BDB #1: Fourteen months ago the first ever American Flamingo showed up in Costa Rica; on the Caribbean mudflats near Limon. You can find an article on this bird by searching our website.
BDB #2: Less than a month ago, in November, a good friend of the SVBC Pat O’Donnell, discovered the first ever Sandhill Crane in Costa Rica while on boat cruise of the Rio Tarcoles. This Sandhill Crane is still around.
BDB #3: Just yesterday, a Jabiru Stork was spotted down in the rice fields of Las Pangas, near Coto 47. The Jabiru Stork, a MASSIVE bird, is a regular species up in the far north rice fields of Guanacaste. So far as I’ve been able to find out, this is the first one seen in our area.
Sandhill Crane photo by Henri Sandi Amador. Jabiru photo (from video capture) by Noel Urena.
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.’
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.
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.
We are now within the confines of the of week Feb. 23-March 2.
A WEEK UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
During this very week the San Vito Bird Club asks all members to count bird species they see while sitting on their porch.
Sure, this sounds exhausting but…
…if you come to our Annual Meeting (Sunday March 2nd from 7:30am to around noon at Cascata del Bosco) AND if your list of porch birds has the most species, AND if you get that list turned in to Alison, Peter, Lydia or Greg before 8:00am, AND if we can read it, AND if you stick around till the end of the meeting (right before your complimentary brunch!)………
You’ll win a PRIZE! Perhaps not a devastatingly exotic or life-changing prize but a prize nonetheless.
Have you ever purchased any San Vito Bird Club merchandise? Ever logged onto the sanvitobirdclub.org website? Of course you have…that’s how you got here. The San Vito Bird Club ‘Logo Bird’ was there…staring back at you (see below).
Back some years ago when the speedy and powerful Alison Olivieri formed the San Vito Bird Club, she and some close colleagues were trying to determine, ‘…which of the many San Vito bird species should we choose to represent our Club.’
The Turquoise Cotinga became the ultimate choice; a bird of rare beauty and even rarer number of sitings. The Turquoise Cotinga lives around here, yes it does. Personally, I have seen it only once in Coto Brus…on the Magic Road.
And so, when an opportunity to view a Turquoise Cotinga presented itself, we braved the one-hour bus ride to Palmira (with Sur Trips) and the 6am departure time and took off.
There is no reason to delay the payoff any longer. We had great viewings of both male and female Turquoise Cotingas. As you can see, the Turquoise Cotinga is primarily a fruit-eating bird and is very partial to Aguacatillo (little avocados) fruits.
We also viewed 44 other species of birds before sitting down to our wonderful breakfast.
Even where they live, the Turquoise Cotinga is not a common bird; but if you’d like a good chance to see one and experience a very nice outing to the scenic Palmira site please contact Sur Trips:
surtrips.com
Or if you know our good friend and local supporter of the San Vito Bird Club, Henry Barrantes, ask about this trip. Or any of his other great excursions.
ps: Here’s one way to know your hosts are very dedicated to birding.
Our good friend Karina Lopez and her staff at Los Chocuacos Tourist Center are hosting an informative and important lecture from author Maria Alejandra Maglianesi. Information included below:
San Vito Bird Club 
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