Getting ready!

So, taxi will pick us up to go to the airport at 5:30am.

It is happening, we are moving to Cusco!

Besides the bunch of clothes and house stuff we managed to "pack" for the past week, we have a couple of things that were added to our super heavy bags, but that we couldn't miss.

One, the Field Guide of the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region by Barry Walker, a guide we wanted to buy for a while and we finally got it!


Sorry about the bad pics, but they are as reference only. I love this plate, I wonder if I'll manage to see any of these hummingbirds soon!


The other thing is a present that my great friend Celeste, from Zöövenirs-Perú made for me.

Celeste, Andean Cock-of-the-rock and Mel

Isn't that Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana) handsome?? Celeste sewed this super cool key holder for me as a farewell gift. I just love it! Thank you Celeste for such a great present!

That lovely bird is our national bird and it is one of the ones to be found in Cusco! Until work issues are certain, I might be selling these little fellows over there, so, wish me luck!

I have to go now... last minute packing, there is always something else to sneak into the bags!

See you soon, the adventure begins :)

¡Sí!

Perús National Bird, "Gallito de las Rocas Peruano" (Andean Cock-of-the-rock) finally made it to Birdorable!

Yes! I loved it when I read Birdorable's mail, sent by Amy, letting me know that my suggestion finally made it to such a cool site. Make sure to stop by and admire all the new designs! They are creating and creating new ones as you read. Awesome work!

National bird of Peru!!!

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cotingidae
Genus: Rupicola
Species: R. Peruviana

This is the national bird of Peru, called the Cock-of-the-rock, and it is a South American cotingid bird.
It can be found in tropical and subtropical rain forests close to rocky areas, where they build their nests. Just like other cotingids it has complex court behaviour, performing impressive lek displays.
The males are magnificent, not only because of their bright-orange or reddish colours, but because of the very prominent fan shaped crests they have, they are polygamous. They are wary animals and feed, basically, on fruits and nuts.
There are two different species of Cock-of-the-rocks, the Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana, shown in this picture) and the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola), both species found only in the northern part of South America.
The Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Rupicola peruviana is a medium-sized, approx. 32cm (12½ in) long, passerine with a large disk-like crest and scarlet or brilliant orange plumage. It has black tail and wings. The female is significantly darker and browner than the male and has a shorter crest.

References
Some facts retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cock-of-the-rock". BirdLife International (2004). Rupicola peruvianus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 29 October 2006.