February

Between January and February the Brazil nut tree fruits. This is the time of the year, when brown agoutis (Dasyprocta variegata) have a feast. They are on top of a selected list of rodents, that can open the hard shell that protects the nuts inside. Brown agouties have been observed to store these nuts on the ground, as squirrels do. And as they don´t recall where all their storages are, they are an important seed disperser of the Brazil nut tree.
But the “castañas”, as they are locally called, are not only appreciated by the agoutis but also by locals in Madre de Dios. The collection of Brazil nuts is one of the most important economic activities in the region. Thousands of families depend directly and indirectly on this industry. You can learn more about the only non extractive commodity of the rainforest at Refugio Amazonas, where there is a Brazil Nut camp used for a few weeks a year by Brazil nut gathers. We will be demonstrating the whole process of the rain forest's only sustainable harvested product from collection through transportation to drying.

Although the macaw breeding season ranges between November and March, the months between January and March are best to see the young macaw chicks from the artificial and natural nests near the Tambopata Research Center. This is when the first colored feathers appear. Researchers will periodically check weight, size (beak, wings, and tarsus) and health conditions of every chick (they look for parasites and check if the crop is full). For a site visit to one of the nests to see the researchers handling the chicks, please ask your guide to coordinate this with the Macaw Project field leader.