blog_cowen: 2008-08-21T13:01:49Z Copyright (c) 2008, Peter Cowen ExpressionEngine tag:parrots.org,2008:08:21 tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1689 2008-08-21T12:59:01Z 2008-08-21T13:01:49Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk


My overall data collection was very successful and everything that I needed was recorded. I now have the tedious process of analysing the data to look for patterns but hopefully I should find some interesting outcomes. A number of food resources were recorded in secondary forest, some were not able to be identified in the field so pictures and detailed descriptions were taken of the fruits and trees. Below is an example of a picture of an unidentified fruit sample.



I’ll update you on my progress!
]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1683 2008-08-10T20:19:01Z 2008-08-10T20:33:35Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk
At this site i had 5kms worth of trails to study. One of the trails meandered through one of the local communities of "La Torre", so on my first day i was shown around the trails and introduced to all the families. All was going well until we came across a new family who was not native to the area, after chatting for a while i was aggressively attacked by the families local herd of jungle dogs! After coming out of the attack fairly unscathed i later realised that i had a gash in the back of my leg which was fairly painful! I have never liked dogs and this just increased this! Below is a picture of the gash, i apologise for the quality as it was hard to take a picture of the back of my leg!



Also while visiting these families, many of them practiced farming! This experience changed my perspective of the causes of deforestation, as i witnessed large of tracts of forest that had been deforested for farming. When people talk about the causes it is never the small farms that have a large effect, i now disagree with this! ]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1674 2008-07-22T22:34:00Z 2008-08-10T20:41:38Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk
Today i am back in town awaiting my boat to a new lodge so that i can continue with some more studies.

UPDATE

While visiting town i ventured to a local rescue centre to get a close up of one of my study subjects!

]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1671 2008-07-19T17:40:00Z 2008-07-19T17:41:23Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk


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.
]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1670 2008-07-18T23:22:01Z 2008-07-18T23:24:48Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk


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! ]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1663 2008-07-05T17:43:00Z 2008-07-05T17:52:21Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk
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!
]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1656 2008-06-23T22:23:00Z 2008-07-02T22:05:40Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk
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!
]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1645 2008-06-14T17:18:01Z 2008-06-14T17:38:10Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk
Mi casa is a scary looking hut a fair distance from any human life! After hearing a Giant Armadillo skulking around i awoke on my first full day at 4am to venture out for a foraging walk where i encountered a number of parrots e.g. Mealy Parrots and a group of feeding Black Capped Parakeets! The overall walk lasted for several hours and covered approx 12km my feet did well to carry me! So that was the first day, was this to be similar for the rest of my stay?

I´m afraid not as the next few days were dogged by rain which shocked me as during my last adventure it rained very little, as it is the dry season! However, today i have just completed another foraging walk as the sun is now shining, for now! The perfect weather to spot some wildlife! Hopefully i will have some pictures to show with my next update!

Adios for now! ]]> tag:parrots.org,2008:index.php/58.1642 2008-06-06T18:59:01Z 2008-06-08T16:31:36Z Peter Cowen peter.cowen@hotmail.co.uk
The aim of my project is to study the foraging behaviour of a rich macaw population in Tambopata, Peru. I'll be working in conjunction with the Tambopata Macaw Project. However, this is not the first time i have worked for the project. Only two years ago i spent many an early morning up a canopy tower watching the birds fly by!

I am currently writing this entry in Cuzco, Peru, which after a tiring journey i eventually arrived. The start of my adventure in the jungle is the 9th June so check back regularly. Hopefully I'll have some interesting stories and may even have had a few sightings of the elusive Blue Headed Macaw.

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