World Bird Festival

Many Belizeans awoke to the sounds of rain and thunder in Belize City, but not the early birds that joined the Belize Audubon Society in celebrating the World Bird Festival. October marks the beginning of a month-long event, initiated by BirdLife International, that connects people with nature. The Belize Audubon Society is a BirdLife Partner.

It wasn't easy for me to get up at 4:30 AM, but I am grateful that I did. In the darkness before sunrise I saw a Yellow-crowned Night-heron perched on a small vessel as we crossed the Swing Bridge. It was calm before the storm and the clouds shielded the suns rays; perfect conditions for birdwatching. A group of about 20 explored the birding hotspots in Belize City. Around the BAS office neighborhood we saw the typical city residents such as, Great-tailed Grackle, Clay-colored Robin, Tropical Mockingbird, and Great Kiskadee. Looking out upon the beautiful sunrise on the Caribbean Sea we saw the Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, and Sandwich Tern. At the next two stops we picked up a few shorebirds, including the Semi-palmated Plover and Sanderling (pictured). In a vacant overgrown lot we saw orioles, warblers, flycatchers, and other passerines. We discovered many small niche communities throughout Belize City.

The last stop for the caravan of birdwatchers was a place called Birds Isle. By then the storm clouds had creeped all the way in from the sea. Even under the shelter we were able to see birds weathering the heavy rains outside. The streets were flooded when we drove back to our starting point and the rain continued throughout the rest of the afternoon. We tallied almost 60 species for the day.