Ants, Forest Falcons, and Puffbirds

Yup, life is still fun down here in Peru. That's me with a Yellow-browed Antwren that we caught in the net. Only the 4th capture of that species for the season. As you can tell by the beard growth - it was near the end of our trip in the field (I shave each time we are in Iquitos).

It's hard to say what group of birds I love the most, here in Peru and throughout the world. Perhaps the birds I enjoy watching the most, though, are antbirds and their relations.

In the New World Tropics, army ants play a unique role in the lives of birds. Army ants do not make a nest, like most species we are familiar with, but rather behave like an army. For a few weeks, as they are raising pupae into young ants, the ants themselves make a nest with their bodies, and make small foraging bouts every day to search for mites and other small prey. After the pupae hatch, the ants go on the move as an entire horde, making a 'bivouac' every night after wandering the forest floor. Larger insects, their camouflage made moot by the HORDES of ants that wander over the ground and the plant material, will jump, crawl, and/or fly away.

Which is where the birds come in, including species like the one I am holding in the photo. With the camouflage made moot, birds have a "free" meal. Or at least one that is easy to find! And the common birds on this swarms? Antbirds.

I've gotten various species this way - including some here. In Costa Rica, I got numerous ones (I was good at finding swarms there). For that reason, I enjoy the antbirds.

This recent trip, we didn't have a swarm at the nets themselves. But there was one near enough that we kept very busy. And so it was good that our crew expanded from the four of us, to a whopping eight! And we had plenty of work for all of us, especially since we had to train some of the new folks in what we were doing.

But what was the bird highlight of that day? A bird not associated with the ants - but may take the birds following the ants! And yes, I'm being goofy in this photo. You hold these birds in what is referred to as the ice cream cone grip.
A Lined Forest Falcon! The face and eyes are wild: all that orange, and the irises are nearly white.

Our first banding location at this site was very productive for captures. Numerous individuals of many species - having the army ant swarm nearby definitely helped in that regard.

One of the harder groups of birds to see in the tropics are a group referred to as puffbirds, in the family Bucconidae. They are midstory to canopy level birds, that sit still while they look for food. And don't call much. In other words, it will probably be by sheer luck one would ever see one (well, of most species in the group).

But, that is one advantage of netting! You will see birds that you may not easily have a chance to see. And so, we also caught a puffbird on one of our days at the station. You can understand how the name "puffbird" came about when you look at the head size (with feathers fluffed) in relation to body.
Of course, most of you know I don't count birds "in the hand" on my life list. Where's the search challenge? Though I do keep track of birds I have handled. So, for now, I was settling on seeing puffbirds in the hand. And enjoying them as such. But a benefit for me of bird banding is that I get to learn the species very well for identification purposes, and so when it comes time to looking for and seeing them in the forest, I know what field marks I'm looking for.

And so, on our last day of work in the field, while we were walking between plots to do vegetation, what should call (!) and fly in front of me - but the White-chested Puffbird (same as the bird above)! My day was complete, at that point. It was my second life bird of that day.

This last trip remained very enjoyable, with only one bittersweet moment. Our crew was at it's largest (eight) than it had been all season - and now, one by one, members will leave to continue their lives and travels independently. And so, on Tuesday last, we said goodbye (actually, ciao or hasta luego, since she is Argentinian) to one of our members, who is traveling on her own throughout more of South America (and perhaps Central America as well). We already miss Maru - but we are continuing to build happy, funny, and exciting memories.

I am continuing to add to my list, and not even little by little. This past trip provided me with even more species than San Martin did - Seventeen! I added a couple of hummingbirds, including the spectacular Gould's Jewelfront, which perched right next to us at the banding station for about five seconds, and those of us there got awesome views of the bird and it's colors. I also added my second puffbird species of the trip (the one above), and various flycatchers. The flycatchers: I had to chase down most of them! I am getting familiar with all the bird songs and calls down here, so now, I know which calls to follow/chase down. Plus, that is the best way for me to learn new songs and calls, anyway.

So, the lasting images I will have of this past trip? The Lined Forest Falcon, of course. The "countable" puffbird on the last day. The Gould's Jewelfront at the banding station. Day 1 at the second banding site, where for the first 2.5 hours of so, I was continually walking the net lanes, extracting birds and bringing them to the banding station. The sunsets over the river. Bathing in the river Nanay. Having the Nanay River at our front step. The return of the rains (it rained nearly every night). Using myself as a stepladder to check the inside of a trogon nest.

So, yes, it was a productive trip. Our next excursion brings us the farthest we will be from Iquitos, with a one hour bus ride to the river port, followed by a four hour (approximately) boat ride up river to the next community. And then, the crew will shrink in size again, drastically. And I will be thinking about going home again...and what the future will bring.