Early Morning Canoe Trip to See Macaws & Parakeets

The Achuar's world is one where all species live in community with every other creature.  They are free to move about and interact with one another.  The only macaws and parakeets I had ever seen before this trip were at pet stores and in cages.  It was phenomenal to see these beautiful creatures free in their natural environment, able to use their wings to navigate the world and able to be in community.  Flying together, they gathered in flocks in the trees, talking and singing altogether in an early morning.  They gathered at the clay licks where they eat the clay to neutralize toxins found in unripe fruit.  They are very quick and very loud (as you will see in the videos below). 

Flying to meeting place

 Sounds of the parakeets

*The macaws and parakeets were very loud;

turn the volume on your computer down a bit so you are not startled.

A pair of birds above the tree

Kapok tree with macaws and parakeets

A pair sitting on a branch

In flight

Flocks flying (might want to tilt your head for this)

 An Achuar family riding in a canoe down the river

 The river was wide in this area.

Floating on the river observing

River's edge

Sounds of many parakeets and macaws

Birds in flight

Loud macaws and parakeets

The lush vegetation along the river's edge

Heading down the river in a canoe, 

sitting behind guide who is wearing a traditional headband
made by the women in the community.

Fallen tree along river's edge

Tree covered in vines

Vines are very common in the forest.  They climb tree trunks to reach the light.

A less dense area of the forest

Bare, tall tree reaching above the treeline

Looking down the river

Beautiful pattern of leaf silhouettes

Small palms(?) at river's edge

Palm tree reaching above the canopy

Close up of palm tree

Peering in to dense forest

Bird atop tree

Capirona tree