My favorite science experience was conducting bird surveys in the forest. I assisted the bird survey crew and had to get up before dawn, which meant 2 a.m. in Alaska. We hiked up into the forest, sat down in an area, remained very quiet, and listened to the different birds calling in the early morning light. During my normal work days, I would be moving around making all kinds of noise, measuring trees, shouting instructions, or digging soil pits. I was amazed to hear the "noise" of the forest once I was quiet enough to listen.