Moving On

On Tuesday, we packed up camp and left our refuge in the willows for new adventures. The season with C. sociabilis went fast, and tomorrow, we head for the north part of Argentina to investigate another social tuco-tuco. The past few days were spent outside a small town, El Maiten, south of Bariloche. Years ago, some professional animal collectors found a bunch of tucos living in a valley. Their report was that these tucos were up everywhere and "chirped like birds". That's classic sociabilis. Since then, some local mammalogists checked out the area and found burrows but did not see the animals. We went to see for ourselves just what tuco was living there. As it turned out, it was C. haigi, a solitary tuco known around Bariloche. Even though this species is found close to where we find soci, I had not yet met haigi up close and personal. We caught a mom and her pups and two males. They communicated more with grunts, rather than chirps, and were quite docile.

Today's picture shows John and Eileen on one of our last nights in camp. Like I said, the weather finally turned warm and we were often eating dinner outside. John has taken up guitar playing and brought his travel guitar with him, practicing all the time. Eileen, of course, continues to work even "after hours". By 9 pm or so, we hunker down in the truck for our nightly video of House. We're now on Season 3, and watching it has become our favorite tuco team past-time. I am hoping to post some more from Jujuy and parts north, but until then, I send my wishes to you all for a wonderful Christmas. Cross your fingers for me on Tuesday... we head to 14,000+ feet altitude and I am hoping that I don't get sick! From Bariloche, Felices Fiestas!!