Day 2-ACTS Field Station

Today was the beginning of the real thing!
After a brief orientation from the base, we took a 2 and a half hour (total of 101 miles) boat ride down the Amazon River. The ride made a turn and traversed the Napo river, whose water came from the Andes in Ecuador. We got off at the Explorama Napo lodge, where we transferred to a smaller motor boat. The river route was magical!🥰 A treasure hunt of biodiversity!🐒🦜🌿🕷🦋
Finally, we arrived at the field station
ACTS- Amazon Comservatory of Tropical Studies.
Just the thought of being in the Amazon rainforest is one thing, and to be at the field is another level. But to be part of the greater cause of conservation and long-term research led by some scientists is a different league! I couldn't have imagined that i would have such a privilege to become a part of something like this...to contribute in my small humble way.☺️
Part of our orientation was the canopy walk. We went high up in the canopy through 14 bridges and cable platforms - 118 feet high or something like 13 stories above ground!! The feeling was indescribable!!! Talk about phenomena!!! I've seen plant adaptations I've never seen or read in my life! A palm plant that typically grows 7 feet grows as tall as 100+ feet and changes its habit into a vein where the nodes developed roots that hugged around the tree for support! It was just unbelievable!
We got some break before we returned to the orientation session that included the prep for the next day's work according to our research focus. We wrapped today's seasion at 8:30 pm.
It was a long day, and other days would look like this every day, but I don't care! 😅I'm in the Amazon!!!!🥰🤩Read more