In Paraguay as with much of the world an uneasy quite has fallen across the land. Here at my home in the Paraguayan countryside that silence has been even more noticable than the lack of people.
For the past few days now traffic has all but ceased along my road as people have avoided going out more than necessary. Along with the absense of vehicle noise has been the silencing of the radios which are normally playing for the whole world to hear but now have no guests to entertain.
There is now little reason to go out as if the constant offical proclamations for all to say at home all but the essencials such as supermarkets and chemists are closed so there is little to do if one does head out.
The incentives to stay at home and away from everyone else were increased still further yesterday with the announcment of a nationwide curfew from 8pm until 4am everyday, with heavy penalties for anyone who should break it.
Not everything though is suffering from this enforced reduction in human activity. Nature is enjoying the lifting of the restrictions which constant human activity had placed upon it and making itself heard once more.
I have always lived able to enjoy the sounds of nature around my house and now they are unapposed.
The first sound in the morning is birdsong and the last at night chirping insects.
Most surprisingly there does seem to be an increase of bird numbers around the house. I have no way of knowing if this is a natural fluctuation in numbers or whether birds that had previously kept hidden are no longer being frightened away. The timing though does suggest it may be more than coincidence.
In the heat of the day all wildlife has always hidden from the strongest of the suns rays. So now the hottest hours of the day are as still as the coolest ones deep into the night.
In these days when humans are forced to lessen their inprint on the world it seems seems that nature is taking the opportunity to claim back what was once hers.
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