Explorer´s Inn RN Monthly Report: May 2008

RNs: Robin McDaniel, Laura Rantala, Sara Prado, Zuzana Bartakova

Volunteers: None

Notes:

• Robin in Puerto and Lima on May 13th - 20th 
• Laura in Puerto on May 13th- 14th
• Sara arrived on the 9th
• Zuzana arrived on the 14th
• Sara in Puerto from May 29th to June 1st
• PASI Conference on Chemical Biology brought much life to the Inn, from May 28th to June 5th

TRAILS

All trails are accessible. Robin, Zuzana and Laura tracked the “Mirador” trail, the mammal clay lick at New Collpita, and Sunset Point on GPS for INRENA.  Old Collpita, La Torre and Tapir trails were cleared. Part of La Torre trail, at 500m from the lodge, has fallen into the river and still needs to be fixed. A new bird poster was taken into the hide at Cocococha. Trail signs along Main trail were nailed into trees in the hope of protecting the signs from termites.

LIBRARY

Locks were placed in the library doors. Generous researchers taking part in the PASI Conference donated books for the EI library, thank you all!

MEDICINAL GARDEN

Robin tidied up the Medicinal Garden thoroughly before the conference.

DISCOVERY CENTRE

The Discovery Centre was regularly broomed and dusted. Guests visited the Centre regularly.

RESEARCH ASSISTANCE

• Robin and Laura collected soil samples for Jorge Vivanco on May 3rd
• Robin and Laura set up and measured Tangarana experiment for Jorge Vivanco on April 29th to May 3rd
• Robin and Laura assisted Michael Zimmermann with soil carbon measurement on May 6th
• Robin and Laura collected leaf litter for Filio on May 7th and 8th
• Zuzana assisted Filio on the 25th, 27th and 28th
• Laura assisted Filio  on May 26th
• Laura, Robin and Zuzana measured walking palms for Jorge Vivanco on May 29th and 30th

INTERACTION WITH TOURISTS

• Laura assisted guiding groups on May 18th, 19th, 28th and 29th
• Laura was a transfer on May 20th
• Sara assisted guiding a group from the 19-23 May.
• Sara was a transfer on May 14th and 24th.
• Robin, Laura and Sara assisted with guiding during the PASI conference
• Robin and Sara have been giving the welcome talk to tourists when Dustin is unavailable.

LANGUAGE TRAINING

• Zuzana has given informal English lessons to Alexis and has received help with her Spanish
• Laura has practiced English with Jaime and Dolores and has received help with her Spanish from all staff
• Sara has been helping Alexis and Dolores learn English
• Informal language teaching is provided by all RNs daily

NEWSLETTER

June / July newsletter was written, printed and distributed around the lodge and into the rooms. It includes articles on Black Caimans, Army Ants, The Interoceanic Highway, and a story of a Hungarian cult visiting the lodge.

OTHER / PERSONAL PROJECTS

• The RNs, especially Robin and Laura have helped carrying building material to Lake Cocococha for building a new bridge and floor to the hide
• All RNs have helped out in the dining room and kitchen on busy nights
• Laura has continued the primate survey
• Sara painted panels on mammal tracks and caiman reproduction and these were placed in the dining room
• Sara painted the RN bungalow showers and has also written a short talk on army ants and taught it to Dolores.
• Zuzana helped Monica with the arrangements for the PASI Conference on May 22nd, 25th and 26th
• Robin has completed two educational panels that now hang in the comedor –one panel is focused on on-going research taking place at the Inn, and the second focuses on socio-ecological threats to the Madre de Dios (the inter-oceanic highway and oil exploration).

Other Notes
It seems of late, especially after Nori’s report on the RNs that a lot of negativity has been infiltrating the RN program.  Firstly, it seems that we cannot live up to anyone’s expectations, as there is a lack of positive feedback, and secondly there seems to exist a rumour that we are lazy.  All of this negativity has been affecting the moods of everyone.  It is important to note that meetings and emails have been circulating about the RNs without ever involving the RNs.  Since our opinions have not been solicited we feel that this may be the space to stand-up for ourselves.  Much of the work that we do here is unseen, and certainly no one comments unless something goes wrong (and yes, things have gone wrong, but we are all learning here).  Since the beginning of the year, we can attest that the discovery centre and library look much better, the garden is in great condition, the trails are all clear and marked, numerous new educational panels exist, signs have been re-painted and a mountain of physical labour has been poured into the EI by us. Every concern that has been raised, we have done our best to put right. Furthermore, I believe that we all have positive attitudes that greatly enhance the tourist’s and researcher’s visit to EI. 

Now, in the name of positivity please note that we believe strongly in the RN program, and are thankful for this opportunity.  We believe that it is an important program for stewards of the environment and serves and important purpose for the Explorer’s Inn.  We try to do any labour that the Inn needs in order to ensure that we are also working on behalf of the Inn and not only the universities or ourselves.  Perhaps the best approach for all of us to take is to always voice our concerns and expectations, and to try to encourage positive dialogue between the RNs and administrators.  For in the words of the lovely canopy researcher, Margaret Lowman, “It takes just as much energy to complain as to exclaim, but the two yield very different results.”   We the RNs want to fulfill every expectation, and we want to help the lodge and fellow researchers in every way possible, and this can be done only when we all work together. 

MONITORING PROJECTS

Caimans- Cocococha

Caimans at both sides of the Lake Cocococha were monitored on May 23rd, from 18:30 to 20:10. The weather was warm and clear. In total 26 caimans were seen.

Caimans- Tambopata

• Collpita

INDEX:
BHPA=Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus), CFMA=Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severa), DHPA=Dusky-headed Parakeet (Aratinga weddellii), MEPA=Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa), OCPA=Orange-cheeked Parrot (Pionopsitta barrabandi), RGMA=Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloroptera), WEPA=White-eyed Parakeet (Aratinga leucophthalmus), and YCPA=Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala).

OTTERS
Cocococha
10 otter sheets were filled in between the end of April and the end of May by guides (thanks!!) and RNs.

Rare species sightings

The following rare species were seen in the month of March:

 WEATHER DATA