Macaws in the Buritis

[amazondk]

Yesterday on the ride home from Boa Vista to Manaus, 775 kms, I stopped at the southern entrance to the indian reservation to take some pictures of Mauritias and stretch my legs.  When I got out of the car I instantly heard the loud screams of a band of blue and gold macaws.  Unfortunately you can not see them in the photos.  I had my trusty binoculars and could watch them in their late afternoon party quite well.  There are a few dead trees around where several couples had nests.  In addition to the macaws were a few curica parrots.  Then just as we were about to hit the road again a pair of red and green macaws flew over and off toward the soon to set sun.  It was one of those golden moments in the late afternoon at the equator.  Unfortunately the sun set and the next 100 kms of the trip became a real pain.  The worst stretch of the road is now in this area and in the dark it is a real drag to drive.  But, it was worth it to spend a few moments with the birds.  I imagine that there were around 50 macaws in the trees.  To me they are one of the most graceful birds to watch in flight.  I don't think there are better symbols of our area than the Arara (macaw) and Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) they make an outstanding combination.  I hope someday to get a digital camera with a good zoom.

I hope that you are not getting tired of Mauritia pictures, I just can't resisit taking them.  I love the combination of the big palms, water, forest, and the equatorial sky.  The images are only part of the scene. The warm humid air you feel all around, the smell of the tropical forest, and the sounds you can not capture.

Amazônia é linda.

dk

The macaws were all over the palms and in the dead trees.  They would fly around playing with each other.  If you look at the dead tree in the lower left corner you can see a spot near the top, this is one macaw.  Another one was sitting on top of the dead tree.  There was a dead tree to the left of the picture where a couple had a nest and you could even make out a chicks head in the opening.  That is with good binoculars.

[amazondk]

Macaws are such graceful birds in flight.  When I see one in captivity it always makes me think of what they are missing by not being able to fly around the forest.  In the country here when you raise one from a baby they stay around your home even if they do not have their wings clipped.  They go out to the forest to get food and come back home.

dk

[RainForestt Robert]

Don the second photo is calendar worthy.  Thanks for sharing.

Robert

[JakeK]

DK,

Stunning scenery even without the Macaws. Such an awesome place to live.

[amazondk]

Thanks guys.  The place is even more impressive in person.

dk

[palmmermaid]

Don,

Every time I see your pictures I am jealous.  You live in a truly amazing place.

[Bilbo]

Just like my own back yard.

(If only!!!)

Wow.

Regardez

PS

I might try some tropico fluterbies and we will see - I sure have some vegetation they will like.

Best wishes.

Juan

[Kris]

dear Don  

those palms are very beautiful and seems to grown in the stillwater area.and does it fall under the catagory of water

palms ?

thanks for those stills,

Love,

Kris  

[amazondk]

Kirs,

The Mauritia flexuosa grows in swampy conditions.  They normally are in the water during a part of the year.  But, they will grow fine on dry ground if they get enough water.  They are always found in habitat around water or damp conditions, so I guess you could call them water palms.

dk

[Kris]

Dear Don  

Thank you.

Love,

Kris  

[SubTropicRay]

I love the views Don.  Thanks for posting.

[bgl]

Don,

I'll speak for myself, but I don't think we'll ever get tired of Mauritia photos! Amazing! And maybe next time you'll be able to get a shot of a couple of the macaws!

Bo-Göran

[amazondk]

Thanks guys.  I will keep them coming.  Right now I am in Fort Lauderdale enjoying the dry breezy weather.

dk