What’s your favourite fowl species?
Ahh, I’ve so many! Being right here on Bonaire within the Dutch Caribbean, now we have many lovely birds, and favorites at all times embody the island’s icon, the American Flamingo, in addition to the Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot. However I must say that my “spirit fowl” is the White-tailed Kite. The kite was considered one of my “firsts for Bonaire” and I used to be capable of take pleasure in its presence for a three-week interval. It was (up to now) the one and solely go to of this explicit species to Bonaire.
American Flamingo
What’s your identify, and the place do you reside?
My identify is Susan Davis, and I stay and fowl on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire. We’re the “B” within the ABC islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao—that are situated simply north of South America within the Caribbean Sea.
What are the principle areas or areas you cowl as a fowl information?
As a information, I solely provide birding excursions on Bonaire, however for a small island (about 112 sq. miles) now we have all kinds of habitats, together with the tropical dry forest within the north, which starkly contrasts with our pink photo voltaic salt ponds within the south, a haven for a lot of shorebirds, seabirds, and different waterbirds.
American Oystercatcher
How lengthy have you ever been a fowl information?
I’ve been main birding excursions since 2018.
How did you get into fowl guiding?
Since childhood, I’ve been a nature lover, in addition to a fan of pictures. After I first moved to Bonaire (33 years in the past), it was as a SCUBA teacher and underwater pictures teacher. As I acquired a bit older, I hung up my fins for binoculars and the remainder is historical past. I began making private pictures excursions, and more often than not, my topics have been birds. However I didn’t know what I used to be taking a look at, so slowly – one fowl at a time – I taught myself the species which can be resident on Bonaire and those who move by way of on migrations.
In 2016, BirdsCaribbean (a division of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) performed a guiding course right here on Bonaire. That course offered me with the experience to transform my private birding type right into a fowl guiding type—deciphering the birds of Bonaire to guests, irrespective of their stage of experience.
Blue-tailed Emerald
What are the facets of being a fowl information that you just like finest? Which facets do you dislike most?
I can’t consider any facets of fowl guiding that I dislike. What’s to dislike? I get to spend my day in nature, with different fowl lovers, having fun with the number of avian life right here on the island.
However there’s a lot to love! I solely do small teams—as much as 4 individuals—so I get to know my birders on a private stage and once they return, we go to totally different areas. We have now enjoyable and fascinating conversations—not solely about birds, however present occasions, nature, or absolutely anything else. Every tour I do is particularly geared to the pursuits of the members—some need lovely birds to {photograph}, others simply wish to exit and luxuriate in a while in Bonaire’s nature, whereas others are on a treasure hunt to tick these particular species which have eluded them.
Brown-throated Parakeet
What are the highest 5-10 birds in your area that you just suppose are essentially the most fascinating for visiting birders?
Limiting it to 5 birds is a bit troublesome, however I’ve to say the #1 fowl that visiting birders wish to see is our American Flamingo. Proper after that comes our Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrots, an endemic subspecies, and the Brown-throated Parakeet, additionally an endemic subspecies. Then, in fourth and fifth place I’d say our hummingbirds—the Ruby-topaz Hummingbird and the Blue-tailed Emerald—though our native Yellow Oriole can be an enormous favourite!
Yellow-shouldered Amazon Parrot
Are you able to define not less than one typical birdwatching journey in your space? Please briefly describe the areas, the important thing birds, and the approximate period of such a visit
Considered one of my favourite excursions is to the southern part of the island. Our photo voltaic salt works comprise about 1/3 of the island and provide beautiful views of the pink salt ponds, white salt mountains, inexperienced mangroves, and turquoise and cobalt-blue waters. After all, our coral-colored flamingos dot the panorama, and in some areas, we are able to observe them fairly carefully. It’s a “nationwide past-time” to take a seat on the southern tip of the island at Willemstoren Lighthouse at sundown—to attend and look ahead to a gaggle of flamingos that may fly off to Venezuelan feeding grounds for a couple of days. They’ll fly proper over our heads!
The flat topography of this southern space and low vegetation are good for birding as we normally have an excellent line of sight with the birds. We will see a wide range of herons and egrets—together with the uncommon white morph of the Nice Blue Heron, Reddish Egrets, Inexperienced Herons, Tricolored Herons, and Snowy Egrets. A mess of shorebirds both over-winter within the salt ponds or use them to relaxation and refuel throughout migrations together with plovers, sandpipers, and bigger shorebirds. Throughout our summer season months, visiting terns and gulls arrive from South America to breed within the salt ponds, so it’s enjoyable to first watch their courtship habits, after which, weeks later, to witness the adults feeding their chicks.
Royal Tern
I normally suggest that this tour is finished in 4 hours, to offer the very best enjoyment of the realm, nevertheless it could possibly be achieved in three hours, if we transfer a bit extra shortly.
What different ideas are you able to give to birders curious about your space?
Located nearly 12.5 levels north of the equator, Bonaire enjoys a plethora of adjusting birding seasons all year long. Between our native and resident species, North American migrants within the winter, and South American migrants in the summertime, it’s at all times good birding! I’d counsel that guests planning a birding journey to Bonaire plan for the time of yr that finest meets their birding objectives. There’s only a style of the altering birding seasons on Bonaire out there right here: https://www.bonairebirdtours.com/year-round-birding-seasons-on-bonaire/
Yellow Oriole
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is curious about birding with you, how can they finest contact you?
Those that are considering a birding journey to Bonaire can go to my web site at www.bonairebirdtours.com which has a wealth of details about the island’s avifauna, or e mail me instantly at susan@bonairebirdtours.com. I’m at all times joyful to reply any questions.
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
