Being both Caribbean and Central American, our tiny English-speaking nation, nestled at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula, is a naturalist’s delight – and birders have certainly learned Mother Nature’s best kept secret. With 85 ecosystems and nearly 600 bird species to explore inside 9,000 square miles, Belize contains a vast diversity of forests from pine savanna to lowland rainforest to ecologically-rich island cayes and atolls. Alongside such flora, incredible fauna lies just within reach for new and experienced birders alike, revealing a neotropical birding adventure.
A Birder’s Destination “Reveal unexpected delights in the discovery of tropical birds, the usual suspects, and the beauty of adventure in-between.”
Explore fertile wetlands, savannas, and mountainous terrain for avifauna in Southern Belize by waking up within Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Rustic accommodations place you in the heart of the world’s first jaguar preserve with your alarm being a cacophony of the jungle, like the sweet sounding White- breasted Wood Wren and Northern Schiffornis. Within the 127,000 protected acres of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary all five of Belize’s wildcats, boisterous howler monkeys, rambunctious game birds, and even the boar-like Peccaries of Belize roam freely. Venture out to the coastline of Hopkins Village for lunch, but keep your binoculars handy for both pelagic and wetland birding. If you’re feeling adventurous, end your day with an adrenaline-pumping zipline in Bocawina National Park.
WRITTEN BY: CAROLEE CHANONA
An early departure out of Western Belize towards Las Cuevas lands you within Belize’s largest national park, Chiquibul National Park, where pristine greenery envelopes you in the Scarlet Macaw’s first choice for their breeding grounds. Grab lunch as you head towards the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve for an afternoon of high-elevation species, including the critically endangered Orange-Breasted Falcon and the mega-rare Solitary Eagle. Reward yourself with a dip in Rio on Pools and end with the awe of Belize’s 1,000 Foot Falls. Venture to Northern Belize and explore the vast wetland diversity of Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by boat for conglomerations of Roseate Spoonbills, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, White Ibises, and the Jabiru – the tallest flying bird in Central and South America. Grab a northern favorite fast food, like corn-based street tacos, before ending at the Maya site of Lamanai. Up for more? Book a night boat tour offered along the New River to yield the much-sought after Yucatan Nightjar, Northern Potoo, and Yucatan Poorwill. As eco-tourism in Belize grows, lodges are increasingly catering to birders with plenty of local guides ready to jump headfirst into your next avian adventure. Wherever you go, hiring a locally-trained bird guide enhances your birding experience while strengthening Belize’s eco-economy. Birding provides an incentive to safeguard natural habitats for our feathered-friends, while improving livelihoods. So, start planning your bucket list of Belizean lifers in this #BirdingNation! 84
PHOTO CREDIT: JASON TIESMAN
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