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BIRD DOG |
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 Riverboats are the major means of transportation in the Pantanal. © David Muenker |
"When will we leave?"
"In a couple of hours. That path leads to a ranch. You can get some food there."
Sonya followed the dirt path through tall trees. The strange sounds in the forest made her shiver.
"Nothing can bother me if I'm moving fast," she decided.
She ran until the path opened onto a big field. A cowboy was rounding up a cow and her calf.
"Ola!" Sonya mimicked the greeting she learned from Jose. "Which way to the ranch house?"
 A Pantanal cowboy rounds up a cow and calf. © David Muenker |
"That way," the cowboy pointed.
"Obrigada," Sonya thanked him in Portuguese.
She saw some buildings ahead. A group of children played outside a one-room school.
"Look at the cute doggie," a girl squealed.
"Are you a new student?" a boy asked Sonya.
"I'm just visiting. Who are you?"
"We're students at the ranch boarding school," the boy replied.
"What's a boarding school?" Sonya asked.
"It's a school where you study and live," the girl explained. "We live too far away to go home every day."
"It takes a couple of days by horse to get to my house," the boy added.
 Ranch boarding school kids pose for their class photo. © 2007 Ravay Snow |
"Until we're 12 years old. Then I'll become a cowboy like my father," the boy said.
"And I'll learn how to manage the home, garden and barnyard animals," the girl said. "Our families have lived and ranched here for more than 100 years."
The teacher called them back to class. The school had a metal roof supported by wood poles. It only had one wall. The desks were arranged like the letter U.
"How wonderful! We have a visitor today," the teacher said when she saw Sonya. "You're just in time for our class picture. Come join us."
They posed for the photo.
"Time for drawing class." The children dashed to their desks.
"What are you drawing today?" Sonya asked the teacher.
"We're drawing our favorite birds and animals."
"Oh, goodie! Can I watch?"
"Of course," the teacher smiled.
 Students draw their favorite birds and animals. © David Muenker |
"Did anyone draw a picture of the bird that's as big as an airplane?" Sonya asked.
"As big as what?" the children asked in unison.
"An airplane," Sonya repeated.
"You must be thinking of the tuiuiu," an older girl said. "It's huge. But it's not as big as an airplane. That's an exaggeration."
"A what?"
"An exaggeration. That's when you make something bigger than it is."
"Like when my grandfather brags about the BIG fish he caught," a boy laughed.
"If it's not as big as an airplane, how big it is?"
"Who knows the answer to Sonya's question?" the teacher asked. Six hands went up.
"Maria?"
"They stand five feet tall. That's 2 to 3 times taller than you, Sonya!" The class chuckled.
"How wide do their wings stretch?" the teacher asked. "What is their wingspan?"
"Eight feet!" Francisco shouted.
 The schoolhouse has a roof and open sides. © David Muenker |
"That's bigger than four school desks side-by-side!" Maria remarked.
"Wow! The tuiuiu is big!" Sonya exclaimed. "I heard that it's white and has a red band around its neck."
"It also has a black head and a long black beak," Ana added.
"Here," a girl motioned Sonya to her desk. "I drew a picture of a tuiuiu. It's my favorite bird."
"So that's what it looks like!" Sonya exclaimed. "Where can I find a real one?"
"This is the season when their new chicks hatch," Carlos said. "Most of the time they're sitting on their nests on the top of tall trees. It's hard to get a good look at them."
"You might see a tuiuiu fishing for dinner at a lake or pond," Maria added.
"Where's the nearest lake?" Several children began shouting answers.
"There're lots of little ones now because it's the dry season."
"Go inland and ask everyone you see along the way."
"Thanks!" Sonya said. "I better get going. Thanks for everything."
The children shouted bye-bye to Sonya as she dashed across the field into the forest.
Note: This story is fiction based on fact.
Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about the sights and sounds of this World Heritage Site.
Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.
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Photographs ©2005-2010 David Muenker. Text ©2005-2010 Rose Muenker. Illustrations ©2005-2010 Ravay Snow Any use without express written permission is illegal and punishable by law. All rights reserved. Site designed and developed by Josh Bergman. |
