The morning was cool and clear with stunning lighting on the clouds, forest, and reflections on the water. The entire forest seemed to be celebrating the new day with songs, trills, car alarms, Star Wars laser fights, and all sorts of other amazing vocalizations. It was hard to believe the sounds were all coming from birds. Amongst the cacophony of sound was a scream of color when we sighted the orange-backed troupial. Other notable sightings included a blue-crowned motmot and a violaceous trogon. All more beautiful than their names could begin to describe. We continued to spot mammals, including the requisite common squirrel monkeys, Isabel’s monk saki monkeys, and a special sighting of a tamandu up in the tree branches. Our week in the Peruvian Amazon may be near to closing, but we continue to have new and amazing sightings every day on every outing!
4/1/2023
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Delfin II
Marañón River
Today was our last full day on Delfin II , and we had a wonderful day exploring on the banks of the Marañón River. The Marañón is the second longest river in Peru. It measures over a thousand miles long from the headwaters high in the Andes to where it empties into the Ucayali River, just a few miles downstream from where we were exploring today. A section of the Marañon River is carved deep into a canyon in the Andes that has been described as similar to the Grand Canyon in the US. In this section of the river, over 300 miles, a steep slope gives rise to class IV rapids, which are popular for rafting. Today, we had the chance to get our second glimpse of the rainforest ecosystem during a morning walk on shore. After a short skiff ride, we were immersed in the green plants, muddy trails, and towering trees. Accompanied by a few local guides, we spotted a variety of wildlife, including a few different species of spiders, frogs, and snakes. We also heard many species of birds calling in the forest. Our guides taught us about the complex and fascinating topic of tropical ecology. One highlight was standing under a giant strangler fig and learning how the fig tree uses a host tree to gain access to the daylight at the top of the layered canopy. In the middle of the day, we were treated with a presentation from Chef Omar Peña, who taught us how to make ceviche in the Peruvian style. It was quite informative. At the end of the presentation, we were able to sample some of the excellent ceviche. In the afternoon, we had a new experience on this voyage when we went to visit a local community called Amazonas. We were led by a local group of women who have organized themselves. We listened to presentations regarding health projects in the village, including the construction of new, above-ground toilets and a rain catchment system. We learned about work in the village and surrounding areas by a local NGO called Minga Peru. We also learned how women dye palm fibers to make handicrafts and souvenirs. After the presentation, many of us ended up perusing a handicraft market for souvenirs. It was a very insightful visit to learn about the local culture and way of life. On our way back to the ship on skiffs, we enjoyed a wonderful sunset and a distant rainbow.