|
Since the dawn of mankind, human beings
have been fond of birds. That explains their obsession to conquer
the sky and fly like them. Ancient civilizations paid tribute to
them, sung to them and painted them in countless images through
the centuries.
Birds make up one of the largest zoological groups, the result of
an evolutionary process occurred millions of years ago and that
eventually spawned thousands of species.
Can you imagine for a moment any landscape without birds? Could
the world be conceived without the chirp of fluttering birds? There’s
no doubt that birdwatching is one of the most interesting activities
there are.
Finding out how they feed, how they build their nests and take care
of their offspring, how they defend their own territories are elements
that dazzle those who love flying creatures. Birds are highly praised
for their esthetic values and for a number of other useful reasons,
like biological control of plagues, seed dissemination, pollination
and for their role in the ecological balance. They are also a great
foodstuff, a hunting prize and a token of what nature tourism is
actually all about.
Birdwatching -contrary to hunting- is supposed to make huge scientific
and economic contributions to countries bent on keeping clean, unpolluted
environments. The insular Caribbean enshrines over 550 different
bird species, with more than half (371) hailing exclusively from
the Cuban archipelago.
Cuba is also a mandatory stopover for a huge amount of migratory
birds that usually nestle in the continental areas and fly down
to the Caribbean in search of warmer temperatures during the winter.
The Challenges for Birdwatchers
The Cuban bird fauna comprises 25 endemic species. A handpicked
bunch of them is a must-see for any birdwatcher, especially given
their unusual habitat, a situation that makes them hard-to-spot
critters worth stealing a long peek at.
The following species belong to this selective group of
sneaky birds:
Ferminia Ferminia cerverai
Discovered by Fermin Cervera in the early 20th century. Its habitat
is exclusively restricted to shrubs in the western part of the Zapata
Marshlands.
Santo Tomas Hen Cyanolimnas cerverai
In addition to being a hard-to-spot bird of sneaky behavior, this
fowl lives in inhospitable environments. There’s little overall
information about it.
Royal Woodpecker Campephilus principalis
In the 19th century, this bird was commonly seen around the island,
especially in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Matanzas and Guantanamo.
Unshackled felling of woodlands has forced the royal woodpecker
to fall back upon the heaviest eastern jungle. Some experts believe
the royal woodpecker has already vanished.
Restless Travelers
Year after year, birds migrate from their nestling spots to the
places where they are supposed to spend the winter, only o fly their
way back home. Scholars assume this practice stems from the need
to seek better living conditions for their development and survival.
In the Caribbean area, the migratory timeframe usually takes place
between the months of August and November, with a peaking period
in October. The flight back home occurs between the months of March
and May.
Some of the birds that visit Cuba during this time of year
are:
Pink Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber ruber
This is the only of five flamingo species that flies to other Caribbean
islands and territories, chiefly to the Bahamas and the Yucatan
Peninsula. In the case of Cuba, they are mostly spotted on Coco
and Romano keys, off the northern shore of the Camaguey province.
Mariposa Passerina ciris
This is one of the loveliest migratory birds. The male sports a
blend of blue, yellow, green and red colors. It’s hard to
spot due to increasingly dwindling numbers in North America.
Forest Beautie
According to mavens, the pigmentation of birds’ feathers is
linked to their habitats. Thus, birds that live in shadowy woods
affect bright colors, while those that call dry areas home usually
have lighter hues. On the other hand, gender differences are also
well marked.
Males are beautiful because they need to underscore their sex appeal,
whereas the females only flaunt gorgeous feather colors in certain
times of year, like in the mating period.
In our country, birdwatchers may feast their eyes on the Aparecido
de San Diego (Cyanerpes cyaneus), one of the most beautiful birds
of the entire Cuban archipelago. Its shades range from blue to black
and yellow on the reverse side of the wings. They are commonplace
in Pinar del Rio, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.
The cabrero (Spindalis zena) boasts an unbelievable combination
of colors in its feathers with a superb mixture of yellow, black,
white, brown and green. It’s easily spotted all across the
island while feeding on fruits.
As we’ve read in these pages, the Caribbean islands –with
their numerous reserves and nature parks- are a paradise for birdwatchers.
Within that selective group, Cuba ranks high on the list due to
a privileged geographical position between the north and south migratory
corridors. In addition to that, Cuba is blessed with a good deal
of endemic species worth staring at for a while.
|
