A crew of four, maybe five, road repair guys were working on a small landslide on the highway, just north of Ciudad Neily. Traffic was temporarily halted for the protection and safety of the workers.

As I sat in the car I noticed a pair of Yellow-throated Toucans (Ramphastos ambiguus) perched in a Cecropia tree. As is typical of this species, the two were giving forth with a loud and robust toucan duet; throwing their heads back and giving it all they had

As a birder, I found this charming…quite charming…and a pleasant way to wait until the traffic once again began to move.

One of the workmen, looked up at the toucans, who were perched just above where they were working. He then grabbed a stick–about the size of his arm–and threw it up as high as he could toward the singing toucans. Being clever birds, the toucans got the message and flew out of the Cecropia tree to find another singing perch.

My first thought was; ‘How insensitive of that guy, to throw a stick at two of nature’s creatures who were just doing what they were programmed to do.’

But then…then I thought about those guys working their asses off, out in the hot sun, shoveling roots and mud and rocks, with no windows to roll up; no escape.

‘OK, I get it.’, was my next thought.

Yellow-throated Toucans are great, yes they are. But that ‘song’ of theirs can become rather harsh, rather strident.

(Turn up the volume on your phone/computer when you play the video below.)