Following on from the great news that a reintroduction programme for the Black-fronted Piping-guans (Aburria jacutinga) is to take place, the young rangers have been keen to find out more. The Black-fronted Piping-guans belong to the cracidae family (the same family as the Red-billed Curassow, the subject of an earlier re-introduction at REGUA) and they are very similar looking birds. The Black-fronted Piping-guans can be recognised by their white quiff, white spots on their wings and blue and red wattle.

Like all re-introduction programmes the re-introduction of the Black-fronted Piping-guans must be accompanied by an awareness programme, and who better to take the first step than REGUA’s Young Rangers.

Various activities will be taking place; learning about the species, walks in the forest, art and craft activities.   One of the first exercises in getting to know about the Black-fronted Piping-guan was to make papier-mâché  models of the birds, using recycled newspaper and card.   The Young Rangers were supported in this by REGUA Volunteers Katerina Samara and Emma Louise Smith.

The eagerness and interest the youngsters have shown in the bird is a breeze of excitement about their arrival at the reserve.

Soon there will be a team of papier-mâché Black-fronted Piping-guans waiting to welcome their real-life counterparts back to nature.

Katerina Samara