Mama Dove Abandons Nest in Strong Winds

I don’t know for sure if the mother Inca Dove abandoned the nest or something happened to her, but by this morning she was gone and two eggs had rolled out of nest down the spine of the palm frond, with at least one egg cracked. An animal that would eat her would probably also eat the eggs and an iguana may eat the eggs yet.  61 mph winds could have done it!

Inca Dove on Nest
She sat on this for about 3 days in terribly fierce winds, palm fronds like sails!

Empty Nest this Morning
Was the wind too much? Did something happen to her? I never saw a mate
and wondered where Daddy bird was!

Eggs Rolled down Palm Frond & Cracked
I’m so sorry to miss the birth of two Inca Doves & Sorry for the Mom!
I have no way to save them and doubt they could be.

Poor Choice of Nest Tree
The nest is in this small palm surrounded by red/yellow crotons below my deck.
Nest in lower of two fronds on the left, tiny gray spot halfway up.

Check out our Weather and note that right now the wind is at 42 mph with gusts to 61 mph. The poor bird never had a chance! January-February is the usual windy time, but last year was never with as strong a wind as we’ve had this year. and it is still blowing strong into March, but hopefully dying down soon! Then a couple of months of windless, hot, dry days before the rain starts, May-Oct.

Read more about Inca Doves at Cornell’s All About Birds

My Birds Photo Gallery

POSTSCRIPT: Before dark I checked the palm again and both eggs were gone, maybe by wind or maybe by an animal.

PS again: Today I finished my Income Tax with only one call to the TurboTax help desk!  🙂  The problem was not with the form but getting past their security into my file online. It seems that I had two accounts with them with two different user names and passwords and I was mixing them up. Crazy! But done now!

An African Bird in My CR Neighborhood?

Well, the web says that though native to sub-Saharan Africa, they have been introduced around the world, including the Americas. Quick cell phone photo:

Helmeted Guineafowl
Just one block out of the Roca Verde Gate, Atenas, Costa Rica

Helmeted Guineafowl
Zooming in for a closer look
Atenas, Costa Rica

These don’t have much of a “helmet,” but they are possibly juveniles and I am certain they are the same bird I saw wild in The Gambia, West Africa. Here they were near a stream, but actually in the ditch of a residential street.

For more information, see Helmeted Guineafowl, Wikipedia


Should I add them to my Birds photo gallery? I’m debating. They may be an invasive species?

Christmas in March?

On one of my two walks to town today, I snapped these with my phone.
You do know that the red of Poinsettias is actually leaves & not flowers?

Yes. Poinsettias grow in yards here and in different months.
I’ve seen them in February & March now.

See my Photo Gallery called Flora & Forests

Another Little Book on Birding Lodges

The third in my series of 7×7 books on “The Birding Lodges of Costa Rica.” See all my books at my Blurb.com bookstore:  http://www.blurb.com/user/store/cdoggett  and my one big book of birds is available on Amazon.com.

Nesting on a Palm Frond

Nesting Inca Dove
On palm frond of small palm in my yard, Atenas, Costa Rica

Honestly I don’t see how it can last very long with all the heavy winds we have been having, but birds can be tenacious! We will see. I have much more stable trees you could have used!

3 Great Birding Trips Planned + Little Theater

I continue to love my garden!

No new birds or other nature photos to share in last couple of days, just slowing down and relaxing a little since I was getting low on energy and not feeling my best. But tomorrow I go with a group of expats to San Jose for the Little Theater again for a play titled “Little Wars” by Steven Carl McCasland, that takes place in 1940 based on a real dinner party with 6 well-know women at the time: Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, Gertrude Stein, Agatha Christie, Alice B. Toklas, and Muriel Gardiner. (I get to see what women talk about when they have too much to drink!) Then we go out to eat at a nice restaurant.

I’ve also been busy planning future birding trips:

In March: Rio Celeste Waterfall & Cañon Negro on Rio Frio, staying at Celeste Mountain Lodge. where there are many birding trails on their property (4 nights). Getting there and back on public bus.

In May: Drake Bay and Corcovado National Park. Staying at the Aguila de Osa Rainforest Lodge (5 nights). Getting there and back on small public plane.

In July: A return visit to a pure birding lodge, Rancho Naturalista near Turrialba, Costa Rica, in the shadow of the active Turrialba Volcano (4 nights). Getting there and back on public bus.

When you live in Costa Rica,

EVERY DAY’S A HOLIDAY!

EVERY WEEK’S A VACATION!

And Retirement is called “la jubilación”

PURA VIDA!

🙂

Amazing Mother-in-laws!

Flowering “Mother-in-law Tongue” plant
In my neighbor’s yard
Atenas, Costa Rica
Flowering “Mother-in-law Tongue” plant
In my neighbor’s yard
Atenas, Costa Rica

My plant like this is in a pot in my bathroom, so I guess it is not as likely to bloom as these that are outside getting sunshine and rain. Interesting! My first time to ever see this plant bloom. I did not know that they had flowers!

See also my photo gallery called Flora & Forests.


And enjoy this very brief National Geographic Video on the greenest & happiest country in the world:  https://www.facebook.com/natgeotvUS/videos/10154745276431005/

The Greenest & Happiest Country!

The Greenest and Happiest Country in the World

This is the greenest/happiest country in the world, according to the Happy Planet Index, which measures the happiness and longevity of a population and divides it by their ecological footprint.

If all countries followed the Costa Rica example, it would be a wonderful world! Go for it!
But first the States have to “Dump Trump!”

Lineated Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker
In my garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica
I was thrilled that he was just 2 meters off my deck!
AND in the open! (for less than a minute!)
I have several shots of this species, but this is best!
One at Rancho Naturalista was previous best.
And I had a Fair Shot in Panama

Lineated Woodpecker
In tree in my garden, Atenas, Costa Rica
This “Peek-a-boo” sighting behind leaves is often all I get.
Still makes me happy! 

See my photo gallery of Birds photos made since I moved to Costa Rica. This gallery shows you my number one motivation for moving to and retiring in Costa Rica. I love the birds here!

More of San Jose: Public Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, the capital city was interesting even with seeing on a small portion, but that is all the photos for  now and I’m ready to get back to nature, enough of this city stuff! And I’ve got a good photo to share tomorrow, shot right here in my own garden, by best shot yet of one particular species. See ya’ tomorrow!

See also my Photo Gallery on San Jose

More of San Jose: Interesting People

After School in the Park with Skateboards
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Fresh Fruit & Veggies on Every Corner
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

And Sometimes In the Street!
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Many Pedestrians Everywhere!
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Old Man American Tourist
Watches Tico Teen Skateboarder Walk By

San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Children Play in Fountain
Plaza de Cultura
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Feeding Pigeons in Every Park!
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Clowns Sell Facepainting
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

Indigenous People Music
San Jose, Costa Rica

 

And Vendors Everywhere!
San Jose, Costa Rica

My Photo Gallery on San Jose