Once again another early start, overnight there had been
some more rain, but when we walked out of the bungalow at around 5.30 am it was
overcast, but dry. We were meeting up
with the guide in the main car park at around 6.00 am, but as always, we were
early. It is not often that I dedicate a
post to just one bird, but today was special
As we stood waiting there were signs of activity all around
us. Sooty Thrushes, looking and behaving
remarkably like the Eurasian Blackbirds, were feeding on the lawns, and every so
often you were hear the zip of a hummingbird as it flew past.
Once our guide arrived we set of down valley, following a
winding road high above the Upper Savegre river that rises here in the Cerro de
la Muerte, and makes its way down the Pacific slopes to the ocean just outside
Quepos. Alongside the river were several
lodges. We came to a stop opposite a set
of roughly hewn steps, and our guide told us to walk up the streps, and when we
reach a group of people stop. He had to
turn his attention to our fellow travellers who we having difficulty getting
started.
The walk up hill was once again a challenge at the altitude,
but we pushed ourselves and finally came out to a viewing platform where people
were already gathered. It was clear they
were looking at something in an avocado tree that the platform overlooked. In my usual way I moved around in an effort
to get a view, and finally located the bird sitting in amongst the leaves.
The Quetzal, or to give it it’s full name, the Resplendent
Quetzel. On both previous trips I had
hoped to see one. To be fair on our
first trip we were not in the right places, but last year we had hoped to find
one in Monteverde but were not successful.
Part of the reason for returning this year was to see one, and this was
the reason we had come here. We were not
disappointed, there in front of us finally was the Quetzal, and a male.
If I am honest it was disappointing that the tail feathers
were missing, but it was an adult male as can be told by the definite crest and
has probably lost them during the breeding season. Nesting in holes can take its toll on these
feathers, they grow to about two foot long, we were shown some when we stopped
at the lodge before arriving at Dantica, to have seen them would have been
impressive, but looking across at the Quetzal tucked away amongst the leaves it
is still an amazing looking bird.
The Quetzal is a member of the trogon family of birds, there
are five species within the genus. The
name Quetzal though was originally used for this species. The name Quetzal comes from the Aztec
language meaning “tall upstanding plume”.
The resplendent quetzal was considered divine, associated
with the "snake god", Quetzalcoatl by early Mesoamerican
civilizations. Its iridescent green tail feathers, symbols for spring plant
growth, were venerated by the ancient Aztecs and Maya, who viewed the quetzal
as the "god of the air" and as a symbol of goodness and light. The
Maya also viewed the quetzal symbolizing freedom and wealth, due to their view
of quetzals dying in captivity and the value of their feathers,
respectively. Mesoamerican rulers and
some nobility of other ranks wore headdresses made from quetzal feathers,
symbolically connecting them to Quetzalcoatl.
Since it was a crime to kill a quetzal, the bird was simply captured,
its long tail feathers plucked, and was set free. In several Mesoamerican
languages, the term for quetzal can also mean precious, sacred, or erected.
Our bird was sitting tight for the moment, every so often
turning its head
The Resplendent Quetzal is a weak flyer, and is vulnerable
to predation by hawks, eagles and even owls.
The nestlings and eggs are also predated on by Toucans, Jays and
Squirrels. The breeding time of the
Quetzal in this area is May to July, which would account for the tail feather
loss. Outside of the breeding season
they tend to live alone.
Availability of suitable breeding trees is seen to be key to
the bird’s success, the tree has to be in a state of decomposition to allow
them to carve a suitable nest hole, this makes the nest site vulnerable to
weather damage.
While the bird sat still in the tree it would constantly
move its head from side to side, tilting it to look up. This behaviour is known as “bowing” and is
part of a bonding display during the breeding season, but is also the birds
natural behaviour as it searches the trees for suitable fruits to eat
The Quetzal is considered a specialist fruit eater, but it
does mix the diet with insects, frogs and lizards.
Finally the bird moved, dropping down to a branch heavily
covered with lichen
Particularly important to the Quetzal’s diet are avocados
and other fruits of the laurel family.
They swallow the fruit whole and then regurgitate the pips, which helps
disperse the trees.
Then the bird flew once again, this time up to the tips of
the branches and leaves. I suspect it
was searching for fruit using a method that is known as “hovering” and
“stalling” to select the right fruit.
Just any old avocado is not good enough for the Resplendant Quetzal.
When it returned it was hidden behind the bough of the tree,
and I took what is probably my favourite photo of this portfolio. For me it emphasises the secretiveness and
shyness while at the same time emphasising the beauty of this very enigmatic
bird.
Many people were now on the platform, and I found myself
moving around to get a different view.
The Quetzal has become very important for Costa Rican tourism, with land
owners and farmers being given subsidies to grow the right trees to attract
these amazing birds. Non bird watchers
come on these tours to see it and hopefully come to appreciate the beauty of
this bird, and others in the future.
With the sun beginning to appear above the slopes of the
valley the bird became a little more active in the tree, flying around and
using different perches. They tend to be
loyal to a particular tree and will defend it from other Quetzals.
Then from nowhere another bird arrived. There was a squabble but both stayed in the
tree, the new bird was another male, but an immature bird, still to attain the
full crest of the adult, but with some growth of tail feathers.
It can take up to three years for the young males to get the
full growth in the tail feathers
While I didn’t get to see the tail feathers on the adult you
could get some idea of the size.
The older bird finally decided to chase the intruder away,
flying at it, and pushing it out of the tree, and the review of prospective
fruits in the tree continued.
The sun finally broke above the far valley slope, and the
light changed around the tree, and with it a subtle change on the iridescent
feathers of the Quetzal
Just as we were about to leave the Quetzal finally found a
suitable fruit.
It seemed much to big to swallow, but the bird would throw
back its head frequently, moving the fruit slowly back in the beak.
Until it finally managed to swallow it. At this point we had to leave, nad made our
way back down the steps. I had finally
seen the bird that most come to Costa Rica for.
It hadn’t disappointed.
These images came from the 700 images I took, all much the
same, but I didn’t want to miss a thing.
As we drove back up the valley I once again had a smile, certain birds
do that to you and this one thoroughly deserved to have this post all to itself
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