Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Thursday 2 augusT 2018

Birds of Aruba

Brown Pelican Burrowing Owl- Shoco
A very large, dark-bodied The Burrowing Owl is a buffy-
bird, unmistakable with its long colored, long-legged owl with
bill and gular pouch. Watch large, yellow eyes. This diurnal
for them sitting on pilings and species can be seen sitting
zooming along the beach in open areas in small family
in front of your resort. You'll groups, apparently unphased
probably see them feeding, by the hot afternoon sun. Bur-
too, plunging into the sea rowing Owls are much loved
from the air, then rising with by the native islanders and
their pouch full of sea water appear on Aruba’s currency
and, if successful, fish. Non- and postal stamps. Sadly, their
breeding plumage shows a populations seem to have de-
white neck, and immatures clined greatly.
are all dark with a white belly.

Caribbean Parakeet- Prikichi
Troupial As recently as 10 year ago, visitors to
Certainly one of most Aruba could delight at seeing flocks
striking of Aruba's native of native, wild parakeets roaming
birds, the Troupial is a the countryside, sometimes coming
large oriole with sharply near some of the resorts that main-
contrasting bright orange tain native vegetation. Unfortunate-
and black pattern, with ly, this bird has experience steep
bright blue around the eye declines in recent years, apparently
and at the base of the bill. due to introduced boas. Although
The Troupial’s loud, piping efforts are underway to eradicate
song is thrilling to hear. the snake, such a task is proving dif-
Troupials make stops at ficult.
some of the resorts to look To try and locate Brown-throated
for food but they often Parakeets, listen to their loud, rau-
typically don’t stay for cous shrieks. The birds may appear
long. Take a trip to the hills green at first glimpse, but a closer
of Arikok National Park to view will reveal the beautiful bluish
make sure you don't leave colors in the wings, the yellow under
the island without a look the tail, and the yellowish eye ring.
and a listen to this special Birds from Aruba are described as a
bird. distinct subspecies and are drabber
than the subspecies from Curaçao
Blue-tailed Emerald- Blenchi and Bonaire, which have brighter
One of two hummingbird yellow on the face and throat.
species that occurs regularly
on the island, and the most Bananaquits- Barica Geel
common and widespread A lively little bird with blackish back and head,
of the two. You’ll undoubt- white stripe above the eye, and bright yellow
edly see a few individuals belly. Bananaquits may remind visitors from the
of this species around your eastern U.S. of the familiar and beloved back-
resort, frequenting bloom- yard bird, the chickadee, which is why we fondly
ing ornamental plantings. A refer to the Bananaquit as the "chickadee of the
good, close look will reveal a Caribbean.” The locals call them chibichibi (in
green that is brilliant, almost Dutch, zuiker diefje), and when you hear them,
metallic. Males are all green you’ll know why. They are common throughout
with a rather short, dark the island including around hotels and if possible,
blue tail that often appears may arrive at your breakfast table to sip juice or sample the jelly or syrup. They
black. Females and imma- can be drawn to the balcony of your room by setting out fresh fruit or juice in a
tures have green backs and shallow bowl or dish. The buzzy song, repeated all day, soon becomes familiar
whitish underparts. and delightful background “noise” on Aruba. q