Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

A16 LOCAL
Monday 1 october 2018
Birds of Aruba

Burrowing Owl- Shoco
The Burrowing Owl is a buffy-colored, long-legged owl with large, yellow eyes.
This diurnal species can be seen sitting in open areas in small family groups,
apparently unphased by the hot afternoon sun. Burrowing Owls are much
loved by the native islanders and appear on Aruba’s currency and postal
stamps. Sadly, their populations seem to have declined greatly.

Brown Pelican
A very large, dark-bodied bird, unmistakable with its long bill and
gular pouch. Watch for them sitting on pilings and zooming along
the beach in front of your resort. You’ll probably see them feeding,
too, plunging into the sea from the air, then rising with their pouch
full of sea water and, if successful, a fish. Non-breeding plumage Caribbean Parakeet- Prikichi
shows a white neck, and immatures are all dark with a white belly. If we go back 10 years ago, visitors of
Aruba could delight at seeing flocks
of native, wild parakeets roaming
Troupial the countryside, sometimes coming
Certainly one of most near some of the resorts that main-
striking of Aruba’s native tain native vegetation. Unfortunate-
birds, the Troupial is a ly, this bird has experience steep
large oriole with sharply declines in recent years, apparently
contrasting bright orange due to introduced boa’s. Although
and black pattern, with efforts are underway to eradicate
bright blue around the eye the snake, such a task is proving
and at the base of the bill. difficult. To try and locate Brown-
The Troupial’s loud, piping throated Parakeets, listen to their
song is thrilling to hear. loud, raucous shrieks. The birds may
Troupials make stops at appear green at first glimpse, but a
some of the resorts to look closer view will reveal the beautiful
for food but they often bluish colors in the wings, the yellow
typically don’t stay for under the tail, and the yellowish eye
long. Take a trip to the hills ring. Parakeets from Aruba are de-
of Arikok National Park to scribed as a distinct subspecies and
make sure you don’t leave are drabber than the subspecies
the island without a look from Curaçao and Bonaire, which
and a listen to this special have brighter yellow on the face
bird. and throat.

Blue-tailed Emerald- Blenchi
One of two hummingbird Bananaquits- Barica Geel
species that occurs regularly A lively little bird with blackish back and head, white stripe above the eye, and
on the island, and the most bright yellow belly. Bananaquits may remind
common and widespread visitors from the eastern U.S. of the familiar and
of the two. You’ll undoubt- beloved backyard bird, the chickadee, which
edly see a few individuals is why we fondly refer to the Bananaquit as the
of this species around your “chickadee of the Caribbean.” The locals call
resort, frequenting bloom- them chibichibi (in Dutch, zuiker diefje), and
ing ornamental plantings. A when you hear them, you’ll know why. They
good, close look will reveal are common throughout the island including
a green that is brilliant, al- around hotels and if possible, may arrive at
most metallic. Males are all your breakfast table to sip juice or sample the
green with a rather short, jelly or syrup. They can be drawn to the bal-
dark blue tail that often ap- cony of your room by setting out fresh fruit or
pears black. Females and juice in a shallow bowl or dish. The buzzy song,
immature have green backs repeated all day, soon becomes familiar and
and whitish under parts. delightful background “noise” on Aruba. q