Bolivia Expedition 2014

Expedition leaders Lilidh & Lucie

Reserva Barba Azul

• Lies in Beni Province – twice the size of Portugal, very remote with only one paved road

• Grassland habitat with forest islands

• Rio Omi running through

• Recently doubled in size – very exciting

A little bit about the expedition…

• 8 weeks, 7 spent in the Beni savannah

• Collaboration with Armonia – Bolivian NGO

• Projects – macaws, mammals, passerines, herps, night birds, fire ecology

Logistics

• Arrive in Santa Cruz

• Get last minute equipment

• Fancy bus to Trinidad (not the country)

• Less fancy transport into the reserve

The expedition

• Simple accommodation – tents – awesome views • Outdoors for 7 weeks• Toilet & shower facilities – basic (very)• Cooking for ourselves – lots of rice – looking for

skilled chefs• Long days – physically tiring • Very rewarding

Blue-throated macaws

• Critically endangered

• ~ 300 birds in wild population

• Endemic to Beni savannah

• Methodology: weekly pointcounts, morning transects

• Study of motacu palm regeneration

• First nation wide population estimation to be carried out

Mammals

• Many mammal species present in the reserve –capybaras, anteaters, pumas, howler monkeys, pampas cats and more

• Camera trapping and mammal surveys across the reserve

• Compare data between different parts of the reserve

• Possibly find new species to the reserve?

Herpetology project

• Survey the diversity of reptile and amphibian species within the Reserve Barba Azul

• Investigate differences in diversity between ranched and un-ranched land

• Visual encounter surveys

Paserine birds

• Distribution and abundance

• Threatened species such as cock-tailed tyrant, black masked finch and sharp tailed tyrant

Nocturnal Bird Survey

• To investigate the distribution and abundance of nocturnal bird species.

• Focusing on nightjars in the hope of recording white-winged nightjars which are endangered.

Fire Ecology Study• Big fire during summer 2012• Fire ecology study to investigate future

fire risk on the reserve• Vegetation structure surveys to

measure fuel load• Measure fire behaviour by controlled

burning of samples• Goal to allow prescribed fires to be

applied more safely

Who are we looking for?

• Happy, enthusiastic people

• Hard-working

• Keen

• With time for fundraising

• Relatively fit, horse-riding skills useful

• People with bird watching experience

• Outdoor or travel experience desirable but tropical experience not necessary

• 6 to 8 spaces available, any year

Summary

• Opportunity to travel before

• Honours projects possible

• Personal contribution £850 + lots of fundraising

• Approx dates Mid July to Early Sept

• Application forms at front (or on Ex Soc website)

• Application deadline 5pm on Monday 7th Oct (check email for interview list on Monday night)

• Interviews between Tuesday & Thursday 2 to 5pm