I could almost set my watch to their daily visits. They did not seem to care or notice that we watched them and they were unafraid. They struck comical poses for my Pentax again and again. The bird varieties must range into the hundreds and Juri Juri is truly a bird-watchers heaven. Flocks of parrots and parakeets were constantly hurrying noisily about their business over the preserve and its rivers.
Several birds hang about the main casa including a scarlet macaw, three parrots and a hawk.
The community mother, Ana, likes to feed them bananas by hand and this makes for great photos. One minute eating out of hand the next moment up a hundred foot tree. On a beautiful trip up the river in a hollowed out tree tree, we visited a beautiful and magical lake and saw MANY caiman or alligators, a large flock of endangered hoatzin and a glimpse of the resident boa taking its midday nap. In addition to the flora and fauna that has disappeared in many other places but thrives at Juri Juri, the people of the community are warm and wonderful. Talented in the old ways of the Ecuadorian Quichuan culture, they are excellent teachers and willing and able to immerse the visitor from food and cooking to woodslore and fishing to music dance and handicrafts.