Spring has definitely sprung at RLT!

It is more difficult to discern clear seasons when you are so close to the equator and at slight altitude (+/-1350m). The seasons here are defined more by the amount of rainfall so it is either the wet or dry season. Given how much it rains in the ‘dry’ season here, we call it the ‘less rainy’ season. Regardless, it is definitely spring here with the number of juvenile animals and new growth we have seen. We haven’t been able to get a photo of the juvenile Agouti (sooo cute!!) but here are a few cuties…

Our visitor numbers have dropped since the northern hemisphere summer has ended and many short-term travellers have returned to their office jobs. We often have a chuckle when visitors tell us they will be back at work ‘next Monday’. It certainly makes us appreciate our lifestyle and job choices. Although we are technically volunteers, the return on our investment being here for 5.5 months far outweighs being back in office and corporate jobs! 

However, we really enjoy having visitors as they allow us to share our enthusiasm and passion for this amazing piece of paradise. After 2 weeks of not seeing anyone else at the Reserve we had 3 morning Lek tours in a row, 1 guest stayed 3 nights, another 1 night and 5 day visitors. All in the space of 4 days! Here is a recent group of visitors. The group of 3 were VERY happy to find their target species during their visit. In their case, the Andean Cock of the Rock, Yellow-throated Toucan and the Golden-crowned Quetzal.

We are just heading into our final month, (already!!) at RLT and have been busy tidying everything up, waxing and varnishing walls, floors and ceilings, both inside and out, updating Guidelines, and finalizing projects. RLT will be spick and span for the next Managers to take over from us next month. The new Bird ID sheet (completed project) has been printed and laminated and already greatly appreciated by our latest visitors.

Despite not going to a ‘proper job’ each day, we do have a daily routine we follow. It naturally occurred around the daily jobs we are required to complete and has evolved to suit us (and the hummingbirds that buzz our window if we aren’t up by 6.15am each morning!). We enjoy following our natural ‘cicada’ (circadian) rhythms being up with 1^st light and in bed not too long after dark! We made a little ‘Day in the Life’ video which you can watch here to see what a typical day looks like for us here at RLT.

Hasta el próximo mes!