzhen, Beijing, Shenyang, and Panjin. I've also been to Qingdao. However, I was not aware of this site at that time, so I have few observations to post from China, so far!

我十四年半学中文可是我不会中文非常好。That is, I can speak and write some Chinese, but not very well.

Posted on August 25, 2018 04:33 AM by sedgehead sedgehead

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

True Sedges (Genus Carex)

Observer

sedgehead

Date

January 23, 2018

Description

中国湖南常山金井凤形山公园(Phoenix Park, Jinjing, Changsha, Hunan, China). GPSed at 28°31'36.4"N113°22'18.66"E on reverse-C shaped ridge in this park; thin pine woods on perhaps granitic soil (fragmenting and eroding nearby). 14 plants found here. Four plants collected, none left in China; will distribute to US herbaria later including MICH and NY.

Photos / Sounds

What

Oriental Magpie (Pica serica)

Observer

sedgehead

Date

May 30, 2014 01:15 PM CST

Description

Numerous individuals seen in the parkland near the Summer Palace. These photos taken in the woodlands northeast of the famous "Marble Boat" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Boat).

Photos / Sounds

What

Saunders's Gull (Saundersilarus saundersi)

Observer

sedgehead

Date

May 2014

Description

I am uncertain of the exact location as Chinese family members drove to an area of "red beach" on oil company land. All photos were taken in the vicinity and several are provided for location information they might contain. The last few buildings, in a new recreation area, were of the boardwalk where I saw the bird (only one seen).

Comments

Which was more difficult: learning all the Chinese characters or ID'ing Carex species?!? :)

Here in TX, we have quite a few Carex and Cyperus, and when I see them in the field, I shudder a little. ;)

Posted by sambiology over 5 years ago

Learning the characters would take longer (and at age 66, I'm running out of time! HA!). I can answer simple questions in written (and spoken) Chinese, but I need more practice, which I get daily. I spent 20 years collecting and/or annotating 7000 Carex collections of Arkansas alone and learned them fairly well (but I've not collected in ten years and am a little rusty) to write a book on Arkansas Carex. It would probably take more to do all of China (the size of the US of course). I'm sure there are tons of new species to be found and I've only made four collections! So, I have much to learn in China!

Posted by sedgehead over 5 years ago

Haha! :) Glad you're here on iNat! Looking forward to seeing more observation from your neck of the woods in Arkansas.

Posted by sambiology over 5 years ago

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