What's New in San Luis?
April 2012, Volume III, issue 3
The birds have been singing up a storm (literally!) in San Luis, as many species begin looking for mates and building nests. The first big rainstom of 2012 fell on Sunday April 1, just in time to douse the players on opening day of the 2012 San Luis Soccer Tournament!
In honor of the birds "pidiendo agua" (calling the rains), this month we are pleased share some excellent bird photos, courtesy of friend and neighbor Russ Kumai. Enjoy!
Above, a female Masked Tityra (Tityra semifasciata) excavates a nest hole in a broken tree trunk. The male was "sitting around looking handsome," says Russ. The Tityra will fill her nest with loose leaf litter and pieces of twigs, where she will hide her eggs once they are laid.
Left, a pair of Blue-crowned Motmots (Momotus momota) near Cabina 5. Motmot nests are actually burrows in the ground on roadsides or stream banks. They lay 3 to 4 eggs during the period between March and May.
Right, a Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidoolaptes souleyetii) hunts for food on the trunk of a bromeliad-laden tree.
Below, this male Three-wattled Bellbird seems to be having some issues with his wattle! The wattles of male bellbirds (Procnias tricarunculata) are thought to be used in the birds' mating display, which is accompanied by a loud "BONK-like" call. Male, female, and juvenile bellbirds have been common visitors at UGACR )and throughout Monteverde) during the past month.
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