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Maybe slightly extra shock-inducing and paradoxical than ideas of birding at sewage ponds or graveyards, an oil refinery appears to be the antithesis of a fascinating place for a birder. In southern Trinidad, nonetheless, there’s rather more at play than what is straight away discernible. A now largely defunct oil refinery encircles a verdant haven for waterfowl and lots of different wetland-dependent birds – the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Belief.
I gained’t get into the small print (for there are numerous) on this submit, however for these concerned about studying extra about this unbelievable (and personally important) place, be at liberty to have a learn of this native newspaper article. I’ve been visiting right here since I used to be slightly youngster, and it’s now such a satisfying feeling to take visiting birders to this awe-inspiring centre for progressive environmental motion.
Birding in a spot the place animals are assiduously cared for and never harassed in any type or trend implies that the encounters themselves are primarily assured to be memorable – and never of fleeing hen behinds!
Witnessing unbothered Blue-and-yellow Macaws lazily perusing the larder of moriche palm fruit ensures that ideas of anything all disappear.
Whereas the P-a-P Wildfowl Belief’s major thrust is the breeding and launch of 5 duck species, the habitat encourages plenty of native wetland birds to inhabit and proliferate the realm. From Yellow-hooded Blackbirds to Purple and Widespread Gallinules, there are nearly too many birds to concentrate on! Final go to we loved excellent views of a trio of Masked Cardinals, interrupted by the arrival of a Inexperienced Kingfisher that was so intent on looking, it hardly even solid a watch in our path.
Masked Cardinal
This Inexperienced Kingfisher stared on the water for a number of minutes, after which proceeded to pounce on a fish that was so shut we nearly obtained splashed!
Attending the ponds and waterways are all manners of piscivores together with Striated Heron, Cocoi Heron, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Osprey, and even some sizeable specimens of Spectacled Caiman. All of them coexist harmoniously, other than the fish perspective that’s.
Because of the plethora of hen species round, invariably we had been to expertise one thing breathtaking. Whereas strolling round the principle pond on the Belief we stumbled on a Wattled Jacana with what should have been the tiniest chicks I had ever seen.
There are three Wattled Jacana chicks on this picture, however they’re designed to stay hidden.
Whereas having fun with the household of Wattled Jacanas, a feminine Inexperienced Kingfisher flew in to an overhanging department and sat there for a number of minutes. We weren’t paying a lot consideration and due to this fact had been grossly unprepared for when her mate abruptly appeared beside her and handed her a freshly caught fish. Earlier than we had time to collect ourselves, he flew off. Ruing our missed alternative, I eyed him by means of binoculars. Clearly, his actions had been spectacular as the feminine shortly joined him – and so they mated.
This time of 12 months marks the beginning of the breeding season for a lot of species of resident birds, and they’re due to this fact completely consumed with the urge to procreate. Whether or not the courtship efforts of the Inexperienced Kingfisher or a showdown between Muscovy Geese, birds continued to hold out their enterprise unconcerned of human eyes.
These two Muscovy drakes brutally battled for about ten minutes proper in entrance of us. Generally domesticated, wild variations of the Muscovy Duck traditionally inhabited wetlands throughout Trinidad. The P-a-P Wildfowl Belief has launched a whole lot of those hefty geese over the many years into distant and infrequently inaccessible wetlands.
Bona-fide wild Muscovy Geese (with little to no white plumage) from one other mission many months in the past.
There are some of us who’re against visiting a spot like this, fearing that the birds aren’t really wild – and due to this fact might or might not rely on an official checklist. For me, there’s little distinction between this expertise and one other the place the birds are habituated to human presence, pelicans coming in to seize bycatch from fishermen or storks at a landfill even. They’re all free-flying and might select to remain or depart as they please.
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