Screech Owl, not. Mot mot!

---

Dusti came with us at 6am to hear what we thought was a Rufescent Screech Owl the previous day in the same spot.

Bad news: We weren't hearing a screech owl, we were hearing a bird called a Rufous Motmot.
Good news: Dusti was very impressed by my abilities in imitating the Motmot's call. The bird moved closer every time I did it.



In the afternoon there was more vegetation sampling with Mauricio and Giovanny. I was taught an Ecuadorian joke:

Question: What is the most dangerous animal in the jungle?
Answer: A gringo with a machete.

Birds seen today;

Rufous Motmot
Crested Guan
Tropical Parula
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Golden Tanager
Ruddy Spinetail

---

Photos

Pascual holding a Rufous Motmot that we caught in our nets
This type of bird apparently eats small animals (reptiles, etc) that it catches with its serrated beak.

It wasn't only birds that would fly into our nets
I didn't take out any bats myself. Usually Mauricio or Frank (who had had the rabies vaccination) took care of them.

El macho y la hembra
Male and female of the same species (I believe Orange-bellied Euphonia) taken at the same time in the same net, within a few feet of each other. Most likely a mating pair, we made sure to release them simultaneously beside each other.

Early morning in the pasture
This is the view from high up in the pasture, looking down in the direction of the Nambillo river and the casita. If you look closely you can see the banding station in the lower right corner.