So today started off with a quick lecture about birding and sampling techniques for bird counts. We learned similar techniques in Kenya before going to Amboseli National Park to assist in their monthly census count. But we focused on mammals in Amboseli and birds are much different. A mist net probably wouldn't do much to catch an elephant for body condition analysis. 

After the lecture, we packed up for a hike up the namesake of our camp, Moyo Hill. We brought our binoculars, our textbook Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, cameras, and water. The first species we ran into was a kuku (chicken), but Dr. Kioko said that didn't count. We struggled a lot during the transect walk trying to communicate exactly where the birds were once someone spotted one. Which branch? Which tree? Is it to the right of the truck of the 2nd to last tree in the bunch? But Kioko was very patient with us and we all improved by the end.

I have decided that I enjoy looking at the birds but identifying them isn't my strong suit. I had spotted a bird and was almost through identifying it before Chris pointed out what I was looking at was a piece of bird-shaped bark.

Once we got to the top of Moyo Hill, we had time to walk around and enjoy the scenery. I have to admit, Tanzania is not how I pictured Africa back home. It is green with lots of grass, trees and rolling hills. Everyone here keeps comparing it to Tuscany. I have never been so I'll have to take their word for it. But it is definitely beautiful here. It was actually pretty chilly at the top with the breeze which was perfect after our hike up. Everyone was taking millions of pictures and I tried to. It is just hard for me to stop looking at the surroundings long enough to get out my camera and take a picture. I am getting better, but I really still do prefer to live an experience outside the camera. Sometimes it is easy to see something and think "Wow this would make a great Facebook profile picture, but that isn't why I am here.