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2008 Christmas Bird Count Invitation
Oct 14th, 2008 |
Belize Audubon Society News
News, events, advocacy updates, and bird watching reports from the Belize Audubon Society
The Hungry Howler Monkey at St. Herman’s Blue Hole
Sep 26th, 2008 |
By: Geovanni Martinez, Park Warden St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park
O n July 24 2008, around 10 in the morning while standing by the Blue Hole Area I heard a small noise as if though a cohune branch was falling. I looked around quickly but the cohunes near by seemed intact. Then I heard soft murmuring as if people were walking the trail, but I knew nobody was inside the park so I decided to check it out. I stood by an allspice tree and was checking out the Dusky Ant Bird Trail to see if someone was coming from the visitor center, but there was no one. Then all of a sudden I heard a noise right above me. I looked up and saw something black moving on the branches above. To my surprise it was a howler monkey! It was going towards the changing rooms, so I followed it.
Then it stopped by a Cecropia Tree (Trumpet tree) behind the bathrooms and started chewing on the young leaves. As i was observing the monkey having breakfast some tourists arrived. The monkey heard the noise from the car then it jumped from tree to tree into the thick forest where I couldn’t see it. The tourists carried on to the blue hole to take a swim, as they were coming down the steps they saw another monkey on the cojotone tree.
“The Howler Monkey is so named becuase you can hear the roaring in the early mornings and late afternoons. Howlers are herbivores (eat plants only) they eat flowers, tender leaves and fruits.”
After a while I began searching for the monkey again. I found him eating cocoa leaves by the Hummingbird Loop, this time he was not alone, he or she was with a friend! They both continued enjoying the fresh cocoa leaves. I felt so proud working at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park helping to protect the home of these beautiful creatures so you and I can enjoy!
P.S In total there were three howler monkeys that day I took some pictures with my cellphone and examined it carfully. As I had guessed it, there was 1 male and 2 females.
Howler Monkey Facts
Black Howler Monkey- Alouatta pigra is also known as Baboon in Creole and Zaraguate in Spanish. The Howler Monkey is so named becuase you can hear the roaring in the early mornings and late afternoons. Howlers are herbivores (eat plants only) they eat flowers, tender leaves and fruits.
PACT Project Continues
Sep 18th, 2008 |
Jaguar of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
Belize Audubon Society (BAS) was granted a 3 years project funded by the Protected Area Conservation Trust (PACT) in 2006. The project entitled
“Towards the sustainability of BAS managed Protected Areas” provides funding of activities in two(2) of the protected areas that BAS co-manages,
namely, Cockscomb BASIN Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) and Half Moon Caye Natural Monument (HMCNM). Between September 2008 to February 2009, Year 3 (1st disbursement) of the project will be implemented. For this period, the project will focus on activities such as fire management training for BAS staff and community members near CBWS; patrols with enforcement agencies within the boundaries of CBWS and HMCNM; monitoring and data collection at both protected areas; liaising with nation and regional stakeholders of these protected areas; and training for staff in hospitality and customer care service.
Light House Reef Advisory Commitee Meeting
Sep 16th, 2008 |
On the week of September 15, the Belize Audubon Society is hosting its quarterly Lighthouse Reef Advisory Committee meeting. The up coming meeting is scheduled to be held at Half Moon Caye Natural Monument. The meeting will discuss matters regarding the greater Lighthouse reef atoll , and in particular the management and protection of the two natural monuments within the atoll that is part of BAS’s protected area management.
Refreshed Website!
Aug 7th, 2008 |
W e are pleased to share with you BAS’ refreshed website www.belizeaudubon.org. Check out the fresh new look and all the new content. We have a News section complete with Advocacy Updates, Bird Watch, Photo Gallery and Nature Notes as well as a whole new Birds of Belize section. Keep updated with upcoming BAS activities with the Events Calender under the News section.
Forums- if you are a member, log-on to the Advocacy Forum to join the discussion on current environmental issues. If you are a teacher log-on to the Teachers’ Forum to join the discussion on environmental education. Before you can post please register here.
Coming soon you will be able to join or renew your membership online.
Scott
We wish to thank all the staff who contributed to the website and especially the star behind this new fresh look-Mr. Scott Schmidt- BAS’ Peace Corps volunteer. Scott dedicated 2 years of his life to assisting the education program with this and many other projects.
In Conservation
Olivia Carballo-Avilez
Education Program Manager
New website