Ecuador DAY EIGHT July 28, 2013

    


           

What a gorgeous day! Unbelievably, we were able to enjoy a relatively warm, sunny day in the cloud forest... and a few of us took full advantage of the day. After venturing out the night before to look for nocturnal birds with Jose Simbana, the station manager and world-class birder, we rolled off the property to seek more birds before breakfast. Some of the birds we were seeking are common in Ecuador while others are rare and/or endangered. We headed a couple of kilometers down the road to a bird sanctuary and lodge called San Isidro, and we were soon dazzled by a variety of gorgeous birds, including the Inca jay, several hummingbird species, including the stunning long-tailed sylph, oro pendula birds, two different quetzal species, and a rare Great Potoo, which camouflaged seamlessly into the trunk of a tree, a great distance from us but still visibly with a telescope (and Jose's trained eyes). Perched atop a straight, vertical trunk high up on the treeline, she looked just like the trunk upon which she dozed. The camouflage of her plumage was simply incredible!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Potoo

After breakfast, my Earthwatch teammate Keith and I set about photographing the 100+ caterpillars collected from the chusquea the previous day. Keith and I continued to be taken aback by the sheer numbers and diversity of species found on the roadside bamboo at Yanayacu. Our photos and cataloging illustrated the wonder for our peers, as we became a sort of clearinghouse for the week.

Later, after lunch, Colorado Mesa undergrad Jade Moret gave a talk about her summer of studying caterpillars reared at different elevations in the Andes; her mission is to determine growth rates based on elevation and temperature. Much of her research will need to continue for months.

After Keith and I finished our photo assignment I volunteered to assist PhD candidate Andrea Glassmire with photos of three of her pink belly piper plots up above the research station. What an adventure this was - especially for a guy with two bad knees and two injured rotator cuff! Andrea led me straight through chest-high grasses, through mud, over slick logs and knee-deep holes,over a farmer's barb-wire fence, across a stream, through bamboo and piper plants, and over fallen trees. We eventually blazed a trail to her three plots where we photographed her suspended pots of piper plants and the canopy overhead. At each location we photographed Andrea under her low pots and then shot straight up with a fisheye lens to see the canopy and light levels above.



                                 

After trekking to Andrea's three plots, she led me back through the forest over fallen trees, through bamboo and piper plants, across a stream, over a farmer's barb-wire fence, over slick logs and knee-deep holes, and straight through chest-high grass which no one had hiked through before. It was challenging but rather enjoyable!

I was dripping in perspiration, had sore knees, and was glad to be free from spiders and prickly plants, when we returned to the station just in time to join Jose on an evening birdwatching trip. Eight of us hopped into the truck and drove up the highway to a steep pasture near Jose's father's home. Jose led us down the embankment and through a patch of trees where we came to a river. There we sat low on large rocks along the bank and settled in to wait for three different birds -- torrent ducks, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and the lyre-tailed nightjar.

Apparently, the Cock-of-the-rock took flight as we arrived, but we were surprised by the sight of a female torrent duck as she dove in and out of the small rapids, catching insects for dinner. Quite skillfully, she dove off rocks, captured her prey, and hopped right back out of the swift-moving water. She was a brilliant orange color, unlike her male counterpart who we discovered a short while later on a nearby rock. He was black and white and just a bit larger.

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Male and female torrent ducks

As twilight escaped and darkness fell upon us, we finally caught sight of the lyre-tailed nightjar with its long, split tail and graceful flight. Spotting this bird took patience, but it was well worth the wait.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyre-tailed_Nightjar

Jose even caught a juvenile nightjar which had flown right into his chest! What a sight!

We then made our way back up the ruddy, muddy slope of the cow pasture to reach Jose's pickup. It rained most of the way back to the station, but the four Earthwatchers in the back of the truck didn't seem to mind.

After dinner, CMU undergrad Kelsi Antonelli gave her talk; it was about her summer research on host and novel plants and the rearing of Altinote caterpillars on each. She was experimenting to see if caterpillars at each of the instar stages could survive on the novel plants. Her research is not complete, but the answer appears to be "No." Now the question is, "Why?" Do the Altinote on novel plants fail because of chemicals, malnutrition, or some other biological or environmental reason?

Finally, Dr. Walla stepped up to provide our group with a summary talk and slideshow. He told us that although he was once skeptical about these eight-day Earthwatch expeditions, he now sees that Earthwatch does produce data and an output of tangible results such as collected specimens, pinned and mounted moths and butterflies, and fieldwork (labor) that assists in his and Dyer's research and that of their students. He said we also provide a social context for the gusenaros who spend so much time with the caterpillars. They appreciate our recognition of their work and talents. Dr. Walla also reminded us that we take our gained knowledge and experiences home to others. 

In terms of numbers from our eight days at the station: 1) from our night light moth collection, we collected and pinned 197 specimens, 2) specimens labeled and classified reached approximately 1300 (with more than 100 going to the museum in Quito), 3) we collected more than 230 caterpillars to get an idea of species diversity and density, 4) more than 160 piper plant parts were collected for UNR grad student Gift Poopat's study, 5) and for Andrea Glassmire's piper project, we collected one ton of rain forest soil and helped to slingshot and hang 18 potted, cloned piper pink belly plants in nine plots in the surrounding forest. Not bad for a bunch of teachers and two retirees from the States!

QUESTION: What is an current ecological issue that weighs on your mind? What insects, plants, animals, or natural resources require our immediate attention?

Mr. B is pooped and ready to come home to LA...