Puerto Rico Extension Apr 16—20, 2011
Posted by David Ascanio
David Ascanio
David Ascanio, a Venezuelan birder and naturalist, has spent the last 26 years guiding birding tours throughout his native country, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the Amazo...Related Trips
During this year's Puerto Rico Extension to our Dominican Republic tour, we were based at the Copamarina Beach Resort for five days, and from there we took daily drives to different birding sites.
Our first full day on the island found us at the Maricao highlands where Elfin-woods Warbler, Puerto Rican Spindalis, Puerto Rican Emerald, and Green Mango were observed nicely. The following day, at the Guanica forest and La Parguera, we saw Puerto Rican Flycatcher, Puerto Rican Woodpecker, Puerto Rican Tody, and the threatened Yellow-shouldered Blackbird. On the night of the 18th we matched the success of the morning with astonishing views of Puerto Rican Nightjar and Puerto Rican Screech-Owl, our last yet-to-see endemics of the island. (Well, except for an almost-impossible-to-see: the Puerto Rican Parrot.)
Since we had a full day to go and all the other endemic species were already nailed, we decided to try for the parrot. Romney was a key person in our pursuit, since she knew about the main locations and the recent sightings. Therefore, on April 19th we started very early in the morning and took a drive to Rio Abajo. Once there, we walked the trails and the surroundings of the aviary. We waited and waited and hoped for the impossible, and the impossible happened at noon: after hearing squawking voices on the other side of the gate, a single Puerto Rican Parrot flew into a bare tree close to us, gave us enough time to enjoy it through the scope, and then flew away. Only 30 minutes later a pair did the same, this time allowing us to take a video that has been posted at the Internet Bird Collection (you can see it by clicking the species at the hyperlink file). What a moment! This is what I would call an experience of a lifetime. When we started the tour this bird was a dream, an impossible dream I would say, and only a few days later it was a reality, and a lifer for your leader! I hope you will remember this moment as a very special birding experience. By seeing this parrot I could now say that we had seen all the endemics of the small but beautiful Puerto Rico!
Thank you very much for joining me on this short but special tour. I look forward to seeing you again on another adventure in the American Tropics.