Post by tmanson on Feb 6, 2007 19:08:28 GMT -8
Hi everyone. Believe it or not, considering the weather I missed, it is still great to be home. It also looks like I missed some pretty good birding.
I am not posting a full report on my Cuban trip this evening, for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, I want to be able to include some pictures. I have downloaded them from my camera, but am still baffled as to how to post to this service with text and pictures included, as I use a MAC computer.
Help, however, is on the way. I have worked with a computer techie before on work related issues, and he is coming over Thursday night to help me with this challenge,as well as a few others related to digital photograhpy and computers.
Anyway, in the way of a synopsis, the trip was very interesting. It wasn't really a birding trip, but I squeezed in what I could. Without politicizing the discussion, being out of country, in what is still a very communist society, presented many challenges and frustrations. However, we really enjoyed the Cuban people, and the weather was great: perfect for hiking, sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, and of course, birding.
Cuba is a large island with lots of inaccessible parts. To do a proper birding trip there, you must have a car. They run over a $100 per day in Canadian dollars. To have a good shot at getting all 21 endemics, and some other great birds, I would estimate a birder should have two good weeks with a car, and be prepared to do some good old 12-15 hour days looking.
I had a car for 5 days out of the total time we were there.
During the 7 weeks we were there I saw 100 species. Fourty three were lifers, and I managed to track down 15 of the 21 endemics.
Highlights which I hope to be able show you pictures of include: Cuban Trogon; ( the national bird ), Gundlach's Hawk, Cuban Tody, Green Woodpecker, Stygian Owl, and Cuban Vireo.
My key miss, was the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. It is classified as rare and vulnerable, but was certainly seen in the time frame I was there. Nevertheless, despite the assistance of a professional guide, compulsory, in the area I was looking; ( Zapata Cienega- swamp), we could not find this gem despite repeated looks into supposedly reliable areas. I would say " next time ", but I think this was my lifetime trip to Cuba. Hopefully, one of you will get the chance one day.
I also found it very interesting to see all the neotropical migrants in their winter homes. Obviously not singing, many were still relatively easy to see because of their numbers, which in some cases approached fallout proportions. Most were birds that migrate to the Eastern parts of North America, and are rare here, so they were fun to see. I would have to say the Palm Warbler was the most abundant.
Turkey Vultures seemed to be most the numerous bird overall. With all animals in Cuba being " free range ", I guess there must be a lot to eat for these birds in the bush.
Anyway, I will file a more complete report once I get this picture thing figured out. Cheers. Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
I am not posting a full report on my Cuban trip this evening, for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, I want to be able to include some pictures. I have downloaded them from my camera, but am still baffled as to how to post to this service with text and pictures included, as I use a MAC computer.
Help, however, is on the way. I have worked with a computer techie before on work related issues, and he is coming over Thursday night to help me with this challenge,as well as a few others related to digital photograhpy and computers.
Anyway, in the way of a synopsis, the trip was very interesting. It wasn't really a birding trip, but I squeezed in what I could. Without politicizing the discussion, being out of country, in what is still a very communist society, presented many challenges and frustrations. However, we really enjoyed the Cuban people, and the weather was great: perfect for hiking, sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, and of course, birding.
Cuba is a large island with lots of inaccessible parts. To do a proper birding trip there, you must have a car. They run over a $100 per day in Canadian dollars. To have a good shot at getting all 21 endemics, and some other great birds, I would estimate a birder should have two good weeks with a car, and be prepared to do some good old 12-15 hour days looking.
I had a car for 5 days out of the total time we were there.
During the 7 weeks we were there I saw 100 species. Fourty three were lifers, and I managed to track down 15 of the 21 endemics.
Highlights which I hope to be able show you pictures of include: Cuban Trogon; ( the national bird ), Gundlach's Hawk, Cuban Tody, Green Woodpecker, Stygian Owl, and Cuban Vireo.
My key miss, was the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. It is classified as rare and vulnerable, but was certainly seen in the time frame I was there. Nevertheless, despite the assistance of a professional guide, compulsory, in the area I was looking; ( Zapata Cienega- swamp), we could not find this gem despite repeated looks into supposedly reliable areas. I would say " next time ", but I think this was my lifetime trip to Cuba. Hopefully, one of you will get the chance one day.
I also found it very interesting to see all the neotropical migrants in their winter homes. Obviously not singing, many were still relatively easy to see because of their numbers, which in some cases approached fallout proportions. Most were birds that migrate to the Eastern parts of North America, and are rare here, so they were fun to see. I would have to say the Palm Warbler was the most abundant.
Turkey Vultures seemed to be most the numerous bird overall. With all animals in Cuba being " free range ", I guess there must be a lot to eat for these birds in the bush.
Anyway, I will file a more complete report once I get this picture thing figured out. Cheers. Thor
Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.
