Macaws at the Clay Lick in Peru

Another amazing part of our trip to Peru was the visit to the "clay lick." I kept hearing "clear lake" when being told about where we were headed, so I was surprised when we arrived at the destination and there was no lake… My wife said, "’CLAY LICK,’ you idiot…" and so it was. A clay lick is exposed clay along a riverbank or cliff where the birds of the area gather and eat the clay for nourishment. This particular clay lick, near the Tambopata Research Center where we were lodging, is one of the biggest in the world. We arrived before sunrise. And before the sun comes up, it’s very quiet out there, and you have to wave your hand in front of your face to keep all the mosquitos away.

But as soon as daylight breaks, the mosquitos, well, they don’t quite disappear, but their presence lessens, and you start seeing birds fly into the area — Macaws, parrots, and other types of birds. First, just two here and two there.

Before long, there are birds everywhere.

It’s amazing to watch — the birds are so colorful — but I have to say that it’s even more amazing to listen to the sound of all those birds flying around. It literally fills up the air.