Waking up the next morning to witness the sheer magnitude of the forest before us was overwhelming. Although the night had been restful, I was itching to wake up, peek out the window, and take a short walk. The night before, when we arrived, I could sense what the forest might be like, but the exhaustion was so great that I couldn’t fully process all the details. I spent long minutes gazing out the window while waiting for my colleagues to get ready so we could have breakfast. For a moment, I couldn’t believe I was actually there. After my time in Brazil, I thought I wouldn’t get another chance to visit a tropical forest, and yet, there I was, along with Vanessa. I didn’t take any photos of the forest that day; we woke up too late (understandable), and the light wasn’t ideal. I decided just to enjoy the scenery and look for animals.
The First Signatures
Over breakfast, we learned about the plan for the day, and if I thought that some scientific studies in Portugal were complicated, I was introduced to a whole new reality. Before starting our fieldwork, we had to visit the office of the Ranomafana National Park (Madagascar National Parks Office). We needed the park president’s authorization to conduct our planned studies, including bat captures. The office is located near the town of Ranomafana, a few kilometers from the ValBio Center, requiring a car trip. Since we had to arrange for a car to take us there, it was only available in the afternoon. The visit was brief; we introduced our project, submitted a document with some details, and received authorization to enter Ranomafana National Park! I was one step closer to finally setting foot in the forest to search for animals, though I still had a few more hours to wait.
Planning
After breakfast, while Ricardo arranged for the car to take us to the park office, Vanessa, Talya, and I prepared some equipment needed for the scientific studies, such as mist nets, audiomoths, and others. For now, we couldn’t visit Ranomafana National Park, even though the ValBio Center is adjacent to it. A massive river separated us! Most of the animals were on the other side, though there were occasional reports of lemurs passing through the trees around the center. However, these sightings were rare, so I knew the chances of seeing one here were slim. There was nothing to do but wait for the authorization, which would come by late afternoon. That said, we’d have to wait until the next day to finally enter the forest! Meanwhile, I prepared all my gear—cleaning equipment, organizing it into different backpacks, and ensuring all batteries and power sources were fully charged.
The First Visitors
There was plenty to explore, but I tried to focus on the species that might appear near the center and study their routines to understand how to photograph them. We would spend a few days at the center during our stay, so I wanted to make the most of that time. Between planning and signing protocols, I took the opportunity to position myself at an elevated point to observe the shrubs and trees around me. Any movement was closely scrutinized and noted to identify which areas were merely passage points and which were feeding spots. I also searched for insects in various shrubs and stone walls, finding a few here and there. The challenge with new environments like this is not knowing what to expect, making it hard for my eyes (and brain) to process everything, distinguishing between a leaf, an insect, or—better yet—a gecko! On this first day, I observed some birds flying over the ValBio Center, discovered a pair of Madagascar kestrels (Falco newtoni) that chased off a Madagascar cuckoo-hawk (Aviceda madagascariensis) passing through their territory. I also spotted some swallows and swifts (Cypsiurus gracilis) and even a Souimanga sunbird (Cinnyris notatus) probing flowers for nectar with its long, curved beak. Not bad for a first day.
The Next Day
The thought of entering the forest the next day filled me with energy—I almost didn’t want to go to bed. But I knew I’d need all my strength for what lay ahead. By chance, during breakfast, we learned that one of the scientists would be visiting the park the next day and invited us to join her—an invitation we eagerly accepted! I wasn’t prepared for the visit so soon, as I was still strategizing how to photograph animals around the ValBio Center, let alone venture into the forest. But there was one slight problem: visiting the park meant starting early! This meant being ready at the ValBio entrance by 6 a.m., another night of not getting full rest. Before heading to bed, I double-checked that all my gear was prepared. Batteries were fully charged and stored, the tripod was securely assembled to avoid losing parts during the hike (since it had traveled disassembled in the checked luggage), and both cameras and lenses were clean. I didn’t know what I’d encounter, so I mentally prepared for all possibilities, all alternatives, and all photographic techniques I knew, ensuring the next day would go perfectly. Then, I tried to get some sleep...
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