A month in the life of an RN

Every day, when they remember, the RNs write on a big white board what they have been doing. This helps us to write our end of month report to Max Gunther and the managers. Here is an extract of what I wrote up for the month of January. Vika was away during the first half of this month, Gino was acting as a guide as there was only one guide employed by the lodge for most of this month, and Vikki alternated between guiding and spending time with her friend Holly, who was visiting as a volunteer, and Gary, who had previously been and RN and was now staying as a volunteer.. Thus, I was the sole active RN for much of this month. That said, I still visited town more this month than any other.

Enerio (January)
1st
Collpita to monitor parrot, paraqueet and macaw activity on the claylick. Was mostly ill today, don’t know why…
2nd
Mapping of the buildings and pathways of Explorer’s Inn (EI) to produce a map. Began painting map onto large wooden sign. It will go near the Comodore where the paths divide to help tourists find bungalows, buildings and trails.
3rd
EI map. Monthly report. Monitoring Caiman on the river
4th
Helped in kitchen as Aleyo, the main chef, is ill. EI map, River Caiman monitoring
5th
Collpita monitoring. Swept library. EI Map. Helped in kitchen. Made 50 newspaper envelopes to collect leaf litter from the permanent plots
6th
Collcted leaf litter from 25 collection points on plot 3 (3.6 km on main trail). Went to Cocococha Lake for my first solo trip on a catamaran. Saw tourists swimming in the Lake which is prohibited (it’s this guide’s last few days). Collected 25 sets of leaf litter from plot 4.
7th
Went to town – Puerto Maldonado. Spent the first night sleeping in the tiny room in the office. It flooded in the heavy rain and everything got soaked.
8th
Spent the second night in town at Geertje’s. Chatted over tea and cakes J She has been poorly but is now feeling better. Sent the monthly report (eventually – slow internet and large files!) Printed and laminated articles for the Discovery Centre and for the Lodge.
9th
Returned from Puerto (this takes most of the day). Swept RN bungalow. River Caiman monitoring
10th
Looked for Socratea and Iriartea (walking and erotic palms) in plot 4. Created Spreadsheet for caiman data and began entry. Although this data is collected, I discovered nothing is being done with it. ¨The river monitoring started fairly recently, but Cocococha Lake has been monitored for 30 years. Went bird watching with Gary, a volunteer and former RN. Learned several bird species! Began formal English lessons with the guys who work in the lodge. River Caiman monitoring.
11th
Entered weather data from early 2006 onto the computer from the paper records. English classes with guide, Richard, focused on the caiman talk he gives to tourists. English lessons with the guys. River Caiman monitoring
12th
Bird watching with Gary, Vikki, and her friend Holly who is staying as a volunteer for 6 weeks. English lessons
13th
Walked with German tourists: Ant, Swamp, Quebrada and Katicocha trails. Officially I was accompanying them on their walk as RNs are prohibited from guiding (and, for that matter, from entering the forest…). Saw saddle-backed tamarins really close J (forgot to put new batteries in camera L).
14th
Walked to Katicocha with Vikki and Gary, theoretically “otter monitoring”. River Caiman monitoring. English lessons – these seem to be really popular, the guys are always waiting for me and ask if we can have lessons every night.
15th
Collpita (saw roadside hawk sitting on closest branch to hide, but no macaws or parrots, just 24 paraqueets far away, rather disappointing). Formatted and input weather data to write an article on weather for the newsletter the RNs produce for the tourists and website every month. English lessons
16th
EI Map painting. This has been held up waiting for gasoline to get rid of the insects that are chewing their way through the wood. I douse it with gasoline every other day for a week, but it doesn’t seem to help much… Cleaned Discovery Centre
17th
Went to Puerto Maldonado, many things to do including washing, buying items like soap and candles which RNs are currently not given by the lodge due to financial difficulties, phoning home, emailing friends, and eating pizza.
18th
Returned to EI
19th
River Caiman monitoring
20th
Forgot to write – how quickly we forget what happened!
21st
Walked in forest in morning, found mammal transect on ant trail and investigated – amazing clearing full of birdsong (video)! Heavy rain all afternoon (have video)
22nd
Walking in forest with Gary (bird watching) and Richard (guide)
23rd
Walking in forest with Gary (bird watching) and Richard (guide)
24th
Worked on text and seed identification for the plant and seed display for Discovery Centre. Gary left for Puerto before flying back to England. They will go out in town tonight. English lessons
25th
Went to Cocococha Lake with Richard – monitoring of Black Caiman and saw the Agami herons in vast numbers. Vikki has been waiting for these to arrive since December. Jorvi and Jaime, two of the young staff, found a sloth in the woods where they were working and brought it back to the lodge. I have many photos!
26th
Helped out in kitchen all day as they are still short-staffed and there are many tourists
27th
Painted EI Map. English lessons
28th
Went to Puerto Maldonado – have many things to do and it’s hard to get them all done in one visit, but I don’t like to stay too long in town. Watched videos in Vikki’s room with Dustin, Vanesa and Richard. Ate a lot of fruit including strange cactus fruit that were delicious!
29th
Returned to EI
30th
Worked on newsletter article on the weather – looking at monthly and annual averages of temperature and humidity and rainfall (but the rainfall data makes no sense at all – it needs some serious work!). Worked on monthly report with the others. English lessons
31
Went to Cocococha Lake with Vika who hasn’t yet seen the Agami herons. Investigated permanent plot 0 to see if it would be possible to survey palm seed fall on the forest floor (it will be difficult). Finished article for the newsletter.