~ by Jack Ewing
Non addicts scratch their heads wondering why us bird watchers get so excited about something so simple as observing our feathered friends. On the surface it seems like a boring pastime, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
If you don’t believe me just acquire a bird book and start identifying the species in your own yard. You’ll know you’re addicted when you start making a list.
There’s always something new for the list. For example, as Costa Ballena changes from green season to dry season migrants escaping the cold northern winter start appearing. There are more birds during our dry season, than any other time of year.
At Hacienda Barú we started identifying bird species in 1988. To date our list has 368 species. That’s almost half the number of bird species in the U. S. and Canada combined. 102 of those species are year around residents and commonly seen on our bird watching tours.
These include raptors, hummingbirds, owls, flycatchers, herons, and, of course, toucans, among many others.
Additionally there are 62 migrants from north America that visit us every year. These include raptors, flycatchers, hummingbirds, tanagers, and others. Other species are residents in Costa Rica, but only migrate into Costa Ballena at certain times of year, and often for a very short time. For example, the three-wattled bell-bird is usually found at higher altitudes, but its booming voice can be heard deep in our rainforests every year for a couple of weeks in January.
The magpie jay, swallow-tailed kite, and many species of hummingbirds also fall into this category. If that isn’t enough variety for you new species are constantly moving into Costa Ballena with its abundant and diverse natural habitat. In recent years the rufous-naped wren, crested guan, and scarlet macaw have appeared on our bird lists.
I assure you there is absolutely nothing boring about bird watching. Try it and find out for yourself.
INFO: Hacienda Baru – http://www.haciendabaru.com
