Tucans eating Quetzals!!!
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I posted a short article on July 13th named “How should we call this bird?” Remember? The article is about the complex taxonomy of Emerald (Blue-troated Tucanet) (ccc). Solving that problem will take time and lots of research, but for now when you are in the forest and have the chance to see one of this beauties, this kind of nomenclature issues turns irrelevant . Birdwatching in Costa Rica is sometimes challenging, and finding this elusive toucanet is not always easy. Places like Monteverde, Savegre area and Braulio Carrillo National park have earned a good reputation as places where the chance of seeing it is higher.
I also posted another article on May 18 (please go to http://watching-cp73.wordpresstemporal.com/watchingbirdscostarica.com/want-see-quetzal/ ) regarding to Quetzals nesting in the highlands of southern Central America.
Well, believe it or not, Quetzal and Toucanets are natural enemies. Not because they compete to see who is more beautiful (I prefer the Quetzal to be honest), but because Emerald (Blue-troated Tucanet) is the most important predator of nests and Quetzal youngs in the highlands where both species share the habitat. Tucanets are active predators and in the highlands, Monteverde area for example, Toucanets have been observed attacking nests of another small forest jewel: Long-tailed Manakin.
Every year is the same story. Once somebody discovers an active Quetzal nest a horde of birders and photographers runs to see and take pictures (from a safe distance to the nesting couple). But sometimes the couple abandon the nest and you dont see them around for the rest of the year. The answer of the local birders is usually the same: an Emerald Tucanet attacked the nest again!!
I dont blame our Tucan friend. Both are part of the food chain and both are necessary to the ecosystem. If you visit Costa Rica, I recommend you to go to the cloud forests anywhere higher than 5000 feet in elevation. From January to late March you see more activity because is mating and nesting season. Are you planning to go birding to Panama? Then go to Volcan area in Chiriqui.
Please contact me at info@watchingbirdscostarica.com to know about my secret birding spots.
