We are beginning to appreciate the diversity of life that surrounds us in this magical and diverse environment. Each time we go out there are different birds to see. Each time we look out into the vast greenness we know that we could be looking at hundreds (or thousands) of species of plants in one afternoon. And when we sit quietly in the skiff and listen, we know that there are many more sounds of nature than we have had the pleasure of hearing at once before.
This morning we visited the community of Urarinas, and saw the differences in communities as well. Here off the Zapote River (and much of the Ucayali region in general) the communities are part of the flood forest. Instead of terra firme (solid, dry ground) like the community of Amazonas is built on, Urarinas is built to be part the seasonal floods, just like the varzea forest. Here houses are built on stilts. Now, when the water is still low, one can walk around town and can see that during the highest water season, the water is three- to five-feet deep under the houses. A few of them appear to flood on the lowest level and the occupants move to a higher floor. How challenging it must be to only leave your house by canoe for a few months or more per year. Yet, just like the forests that surround them, the local people are adapted to the seasonal rhythms. Here flood season is probably as normal to them as long cold snowy winters are to some of us.
This afternoon we enjoyed the winding, narrow Iricahua Creek. The water is already flooding into the forest, and the trunks and roots of the ficus trees were looking dark and mysterious, while also offering some interesting photos. As we were slowly passing by one of these giants, a spectacled owl flew out from the tangle of roots and straight toward us before veering left and heading further into the forest. It got so close that the “spectacles” or large white feathered “X” around its eyes was easily visible. What a treat to see! Once again we are reminded of the diversity of this place, and that each creek and stream is not “just another creek” but the potential to see something new and different and to learn a little more about this place called the Amazon.
