SEE & SAVE MIND-BLOWING BIRDS IN CUBA NOW

CUBA 

Hundreds of thousands of birds fly through Cuba every year in late summer and early autumn flying from North America to their winter breeding grounds in South America. Now that travel to Cuba is opening up for American tourists, eco tourists and bird watchers are flocking to the island to check out the abundance.

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, accounting for about 50% of the region’s landmass. It makes a perfect stopover for over 350 species of birds who enjoy large swaths of wild land, with mountains, forests, wetlands, and low-lying coastal islands (known as cays, or cayos).

There are also 26 bird species found nowhere else in the world. They include the Blue-headed Quail-Dove, the Cuban Tody, the Cuban Trogon (Cuba’s national bird whose colors match the Cuban flag), and the Bee Hummingbird (the world's smallest bird).

Zapata Peninsula is the place to go to the greatest diversity of both endemic and migrating birds -- about 280 species.

The Palm Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Cape May Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Indigo Bunting, and Piping Plover all fly south through Cuba in autumn and back north through Cuba in spring.

About a dozen neotropical species, including Black-whiskered Vireo and Greater Antillean Nighthawk, do the reverse commute, flying north from South America through Cuba in spring and south through Cuba in autumn.

But while increased birdwatching and other ecotourism benefits birds and their habitats by bringing money that aids in their protection and by raising awareness about their importance, it has also added pressure and damage.

Birds in Cuba are under the now familiar threats habitat destruction and hunting. Illegal cage bird trade is responsible for masses of Painted Buntings, Cuban Parrots, and other exotics beauties being smuggled out of the country.

Ecotourism can help face down many threats as it increases the value of healthy ecosystems and abundant birds. But it also brings more development, leading to more habitat destruction. So it’s important to tread lightly.

One of the best ways to explore Cuba’s birds, is with a birdwatching tour led by Arturo Kirkconnell, Curator of Ornithology of the National Museum of Natural History in Cuba and author of A Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba.

Also, check out the biannual BirdsCaribbean International Conferences. This year’s meeting, which will take place in the beautiful Topes de Collantes region of southern Cuba from 13-17 July, 2017. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Caribbean Diversity.” Get more info here.

Read more about Beautiful Birds in Costa Rica Bird Paradise Just Got More Beautiful and 10 Beautiful Images, Quotes & Ideas About Birds.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Shawn McCready. “Cuban Tody.” Cuba.
2. Image: by Hank Davis. Beautiful hummingbird sipping nectar. Cuba.
3. Image: by Shawn McCready. “Cuban Tody.” Cuba.
4. Image: by Fabian und Katrin. “Krokodilfarm, Cocodrilos, Guamá, Península de Zapata, Bahia de Cochinos, Schweinebucht.” Cuba.
5. Image: by Patty McGann. “Oriente Warbler.” Cuba.
6. Image: by Alan McDonley. “Black-Whiskered Vireo.” Cuba.
7. Image: by Sue. “Bee Hummingbird.” Zapata National Park, Cuba.
8. Image: by Patty McGann. “Cuban Oriole.” Cuba.
9. Image: by Kenneth Cole Schneider. “Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens.”
10. Image: by Robert Nunn. “Blue-Crowned Motmot.”
11. Image: by Carlos De Soto Molinari. “Candelita / Setophaga ruticilla / American Redstart (Macho / Male).”
12. Image: by Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith. “Bee Hummingbird.” Cuba.
13. Image: by Dennis Cooke. “Indigo bunting.”
14. mage: by BN App - Download now!
15. Image: by Brian Henderson. “Cuban Emerald.” Cuba.