Parrot Blogger - Peter Cowen
– About Peter –
Peter Cowen currently lives in Liverpool, England and is studying for a Master of Science in Conservation Biology. He is working at the Tambopata Macaw Project in Peru.
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July 19 2008
Perils of jungle life!
by Peter Cowen
After staying over four weeks in the jungle you start to become accustomed to harmful things that are lurking in the shadows, in your bed and on the diner plate. It seems to be the most docile looking creatures that pack the greatest sting, especially the caterpillars. Although soft and cuddly keep away from them at all costs. While out on an early morning transect I was stung all along my leg as a caterpillar rolled down, it was painful but after so many stings it starts to get annoying!
I am still performing my foraging walks regularly, the balsa flowers may not be the first choice for the parakeets anymore but this has coincided with the fruiting of the balsas. After witnessing capuchins munching on the fruits it was a matter of time until the birds followed suit! As requested, I have posted a picture of the flowers and the fruits.
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July 18 2008
The art of geophagy
by Peter Cowen
After much trail walking and parrot searching I decided to take a morning off and visit the local clay lick to witness some geophagy (the act of eating clay) in action. After a short boat journey and a 45 minute walk I eventually arrived to the raucous chorus of over a hundred Mealy Parrots. A short while after I observed them swooping down on to the clay to feast! This carried on for approximately one hour then silence fell for the remaining observation times, it seemed that the birds were full. Unknown to me only two hours before a fellow researcher had captured pictures of a Jaguar and Puma with camera traps in a location only 50m away. Scary stuff! I have been on the hunt for a tent so that I can camp and maybe get a sighting of them, hopefully I will find one soon.
It seems that the parakeets and parrots have had their fill on the Balsa flowers Ochroma pyramidale and now tend not to visit the trees on my transects. However, it is not all bad as fruits are beginning to appear so hopefully this will be another food source for the birds.
There is still an abundance of other food for the birds and I have recorded many foraging events of the big macaws (e.g. Scarlet Macaws and, Red and Green Macaws) eating a number of things but they seem to have a tendency for eating the Wasai Palm Euterpe precatoria. I have even observed the rare event of Black Capped Parakeets feeding on termites. While walking the trails I am still encountering many other species e.g. while walking last night I found an Amazon Tree Boa which was fond of biting and didn’t like to be handled. My advice, don’t try to pick one up!
I apologise about the lack of posts, the internet has been down!
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July 05 2008
Things are underway
by Peter Cowen
Things are starting to take shape now as the days roll by and my bank of data is slowly growing. The early morning starts and the long treks are now the norm. The balsas are now flowering creating foraging events (feeding events) for me to record. Birds enjoy the flower buds and the nectarines!
Here is a brief description of my methodology. I walk the trails listening for perched birds, when encountered I determine whether they are eating. If they are I have to clamber through the dense undergrowth to find the leftovers of their meal e.g. seeds or fruits, and record what has been eaten. Foraging also encountered when not performing transects this is documented. Early observations are showing that only a certain number of species are feeding on Balsa flowers and at certain times of the day!
A Chestnut Fronted Macaw feeding on Symphonia globulifera flowers.
While alone and performing transects it gives me the chance to sample the other wonderful wildlife. Two days ago I came across a feeding Tamadua (a species of ant eater) which surprisingly let me sit and watch it go about its business. I am still on the look out for big cats and snakes!
The Tamadua climbing!
Check back for more updates!
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June 23 2008
The creation of a transect and the case of a wasp nest!
by Peter Cowen
After endless early morning foraging walks through primary forest, I finally have started to gather some information on which birds are feeding and on what! Each transect is at least 2km so most round trips are over 4km! My feet have never had so much work to do in their short lives but they are starting to become accustomed!
As cold fronts have been occurring regularly, it has given me the temperature to create my own transect ´El Peter´ which snakes through secondary forest! My first afternoon of creation was uneventful, however, my second day was interesting!
While hacking my way through some thick bamboo, I came across a clearing which consisted of chest high grass! To my amazement seven Chestnut Fronted Macaws were feeding on the flowers on a balsa tree only five metres in front of me. I slowly moved closer to get a better look and to take a picture, eventually reaching a log which I was able to perch on. Unknown to me, the log was home to a wasp nest and didn’t take kindly to my disturbance. I was stung several times before I realised what had happened and had the chance to make haste!
After numerous blisters on my hands the transect is still in its infant stage and currently lies at 1km! Give it a couple of days and it should be finished but knowing my look I will end up getting carried away by army ants! Watch this space!
UPDATE!
One of the many wasps nests i have encountered!
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