5. Reserva Barba Azul
• Lies in Beni Province – twice the size of
Portugal, very remote with only one
paved road
• Grassland habitat with forest islands
• Rio Omi running through
• Recently doubled in size – very exciting
6.
7. A little bit about the
expedition…
• 8 weeks, 7 spent in the Beni savannah
• Collaboration with Armonia – Bolivian NGO
• Projects – macaws, mammals, passerines, herps,
night birds, fire ecology
8. Logistics
• Arrive in Santa Cruz
• Get last minute equipment
• Fancy bus to Trinidad (not the country)
• Less fancy transport into the reserve
9. The expedition
• Simple accommodation – tents – awesome views
• Outdoors for 7 weeks
• Toilet & shower facilities – basic (very)
• Cooking for ourselves – lots of rice – looking for
skilled chefs
• Long days – physically tiring
• Very rewarding
10.
11. Blue-throated macaws
• Critically endangered
• ~ 300 birds in wild population
• Endemic to Beni savannah
• Methodology: weekly pointcounts, morning
transects
• Study of motacu palm regeneration
• First nation wide population estimation to be
carried out
12. Mammals
• Many mammal species present in the reserve –
capybaras, anteaters, pumas, howler monkeys, pampas
cats and more
• Camera trapping and mammal surveys across the reserve
• Compare data between different parts of the reserve
• Possibly find new species to the reserve?
13.
14. Herpetology project
• Survey the diversity of reptile and amphibian
species within the Reserve Barba Azul
• Investigate differences in diversity between ranched
and un-ranched land
• Visual encounter surveys
15.
16. Paserine birds
• Distribution and abundance
• Threatened species such as cock-tailed
tyrant, black masked finch and sharp
tailed tyrant
17. Nocturnal Bird Survey
• To investigate the distribution and abundance of
nocturnal bird species.
• Focusing on nightjars in the hope of recording
white-winged nightjars which are endangered.
18. Fire Ecology Study
• Big fire during summer 2012
• Fire ecology study to investigate future
fire risk on the reserve
• Vegetation structure surveys to
measure fuel load
• Measure fire behaviour by controlled
burning of samples
• Goal to allow prescribed fires to be
applied more safely
19. Who are we looking for?
• Happy, enthusiastic people
• Hard-working
• Keen
• With time for fundraising
• Relatively fit, horse-riding skills useful
• People with bird watching experience
• Outdoor or travel experience desirable but
tropical experience not necessary
• 6 to 8 spaces available, any year
20. Summary
• Opportunity to travel before
• Honours projects possible
• Personal contribution £850 + lots of fundraising
• Approx dates Mid July to Early Sept
• Application forms at front (or on Ex Soc website)
• Application deadline 5pm on Monday 7th Oct
(check email for interview list on Monday night)
• Interviews between Tuesday & Thursday 2 to
5pm
Editor's Notes
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=220536 Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Neotropical birds
