P. 4 - LA PLAYA
MAY / MAYO 2014
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BACKYARD BIRDING OBSERVACIÓN DE AVES
NESTING SEASON FOR COLONIAL WADING BIRDS
A
s the dry season comes to an
end and we enter into an early
rainy season, the nesting
period for wading bird such as Herons
and Ibises begins.
Near the end of dry season coastal
feeding habitats are abundant, as
seasonal deep water upwelling
creates rich aquatic environments.
Since most wading birds nest along
the coast, or on islands close to
shore, the massive influx of freshwater from the canal also helps create a
prosperous habitat.
The isthmus supports large numbers
of wading birds during nesting, largely
in a few specific locations. These
locations include The Bay of Panama,
the Bay of Chame, Parita Bay near
Chitre, and several near-shore
islands, including Taboga and the
Pearl Islands.
Along the Pacific coast, mudflats
created by large tidal swings offer an
open-air buffet for wading birds. The
mangroves provide shelter, food and
safe nesting areas. Mangroves
occupying the Bay of Panama and the
Bay of Chame are important nesting
areas for several species of wading
birds, including the Cocoi Heron.
Cocoi Herons are some of the first of
the wading birds in Panama to nest nesting as early as April in to May and
June. Their nests are made of twigs,
dry thistles and reeds. Nests are
circul