My first ever field assignment, by the grace of The Oceanic Dragon Reserve, was a long term assignment to study the hunting and eating habits of the Atipodean Opaleye, somewhere in New Zealand.  Located in an observation room dug into a hill, I was terribly excited to be there and had to stop myself from pressing my nose against the glass whenever the poor dragon even twitched.  It was a relatively cushy environment and I made great friends with the four others who were researching with me.  As we were not approaching the nest too closely, we were trusted by the Reserve to take relatively few personnel with us.

Research No. 651 - Researcher F. Snizzleby
Specimen: "Savanna," breed Antipodean Opaleye, gender female, age unknown.
Observational Event(s): Hunting Trips and Feeding Habits
Time in Field: 5 days

Day 1

This is a relatively new nest, evident by the way Savanna occasionally repairs or reflattens parts of the terrain.  Appears relatively content and happy.  It has been noticed she has a damaged left eye, the opal is significently green and there appears to be a yellow crust forming around it.  Possible conjuntivitus.  The reserve carer is relatively unworried as Opaleye's are a little more suscepitable to eye infection yet it often clears up on its own.

The observation room is divided until as many bedrooms as needed, with a large bathroom and a canteen.  The main observation deck is enchanted glass from head to foot, with a glass table lined up against it.  Stools are lined up at first, but after a long night of observation many are inclined to transfigure them into plush armchairs.  Omnioculars hang suspended in midair for anyone's use, but most bring their own.  Tomorrow we are to trek to a safe place near her known hunting ground.  We are interested to see how reduced vision will effect her hunting.

Day 2 

Travelled to hunting grounds.  Set up at 7:00.  Protective enchantments cast, dragon hide cloaks worn.  Much waiting.  

Savanna arrives.  Scopes out area from large tree.  Selects prey and swoops in.  Misses, causing sheep to scatter.  Misses again, concerned vision is not 100%.  Lands and instead incinerates large group.  Unusual behaviour, usually carries off in talons before incinerating.  Takes meal to edge of field and eats partially before flying to nest.  Observed that appetite is lower.

The carer is concered a loss of appetite and unusual hunting technique is the result of the conjunctivitus.  Decides human intervention is necessary to avoid animal weakening as hunting ground is significantly long way from nest due to territorial concerns.  Tomorrow we attempt to stun, heal and retreat rapidly.  

Day 3 

Intense planning meaning we split up to approach the nest and came together near it.  Savanna wary.  Stomps protectively first, then vocalises warning.  As we approach shoots warning jet of fire and raises wings out for a show of power. Wore full protective gear including mask and cast several anti-inflammatory charms on each other.  We gathered together to stun from a distance, then rushed in close to knock her unconcious.  Relatively painless ordeal for everyone involved.  Dragon carer quickly removed excess pus from the eye for analysis into glass phials and applies a salve including star grass, dittany and some of Savanna's own blood around the eye.  Casts anti-itching charm to prevent her rubbing it off.  We bid a hasty retreat.

Later observation reveals Savanna waking up slightly disoriented and later going to sleep.  Sleeps for a long time before her usual territorial border flight before sleep again.

Day 4

Sleeps all day.  Carer considers sending for more personnel, but decides against it at this early stage.  Wakes up in the evening to rebuild part of the next.

Day 5

We wake up to a magnificent roar and display of flight as she affirms her territorial bounderies.  We rush to hunting grounds as carer believes she may hunt.  Usual display of hunting techniques, incinerating from the air, swooping to grab and flying off.  Very gratifying.  Healthy appetite.  Omniocular observation shows eye infection much clearer.  Likely it would have gotten better of its own accord so perhaps the anti-itching charm was the most useful in this case.  As we prepared to leave we were treated to a magificent fire and flight display, in the way they do to both impress potential mates and confirm their territorial bounderies.