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BIRD DOG |
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 The Pantanal viewed from an airplane. © David Muenker |
"How big are they?"
"Some are seven feet long. That's bigger than any man I know," the pilot replied. "We always check the water for caimans before going swimming."
The plane circled a small ranch and then landed on a dirt airstrip.
"I always circle first so Jose can run the cows off the runway," the pilot explained.
"Ola!" Jose greeted them. "You're just in time, Sonya, to ride upriver with us. I'm picking up a friend to help me build a tool shed."
 Sonya rides upriver in the Pantanal. © 2007 Ravay Snow |
Sonya jumped aboard the motorized skiff. As the boat cruised up the river, the breeze made her ears flap.
Bright green plants grew on the riverbanks. Numerous waterways branched off from the main river.
Thick tropical bushes and trees grew everywhere. Anything could hide in them.
"Do you ever get lost?" Sonya asked.
"Ha-ha. Yup! But somehow I always manage to get home."
"Thank goodness," Sonya muttered to herself.
When they went around a bend, Jose idled the motor and put his index finger up against his mouth. "Look up in that tree," he whispered. "See the two black monkeys?"
"Wow, they're big!" They watched the monkeys eat fruit and swing from branch to branch.
 A caiman shows off its big teeth. © David Muenker |
Half a dozen caimans basked in the sun on a sandy shore. Their eyes were closed but their mouths were wide open.
"They remind me of my friend's grandpa when he naps," Sonya laughed.
Jose tied the boat to a small, wooden dock.
"Ola, Antonio!" he shouted to his friend.
Antonio stepped on board the boat and introduced himself to Sonya. "Is this your first time in the Pantanal?"
"Yes. It's huge!"
"Bigger than England or the state of New York," Antonio said.
"There's so much water here."
"Regions like this are called wetlands."
"And this is the dry season?" Sonya asked.
 Capybaras are the world's largest rodents. © David Muenker |
"See how the trunk on that tree is really dark?" Jose asked. "Keep looking up the trunk, Sonya, until the color of the bark gets lighter."
Sonya's eyes scanned the tree trunk.
"See it?"
"Yes! It looks like the bark was painted with two colors, dark brown and light brown," Sonya said.
"In the wet season, the water rises as high as the lighter-colored bark," Jose explained.
"Woof! That's higher than a living room ceiling!" Sonya exclaimed. "Where do you live in the wet season?"
"In the same place," Jose replied. "We always build our houses on high ground."
On the ride back, Sonya saw some strange creatures on shore. "Are those giant squirrels without tails?"
"No, they're capybaras," Antonio chuckled. "They're huge rodents with webbed feet."
 Roseate spoonbills and egrets take flight. © David Muenker |
"Beautiful birds, aren't they?" Antonio commented. "The pink ones with a beak shaped like a paddle are called roseate spoonbills."
"You haven't seen anything until you see the tuiuiu!" Jose exclaimed. "It has wings as big as an airplane."
"Tuiuui?" Sonya's eyes widened with amazement.
"Yup. It's pronounced too-ee-oo-ee-OO. The bird's formal name is Jabiru stork," Antonio added.
"Where can I see one?" Sonya asked, jumping up and down.
"They're endangered, but they live throughout the Pantanal." Jose chimed in. "You'll know it when you see one. They have a bright red band around the neck."
During the rest of the ride, Sonya kept her eyes peeled for a huge bird with a red band around its neck.
Twilight arrived.
"Oh, no, it's getting dark and I didn't get to see a tuiuiu," Sonya sighed.
"Don't worry. You'll see one tomorrow when you travel inland," Antonio assured her.
"Yes! Tomorrow. I'll see a tuiuiu tomorrow!"
Note: This story is fiction based on fact.
Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about the sights and sounds of this World Heritage Site.
Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.
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Photographs ©2005-2008 David Muenker. Text ©2005-2008 Rose Muenker. Illustrations ©2005-2008 Ravay Snow Any use without express written permission is illegal and punishable by law. All rights reserved. Site designed and developed by Josh Bergman. |
