Bird Walk Sunday: July 27

Please join the San Vito Bird Club for our Sunday Bird Walk.

Meet at the Recepcion office of the Wilson Botanical Garden (Las Cruces OTS) at 7:00am.

As always, there is no charge for this escorted walk; binoculars and experienced nature guides are provided.

Following the bird walk, we can meet for coffee and good fellowship.

Collared Trogon; photo courtesy of Helen LeVasseur

You WILL See the Forest

On Saturday, July 19th a group of about twenty-five thoughtful, robust and dedicated citizens of Coto Brus put their shoulders together and began work on a most worthy goal; the creation of a forest in a spot where a forest does not currently exist.

Under the guidance of David Rodriguez Arias and Lilly Briggs and their Asociación Ambiental Finca Cántaros (AAFC), over 150 small trees were planted in a tract of pasture that will soon become part of the Bosque Magico.

To paraphrase 16th century writer John Heywood, ‘You can’t see the forest…yet…but keep watching and you will.’

You can help:

Swifts or Floaters?

This is a humor article. Not ‘ha-ha’ humor but vitreous humor…which is that gooey stuff inside your eyeball.

Your vitreous humor contains collagen fibers and as you age, those fibers sometimes become ghost-like images that you can see as they float around your retina; hence their common name…FLOATERS.

Thanks to FLOATERS, I sometimes see Swifts where there ain’t no Swifts when birding.

On a 1-10 scale of things to worry about, this ranks a 1.

‘How the Tropical Kingbird Became King of the Birds’

(From an early legend)

The Council of Birds met and decided that a King of the Birds must crowned, both to increase greater efficiency of bird affairs and because all the birds had been expressing a desire for a King. Birds, it seems, just like people needed someone to look up to.

A general meeting of all the birds was held and nominations for King were opened up to all.

The first candidate to fly up to the podium was the Harpy Eagle.

‘My fellow birds, I am the obvious choice for King. I am the biggest, strongest and most impressive of all the birds. No one would dare to challenge any of my rulings.’

The Harpy Eagle then went on to give a long speech, listing what he would do to improve their lives, how he would go about doing it and trying to energize the vast audience with his words.

Next, the Resplendent Quetzal flew up to the podium and addressed the throng:

‘I am clearly the most beautiful of all the birds. Who could be but overwhelmed with pure awe when in my presence.’

The Quetzal then proceeded to give an even longer speech to the gathered crowd.

The Scarlet Macaw next flew up to the podium.

‘I am the wisest of all birds. My knowledge and wisdom are known to you all.’

The macaw then gave an even longer speech than the other two.

At the end of the macaw’s speech, the three candidates met together to debate the issues and to see which of them should be the victorious candidate. During this lengthy debate period, the vast gathering of birds patiently waited but soon became restless and bored; bored with the talk, bored with sitting around and bored with the process in general.

At this point, the Tropical Kingbird flew up to the podium.

‘My friends,’ said the TK. ‘We all have our lives to live and we all wish to get back to them, eh? So if you’re all agreed, I will be your new King of the Birds. Call me if there is anything I can do for you.’

All of the birds in attendance unanimously threw up their wings as high as they could and with great gusto and glee cheered the Tropical Kingbird as their new King.

The Tropical Kingbird almost never got any calls to do anything, since the rest of the birds got along just fine on their own. And everyone…except the Harpy Eagle, the Resplendent Quetzal and the Scarlet Macaw…lived happily ever after.

Bird Walk Sunday: March 9th at the Garden of Wilson

Please join the San Vito Bird Club on Sunday, March 9th at 7:00am, for our regular Bird Walk. Meet at the Wilson Botanical Garden (OTS Las Cruces) recepcion office. Binos and experienced guides provided…as always, no charge.

Sorry for the short notice but sometimes, whatta-ya-gonna-do?

Baird’s Trogon, female. Photo courtesy of Helen LeVasseur.

San Vito Players Present–‘Inside ROY G. BIV’

Please join the San Vito Players theater group for our presentation of:

‘Inside ROY G. BIV’; a one-act play (about 35 minutes worth).

Cascata del Bosco–Saturday, March 8th at 5:00pm and a matinee on Sunday, March 9th at 12:30pm.

This event is free to all, suitable for kids. Your support of Cascata del Bosco (in the form of beverages and food) is always appreciated.

2025 SVBC Annual Meeting: Once Again…What a Show! Part II. (plus a bonus photo)

Many, many thanks to everyone who attended the 2025 San Vito Bird Club Annual Meeting. Great fun, great fellowship, great sharing of experiences.

Juan Carlos Mena Burgos (shown below) gave us a great talk on the future of tourism in Coto Brus; hint…it’s pretty exciting, oh yeah.

Maria Sandi (shown below) and Dr. Lilly Briggs shared with us the excitement that comes with learning the art/science of bird banding and of reminding us about the importance of Citizen Science.

The wonderful…amazing…skillful Aleman family!

Bonus Photo (totally unrelated to the San Vito Bird Club)

The speedy and powerful Paul Guindon, proudly displays his four aces during our regular Sunday afternoon poker game.