Our volunteers:
The fourth volunteer project took us deep into the High Chaco, a harsh, hot, thorny environment. Conditions were likely to be tough, but the local specilaities and abundant mammal life would make the trip well worthwhile. We also received a great deal of help and assistance from the park guards, especially Odulio "Snake Man" Mareco (see photo of him with a rattlesnake to the left!!)
Our volunteers were:
Hemme Batjes: A retired Dutch banker with a life-list of over 5000 species. Back again, this was Hemme´s third project and he was hoping to pick up some ticks amongst the High Chaco endemics.
Adam Betuel: An American student from Ohio, Adam is keen to work in ornithology and was hoping to get some valuable experience of field work in the Neotropics.
TENIENTE ENCISO NATIONAL PARK MINI-GUIDE PROJECT July 06
The aims:
Parque Nacional Teniente Enciso was set up to protect an internationally important population of Chaco Peccary as well as to commemorate several sites from the Chaco War. We aimed to perform a thorough species invetory of the site, with the emphasis as usual squarely on the birds. The parks isolated location close to the Bolivian border makes it one that is little visited and only brief, sporadic fieldwork has been performed here before.
The work:
We aimed to thoroughly survey the winter avifauna of Enciso using a variety of methods. This was the first thorough species inventory performed at the park during this season. Hemme, as usual full of enthusiasm and energy, walked over 15km per day photographing and recording birds. Each evening a list of the birds seen with approximate numbers was collated over a cool beer. In an effort to survey mammal populations we photographed and recorded footprint data, as well as noting sight records. Some work was done sampling bats, reptiles and amphibians.
The results:
The harshness of the Alto Chaco means that animals have to be highly-adapted to the environment. As a result diversity is low but regional endemism is high. We recorded just 113 species during the fieldwork of which 8 had not previously been recorded at Enciso. We encountered 13 of the 14 Chaco endemic species known from the park. The list for Enciso now stands at 179 species. Our field work was during mid-winter when no summer migrants are present and the park is exceptionally dry, hence the relatively low percentage of species recorded. We obtained morphometric and detailled plumage data from a total of 31 different species. To read the full report of the fieldwork follow the link at the top of the page or you can click here.
What the volunteers said:
Adam Betuel - "My two month stay in Paraguay was my first time spending a long period of time outside of the United States. Not only did the 280 plus life birds I saw make my experience great, but also the people, the culture, and the bonds I made are ones I will never forget and will always cherish."
Hemme Batjes - "I enjoyed the first project so much that I came back for two more. I like to watch birds in areas that few other birders visit."
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
