Jorupe Birds and More

In February my wife Debbie and I served as volunteer hosts once again at Jorupe Reserve.  The reserve, located on the southern border of Ecuador, is owned by the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation. We noticed a number of changes since our time at the reserve the previous year.

Perhaps the most conspicuous difference in bird life was the huge flocks of Red-masked Parakeets. Last year we saw small groups with perhaps a dozen or so in each group. This year they numbered up to 100 in a flock.

Red-masked Parakeet

Red-masked Parakeet

Like most parakeets, Red-masked Parakeets are extremely vocal. But they can also be silent, then suddenly erupt raucously from a nearby tree.

Red-masked ParakeetRed-masked Parakeet

Red-masked Parakeet

Another interesting difference was the shortage of birds at the feeding station. The rains had produced a wealth of insect prey. With plenty of bugs, and breeding season underway, why would birds stuff themselves at a feeder on dry corn, even if it was non-GMO? An exception, though, were Blue Ground-Doves, which appeared in large numbers.

Blue Ground-Dove males and females

Blue Ground-Dove males and females

Raptors are particularly conspicous at Jorupe. This Savannah Hawk had just dived at a Laughing Falcon.

Savannah Hawk

Savannah Hawk

The Laughing Falcon had a nest tucked into a cavity of a Ceiba tree hidden behind epiphytes.

Laughing Falcon _F5A9464

Laughing Falcon peers out from nest cavity

Yawn!

Laughing Falcon

Laughing Falcon

Peruvian Pygmy-Owls can be seen and heard both day and night.

Peruvian Pygmy-Owl

Peruvian Pygmy-Owl

An Ecuadorian Trogon strikes a conceited pose.

Ecuadorian Trogon

Ecuadorian Trogon

Birders coming to Jorupe have Pale-browed Tinamou on their “must-see” list. But this year some birders “dipped” (Brit-speak for missed the bird) since the tinamous were not coming regularly to the feeding station.

Pale-browed Tinamou calling

Pale-browed Tinamou calling

Pale-browed Tinamou

Pale-browed Tinamou

Pale-browed Tinamous are notoriously difficult to see away from the feeding station, so I felt particularly lucky to photograph a nest that was discovered when the forest guards cleared roadside growth.

Pale-browed Tinamou nest

Pale-browed Tinamou nest and eggs

Pale-browed Tinamou on nest

Pale-browed Tinamou on nest

Unlike tinamous, gregarious Fasciated Wrens are not discrete in their nesting habits.

Fasciated Wren at nest

Fasciated Wren at nest

We had the pleasure of spending time with ornithologist Graham Montgomery, who is spending several months in Ecuador studying species boundaries. Here he is checking out birds in a Ceiba tree.

Ornithologist in Jorupe forest

Ornithologist in Jorupe forest

I resisted temptation to pick up this Black-tailed Indigo Snake. Last year I wrapped myself up in one for my Facebook picture, inadvertently letting it cover me with its strong defensive scent. I was reminded of the event for weeks every time I lifted my stinky binoculars.

Black-tailed Indigo Snake

Black-tailed Indigo Snake

Robber flies seemed to be abundant along the trail. This one grabbed a leafcutter ant. You have to admire its ability to eat while hanging on to a leaf with only one leg.

Robber Fly preys on male leafcutter ant

Robber Fly preys on male leafcutter ant

The comedor (dining hall) provides nice refuge during the six o’clock mosquito hour.

comedor

Comedor (dining hall)

At other times, the porch is a comfortable place to relax and bird.

Jourpe Comedor porch

Jourpe comedor porch

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