A flash of red and black
This was my second trip to Peru, but this time as a Teacher Assistant! After falling in love with this country a year prior, it was incredibly special to return. Under the ever present theme of birds, I traveled alone to the Northern Coast, the Northern Cloud Forest, the Tumbesian Desert, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, and Manu National Park. Here, I did tourist things, struggled with my Spanish, hosted by a family, hosted my family, TA'd a class, banded birds, surveyed birds along transects, made life long friends, and smiled a whole ton!
The national bird of Peru is the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. This elusive bird lives in a thin elevational strip in the cloud forest. During my first year in Peru, our class spent 15 minutes driving through the cock-of-the-rock habitat. We were headed for the lowlands, so this was my only chance of seeing this bird with so much significance! I was standing the entire time in the front of the bus with my eyes peeled. If anyone was going to see a flash of red and black off the side of the road, it would be me. But no! One of the other students spotted it. I like to joke that this is why I knew I had to return to Peru the following year: to see the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. In truth, the entire country of Peru is always trying to call me back and I know I will still return. My family had 6 days in Peru, where do you think I took them? Yes, a bumpy arid and then wet journey to see the Cock-of-the-Rock, spend one short night, and then back up the mountain. It was so worth it! Am I right family? |
Sharing my love for Peru with the other students was easy. I enjoyed helping trip details run smoothly, fetch water by the 10 gallons, instruct students on holding birds and collecting data. I got to work alongside my good friend from Peru Trip #1 (Andean Pygmy Owl) Alison Sienkiewicz, two terrific professors Tim Billo and Ursula Valdez, and a stellar group of students. Gosh does it ever get tiring to hear me say I can't wait to return to Peru.
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