DOCSLIB.ORG

Belize's Hidden Treasures: Pook's Hill & Black Rock

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Belize's Hidden Treasures: Pook's Hill & Black Rock BELIZE’S HIDDEN TREASURES: POOK’S HILL & BLACK ROCK LODGE JANUARY 19-25, 2020 ©2019 Golden-hooded Tanager © Michael O'Brien In western Belize’s Cayo District, two outstanding lodges, Pook’s Hill and Black Rock, serve as a perfect base for exploring the Maya Mountain foothills and Mountain Pine Ridge. This interesting area has a different mix of species than lowland Belize, including many regional specialties and possibilities for several very rare species. Pook’s Hill lies in a private reserve along the Roaring River, adjoining the vast Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, and offers some of the best forest birding in all of Belize. A full day exploring the trails here will seem barely adequate to soak in the bounty of this fabulous place. From before dawn when calls of Great Tinamou and Spectacled Owl echo through the forest, to mid-morning when White Hawk and King Vulture circle overhead, we’ll amass an amazing list of species. Some highlights may include Great Curassow, Purple-crowned Fairy, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Great Antshrike, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Royal and Ruddy-tailed flycatchers, and Rufous Mourner. At Belize’s Hidden Treasures, Page 2 St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park we’ll search for Nightingale Wren and Lesson’s Motmot, as well as such dazzling beauties as White-collared Manakin, Passerini’s Tanager, and Orange-billed Sparrow. A short distance to the west, Black Rock Lodge is one of a kind. Operating off-grid, Black Rock uses micro- hydroelectric and solar power to run their facilities, and is also extremely comfortable. From the main veranda, a grand vista over the Macal River Gorge offers some of the best raptor watching in Belize, including resident Orange- breasted Falcon and Ornate Hawk-Eagle, and often eye- level Swallow-tailed Kites! When we tear ourselves away from the veranda, excellent birding along the trails and entrance road may yield Spotted Wood-Quail, Collared Trogon, Northern Emerald- Toucanet, and Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher. A day trip to Mountain Pine Ridge will bring us to a whole new set of birds, such as Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Green Jay, Cabanis’s Wren, Grace’s and Rufous-capped warblers, Rusty Sparrow, Yellow-backed and Yellow-tailed orioles, and Black-headed Siskin. To make things even more exciting, this itinerary allows reasonable possibilities for some true rarities including Solitary Eagle, Uniform Crake, Pheasant Cuckoo, Stygian Owl, Black-crested Coquette, Lovely Cotinga, and Blue Seedeater. We won’t see all of these, but we’ll certainly look for them! January 19 Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Pook’s Hill. Participants should plan to arrive in Belize City (airport code BZE) by 2:00 p.m. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a representative of Pook’s Hill and transferred to the lodge, a drive of less than two hours. Many of us may travel to Pook’s Hill together, but our first official meeting will be at the veranda and bar at 5:30 p.m. NIGHT: Pook’s Hill Lodge (near Teakettle) January 20, Day 2: All Day at Pook’s Hill. Pook’s Hill was built around an ancient Mayan residential complex, referred to as a Plazuela Group (a “diminutive plaza”), and much of the forest surrounding the main clearing contains unexcavated Mayan settlements. In our wanderings, we will likely see mounded piles of stones, indicating the presence of an ancient Maya family dwelling. The lodge is simple but very comfortable, and is set in some of the finest forest we have birded in Belize. We’ll take a full day to explore this fabulous site, and should expect well over 100 species without ever getting into a vehicle! Belize’s Hidden Treasures, Page 3 Pook's Hill Lodge © Louise Zemaitis Our day will be entirely on foot, but broken up into several segments, with ample time to get off our feet, use the restroom, and take in some wonderful meals. Some of the many species we’ll look for include Great Curassow, Purple-crowned Fairy, Lesson’s Motmot, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Mealy Parrot, Great Antshrike, seven species of woodcreepers, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Band-backed Wren, and Golden-crowned Warbler. With a great deal of luck, some of the rarer possibilities at Pook’s Hill include Uniform Crake, Pheasant Cuckoo, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, and Blue Seedeater. When conditions are right, we’ll position ourselves to watch the sky for soaring raptors, such as King Vulture, White Hawk, and Hook-billed and Double-toothed kites. At the same time, we’ll watch for the four possible swift species here: Vaux’s, White-collared, Chestnut-collared, and Lesser Swallow-tailed. In the evening, we may hear Spectacled, Mottled, and Black-and-white owls, and if so, will make an effort to see them. NIGHT: Pook’s Hill Lodge (near Teakettle) January 21, Day 3: St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park; Transfer to Black Rock Lodge. After an early breakfast, a 45-minute drive will take us to St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. We’ll spend much of our time in the vicinity of St. Herman’s Cave, a limestone cave best known among birders as a reliable site for Nightingale Wren. This cave was an important Maya ritual site during the Classic Period and many artifacts such as pottery vessels, torches, and spears have been found here. The trails here can be incredibly birdy and we’ll keep an eye out for Lesson’s and Tody motmots, Royal Flycatcher, Eye-ringed Flatbill, White-collared Manakin, Northern Schiffornis, Cinnamon Becard, Crimson-collared and Passerini’s tanagers, and Orange-billed Sparrow. Around the entrance to the cave, there are likely to be several “Ridgeway’s” Rough-winged Swallows, a subspecies which nests in caves and limestone sinks, primarily in the Yucatan Peninsula. We’ll return to Pook’s Hill for lunch, and in the afternoon, transfer to Black Rock Lodge. NIGHT: Black Rock Lodge (near San Ignacio) January 22, Day 4: Black Rock Lodge. Our first full day at Black Rock Lodge will be spent entirely on the grounds, nearby trails, and entrance road. This top-notch resort is a true eco-lodge, with a passionate commitment Belize’s Hidden Treasures, Page 4 to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Operating off-grid, they use micro-hydroelectric and solar power to run their facilities, have a micro wetland for wastewater processing, and grow their own produce. The rooms are extremely comfortable, and the main veranda has a stunning vista over the Macal River Gorge in Black Rock Canyon. What’s more, the birding here is outstanding! Looking out over the gorge, one may see a swirling group of Swallow-tailed Kites at eye level, or see an Ornate Hawk-Eagle sail by, or even see a courting pair of Orange-breasted Falcons in a noisy tail chase overhead, or perched on a nearby cliff. Meanwhile, the feeders will likely be covered with Yellow- throated and Olive-backed euphonias, Red-legged Honeycreepers, and maybe a Yellow-winged Tanager or Black-cheeked Woodpecker. This 250-acre private reserve abuts the vast Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, and is one of Western Belize’s true gems. Three species of toucans nest right on the grounds, and four species of trogons can be found in the immediate vicinity. Our explorations of the lodge, trails and entrance road should yield a large list of species, possibly including Spotted Wood-Quail, Long-billed and Stripe-throated hermits, Wedge- tailed Sabrewing, Amazon Kingfisher, White-necked and White- whiskered puffbirds, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Green-backed Ornate Hawk-Eagle © Michael O'Brien Sparrow, and a host of North American migrants. White-whiskered Puffbird © Michael O’Brien On one of our evenings here, we’ll take a night drive in search of Northern Potoo, and possibly an owl or interesting mammal. NIGHT: Black Rock Lodge (near San Ignacio) Belize’s Hidden Treasures, Page 5 January 23, Day 5: Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Today we’ll make the long (~1.5 hour) drive up to Mountain Pine Ridge, a 100,000-acre reserve situated largely on a granite massif, and established in 1944 to protect Belize’s forest of native Honduras Pine (Pinus caribaea hondurensis ). The birds here are quite different from those in the broadleaf forest of the foothills, so we’ll expect to find a good number of new species. Some of those on our target list today include Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Greater Pewee, Plumbeous Vireo, Green Jay, Sedge and Cabanis’s wrens, Grace’s and Rufous-capped warblers, Rusty Sparrow, Hepatic Tanager, Yellow-backed and Yellow-tailed orioles, and Black-headed Siskin. And if we’re very lucky, we may also see Solitary Eagle, Rusty Sparrow © Michael O'Brien Stygian Owl, or Lovely Cotinga. If time permits, our return trip may include at least a brief stop at some private hummingbird feeders. NIGHT: Black Rock Lodge (near San Ignacio) January 24, Day 6: Xunantunich and Black Rock Lodge. This morning we will visit the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich, located on a ridge above the Mopan River near the Guatemala border. The site was a Mayan ceremonial center during the Late and Terminal Classic periods. Its name, which means “stone woman,” was given in modern times for the ghost of a woman reported to inhabit the site in the 19 th century. Birding can be excellent at the ruins, and there are often mixed songbird flocks including various flycatchers, vireos, warblers, orioles, tanagers, and euphonias. The forest edge here is frequented by Gartered and Black-headed trogons, and is also very good for finding Lesson’s Motmot.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Printable PDF Format
    Field Guides Tour Report Thanksgiving in Jamaica 2019 Nov 24, 2019 to Nov 30, 2019 Cory Gregory & Dwane Swaby For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. Jamaica has such a long list of amazingly beautiful and colorful birds that it's hard to pick a favorite. Close to the top of the list however surely was this Jamaican Spindalis, a species only found in Jamaica. Photo by guide Cory Gregory. Sitting between South America and Cuba, the Caribbean nation of Jamaica was a fantastic place for us to enjoy the warm weather, the plethora of unique and fascinating birds, the relaxed lifestyle, and escaping the holiday hustle and bustle. With the birdy and historical Green Castle Estate as our home base, we made a variety of daytrips and had the luxury of returning back to the same place every night! Our day trips took us to a variety of birding hotspots and between them all, we saw a vast majority of the avifauna that this island nation has to offer. Even in driving from Montego Bay to Green Castle on our first day, we were surrounded with attention-grabbing species like Magnificent Frigatebirds gliding overhead, Zenaida Doves sitting on the wires, and even a small gathering of the rare West Indian Whistling-Ducks in Discovery Bay! Our first day at Green Castle was our first foray into the forests and we quickly connected with a fun collection of endemic species like the showy Streamertail, Jamaican Woodpecker, Sad Flycatcher, White-chinned Thrush, Jamaican Spindalis, Orangequit, and many others.
    [Show full text]
  • Castle Green Bird List
    GREEN CASTLE ESTATE Bird List Birds seen on recent tours during November – April | In one week we can expect around 120 species. E=Endemic | ES=Endemic Subspecies | I=Introduced Some of the species below are very unusual however they have been included for completeness. Jamaica has recorded over 300 species and the birds below are the most frequently encountered, however we cannot guarantee what we will or will not see, that’s birding! West Indian Whistling-Duck Lesser Yellowlegs Greater Antillean Elaenia (ES) Blue-winged Teal Whimbrel Jamaican Pewee (E) Northern Shoveler Ruddy Turnstone Sad Flycatcher (E) Ring-necked Duck Red Knot Rufous-tailed Flycatcher (E) Lesser Scaup Sanderling Stolid Flycatcher (ES) Masked Duck Semipalmated Sandpiper Gray Kingbird Ruddy Duck Western Sandpiper Loggerhead Kingbird (ES) Least Grebe Least Sandpiper Jamaican Becard (E) Pied-billed Grebe White-rumped Sandpiper Jamaican Vireo (E) White-tailed Tropicbird Baird's Sandpiper Blue Mountain Vireo (E) Magnificent Frigatebird Stilt Sandpiper Black-whiskered Vireo Brown Booby Short-billed Dowitcher Jamaican Crow (E) Brown Pelican Laughing Gull Caribbean Martin American Bittern Least Tern Tree Swallow Least Bittern Gull-billed Tern Northern Rough-winged Swallow Great Blue Heron Caspian Tern Cave Swallow (ES) Great Egret Royal Tern Barn Swallow Snowy Egret Sandwich Tern Rufous-throated Solitaire (ES) Little Blue Heron Rock Pigeon (I) White-eyed Thrush (E) Tricolored Heron White-crowned Pigeon White-chinned Thrush (E) Reddish Egret Plain Pigeon (ES) Gray Catbird Cattle
    [Show full text]
  • Bird List Column A: 1 = 70-90% Chance Column B: 2 = 30-70% Chance Column C: 3 = 10-30% Chance
    Colombia: Chocó Prospective Bird List Column A: 1 = 70-90% chance Column B: 2 = 30-70% chance Column C: 3 = 10-30% chance A B C Tawny-breasted Tinamou 2 Nothocercus julius Highland Tinamou 3 Nothocercus bonapartei Great Tinamou 2 Tinamus major Berlepsch's Tinamou 3 Crypturellus berlepschi Little Tinamou 1 Crypturellus soui Choco Tinamou 3 Crypturellus kerriae Horned Screamer 2 Anhima cornuta Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 1 Dendrocygna autumnalis Fulvous Whistling-Duck 1 Dendrocygna bicolor Comb Duck 3 Sarkidiornis melanotos Muscovy Duck 3 Cairina moschata Torrent Duck 3 Merganetta armata Blue-winged Teal 3 Spatula discors Cinnamon Teal 2 Spatula cyanoptera Masked Duck 3 Nomonyx dominicus Gray-headed Chachalaca 1 Ortalis cinereiceps Colombian Chachalaca 1 Ortalis columbiana Baudo Guan 2 Penelope ortoni Crested Guan 3 Penelope purpurascens Cauca Guan 2 Penelope perspicax Wattled Guan 2 Aburria aburri Sickle-winged Guan 1 Chamaepetes goudotii Great Curassow 3 Crax rubra Tawny-faced Quail 3 Rhynchortyx cinctus Crested Bobwhite 2 Colinus cristatus Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail 2 Odontophorus erythrops Chestnut Wood-Quail 1 Odontophorus hyperythrus Least Grebe 2 Tachybaptus dominicus Pied-billed Grebe 1 Podilymbus podiceps Magnificent Frigatebird 1 Fregata magnificens Brown Booby 2 Sula leucogaster ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WINGS ● 1643 N. Alvernon Way Ste. 109 ● Tucson ● AZ ● 85712 ● www.wingsbirds.com (866) 547 9868 Toll free US + Canada ● Tel (520) 320-9868 ● Fax (520)
    [Show full text]
  • Rapid Ecological Assessment Mayflower Bocawina National Park
    Rapid Ecological Assessment Mayflower Bocawina National Park Volume II - Appendix J.C. Meerman B. Holland, A. Howe, H. L. Jones, B. W. Miller This report was prepared for: Friends of Mayflower under a grant provided by PACT. July 31, 2003 J. C. Meerman – REA – Mayflower Bocawina National Park – Appendices – July 2003 – page 1 Appendix 1 Birdlist of Mayflower Bocawina National Park (MBNP) Status: R = Resident, W =Winter visitor, D = Drys season resident, A = Accidental visitor, T = Transient. MBNP: X = Recorded during REA, ? = Species in need of confirmation, MN = Reported by Mamanoots Resort, some may need confirmation English Name Scientific name Local name(s) Status MBNP TINAMOUS - TINAMIDAE Great Tinamou Tinamus major Blue-footed partridge R X Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui Bawley R X Slaty-breasted Tinamou Crypturellus boucardi Red-footed partridge R ? HERONS - ARDEIDAE Bare-throated Tiger Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum Barking gaulin R X Great Egret Egretta alba Gaulin, Garza blanca WR MN Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Blue Gaulin, Garza morene W X Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Gaulin, Garza blanca WR X AMERICAN VULTURES - CATHARTIDAE Black Vulture Coragyps atratus John Crow, Sope WR X Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Doctor John Crow, Sope WR X King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa King John Crow, Sope real R X KITES, HAWKS, EAGLES AND ALLIES - ACCIPITRIDAE Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Scissors-tailed hawk DT X Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea D MN White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis R X Gray Hawk Asturina nitidus R X Great Black-Hawk
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Bird Species Richness Within Shade-Grown Coffee Farms in Chiapas, Mexico / Project ID: 0251711
    Assessing Bird Species Richness within Shade-Grown Coffee Farms in Chiapas, Mexico / Project ID: 0251711 Daniel Camilo Thompson Poo, Daniela Valle León, Alberto Martínez Fernández and Jennifer Siobhan Lowry San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, México. C.P. 29200 / [email protected] 10 July, 2012. Revised December 2014 Assessing Bird Species Richness within Shade-Grown Coffee Farms in Chiapas, Mexico / ID: 0251711 Overall Aim The goal of this project was to identify mechanisms and conservation strategies across agro-forestry systems in the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico. In particular we analyzed key biodiversity, economic, and social components that impact land-use change and ecosystem services in coffee production areas, focusing on how to improve sustainable production and conservation of nature. 2 Assessing Bird Species Richness within Shade-Grown Coffee Farms in Chiapas, Mexico / ID: 0251711 Section 1 Summary The agroforestry systems with coffee at the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, as a part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor region, are important for bird species. Agroforestry ecosystems also represent sustainable livelihoods for indigenous groups on the region. Sustainable coffee farming system represents a less human impact on the ecosystem. However, not all coffee producers on the region produce on the same way. Not all the inhabitants are aware of the importance of birds, as a part of the great natural capital of la Sierra Madre, but they either are prepared for the climate change risks and impacts. In this sense, this project seeks to understand, generate and communicate information useful for coffee farmers and their families. The goal is to understand social and economic factors to maintain and increase agroforestry systems with sustainable coffee.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklistccamp2016.Pdf
    2 3 Participant’s Name: Tour Company: Date#1: / / Tour locations Date #2: / / Tour locations Date #3: / / Tour locations Date #4: / / Tour locations Date #5: / / Tour locations Date #6: / / Tour locations Date #7: / / Tour locations Date #8: / / Tour locations Codes used in Column A Codes Sample Species a = Abundant Red-lored Parrot c = Common White-headed Wren u = Uncommon Gray-cheeked Nunlet r = Rare Sapayoa vr = Very rare Wing-banded Antbird m = Migrant Bay-breasted Warbler x = Accidental Dwarf Cuckoo (E) = Endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker Species marked with an asterisk (*) can be found in the birding areas visited on the tour outside of the immediate Canopy Camp property such as Nusagandi, San Francisco Reserve, El Real and Darien National Park/Cerro Pirre. Of course, 4with incredible biodiversity and changing environments, there is always the possibility to see species not listed here. If you have a sighting not on this list, please let us know! No. Bird Species 1A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tinamous Great Tinamou u 1 Tinamus major Little Tinamou c 2 Crypturellus soui Ducks Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 3 Dendrocygna autumnalis u Muscovy Duck 4 Cairina moschata r Blue-winged Teal 5 Anas discors m Curassows, Guans & Chachalacas Gray-headed Chachalaca 6 Ortalis cinereiceps c Crested Guan 7 Penelope purpurascens u Great Curassow 8 Crax rubra r New World Quails Tawny-faced Quail 9 Rhynchortyx cinctus r* Marbled Wood-Quail 10 Odontophorus gujanensis r* Black-eared Wood-Quail 11 Odontophorus melanotis u Grebes Least Grebe 12 Tachybaptus dominicus u www.canopytower.com 3 BirdChecklist No.
    [Show full text]
  • Tinamiformes – Falconiformes
    LIST OF THE 2,008 BIRD SPECIES (WITH SCIENTIFIC AND ENGLISH NAMES) KNOWN FROM THE A.O.U. CHECK-LIST AREA. Notes: "(A)" = accidental/casualin A.O.U. area; "(H)" -- recordedin A.O.U. area only from Hawaii; "(I)" = introducedinto A.O.U. area; "(N)" = has not bred in A.O.U. area but occursregularly as nonbreedingvisitor; "?" precedingname = extinct. TINAMIFORMES TINAMIDAE Tinamus major Great Tinamou. Nothocercusbonapartei Highland Tinamou. Crypturellus soui Little Tinamou. Crypturelluscinnamomeus Thicket Tinamou. Crypturellusboucardi Slaty-breastedTinamou. Crypturellus kerriae Choco Tinamou. GAVIIFORMES GAVIIDAE Gavia stellata Red-throated Loon. Gavia arctica Arctic Loon. Gavia pacifica Pacific Loon. Gavia immer Common Loon. Gavia adamsii Yellow-billed Loon. PODICIPEDIFORMES PODICIPEDIDAE Tachybaptusdominicus Least Grebe. Podilymbuspodiceps Pied-billed Grebe. ?Podilymbusgigas Atitlan Grebe. Podicepsauritus Horned Grebe. Podicepsgrisegena Red-neckedGrebe. Podicepsnigricollis Eared Grebe. Aechmophorusoccidentalis Western Grebe. Aechmophorusclarkii Clark's Grebe. PROCELLARIIFORMES DIOMEDEIDAE Thalassarchechlororhynchos Yellow-nosed Albatross. (A) Thalassarchecauta Shy Albatross.(A) Thalassarchemelanophris Black-browed Albatross. (A) Phoebetriapalpebrata Light-mantled Albatross. (A) Diomedea exulans WanderingAlbatross. (A) Phoebastriaimmutabilis Laysan Albatross. Phoebastrianigripes Black-lootedAlbatross. Phoebastriaalbatrus Short-tailedAlbatross. (N) PROCELLARIIDAE Fulmarus glacialis Northern Fulmar. Pterodroma neglecta KermadecPetrel. (A) Pterodroma
    [Show full text]
  • Jamaica – an Island of Endemics
    Jamaica – An Island of Endemics Naturetrek Tour Report 12 - 20 April 2016 Greater Antillean Grackle A Jamaican View Red-billed Streamertail Report and images by Marcus John Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Jamaica – An Island of Endemics Tour participants: Marcus John (leader), Dwayne Swaby (guide) with six Naturetrek clients Raymond (Driver) Summary We had a memorable week staying at the wonderful Green Castle Estate, where we saw a wide range of birds during walks around the extensive grounds. We travelled out on two day trips into the mountains and visited the nearby north coast, on one occasion enjoying close views of five Bottle-nosed Dolphins. The scenery was superb and we found all but one of the birds that are endemic to Jamaica, as well as discovering many more that are restricted to the Caribbean. We also appreciated the butterflies, lizards and exotic plants that thrive in this tropical environment. We were made to feel very welcome by the friendly people who looked after us during our stay. Day 1 Tuesday 12th April The flight from London Gatwick to Kingston went smoothly and we arrived on time at Kingston airport. We met Raymond, our driver for the week and, while we waited for him to bring the vehicle, we had our first taste of Jamaican birds - several Northern Mockingbirds and close views of a tiny Vervain Hummingbird. Unfortunately, we hit the rush-hour traffic and it took rather longer than expected to drive through Kingston, St Andrews and over Stony Hill to the Green Castle Estate.
    [Show full text]
  • The Best of Costa Rica March 19–31, 2019
    THE BEST OF COSTA RICA MARCH 19–31, 2019 Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge © David Ascanio LEADERS: DAVID ASCANIO & MAURICIO CHINCHILLA LIST COMPILED BY: DAVID ASCANIO VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM THE BEST OF COSTA RICA March 19–31, 2019 By David Ascanio Photo album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidascanio/albums/72157706650233041 It’s about 02:00 AM in San José, and we are listening to the widespread and ubiquitous Clay-colored Robin singing outside our hotel windows. Yet, it was still too early to experience the real explosion of bird song, which usually happens after dawn. Then, after 05:30 AM, the chorus started when a vocal Great Kiskadee broke the morning silence, followed by the scratchy notes of two Hoffmann´s Woodpeckers, a nesting pair of Inca Doves, the ascending and monotonous song of the Yellow-bellied Elaenia, and the cacophony of an (apparently!) engaged pair of Rufous-naped Wrens. This was indeed a warm welcome to magical Costa Rica! To complement the first morning of birding, two boreal migrants, Baltimore Orioles and a Tennessee Warbler, joined the bird feast just outside the hotel area. Broad-billed Motmot . Photo: D. Ascanio © Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 The Best of Costa Rica, 2019 After breakfast, we drove towards the volcanic ring of Costa Rica. Circling the slope of Poas volcano, we eventually reached the inspiring Bosque de Paz. With its hummingbird feeders and trails transecting a beautiful moss-covered forest, this lodge offered us the opportunity to see one of Costa Rica´s most difficult-to-see Grallaridae, the Scaled Antpitta.
    [Show full text]
  • Summer 2017 ANS Naturalist Quarterly
    AUDUBON NATURALIST SOCIETY Naturalist Quarterly Summer 2017 ANSHOME.ORG Why ANS? Because together we ensure the environment has a future ANS NATURE ACTIVITIES & NEWS The Audubon Naturalist Society OFFICERS inspires residents of the greater PRESIDENT Leslie Catherwood (’17) Naturalist Quarterly Washington, DC region to VICE PRESIDENT Paul D’Andrea (‘17) appreciate, understand, and treasURER Scott Fosler (‘17) ANShome.org Summer 2017 protect their natural environment SecretarY Megan Carroll (‘19) through outdoor experiences, BOARD OF DIRECTORS education, and advocacy. Wendy Anderson (‘18), Cecilia Clavet From the Director 3 HEADQUARTERS (‘19), Alice Ewen (‘18), Allyn Finegold Woodend, a 40-acre wildlife (‘17), Mike Gravitz (‘17), Jennifer Judd Why ANS? Because together we ensure the sanctuary in Chevy Chase, MD Hinrichs (‘17), Diane Hoffman (‘19), Jane McClintock (‘18), Tim McTaggart (’18), environment has a future 4 OFFICE HOURS Carolyn Peirce (‘19), Nancy Pielemeier Monday-Friday 9 AM-5 PM (‘19), Rebecca Turner (‘18), Bonnie Children and Family Programs 8 STORE HOURS VanDorn (‘18), Larry Wiseman (‘19) Monday-Friday 10 AM-5 PM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Rust Classes/Programs 11 Saturday 9 AM-5 PM Lisa Alexander Sunday 12-5 PM STAFF Adult Programs 12 GROUNDS HOURS FINANCE Dawn to dusk Lois Taylor, Comptroller, Dupe Cole, CALENDAR 16 ANS MEMBERSHIP Senior Accountant/Benefits Manager; Student $15 Barbara Young, Accountant Free Birding Trips 23 Individual $50 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Family $65 Caroline Brewer, Director of Marketing Nature Steward
    [Show full text]
  • 21 Sep 2018 Lists of Victims and Hosts of the Parasitic
    version: 21 Sep 2018 Lists of victims and hosts of the parasitic cowbirds (Molothrus). Peter E. Lowther, Field Museum Brood parasitism is an awkward term to describe an interaction between two species in which, as in predator-prey relationships, one species gains at the expense of the other. Brood parasites "prey" upon parental care. Victimized species usually have reduced breeding success, partly because of the additional cost of caring for alien eggs and young, and partly because of the behavior of brood parasites (both adults and young) which may directly and adversely affect the survival of the victim's own eggs or young. About 1% of all bird species, among 7 families, are brood parasites. The 5 species of brood parasitic “cowbirds” are currently all treated as members of the genus Molothrus. Host selection is an active process. Not all species co-occurring with brood parasites are equally likely to be selected nor are they of equal quality as hosts. Rather, to varying degrees, brood parasites are specialized for certain categories of hosts. Brood parasites may rely on a single host species to rear their young or may distribute their eggs among many species, seemingly without regard to any characteristics of potential hosts. Lists of species are not the best means to describe interactions between a brood parasitic species and its hosts. Such lists do not necessarily reflect the taxonomy used by the brood parasites themselves nor do they accurately reflect the complex interactions within bird communities (see Ortega 1998: 183-184). Host lists do, however, offer some insight into the process of host selection and do emphasize the wide variety of features than can impact on host selection.
    [Show full text]
  • Acacia, Cattle and Migratory Birds in Southeastern Mexico
    Biological Conservation 80 (1997) 235-247 © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain PII: S0006-3207(96)00137- 1 0006-3207/97 $17.00 + 0.00 ELSEVIER ACACIA, CATTLE AND MIGRATORY BIRDS IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO Russell Greenberg,* Peter Bichier & John Sterling Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA (Accepted 11 July 1996) Abstract of forest-dependent migratory birds (Askins et al., Acacia pennatula groves in mid-elevation valleys of 1990). However, the new tropical landscape is usually a southern Mexico supported both the highest density and mosaic of grassland, savanna, ribbons of riparian vege- diversity of migratory birds compared to other habitats in tation and small patches of woods. The wooded habi- the region. In addition, we found the highest numbers for tats, in particular, can support an abundance of over half of the common migratory species. Despite the migratory birds (Powell et al., 1992; Warkentin et al., high degree of leaf loss during the late winter, acacia 1995). One possible strategy for increasing habitat for groves do not experience greater declines in insectivorous migratory birds is the promotion of silvopastoral sys- migratory bird populations than other local habitats. tems which integrate tree management with cattle pro- Color-marked individuals of canopy species had a strong duction on grazing lands. tendency to remain resident within a single acacia grove During several years of censusing birds on the Car- throughout the winter. Management of native acacias on ibbean slope of Chiapas, we discovered that managed subtropical rangelands for wood products, fodder, and soil patches of Acacia pennatula (Schlecht & Cham.) Benth improvement would probably directly and indirectly bene- support particularly high densities of migratory birds.
    [Show full text]