I woke up this morning in our "hotel" room here at the ranch we're staying at in the Pantanal. I woke up at sunrise because that's when the birds wake up, and out here, they are quite the alarm clock.
It was like Christmas morning. I could hear a couple of different birds, and one was extra extra loud and different from anything I'm able to recognize.
I left Bianca to sleep in and I grabbed my binoculars (some nice good ones, thanks to Alexandre) and my camera (well, also Alexandre's), threw on my tennis shoes and a jacket over my pajamas and headed outside.
The rooms in the hotel are arranged in a line of little buildings. Directly opposite the line of buildings are trees (most of which are fruit trees) and a pool and the open air dining area.
I seriously just had to step outside and I was SURROUNDED BY AMAZING BIRDS. Surrounded, I tell you! I almost had a heart attack! There were a bunch of birds I'd marked in my bird book that looked particularly pretty or interesting and that I was hoping to see, and they were ALL THERE AT THE SAME TIME.
To the left-- red-bellied macaws! (aka maracanã de cara amarela)
To the right -- crested oropendolas! (aka japu)
Flying between the branches-- plush-crested jays! (gralha do mato)
Up in the tree -- is that what I think it is? Yes, hyacinth macaws! (arara azul!) I cried!
The source of the shocking calls was a plumbeous ibis (aka maçarico real). Huge and terrifying! But the guy cleaning the pool insisted they weren't aggressive.
Speaking of the pool, another red and green macaw (arara vermelha grande) was chillin' out next to it! Just sitting there on the little fence!
There were about 10 toco toucans enjoying the fruit trees. I'd never seen them so low to the ground!
There were uncountably large groups of chaco chachalacas (say that out loud). Their Portuguese name is aracuã do pantanal.
All of them were calling and crying out at once. Some were skiddish and fast-moving, like the oropendolas. Some were calm and comfortable around me, like the toucans and the red-bellied macaws. They were all socializing and enjoying their breakfasts.
All the sounds and colors were overwhelming (in a good way). I was a little shaky/giddy and the pictures were really blurry. But then I realized I had it on the wrong setting, so the last set of pictures came out better.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?!?
Our internet is really slow, so I'll let you look up the bird names on Wikipedia and use your imagination to see what they all look like.
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Ah I really wanted the photos! Sounds amazing :)
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo cool!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your enjoying a well deserved rest!!
So far, your description of The Pantanal makes it seem like a place not to be missed!
Ah, this sounds so cool! I've always been into birds so I really understand how excited you must be to be seeing all these amazing birds up close. *Really* looking forward to seeing some photos :)
ReplyDeleteAnd now you've sown some seeds of disharmony. We were planning a holiday in Bahia. A chance to relax on the beach, de-stress from an extremely stressy year. But now I'm starting to think about the Pantanal! Have you seen any Giant Anteaters? That could well tip the balance - I love those furry weirdos! ;)
Tom, check out the last post for your answer ! If your goal is quiet relaxation, this is the place. There are only like, 20 other people within a 1-km radius at any given time. There is no one shooting off fireworks and bo one yelling at you to buy things.
DeleteAhhhh - so cool! :) Hope you're having a wonderful time.
DeleteYou can tell which bird is which just by seeing them fly over your head? Cool!!! Hope you're having a blast, which sounds like you are.
ReplyDeleteJust a question: did you have to get the Febre Amarela vaccine before going to the Pantanal, or is it not required?
Yay! Enjoy all the birds! I absolutely love that sound of being surrounded by tropical birds. It was somewhat like that in Curacao and I was totally amazed by how exotic it seemed.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy all the birds! I love that surround-sound tripocal bird noise - it really makes the "I'm somewhere exotic" atmosphere real and birds are cool!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful. You have a hobby you can do anywhere, and your enthusiasm and excitement makes me want to start bird watching!
ReplyDeleteOur birds are at constant war with the cats at this ranch.
ReplyDeletePenelope, the barn cat, was out in the field the other day and a buzzard swooped down to grab the cat, but Penelope reached up with her sharp paws and slapped at the buzzard as it swooped in.
The big buzzard didn't expect that, and was so startled it shot back up into the sky almost as fast as it came down.
Penelope sat there dissappointed. She thinks all birds are prey, not the other way around.
I don't even need pictures, great descriptions!!! I have always loved birds - on my fourth bird now, Eddie, who is a cockatiel, the other three before him were a cockatiel and two parakeets. Glad you are having a great time!
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