Cat's Eyes Tours
Night Vision in the Amazon Rain Forest
Join us for little walk in woods... in the dark.
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August 2004 Jose grunted, and made a soft "Oh my!" comment. "What?" I whispered. He passed across the night scope and said softly "The bottom of the big tree..." |
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I
scanned carefully, and was ideally congratulating myself on how
good I was getting at this when I was jared by what came into focus.
The cat was looking right at me. I am sure I even saw him blink.
Stretched out, flat on the ground, just like a house cat after a
mouse. It is impossible to describe the range of emotions that flooded
by head. Exhilaration, delight, surprise, and a little terror. And
then It had been one if the very rare smaller cat species. We were honored to be some of the few people to have ever seen one in the wild, not in a trap. We switched on our flash lights and walked over to the spot. There really was very little there to indicate anything had lain there. I never really expect to be that lucky again. Once in a lifetime, as they say. But one never knows. |
| Such was the genesis of our Cat's Eyes Tours Program, named after that little fellow who just happened to be in the right place for us to see him. |
in an explosion of leaves and legs it disappeared. The encounter
had lasted seconds but it seemed hours. I shall never forget it.
Using Night Vision Equipment in the Amazon!
This
is something I have been interested in for years. Being able to see in
the dark is huge thrill. A substantial number of species in the rain forest
are nocturnal, so spending time in the forest during daylight hours is
automatically restrictive. Flashlights chase away the critters as if you
are yelling "Run!" at the top of your lungs. And even the animals
that simply freeze when confronted by flashlights are almost invisible
by there natural camouflage. Only when they have the confidence to move
are they easy to see. With the program we have set up, you will look into
a very rarely 
seen
world,... of the rainforest at night.
The techniques are age old, and proven by even the local hunters I have encountered here in the Amazon. Africa has water holes, we will use bait, to attract a concentration of wildlife. Using "blinds", a simple frame structure with a little camouflage of our own, carefully placed with the advice of our collaborating biologists, and some of those very hunters that live from the rainforest, we will set out bait and see what comes to dinner.
Mattering on the species of interest different bates and blind configurations are used. Overripe fruit sends a pungent invitation on the wind for miles and attracts a wide rage of animals. We have had particular success with the fruit of the Cashew Nut tree, which is very aromatic as soon as it starts to ripen. Some blinds will be placed 2 or 3 meters off the ground in a tree platform when we are after wild pig or hopefully Jaguar. Raised platforms are also used, along with raised bate platforms to attract the canopy dwellers down to earth. Monkeys, birds etc.
Your
video or 35 mm still camera will be ready with the night vision scope
already attached, you will be seated in a comfortable camp chair with
a naturalist at your side. Stations like this will contain 2 to
4 guests and one guide/naturalist. Our stations are not over used
to avoid desensitizing the area, and are bated in advance to make it a
regular stop on the nightly foray of the local creatures. After a early
dinner you will get set up at the first station before dark to begin your
vigil, here on the equator full dark is around 6:30 PM. Patience will
be required, but well rewarded. At approximately two hour intervals we
will transfer to different stations in a round robin arrangement. This
is done by
quietly and carefully "patrolling" along pre-prepared trails
wearing night vision goggles, with a guide of course, to the next station.
A little patience will reveal many of the jungle's secrets, even when
moving. By midnight or so we can call if quits and return to the lodge.
(Again patrolling with NV goggles.) If preferred you can get an early
start and be in the forest for the last part of the night, and the sunrise.
Let me tell you breakfast tastes awfully good after a night in the rainforest.
This is not to say we will ignore the rain forest during the day. Day hikes are an important part of these experiences. Our guides will show you the amazing variety of rainforest plants and trees, describing there life cycles and often their medicinal and aboriginal native uses. In some cases the guide will prepare rainforest remedies for you to sample.
How Night Vision Works
Night vision devices
gather existing ambient light (starlight, moonlight or infra-red light)
through the front objective lens. This light, which is made up of photons
goes into a photocathode tube that changes the photons to electrons. T
he
electrons are then amplified to a much greater number through an electrical
and chemical process. The electrons are then hurled against a phosphorus
screen that changes the amplified electrons back into visible light that
you see through the eyepiece ( ocular lens ). The image will now be a
clear green-hued amplified re-creation of the scene you were observing.
Utilizing the basic principles described , a Night vision device will amplify the existing light several thousand times letting you clearly see in the dark. These units provide a bright and sharp image, which is perfect, whether you are boating, observing wildlife, or providing security for your home.
" Copied with permission from ATN Corporation, ATNCorp.com, Night Owl Optics and Excalibur Electro Optics "
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