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The most common urban parakeet, this is the one that has become adapted to nesting on buildings, including the center of SanJose. At least the tree is not found on their property and this probably gives it some protection.
Zamora Estate protects acres of unspoiled habitat within one of the fastest growing sections of SanJose, a holding that has sustained four generations of the Zamora family. The centerpiece of the estate’s natural tableau is a large pond complete with an active wader rookery protected by an ornery Caiman.
If habitat is protected, they can also act as important pathways to fantastic places and can greatly facilitate connecting people with birds and biodiversity. San Vito – Several roads just outside of San Vito offer excellent birding. Even so, despite the big risk for biodiversity, we need roads.
Our elevation (1080 to 1150 feet) places us in what is called seasonal rainforest, but we are contiguous to the higher elevation Children’s Eternal Rainforest and connected reserves, comprising almost 250,000 acres of protected habitat from our farm to the top of the cloud forest.
Thanks to fortunate foresight, a lot of land was set aside in Costa Rica as national parks and protected areas (and some of these are easily accessed) but the best forest still happens to be at the terminus of the road and en route, you will be treated to species deficit birding in plenty of pastures.
“Cangreja” means crab in Spanish and refers to the shape of the mid-sized peak at the center of the protected area. On account of its remote nature, this is one of the lesser known protected areas in Costa Rica but that doesn’t keep it from being an excellent area for birding. This year’s official count shirt.
Fortunately, nowadays, there are protected areas and efforts to establish biological corridors that provide more hope for the endangered Great Green Macaw, and other species. In Costa Rica, that would mean the Sarapiqui area because this is where we find the closest Caribbean lowland forests to SanJose.
While steep slopes and heavy rains make these interesting transition areas tough to access in many other parts of the globe, the rare combination of good roads and protected areas makes them one of the easier places to access when visiting Costa Rica. It’s always exciting to go birding in foothill rainforest!
San Francisco averages two-tenths of an inch for the month, while SanJose only averages half that much. I had set aside the morning of Sunday, June 10th to cross the San Francisco Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean town of Half Moon Bay, a mere 25 minute drive away, for a few hours of birding.
For a more intimate stay in birdier surroundings, try Zamora Estates ; a hotel/vineyard that protects some of the last remaining wetlands in the Central Valley. If you want to go the relaxed route, don’t worry, there’s still plenty to see in hotel gardens in and near SanJose.
This is a protected area that includes the Los Cusingos Bird refuge, where we were guided by Andres Chinchilla, a young man who as a child ran around the farm where his family worked, and was to become this incredible bird refuge. For more information you can find their website here.
It is possible that the dense growth allows for great protection and nesting areas. These Ruddy Ground Doves were found in the saltwater lagoon near SanJose Del Cabo. I guess they like the area as much as I do! Many of the birds that do stay year round tend to congregate around the mangrove trees.
I caught this Lark Sparrow at San Blas, near Magdalena Bay , just as the sun was setting. There is a small Federal Reserve, set aside on the white sandy beach near SanJose Del Cabo, in order to protect the nesting Least Terns. We have a small resident population of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.
Check out these suggestions: The Zamora Estate : Not that far from the airport, this place protects some of the last remaining wetland habitat in the Central Valley. Since Costa Rica is a such a small place, heck, you can go even further afield without too much worries and stay at sites just 3 hours from SanJose at most.
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