Black Hawk In Flight (Credit: Jim Burns)
What if we told you that there are people who travel to particular parts of the world just to see ONE BIRD! Yes, ornithology is that serious! People have lists to fill – life lists and there are no trophies more important than to fill these lists. At Nine, we know!
We also know the people who have developed the ethics and the knowledge of places and birds. We know the many who are driving their energies into falling totally in love with bird watching – those who wake up at 4 or 5 in the mornings to make certain they get first light in the many places where the birds will stir.
Cape May Warbler
When one gets a chance to go with a birder to the many places birds nest or where they are found in abundance, or even more impressively, where one single bird or where one single mating pair can be seen, it is amazing the little tips one can learn.
Black Throated Blue Warbler
Plan.
Go early.
No noise.
Make sure you have your bird book.
Pen and paper –
Look at the fences.
Go with friends.
Look at the edges of forests.
Look at the very top of trees.
Know what plants are seeding.
Know what trees are fruiting.
Record all species – even when you don’t see them but you just hear them (certainly you would be with a absolutely great bird watcher in Belize to do this, if you are not great already).
White Crowned Pigeon
Always look carefully and again – there are more species there that you initially noticed.
Let us give you a short list of ten birds we wish you see when you come to Belize:
- Keel Billed Toucan
- Black Headed Trogon
- Vermillion Flycatcher
- Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher
- Green Shrike Vireo
- Yellow Throated Euphonia
- Jabiru Stork
- Red-Legged Honeycreeper
- White Hawk
- Pygmy Owl
Its time to come to Belize!
Happy birding!