~minime2210

Wow what a long day it was yesterday. I was lucky enough to take a course with the BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) and am proud to announce that I am now a trained marine mammal medic. The BDMLR is a nationally and internationally recognised organisation and its volunteers are equiped with the skills to respond to marine mammal strandings, from individual seals or cetaceans to mass strandings and even respond to a widespread disease outbreak.

I now know how to assist in the rescue of marine mammals, take charge of and direct a group of volunteers in first aid, and can assist in the refloat of a whale or dolphin using a special inflatable pontoon system. The day consisted of 3 hours worth of lectures on how we were to go about rescuing stranded marine mammals and then I spent the afternoon practicing my newly learnt techniques on life sized and weight models of a seal, common dolphin and a pilot whale.

I was rewarded a qualifying certificate, cool badges for my car and drysuit, a handbook and species ID book, and my very own photo identity card! Hopefully I will get called out to any strandings in my local area, but this is just the begining! Next year I'll get the chance to work in a seal sanctuary, learning how to tube feed and practice handling seal pups and get my small crafts boating licence under my belt too. Can't wait!

If anyone would like to know more about the BDMLR and how you can get involved in your area check out their website [link]
Our group practicing on a common dolphin replica --> [link]

:: My Friends [link]
:: FAQ [link]

Q: Where are you from/what is your occupation?
A: I'm currently a student at Bangor University in Wales, studying Marine Biology and Zoology. In the holidays I'm usually off volunteering somewhere or visiting my hometown of Dover.

Q: Where do you volunteer?
1) I am a qualified marine mammal medic for the BDMLR [link] so I get called out to reported stranded seals/dolphins/whales in my area to assist in their assesment and in first aid.
2) I take part in harbour porpoise surveys for the sea trust [link]
3) I volunteer for Organisation Cetacea [link]
4) I collect data for Gwynedd Council to survey Sharks, Skates, and Rays in North Wales
5) I regularly help out with beach cleans
6) Next semester I shall be helping out with research once a week at Anglesey Sea Zoo [link]

Q: What do you do for fun?
A: I go to Bull Bay every chance I get to sit and watch the porpoises. The cliffs drop off into the sea there so the water is instantly deep, this means the porpoises come very close in to feed and play. In my free time I usually find something random to do around here, usually involving wildlife, and I enjoy helping out with my friend's falconry whenever he is in the country. I often go hill walking in snowdonia national park and up other mountains close to Bangor. I enjoy playing basketball and playing the piano/keyboard/drums when I get the chance. Next semester I am taking up surfing and hope to learn how to kyak and sail as well. But most of all, I love just being with my friends, getting merry in the pub, and having a good boogie with my girls.

Q: Where do you take your photos?
A: I take my camera absolutely everywhere and when there's that perfect shot I'm quick to take advantage of it whether I'm volunteering, helping out a friend, or simply going for a walk or chilling on a beach. Each photo will have details of when/where it was taken and what the subject is.

Q: What camera do you use?
A: I use a Nikon 40D most of the time with the kit lense at the moment. I hope to invest a lot into photography when my skill and knowledge improves. I have a sigma 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 DG macro lens on the way woop woop!

Q: Do you use facebook/myspace/bebo/etc??
A: The only social network website that I use is Facebook, I only accept friend requests from friends so note me if you want my profile link.

Q: What is your neopets username?
A: I am known as oracana on neopets.

Q: What clubs do you belong to on DA?



If you have any questions that aren't answered here, please don't hesitate to ask on my profile or send me a note.

(If you know of someone who's art I would adore, or if there's someone that just has to be on my watch list, don't be shy to send me a note or drop me a comment)

Hmm i've been a bit lazy with my DA lately, so here's a quick updated version of my friends list and the people that inspire me. Hopefully you'll all see a bit more of me in the next couple of months. I've nearly finished my Tiger portrait (WIP: [link]) so that should be up when I have time to finish it. University work is pretty intense this year so art has had to be put on hold lately, but I'm getting there slowly!!

I also have heaps of photos to seive through when I get a chance from my harbour porpoise watching. Did you know that we actually get orcas around Wales occasionally?? I hope to see some before my 4th year is up, so an other two years at least to spot one!! If you want to learn more about the save our seas organisation in Wales check out the website ([link]) ... its pretty interesting if you're interested in the welfare of cetaceans and all that jazz.

Basically, the government will not make North Wales waters a protected reserve for these beautiful creatures as they say there aren't any and they do not breed here. Yet everytime we go out on the boats, or even just scanning the coast with binoculars we see at least 20, some of these new born calves so this assumption is clearly wrong. Anyways it's something I'm helping out with and am quite passionate about so I'll get round to choosing some cute photos from our trips out spotting sometime soon.


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. : : * Artists That I Watch * : : .

(If you know of someone who's art I would adore, or if there's someone that just has to be on my watch list, don't be shy to send me a note or drop me a comment)



. : : * FRIENDS * : : .




. : : * CLUBS * : : .




. : : * OTHER SITES * : : .
Neopets: [link]
I also use myspace, facebook and MSN.

Okay so maybe not brilliant but best I've ever taken I think. I've finally broken up for the summer and have the drawing bug again, so you can expect to see me around DA more often!! So I thought I'd start by uploading a few photos from my last day out in Bangor; Angelsea Welsh Mountain Zoo. I'm currently drawing a picture of a tiger, the first link below, and it's not turning out too shabby!! Just need to think up a border ... might go for a native american style jobbie me thinks
Anyways any comments would be appreciated and returned

Links to photos:
TIGER: [link]
ROBINS: [link]
EAGLE: [link]


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. : : * CLUBS * : : .





. : : * MARINE INSPIRED DEVIANTS * : : .



. : : * FRIENDS * : : .



. : : * OTHER SITES * : : .

Neopets: [link]
Myspace: [link]
Facebook: [link]