
BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND: SILHOUETTES
“To be truly iconic, you need to be able to be recognized in a silhouette.” Slash from Guns and Roses Wood Stork bird watching at sunset Xcambo area “We pack the physical outline of the creature More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – HANKY PANKY IN THE GRASS: RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, Tordo Sargento (Spanish), Chuleeb (Mayan) Red-winged Blackbird perches high with feathers the color of inky dye He sings all day until nigh Hoping More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – MET-FLICKS AND CHILL: FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL PAIR PAIR
BRUTALITY OR CONJUGALITY Glaucidium brasilianum, Tecolote Bajeño o Viejita (Spanish), To’aka xnuk (Mayan) This tribute to February, the Valentine month of love, was inspired by an incredible event in nature More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – IF DOROTHY IN THE WIZARD OF OZ WERE A BIRD, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN A WILSON’S PHALAROPE
Wilson’s Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor, Falaropo Pico Largo (Spanish) Wilson’s Phalarope female If Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz were a bird, she would have been a Wilson’s Phalarope. First, she More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – TEN UNCOMMON FEATURES YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE ANHINGA
Red eyes of Anhinga 1. Red Eyes The Anhinga’s red eyes help it see shapes better underwater. Like many birds, a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, protects the eye, cleans the surface cornea, and More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – DRINKING WATER
Green Jay sips water but will lift head up to swallow it Simple. Or so it seemed. That’s what I thought. I looked up one thing and found another. I’m utterly astounded and lost in wonder. My More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – PUNCTURED PELICAN POUCHES: AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, PART 1 OF 2
American White Pelican with blue tilapia (fish) AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, Pelicans erythrorhynchos, Pelicano Blanco Americano(Spanish), Sak p’onto’ (Mayan) Every time I see American White Pelicans I am More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – THANKS GIVINGS FOR NATURE’S GIFTS IN THE YUCATAN AND PANAMA, PART 1 of 2
Every November my monthly column features birds and their roles in nature in appreciation for support of humans from serving as pollinators to scavengers. For 2019, photos illustrate birds and other wildlife in More...

BACKYARD BIRDING IN MERIDA, YUCATAN AND BEYOND – MY JAGUAR JOURNEY, PART 2 OF 3
Jaguar, Panthera onca, El Jaguar (Spanish), Balam (Mayan), Onça (Brazilian Portuguese) ROILING IN RIVER Cat swims silently near shoreline Caiman coming toward cat Two bounding leaps ATTACK! Jaguar More...