For the birds

This morning I was lucky enough to take part in a bird walk with CICY ornithologist Richard Feldman and a group of birding enthusiasts. Our intrepid group met at the botanical garden at 7:30 (late by birding standards, but quite sufficiently early for me, given travel from the beach to central Merida) and were treated to an introductory talk on resident and migratory birds before heading into the garden itself. I and at least one other member of our group had not known that well-fed birds in good condition can cross the Gulf of Mexico in less than 24 hours, a fact that gives me a whole other level of appreciation for the warblers and buntings that arrive in Ohio in May.

The Roger Orellana Botanical Garden, all six acres of it, is major bird habitat in a seriously deforested urban area, with 85 species confirmed here at different times. This dry forest, or selva seca, which makes up the central portion of the garden, is home to two motmot species, both of them showing off for us this morning.

Unfortunately, my point-and-shoot camera does not do well with greenish birds hanging out in leafy areas, even when said birds have definite turquoise eyebrows and most distinctive tails. This image from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows how gorgeous the turquoise-browed motmot, known to the Maya as the t'oh, really is.

• © Luke Seitz
• Macaulay Library ML43277571

Both species breed in this cave, found in the heart of the dry forest.

Our morning meander along the paths rewarded us with not only motmots but orioles (and a most glorious hanging nest), kiskadees, saltators, vireos, woodpeckers, flycatchers, blackbirds, two species of hummingbirds, a variety of doves, and of course gaggles of grackles. These handsome boys were showing off in Progreso, but you get the idea.

As the day warmed, the insects came out and swarmed the various trees that bloom this time of year. (Sorry, northern friends.) Seeing a dozen species of butterflies and lots of fat black bees working the late-winter flowers will definitely brighten a person's day. And a healthy insect population bodes well for the birds.

The good news in our time of so much bad environmental news: restoring even small sections of habitat can make a real difference for some of our feathered (and other) friends.