This Friday we took EcoClub on a special field trip to the
Jocotoco Bird Reserve in Ayampe. It was a blast hiking through the dry tropical
forest and playing in nature with fourteen elementary and middle school kids.
We
learned about the Esmeraldas Woodstar, the world’s second smallest hummingbird
and the reserve’s most famous resident. We debated the colors and diets of
numerous birds, pondered the absence of panda bears despite the plethora of
bamboo, and consumed 40 ham-and-cheese sandwiches.
On the way back, we detoured
through the nearly-dry Ayampe River where we chased fish and examine tadpoles
in a plastic cup. It was a great day for environmental education and plain old
fun in nature!
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| Setting off. |
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| Trying out the equipment. |
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| Our first spotting, a gallinazo negro, black vulture. |
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| New birds and new friends. |
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| The ever-present soaring frigatebird. |
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| Many of the town's adults joined us and had a great time. |
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| The volunteers got a little silly, too. |
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| We watched wildflowers when we couldn't find birds. |
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| A young EcoClubber models a painted Jocotoco bird sign. |
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| This independent birder, Rene, showed off his book to a couple boys... |
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| ... and soon was entertaining a mob! |
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| The one hummingbird we didn't frighten away with our noise. |
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| A tadpole to bring home to Mom and Dad. |