Parque Nacional Cajas

Captain's Log, Day 54: Statistics for day trip to Cajas National Park on 29 October, 2013: 37 new bird species acquired, 12 km of trail explored, primary Andean Forest experienced for the first time.

The Andean Paramo. Home to Andean Condors, Spectacled (Andean) Bears, a gaggle of hard-to-see amphibians, extensive fishing and ranching activity, ice melt streams and lakes, and of course...Andean birds.

Yesterday was my fist visit to the park. I jumped on the Trasporte Occidental around six, arrived just past seven, and spent the day birdwatching and admiring the spectacular views. The richness of the flora and fauna in the highlands here reminded me a lot of the high desert of Easter Oregon in the states...with more hummingbirds, Tawny Antpittas, and llamas.

I got to explore some of the surrounding farmland, wandering for an hour before my bus arrived in the afternoon. There are different seedeaters and bird species in the surrounding cattle ranches. Ranching, unfortunately, is the main reason why only 1-3% of primary Andean forest remains today.

Cajas is known for its cold. On most days, a fine mist and the cooler shelter of the forests here make the park's climate much colder...especially in the afternoons. There are a number of white crosses by trees at the park's entrance in remembrance of those who have died from the cold up here.

I got lucky. It was spectacularly sunny yesterday.

It was hard to get past the entrance! I almost spent an hour there watching a band of Blue-mantled thornbills chase one another, and feed on flowers on the ground. How WEIRD to see hummingbirds on the ground...

Here's a photo of one of said thorntails, found on google (credit to Glenn Bartley, as seen above).

Sunny didn't really imply warm. A few layers were definitely necessary for my slow-paced bird walking.

Looking back down towards Cuenca, over the valleys.

The plant life was incredible.

As were the birds. I walked for a while with one of the park guides (by the name of Wilmer), and he explained that people called the Tit-like Dacnis a `bluebird`--Azulero--here. Just like in the states, people in Cuenca see it as an omen of happiness. My Spanish professor told me to watch out for it during my visit.

The reflections off the lakes were truly spectacular.

Wilmer informed me that Cajas has 62 different lakes, many connected by streams and rivers.

I love dizzying photos. The reflections were so clear. You can't see from this picture (but the ripples in the left corner leave a clue)-there are tons of trout in most of these ponds. In Cajas, they're mostly native species, but introduced species are common (and problematic to native species) in other parts of the highlands.

These Polylepis trees are specific to Andean forests. The red was really striking in the sun by the lake.

There were a few wayward llamas and alpacas combing the trails. Hehe.

I was sad I didn't have time to explore more trails, but I took the closest one I could to a Polylepis woodland. My bird book had informed me that they're excellent places for mixed flocks of siskins, foliage-gleaners, and tanagers. It was right.

Looking down over a small strand of Polylepis...some of the last remaining primary Andean forest in Ecuador.

Fun fact: Quinoa comes from the Andean highlands.

The richness of the high desert in Oregon always astounded me, and the Andean forest did the same. You can look over miles of open Paramo grasses and flowers, and then walk into a deliciously cool, moss-covered, bromeliad-heavy Polylepis forest.

This is Spectacled Bear territory. They feed on the bromeliads!

Another awesome colloquial name for the gregarious Tawny Antpittas: the Cho-chau, for their loud and characteristic call. They may have been my favorite spot of the day for those silly calls...check out the call here!

Spectacular plant diversity along the streams bordering the forests.

I watched a Variable hawk soar over the forest for some time. I have no words.

I set my sights on a waterfall across the valley, made it over and onto the top of the second ridge of hills---and had to return, before the afternoon rain and fog came.

I passed a few bridges and campsites. How cool would that be, to camp here---with the Paramo wolves (like coyotes), highland owls, nightjars, nocturnal mammals and stars? I may have to convince my friends here to come with me before I leave.

Thanks for a beautiful day, Cajas.

I would really recommend taking the time to explore Cajas if you ever go to Cuenca. There's an incredible amount of life in the Paramo, and it's a particularly striking kind of beautiful. I have to go back at least once more before I go.

There's just something about mountain terrain.

More about Cuenca life coming in the next few days! Stay tuned.

Cheers,
Nikki

Eagles, Owls, and Construction Plans: Work and New Arrivals at Bioparque Amaru

Captain's Log, Day 53: A wild week of rescues, falconry, and construction projects at Bioparque Amaru. New characters to the cast: a potential exotic vet for the zoo from Quito, a falconry expert, the keepers of the Pumapungo Aviary. Realization: I have less than three weeks left here, and we have a clinic and aviary to build. 

Lucky for me, Ernesto is a visionary, and we took the first steps towards construction yesterday. (If you want to help support our construction efforts, don't forget to check out our Razoo fundraiser--click here!) It's been a wild week. Allow me to walk you through a few of our recent adventures.

The Environmental Ministry brought us this highly endangered Ecuadorian Red Brocket deer (often called a pudu locally, but it's a different genus, Mazama rufina) juvenile last Thursday, when we were interviewing an exotics vet from Quito. We're waiting to hear back on her decision to work for Amaru in the future! 

We were visited by ´Nick´ and his associates---a national expert on eagles and falconry. He checked out our Variable Hawk and three Black-chested Buzzard Eagles. We proceeded to custom-fit gear for all of our birds for future education efforts and falconry training. 

Nick explained to us that the presence of both adult and ¨chicken feathers¨ (juvenile plumage) indicated that this Variable Hawk was between his first and second year.  

You can see the difference in the wing coverts, too. Reminded me of my lessons at Neighborhood Nestwatch this summer!

My tidbits of knowledge (in Spanish) about Red-tailed hawk morphs in the states were politely received (read:deciphered) by the experts.
(I really need to learn the subjunctive...) 

Edwin and the vet interviewee with some of our education birds in training!

The morning before the arrival of the experts, Ernesto constructed three shelters and roosts for the education birds. They have serious potential for a teaching stage---and what a backdrop for a show!

During a late dinner at Ernesto's house, we reviewed Aviary and AZA protocols for exotic care, zoonoses, emergency care and preventative health. Thanks again, Dr.Fish and Sarah Shannon for all your information! We're really going places with new protocols for Amaru. 

A pet clinic in town run by Dr.Mora was kind enough to answer our late call for assistance with the Ecuadorian Red Brocket. 

So young, and definitely in need of fluids, at the very least. 

I wish I could caption this more eloquently...but I don't think I really need words. This is a picture of Ernesto at the end of a day (circa 9:30pm) that started at dawn, involved a day-long interview with a vet candidate (the FIRST vet employed by the zoo, mind you), hours of falconry advice from three outside experts, a visit from the ministry to deliver this little deer...People with passion for what they do are so wonderful. Furthermore, people with a heart like Ernesto's are the ones who drive conservation efforts forward so relentlessly. Because they -must-. I am so lucky to be working with Amaru. 

We set an IV to deliver much-needed fluids, electrolytes, and vitamins. Our biggest challenge now is finding suitable formula to feed this little guy...

Ringer's and rest. To be continued...

We did another huge cleaning of quarantine to prepare to move our reptiles around. This guy is particularly striking. Suggestions on species, Pete?

Tortugitas arriving most weeks from illegal pet trading. 

This juvenile Cusumbos could really use a friend! We have two adults on exhibit, but this little guy needs to grow a bit more behind the scenes before we begin the process of introduction. Some playtime happens when we're cleaning. 

This is what we've come up with for the first floor plan (in anticipation of a future second floor if funds are sufficient) for the vet clinic. A surgery and equipment room, a consult and pharmacy room at the entrance near the access road, and a quarantine/ICU holding room in the building's rear. 

A thumbnail version of the two floors: the second floor, ideally, would have a classroom and laboratory, quarters for resident interns and visiting veterinarians, and another room to keep resident patients (old or special needs animals). 

Part of the master plan of the zoo overlapping my first sketches of the second floor. I'm telling you, Ernesto has some serious visions for the future. 

Which now include the lightly pencilled-in veterinary clinic and new quarantines for passerines, parrots, and reptiles! 

We also received an owl from the Aviary at Pumapungo this week. An Aviary in Cuenca was news to me. I'm going to go visit on my day off...and talk about helping them raise funds in the future for education about how bad illegal trafficking is in Ecuador. Many people around here, said the directors, don't see the difference between domestic animals and exotics, and education in primary schools could really help this. Cuenca has decreed that a program could be started if the Aviary supplied the funds for the classes. 

The owl had a pretty serious wound to the ¨shoulder¨--but it looks like it could heal, and it may even be possible to release the bird if it can fly well enough.  

More stories, to be continued. Apparently the aviary ALSO has a few hundred rescues...I'll be sure to post when I visit. The work to be done here can seem endless, but with people like the biologists at Pumapungo and the workers at Amaru, anything is possible.  

Less than three weeks left here! There's definitely a lot to be done.

I'll leave you all with that for now. The next two posts will be a brief departure from all the Amaru---I actually was lucky enough to go to Cajas National Park on a sunny day today, so pictures from that trip and my day bird list will be next, along with a post about Cuencan culture and my friends here.

Thanks as always for reading, and cheers!
-Nikki