Heading South Again

8 March 2009 (Sunday, Day 13)

We are driving south to Santiago today to exchange pigeons and then head to the Putu dune field where we worked last year.

As we left, we ran into the La Serena bird once again and made one more attempt to remove her transmitter. Although we got some half-hearted attempts from her, she did not get caught and eventually took off in a mutual hunt with her mate. We saw her no more.

However, based on her behavior, it is pretty clear that she does remember being caught and is definitely put off by our trap, even though we were far away from the trap site from two years ago.

It is quite frustrating to be able to see her regulalry and to want to remove her transmitter and free her up but to be unable to do so. We need to try something else.

Headed for Santiago, driving all day and arriving at 1500 to quite warm, late summer temperatures in the plains below the Andes. Met up with our friends, Christian and Giannina, switched out pigeons (thanks Felipe!) and headed for a WIFI spot where I am writing to you all.

Off to the Putu dunes early tomorrow.