Hanging Out at the Clay Lick, Day #1

While we stayed at the Tambopata Research Center (TRC), we got the visit a nearby clay lick. This is a cliff of clay where birds, such as macaws and parrots, come to eat the clay. Researchers think that they do this because the clay helps neutralize the toxins from other things they eat, such as berries.

Going to the clay lick involves an early wake-up call. And by early I mean around 4:15 a.m. Those of you who know me well are probably laughing because you know that I do not like to get up early. However, you would have been proud of me...I got up on time every morning that we had to do this. And, sometimes I even got up early! Anyway, we'd leave TRC at 5:00 a.m. so that we could be in place at the clay lick before the birds came. We took boats over to the clay lick, but that boat ride was only about ten minutes long.

The first morning we went to the clay lick, it was still pretty dark. The sun had just started to peek over the horizon. It was beautiful! We loaded into the boats and headed out. I was wearing my knee-high rubber boots, and I took them off for the boat ride. The guides told us that if we happened to end up in the river, the boots would fill with water and drag us to the bottom. So, I always took them off when I was in the boat.

The river was shallow in places, and as we were heading to the clay lick that morning, we hit a set of rapids. Now, I'm not usually afraid of boating or water, but I thought for sure we were going to capsize. We boat rocked from one side and then back to the other. I grabbed a hold of the sides and held on for dear life. It was the only time in all our of boat rides that I was afraid. The boat driver and our guide in the front (who's job was to push us off protrusions in the river) maneuvered the situation with ease, but I was really glad when we reached shore.  

To get to the viewing area for the clay lick, we had to walk for about five minutes. We each had a little aluminum folding chair (and I use that word lightly) to carry as well as our own backpacks. The viewing area was across from the clay lick with an inlet from the river in between. We set up the chairs, and then we waited. There really wasn't anything to do at this point except wait for the birds to show up. We could hear birds and monkeys in the forest, and occasionally we would see birds fly in the sky. At one point the howler monkeys started to make noise. It sounded like a freight train! Then other birds and monkeys started in until it was the most awful din. And then...it started to rain. Amazing! It was like the animals knew the rain was coming and starting calling out a warning. I don't know if it was just a coincidence or not, but it was a surreal moment. The rain didn't last very long, but it was heavy enough that I was really glad to have my raincoat and umbrella with me.

Finally, the birds showed up at the clay lick, and it was an amazing sight. They would swoop in and out to eat the clay. We saw about five different types of parrots and three different types of macaws. When they were done at the clay lick, some of them would perch in nearby trees, so we were able to watch them. The guides had brought along a telescope, and through it we could see the birds really well. After awhile, all the birds left. Why did they all come when they did and then leave at the same time? Who can know, but it was a sight to behold.