Day 7 -- Monitoring Odio's Nest Box

Sunday, February 10, 2008

It rained all night again, so morning colpa duty was cancelled. Kathy has been reassigned to data input because of her ankle, so I, who was supposed to have morning colpa duty, have been assigned in Kathy’s place to work with Joan in monitoring Odio nest from 10:30 to 5. Because I got up at 4, this change gives me the morning for a leisurely breakfast with the Chicos, some hammock journal time, some sorting of the suitcase and clothes—at which time I find a large centipede in my suitcase. It’s a lazy morning.

At 10:30 Joan and I don our boots and ponchos (it’s still raining), and Fino leads us to Odio, which is the nest that is farthest away—about 40-minute hike over two rivers and past some bamboo thickets. Odio is supposed to be bug ridden as it is in the midst of a bamboo stand, so we have plastered on the bug repellent and are ready.

Fino helps us get set up and then leaves. Joan chooses to do the data input and to monitor the monitor, so I am behind the binocs providing her in/out, adult/chick, alarm call/reason data. In front of our two chairs is the limb of a tree bent at right angles. Along it march the dreaded bullet ants. I keep my eye on them and try to get a photo when there is a lull. There are also a ton of black sweat bees and airplane grasshoppers. I also get a photo of an iridescent scarab (dung?) beetle during a lull.

 

Odio's PVC nest box high in ironwood tree; Joan with video monitor and data sheets

Bullet ant, unknown species of butterfly, and scarab beetle--all three on the branch that crossed in front of my chair

This PVC nest box is quite exposed and the chicks in it show signs of being heat stressed. Their beaks are open and their wings spread. They also take turns huddling by a small hole in the side of the nest box. Joan who has pet macaws is not happy about this.

Suddenly we are in the midst of about 50 squirrel monkeys and their young, moving through the trees above us. If only I had a telephoto! We also hear a snort behind us, but cannot locate its source, probably a red brocket deer. We hoped to see some bamboo rats, the same rodent that is curbside delicacy in Vietnam and the far east, but no luck. We search to no avail for the Bamboo Antshrike seen yesterday at this site. Joan was here and remembered the antshrike’s stripes as looking like a zebra. A flock of Tui’s Parakeets fly noisily overhead. 

Squirrel monkey mom nuzzling her baby (Internet)

Mixed-species flock of Blue-headed Parrots, Orange-cheeked Parrots, Red-and-green Macaws, Mealy Parrots, and Tui Parakeets heading to the clay lick

Warbling Antbird and Tui parakeet; notice the parakeet's dark brown bill

Internet photo of the Bamboo Antshrike seen by yesterday's crew but eluding Joan and me today

After dinner this evening Alan gave a Power-Point presentation on his research, which differs a bit. He is working under Donald Brightsmith but Alan’s “principal aim is to understand the impact of clay licks on parrot abundance and ecology.” This is his second year on the project and he outlined his project’s objectives as the following:

1.   Determine the density of macaw, parrot, parakeet and other cavity nesting species in different habitat types

2.   Determine if the sustainable harvest of wild parrots and parakeets using artificial nests is a viable economic activity

3.   Determine if artificial nests have viable ecotourism potential

4.   Monitor seasonal changes of group sizes of members of the parrot family for clues as to breeding season, breeding population and fledging success

5.   Monitor seasonal changes in clay lick visitation of Psittacine species at clay licks as a further clue to breeding season

6.   Determine the influence of raptors and toucans (Ramphostidae) on nesting behavior of parrots and parakeets in terms of abundance and nest site competition

7.   Monitor the monthly fruiting and flowering status of marked trees in key habitats to identify which are keystone food sources for breeding parrots and parakeets.

8.   Find and monitor natural nesting sites.

9.   Determine the influence of tourism on local parrot behavior and flight patterns.

10. Train and employ the people of the surrounding Condenado Community in details pertaining to the achievement of the above listed objectives.

To bed to bed. It’s been a long afternoon, and tomorrow morning Alice and I are on morning colpa duty. I am experiencing tendonitis in my left heel so it takes some stretching and coddling each morning before I can do much but limp along—a real detriment when I wake in the night and must make the long hobble to the bathroom, too!