These birds hang around with the buzzards. Legend has it that you will see them on the road early in the morning before the buzzards. Early bird
gets the road kill!
They are magnificent birds. When we took a trip into the northern state, we didnt see any. Do you guys have them up there?elgatoloco - 9-27-2005 at 06:09 PM
Those birds are cool. They are a bit lazy. They have been known to pester the turkey vulture until it gets so upset it actually regurgitates what it
ate and then the _________ eats the result.
We also saw them in Costa Rica last December, 6 or 8 of them working some road kill.Osprey - 9-27-2005 at 06:59 PM
Crested Cara Cara or, in the local vernacular "gelele". A cousin to the secretary bird and the National Bird of Mexico (on the Flag doncha know).Sallysouth - 9-27-2005 at 08:46 PM
Are those the birds I have seen in Constitution?(Ciudad).I asked Mija and she didn't know.Very striking coloration, and have never seen them anywhere
else. I fancy myself to be somewhat of a bird watcher,lover, and this is a great picture of those elusive guys! Thanks Judy Oh and to Gato, I never saw even a one in Costa Rica, but many parrots, and
love birds. Where were you in C.R.?
[Edited on 9-28-2005 by Sallysouth]elgatoloco - 9-27-2005 at 09:37 PM
We have seen them on the ground a few times in Baja. They hop around like a raven and only fly if they have to, it seems. Look for them on fenceposts
and in areas where the turkey vultures are circling. They seem to hang in pairs.
We have been to lots of places in Costa Rica. The last time we were driving from Rincon de La Vieja to Monteverde cloud forest preserve when we saw
the Crested Caracaras by the side of the road. While in the cloud forest we saw and photographed the Resplendant Quetzal. The most amazing bird on my
list, so far.jeans - 9-27-2005 at 11:43 PM
These birds never get to fly. They may be dead by now. I don' t know.ursidae69 - 9-28-2005 at 08:16 AM
Saw my first ever crested caracara in March 2004 near the BOLA turnoff. Here is the picture I got before it flew using my 35mm with a 180mm zoom. Sallysouth - 9-28-2005 at 04:06 PM
Hey Gato! How a pic of that bird you snapped in C.R? We went to C.R a coupla years ago(Jaco) and went to the rain forests. I don't even remember
seeing the bird you mentioned or hearing about it. Saw lots of crocs and parrots tho.I guess Baja is too dry for those kind of critters?bajajudy - 9-28-2005 at 04:38 PM
Jeans
That picture made me want to cry. Pobrecitos. They are such beautiful birds and to watch them in flight is breathtaking.
Are things any better at the zoo? I cant bring myself to go there.Osprey - 9-28-2005 at 06:03 PM
Jeans, you may want to rethink what you wrote. You dishonor dedicated zookeepers everywhere -- unless you explain yourself you're gonna leave us with
the a very bad impression.gringorio - 9-28-2005 at 07:18 PM
Awsome looking birds! I've only seen them in guide books... =(
Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
Crested Cara Cara or, in the local vernacular "gelele". A cousin to the secretary bird and the National Bird of Mexico (on the Flag doncha know).
Tucker - 9-28-2005 at 07:37 PM
Osprey - you are way off base. That said, a few years ago my neighbor came to me wanting to borrow a cage, a Caracara was floundering around in his
yard. We captured the animal. it was totally exhausted. My then gardener, a vetenary student assisted. We removed the fishing line restraints from
the bird's legs, offered it water (it was being restrained by leather-gloved hands) it drank an incredible amount of water. We then placed it on the
ground, it hesitated for a moment, then flew to the top of the block wall and landed. It looked back at us for about 30 seconds, the flew away never
to be seen again. We congratulated ourselves on a job well done and went back to work.Osprey - 9-29-2005 at 06:23 AM
Tucker, I've rescued a few wild birds myself. So what? What's your point? They were not in zoos. Let Jean explain herself. I know about the zoo
in Santiago. There are zoos all over the world. I know a little about them too. Disconnected sound bytes screaming animal cruelty won't help
animals, people or institutions.jeans - 9-29-2005 at 10:51 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
Jeans, you may want to rethink what you wrote. You dishonor dedicated zookeepers everywhere -- unless you explain yourself you're gonna leave us with
the a very bad impression.
The term "dedicated zookeepers" does not even **remotely** apply to the government running the Santiago Zoo
I firmly stand by what I wrote. I have also stated many times in this forum and the one beore it, that I am not
anti-zoo...as I believe that properly run, they can serve a needed educational purpose.
That being said....Do you believe that the small dark cage where these magnificent birds cannot stretch their wings represents the conditions
sanctioned by "dedicated zookeepers everwhere"??
I do not think so, therefore I am puzzled by your words.
What you read, to you, may be a "disconnected sound byte", but I know exactly what is not being done for those animals as I am in constant contact
with people down there who are fighting against lot of ignorance, egos and apathy.
I have been working on the Santiago zoo for a long time. I usually do not talk about it much on the boards, because the time I have to then spend to
"explain myself" is counter-productive for me. (like right now, for instance) What would be productive would be to find someone who put their money
where their mouth is and join the group that I have put together to put pressure on them.
I have enjoyed many your posts, Osprey.
Except on this thread.Sharksbaja - 9-29-2005 at 11:33 AM
Here here JR!
When I first heard the conundrum faced by the zookeeper I had no idea what outsiders were doing to "help". Turns out, nothing can be done by these
people. Unless.........
You can't "work" on something if yer not part of something. Comprende?
Now that's an idea. Jeans, maybe you should apply for job there so you can have a "real" voice on the matter or maybe even give some valuable
American advice.
Osprey was on the mark.
Go see if the birds are dead, then report.
Zoos suck but were stuck with them. There is a need for a place for displaced animals however but not "captured" wild animals unless intervention is
required to save their lives.
[Edited on 9-29-2005 by Sharksbaja]bajajudy - 9-29-2005 at 02:40 PM
Ok you boys plucked my poor bird bald.
LOOk you made his leg fall off
Please move on now!
Sorry Judy
jrbaja - 9-29-2005 at 02:55 PM
but seeing a picture of the cruelty that is being prolonged by outside meddling ( I didn't say intervention) really sets me off. I care about all
critters and would much rather see some humans in those cages.
Any further zoo talk should go to a different thread.jeans - 9-29-2005 at 04:26 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by jrbaja
And there she goes again, asking for more money!
I am not asking for money...it was a figure of speech....wanting action rather than words.
As for everything else you said....just add this to the long list of my activities that does not meet with your approval
Thank you for sharingOsprey - 9-29-2005 at 05:44 PM
Jeans, was this whole stream of venom what you wanted to cause when Bajajudy might have said "See the pretty birds" and your statement was akin to
"See the pretty birds die"? What I know of you through this forum is that you are one helluva gal -- it's a wonder I could learn that because many of
your posts created firestorms like this -- do you like being seen as a zealot, Mexico's (unofficial) animal rights activist?elgatoloco - 9-29-2005 at 08:18 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Sallysouth
Hey Gato! How a pic of that bird you snapped in C.R? We went to C.R a coupla years ago(Jaco) and went to the rain forests. I don't even remember
seeing the bird you mentioned or hearing about it. Saw lots of crocs and parrots tho.I guess Baja is too dry for those kind of critters?
I have the pics but I still have trouble resizing them. The Quetzal is not found in too many places anymore even in Costa Rica. It is the national
bird of Guatemala, it is on thier currency, but you won't find any in that country. When we were there we were cautioned that the likelyhood of seeing
one was VERY remote. Five minutes after entering the cloud forest there was one sitting on a tree branch. They eat a type of avaocado about the size
of a large olive then sit on a tree branch for 15-20 minutes to digest. We were VERY lucky and will never forget the sighting. Costa Rica is a great
place to see lots of great stuff. We are planning another trip in the spring, hopefully. I will try and mess with PC and post a shot. Google
resplendent quetzal for more info.
Oh and to Gato, I never saw even a one in Costa Rica, but many parrots, and
love birds. Where were you in C.R.?
