Birdwatchers of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle are quiet, thoughtful. peaceful and care deeply, about birds and about each other too. They lost one of their ‘flock’ this summer and thru their sadness they create a memorial.
Allan Wood loved his wife, his family, friends, flying, birdwatching and being part of a community. He gave his time and energy to others. Allan was taken from this world too soon. We are mourning him. In an effort to pay my respects I’ll write about one of his loves, birding.
Birdwatcher, Maryjane shared “Allan was one of the first to join the group after Kathleen created a Facebook page. It was always a joy to birdwatch with him as he was soft-spoken, thoughtful and seemed knowledgeable; all good qualities in a birder, as the quieter you are, the more birds you see. He often drove on our outings, which allowed us to go further afield, rather than just walk around town. Allan always had good insights to offer when there was a discussion on club policies, which occasionally arose as the group grew quickly due to the FB page. With sadness, the birding group is purchasing a Macaw nesting box as a memorial in Allan’s name. It’s to be decided whether it will be placed at the Vallarta Botanical gardens or at the Macaw reserve nearby. Anyone interested in contributing to the fund please contact Maryjane at mjcopperrock@aol.com.
Founding member Kathleen Dobek told me how the club was formed; “Kathy Hodges and I started birding together regularly. She and I met in 2013 when I was walking in town and I encountered her watching some Yellow-winged Caciques through her binoculars. At that time I didn’t know anyone else who birded; I was a lone birder watching Motmots, Gray Silky-Flycatchers and Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers and I was delighted to find another birder to go walking around town with. She and I sometimes drove out to the crocodile road to birdwatch. Later, MJ joined us, then Annie Timmins. We met Julieta Grosh when we were birding near her house at the upper part of Monte Calvario. She grabbed her binoculars and became part of our informal group.
One day, at the top of Monte Calvario birding, Hans Peterman pulled up to talk to someone who lives up there stopping to inquire what we were doing and was immediately interested in what we were up to, and I believe he told us he used to bird. From then on, he went out with us. Hans encouraged me to start a Facebook group for La Cruz birders, which I did in 2014. More and more ‘birder’s joined us. I managed the Facebook group page and coordinated outings until I moved to Mascota in 2015, handing over administration of the Facebook group to Hans. Many of us began attending the annual Puerto Vallarta Bird Festival, an excellent event with world-class guides and speakers. My serious birding dates to 1991, when I first kept record of species seen, where and when. Since then I have kept records of all birds sighted.
Our group not only brought us together to share a common interest, but brought us together to make new friends, and to discover new places as we ventured further afield. We birded at Flamingo Golf course, where we saw Roseate Spoonbills, until we were told to leave when it was discovered we were not there to golf. We birded at the small village of Guamuchil; Anni, Hans and I birded on the new road to Destiladeras/Punta Mita before it was open, where we had the first and maybe only sighting of a Yellow-green Vireo, a summer migrant from South America; we birded at Boca de Tomatlan at the beginning of the resort construction, and sadly witnessed its habitat destruction. There we saw Elegant Quail for the first time.
I have lots of favorite birds. The Citreoline Trogon, the Elegant Trogan, the Russet-crowned Motmot, and especially the Scrub Euphonia Kathy Hodges and I saw while “car birding” (staying inside the car on the crocodile road and using it as a blind).
We moved to La Cruz in 1999. During our early years there, I would see flocks of parrots flying high over the house, early in the morning. It’s been many years since I last saw that sight, due to capture for the pet trade and habitat destruction.
I am probably happiest birding by myself or with just a few other birders. Birdwatching is a quiet past time, with mostly whispers or softly spoken words to communicate. Birding with large, talkative groups has never appealed to me. There is etiquette about being quiet while birding. Obviously, more birds will be around when this is observed.
Maryjane added; “Several noted members are local bird guides like Luis E Morales, (San Pancho Bird Observatory), Mark Stackhouse (veteran guide from San Blas), Nancy (Holland) Wren, (Vallarta Birders group and recent organizer of the reborn Vallarta Bird Festival), Alfonso Langle (Conservationist & professor at University of Guadalajara, Ixtapa). The group takes part in several bird censuses over the winter and has helped Alfonso with a monthly bird-banding program at the University over the winter. Many members actively post their bird lists to E-bird, which is a worldwide organization that compiles records of species seen, where & when
Cornell University, Lab of Ornithology recognizes Mexico as being part of North America. They just don’t have enough data to include Mexico in FeederWatch, a citizen science project, yet. MaryJane and Kathleen have been sending them their counts for the last two years with the aim of helping them build up their data bank on Mexico so that it can be included in FeederWatch at some point in the future.
Some of the most striking birds we see in our area that beginner birders notice are the bright and noisy Great Kiskadees (bright yellow breast, black & white striped heads brown back, very visible, perched at the top of trees) Flocks of black & yellow, Yellow Winged Caciques are also often commented on.
For the more experienced birders, our area is a paradise for beautiful tropical birds, (over 700 species in the PV area), such as Citroeline Trogons, Russett Crowned Motmots, Squirrel Cuckoos, Ferruginous Pygmy Owls, Painted Buntings, Orange Breasted Buntings, Black Throated Magpie Jays, San Blas Jays, Streak Backed Orioles, Roseate Spoonbills, Woodstorks, Orange Fronted Parakeets, a variety of colorful warblers, a variety of Hawks and Kites, various types of Herons, many types of hummingbirds, Lineated and Pale Billed Woodpeckers. In the higher elevations, one can see Elegant trogons, Scrub Euphonias, Ivory Billed Woodcreepers and the iconic Teal & yellow, Military Macaws which are experiencing much habitat loss due to development in the bay area. So many more… so many incredible birds to list; learn more at our Facebook page.
Two other local birds that are common and very noticable are the very loud and vocal Chachalacas (turkey-sized, russet-colored birds that perch in local trees). Golden Cheeked Woodpeckers, black & white with a Golden yellow and red head are beautifu, but noisey and seem to be in every tree.
The group really just started as a few friends getting together once a week to go for a birdwalk. I think Hans’ infectious enthusiasm and his dedication to community outreach, education and conservation was the driving force that created the current group. He is responsible for organizing our group’s participation in the various census and banding activities and communicating with the conservationists and bird guides who compile the counts.
Hans Peterman misses his friend: “Full of fun and laughter Allan was a treasure to be around. His never ending grin and smile always brightened everyone’s day. His presence on our bird walks will be missed but always remembered. A talented sailplane pilot and instructor, I know he is now soaring the heavens.”
