BIRDS !! Does Colombia have the most Species?

ColombianoX says on Jul 9, 2005, 15:29:

Check this page out Gomez, it "BIRDS !! Does Colombia have the most Species?"

Yes, of course!!


Check out these pages, Gomez:

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/sacolombia.htm

http://www.pbase.com/rsscanlon/birds_of_colombia



ColombianoX

'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

ColombianoX 'Defensor de la Colombianidad'

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carter says on Jul 9, 2005, 16:23:

I have been told this as well and belive it. Although I am also. told Canyon Chicamocha is the 2nd biggest in the world (i don't believe that)

Other countries with a large variety would have to be Ecuador (including Gallapogas) and New Zealand.

In my small backyard I get around 10 different species visiting. Im no Twitcher but today I spent 3 hours floating down the river5 in a rubber tyre and saw many beautiful birds.

About 1 hr from San Gil in Mogotes is a large whole in the ground. It reaches 90m to an underground river. As you can imagine the biodiversity in this tropical hole is quite amazing. Living here are thousands of birds of different species, sizes and every colour in the rainbow. Its meant to be quite spectacular at 6pm when there is a lot of activity.

I´ll try and post my photos after my next visit.

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poco says on Jul 9, 2005, 16:53:

Yes / No / Maybe Peru is No. 1

No,, Wait,,

Colombia is No. 1

I have, 4 Budgies, 2 Parrots, a very tiny Parrot looking bird, a song bird and yard constantly filled with the brightest colored birds I've even seen, including two types of Hummingbirds.

There are numbers of plain looking dove type birds.

First Parrot I purchased

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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carter says on Jul 9, 2005, 17:08:

I get a lot of hummingbirds in my backyard as well.

They go a bit nuts though when they accidently fly in an open window

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kernow62 says on Jul 9, 2005, 18:42:

I have cats in my back garden!

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 9, 2005, 21:19:

Great!!! I Cx thanks ... Poco and Carter-Thanks too! Ok, so let me get this straight

Poco, is that green parrot really yours? It is beautiful! So, Poco, tell me, where do you live?

Carter, so where do you live that you get this extraordinay experience? And exactly where is this hole? I did not know you lived in Colombia

And Kernow, I hope a vulture catches one of your cats taking a nap and picks the cat up by its tail. So there!!!

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poco says on Jul 9, 2005, 22:32:

I HATE CATS Ferrell cats are a PROBLEM. They get on top the walls, sunbath on the porch and shit in the garden. Not to mention, eat birds and cats in Colombia are different, they can catch a Bird.

Seems that,,, humm,, HARMING a cat is BAD LUCK. I don't believe in BAD LUCK but I don't want half a dozen women chanting and walking around the house waving a steaming pot of incense.

REMOVING CATS is OK. I'm developing a HUMANE CAT TRAP, when the design is completed I'll need hand tools, X10 motion detector, rubber bands, duct tape, extension cord, gunny sack, Renault ignition coil and Microwave oven.

Yes, I'm the owner. The big green parrot, Pastora, was purchased about 3 years ago. Paid 140,000 pesos for the bird and a "cage". The cage is now used for a chicken coop. Pastora HATES chickens and will ATTACK. This HUGE Parrot was living on "bird seed". Changed his diet to Papaya, Mango, Grapes and Melon and "people food" Platano (fried), rice, beans, eggs and his plumage is a beautiful iridescent green. I’ve been offered 230,000 pesos.

The smaller yellow crested parrot is NEW. Bought it from a "door to door" bird salesman. PAID tooooo much but I have high hopes for this younger and smaller Parrot. 80,000 pesos was a lot. He was asking 100,000.

For 6 months out of the year I live in a Rural Area of the Valle Cauca at LEAST 1-1/2 hours from ANYTHING resembling a city.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 04:27:

G5 what a terrible thing to say!!!

Vultures don't bother the cats thankfully, we sure have enough vultures around.

I love birds, they're great roasted. I haven't tasted parrot yet, if it weren't so damn expensive. Budgie cordon bleu is OK but what a bother. Now hummingbirds are great, I have found a humane way to kill them, I use a tennis racket; on occasion I have swatted 3 at a time. I planted flowers that attract them and the bird-brained animals that they are keep coming back for a set.

Birds must be the worst pets, they are noisy and you have to clean up the crappy mess they leave. At least a cat will crap in the neighbour's yard.

We do actually have a couple of birds that do attack our cats, a mating pair of sandhill cranes will go after the cats. Our neighbours turkey also attacked our male cat, now he hates Thanksgiving.

For anyone who hates cats I suggest you relocate to a Muslim country, perhaps Lamu. Feel free to express your hatred to the locals.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 04:30:

I think the ratio of birds to men is quite high in all countries that have civil conflicts. Colombia has the advantage of having quite attractive birds, all begging to be shagged by fat gringos.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 04:53:

Remember the old Chinese proverb.

He who hates pussy loves cock.

Of course I am talking about cats a chickens here, but you get the general gist of it.

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poco says on Jul 10, 2005, 07:32:

The General Gist I haven't tasted parrot yet.

Outside the Amazon River Area Parrots are rarely eaten. Even a scrawny Parrot is worth at least 3 chickens. Guinea Pigs are different.

At least a cat will crap in the neighboUr's yard.

NOT TRUE. They will travel great distaces to find a "yard". A small percentage keep a cat for a Pet but the majority "Hang Around". Only the wealthy can afford Kitty Litter and cats are FORCED to relieve themselves at the most convenient location. Stray dogs are "rounded up" when they become a problem and dispatched to "Doggie Heaven". Cats are much luckier, in that respect.

He who hates pussy loves cock.
Bad premise. A proberb normally expresses a univeral truth. Such as:

A fool uttereth all his mind.

The statement is closer to a syllogism and all cases stated in any syllogism must be true or at least empiracaly correct if the arguement is to stand.

Avoidance of an illogical syllogism is something learned in High School. A class I guess you missed.

MAYBE you get the general drift of what I'm saying.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 09:39:

If that isn't a universal truth I don't know what is.

Don't shoot the messenger it was some old Chinese chap that first uttereth those words. Chinese proverbs follow a different form than Western ones, the above apparently is based on the Chinese four character form of expressing proverbs.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 11:09:

Poco..... I really like your posts and pictures !! Thanks. It looks like Pastora consumes not only a lot of food, but a sizable amount of your budget. That bird is fed better than many people.

Poco, how many birds do you have? I would love to see them the next time I go to Colombia. I love Birds. I used to own a bird called Half Moon. It was like a small parrot. One day it flew into the Living Room window (birds don't know about windows of course) and it fell down and died. I was so sad. The maid opened the blinds even though I told her not to. I wanted to kill her for doing that. Anyway, I keep contemplating buying another bird. I don't because, I worry about who will take care of it when I am traveling. I have a hard enough time finding someone to water my plants.

I wish the US did not have all these restrictions on bringing in live animals. I bet I would be able to buy myself a fine parrot for a lot less money in Colombia than they sell for here. Does anyone know that if in spite of the prohibitions, it would be possible to do so? What would I have to do with customs?

And Kernow, (DELETED) How could you talk about eating Parrots??????????? And as to your pussy/cock joke.....I can provide a fair number of references both here in the states and in Colombia that will fairly much establish where my preferences are. You are amazing Kernow. Even is a benign and "sincedrely friendly" conversation as this thread is, you manage to bring on my ire. Amazing!

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 11:34:

Yes, I am amazed that I ruffled your feathers (pun intended). I didn't know you hated cats?

Anyone that keeps a caged bird should be forced to be caged themselves to see what it feels like. Birds are meant to be flying, not cooped up in cages.

I think eating a parrot is better than caging one, off with its head and into the oven. In a cage though many of these intelligent birds go literally mad, they have institutions for insane parrots. The poor creatures suffer all sorts of mental ailments from being caged.

G5, was that a personal attack? I thought you complained about name calling on a previous post. You are no better than those you accuse of maligning you.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:02:

I don't like cats, my neighbours got 2. and they always poo in my garden and I have to pick up their mess, yuck! I am going to buy an eagle too see if it can cacth one of those Cats and give it for supper to it's babies.
I always got my water pistol ready to strike one of them.

engage brain before opening mouth

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:09:

"name calling" and you are wrong......and you know it I purposely called you that because I knew you were going to say that...Ja Ja Ja. Another example of how intellecutually dishonest you are. Our relationship is different. Also the the communications I was having with you were all in Jest (pussy cock) (eating birds). So you decide to take the name I called you in a conversation where we are clearly joking, and turn it into a serious one. That's funny. Period. Ja Ja. The only thing you did do was proove is that you are very good at taking changing the tenor of the conversaton from one form to another when you know that is not the case. You fell right into my trap. My test went perfectly.

I never call anyone names and you know it. But everyone on this thread knows that you and I always "go at each other" so when we engage each other it is not done with the same tone as when I go at it with someone else. Ja ja ja ..you really make me laugh

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:15:

Kat.....how are you? It is so nice to see you here. (Kernow go take a cat nap). Maybe a vulture or eagle with swoop down and pick Kernow up with it claws and drag him a couple hundred miles east and then, drop him. Except, even the sharks would not dine on him. But, at least he would not be able to swim back to shore!

Anyway Kat, even though your name is Kat (well you are a woman and).........forget it. Ok....how is your day. Maybe Kernow can come go to his motherland and clean up your cat poo. Maybe that is why he is so strange? He has so many cats and he is constantly cleaning up cat poo. It is starting to affect him??

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:22:

I swear you too looks like my kids. maybe I should send both of you to your rooms and no pbh until you're nice to each other ;-)

engage brain before opening mouth

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:27:

Sure Gomez, pull the other one. You always try and deny things after the fact, much as you accuse others of. You like to dish it out but whine when someone attacks you personally. How do you know that when others were calling you an idiot that they weren't just testing you?

Anyway I was testing you, so there. I knew you would react in this way, I knew you would try to weasel out under the guise of a joke.

Still I am deeply offended that you have called me this, it has seriously hurt our friendship that we once shared. I am going to cry myself to sleep tonight.

Kat1 you prove my point, I assume you like cock? I also thank you for proving my point that cats will poo in their neighbour's yard. Cats are clean animals they would rather crap in the neighbours yard than their own, and if I had to crap outside you can bet it would be over the fence. ;-) Better hope I don't move in next door.

By the way I wasn't jesting about caged birds being extremely cruel. I love these animals but in the wild, not imprisoned.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:28:

:-P










.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:35:

I don't clean up the poo G5, that's the point of having a cat; the neighbour has to clean it up.

As for taking care of your plants while away G5, I installed a drip watering system as well as added polymer crystals to the soil. You can E-mail me if you want the details, I am sure you still have my E-mail addy right, if not PM me. I can go away for as long as I like and know that the plants will be OK.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:35:

Imagine Kat1 as my mommy. Wicked wicked child, spank me, harder harder.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:39:

Kernow, it's not my fault you can put things in their proper perspective. It is ok for you to imly that I am gay, and I took that as a joke, even though I offered you plenty of references, but I can't joke with you.

BTY, I challenged you in the past to find a situation when I ever called anyone a name. You couldn't. You even apoligiazed and admited that I did not. But, just for the sake of argument.......and to make you feel better, and since you lack the ability to seperate jest from reality, I'll confuse you more........you are a "Super Moron!!" So there.

And more importantly, leave Kat alone!! I will defend her at all costs. She is sweet. She never has a mean or derogatory comment about anybody or anything. You need to develop some of her demeanor. Damn it! Where are those vultures?????? Eagles??? Maybe the IRA is looking for you? They can impose some punishing justice on you.

Will you please, I want more bird info damn it. Why are you trying to hijack my thread even when I tried to make this thread truely a "friendly" one? Good Grief

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:46:

Kernow...I can't believe you Now you are having sexual fantasies about having S&M with Kat. You want her to pull out her whips and whip you!!!! Oh my God. This man needs help. Kat.....stay away from him. For your own good Kat, stay away. Never go to Orlando. It's a nice place but if Kernow knows that you are there, who knows what may happen to you???

Drip feed for my plants???? Uh.....I don't think you understand. I have lot of plants all over the place. If I were to set up any type of artificial mechanical feeding aparatus, I would have pipes and tubes all over the place. You have my email, you can send me a description of what this device is all about though. Maybe I just have the wrong picture of what you are talking about. Send me a picture of this device

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 12:49:

I'm going to wip both of you in a minute, lol.

engage brain before opening mouth

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 13:05:

No Kat, it's not me that likes to get whipped, it's Kernow. But then again, I think he needs it. As to myself, I am a man who prefers love and serinity over violence.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 13:44:

Sticks and stones may break my bones.
But whips and chains excite me!!!

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poco says on Jul 10, 2005, 13:46:

Not very long ago (2003) Hippos Roam Colombian Drug Lord's Abandoned Ranch

Thursday, January 23

PUERTO TRIUNFO, Colombia (Reuters) - Ten hippopotamuses roam wild among the ruins of the late drug kingpin Pablo Escobar's abandoned country home, leaving huge footprints in the mud and scaring the wits out of the local cows. The hippos are all that remain of Escobar's private zoo. In his heyday in the 1980s, Escobar imported elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, giraffes and other exotic beasts to his lavish ranch at Puerto Triunfo, 100 miles north of Bogota in central Colombia, as a testament to his fabulous wealth.

Most of the animals were confiscated by the authorities and transferred to zoos after the cocaine lord was gunned down by police in 1993 in Medellin. But the hippos were left behind. Despite the absence of a keeper, the Nile hippos -- some of which weigh 2 tonnes -- have flourished and reproduced on a muddy lake near the Magdalena River as if it were their natural terrain. And for six of the hippos born there, it is.

"I've never heard of anything like this in my life," Steve Thompson, a hippo expert at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, said in a telephone interview. He has traveled to Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania to study the behavior and life of hippos. "I've only seen hippos living in the wild in Africa but I guess that if they have the right food and the right water habitat they can do pretty well in Colombia."

The short-legged, hairless mammals share the estate with a few families of war refugees. The refugees fled their homes after leftist rebels attacked their villages and took up residence at Escobar's ranch. They live in the once-luxurious guest homes which stand decaying under the tropical sun. Hens strut beneath laundry lines hung with ragged clothing. A dozen refugee children play in the grounds all day, and the hippos watch them from the lake. Only the tops of the hippos' massive, reddish-brown heads and their constantly twitching ears show above the water. If the children come too close to the shore, the hippos snort and bluster and open their jaws menacingly, or make a rolling dive, to scare them away.

Nile hippos are plant-eaters, have a life expectancy of up to 40 years and can weigh up to 4.5 tonnes, Thompson said. At nightfall, the hippo herd leaves the lake and wanders about the ranch, grazing on the grassy slopes and making sorties to the stables, where they savor the salt lick, a large block of salt for farm animals. The refugees, unfamiliar with the ways of the giant African herbivores, have tried repeatedly to fence them in with barbed wire to thwart their raids on the salt lick and keep them from upsetting the cows. But to a hippo, a barbed-wire fence is an annoyance, not an obstacle. "They tear down the fence every time I put it up and turn everything into a mess. But what can I do? They are huge," said Luis Perea, 64, pointing frantically at a flattened barbed-wire fence crossed by a trail of hippo tracks the size and shape of dinner plates.

The 7,400-acre (3,000 hectare) Hacienda Napoles, in Antioquia province, became the symbol of Escobar's billion-dollar empire and of his extravagant lifestyle -- a place of wonders, wild parties and debauchery. Escobar built an airport, artificial lakes, swimming pools, a bull-ring, a garden with 100,000 fruit trees and towering cement dinosaurs. He assembled his menagerie to entertain guests, who included politicians, judges, soccer stars and beauty queens. The zoo, which offered free bus tours to the public, had hundreds of exotic and rare animals from every corner of the world -- from black swans to Arabian camels to flamingos.

"The Godfather," as Escobar was nicknamed, purchased and imported the animals without bothering to get any permits and chartered ships to bring them home from Africa and Asia. "I saw the hippopotamuses, the giraffes, the zebras, the lions enter the ranch on trucks," said Marcos, a 24-year-old taxi driver who sold lollipops at the gates of the ranch when he was a child. "This was paradise on earth." All that is left of the zoo is a rusty, pocked sign that reads: "Welcome to Napoles Zoological Nature Park." For a while, there were some leftover zebras, but the last one grew old and senile and vanished into the jungle, witnesses said.

Napoles harks back to a time when flamboyant Colombian drug barons flaunted their riches and bombed and killed anyone who got in their way. Escobar, who rose from tombstone robber to one of the world's most famous and feared criminals, had amassed a fortune of $3 billion by age 33. Drug lords today maintain low profiles, largely because of new laws that allow them to be extradited to the United States. Still, Colombia exports more cocaine than ever.

After it was seized by the state, Hacienda Napoles fell into disuse and oblivion. The mansions were looted by locals in search of the fortunes rumored to be hidden inside walls and floors. The light airplane used by Escobar for his first shipment of cocaine to the United States was lowered from atop the ranch's main gates and dismantled by souvenir seekers. Napoles now belongs to the children. They explore the skeletons of Escobar's vine-covered quarters, where lizards sunbathe on walls. They play hide-and-seek in the empty, moss-covered pools where the drug barons once bathed and cavorted in luxury.

The carport still houses a number of rusting, gangster-era American cars with flat tires -- including one that Escobar riddled with bullets to make it look more authentic -- and the children sit on the rotting upholstery and pretend to drive. They scramble over the abandoned hovercraft, motorcycles with sidecars and a colonial-era horse carriage. The tyrannosaurus rex and brontosaurus are their private jungle gyms. Many of them have hair-raising stories of being forced to flee their homes at dawn after seeing relatives killed by rebels or right-wing militias fighting in the country's four-decade war, but in Napoles they seem happy. "We have a lot of fun here. We have all this place to play," said Leo, 13. Sitting under a cool, swaying acacia as he swatted at the droning mosquitoes, Perea, who scratches out a living with his cows and banana trees, said he sometimes misses his hometown in western Choco province.

"I used to play the guitar at night and sing and drink with my friends, but I had to leave my guitar in the village. I miss my country but this is my home now," he said, looking at the hippos in the lake. "I guess I am like the hippos. They also came from a far place but now they are happy here."

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 13:52:

When did I imply you were gay? I was talking about chickens.

They aren't pot plants by any chance are they?

I forgot you live in a condo. Couldn't you move all the plants to one area of the condo when you go on holiday and then drip feed them in one small area? I drip feed 50 plants but mine are outside. Perhaps instead of getting a parrot you could get a pet monkey to water them for you. They love being kept in cages too.

By the way if you want info on birds in Colombia just go to my website and my links page, there are several links for twitchers such as yourself.

It is too late, Kat1 is already coming to Orlando, and she and her family are invited to dinner at a local Colombian restaurant with my wife and I. Of course I will be on my best behavior then, my wife would kill me; not to mention Kat's hubby.

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 13:56:

Great story Poco, that's what this thread needs more of. I say less arguments and mindless twattle.

Wait.. did I say that?

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 14:11:

I'm looking forward to go to Orlando next year and meeting you and your wife, but unfortunately I think my hubby is not going. I try to convice him thought.. only is you promise me to go and cheer the UK team ;-).

engage brain before opening mouth

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 14:22:

I love to be sitting on the table with both of you and a chardonnay, I'll be laughing, that would my best night out. lol

engage brain before opening mouth

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 14:41:

wait a minute.....Kat, what's happening? So you want to go to Orlando and leave your husband behind so you and Kernow can go drinking Chardonnay together? I did not think you were like that!! Kat, are you having marital problems and now you think that going drinking with Kernow is where your future lies.

And Kernow, before I called you a moron. Now I think you are a snake. You are inviting Kat to come from London, so thay you, without your wife's knowledge, can have an affair with her. She is probably going to bring her whip, to satisfy those not so subtle fantasies. Afterall, you did openly admit this publicly right here on a message board. This scene is looking worse and worse.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 15:22:

LOL G5 I wll stop in chicago too then ;-).

engage brain before opening mouth

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 15:31:

I am wondering how many glasses of chardonay will make us all sit on the table. ;-)

I think I would be under the table it has been so long since I drank any alcohol.

G5 I really didn't know Kat1 was just coming with her daughter.

Of course I will go and cheer the team on Kat1, it is free isn't it. ;-)

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 15:31:

Fine Kat You are welcome here. But leave your whip(s) and chains for Kernow. Bring me a hot and sweet Colombiana (in addition to yourself) instead.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jul 10, 2005, 15:50:

Is not free Kernow, but I will get tickets for you.
G5 my daughter is in the UK cheerleading team and they competing in Orlando next year.

engage brain before opening mouth

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Atrevido says on Jul 10, 2005, 19:06:

A Guide To The Birds Of Colombia by Hilty & Brown (ISBN 0-691-08371-1) published in 1986 lists 1695 resident and migrant species plus another 133 probables along the borders not yet seen on the Colombian side (at the time of publication) and more in the appendix for San Andres and Providencia . Since then there have been many additional species sighted and many species “splits� the most recent example being one of the Tapaculos split just a month ago based on voice. So the current total in 2005 must be way over 1700 species.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 19:11:

Thanks Atrevido for this valuable info........and for bringing my thread back on the topic of BIRDS -- which is what I wanted to know about to begin with.

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Atrevido says on Jul 10, 2005, 19:33:

If you're really interested in seeing/identifying the birds of Colombia that guide is a must. Here's my "yard list" (birds seen within a ten minute walk or so of my yard) so far:

Long Tailed Sylph
Blue and White Swallow
Yellow Vented Woodpecker
Blue-winged Mountain Tanager
Roufous Collared Sparrow
White Collared Swift
Golden tanager
Buff-tailed Coronet
Bronzy Inca
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Speckled Hummingbird
Glossy Black Thrush
White-necked Jacobin
Saffron Crowned Tanager
Blue-necked Tanager
Yellow Throated Brush Finch
Emerald Toucanet
Barred Becard
Andean Solitair
Slate-throated Redstart
Purple Throated Woodstar
Booted Racket-tail
Western Emerald (Blue-tailed)
Andean Emerald
Squirrel Cuckoo
Scarlet-fronted Parakeet
Masked Trogon
Blackburnian Warbler
Highland Mot Mot (Blue-crowned)
Golden-rumped Euphonia (Blue-hooded)
Collared Trogon
Brown Violet ear
House Wren
Black Vulture
Band-tailed Pigeon
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Red-headed Barbet
Grey-breasted Wood Wren
Ash-throated Bush Tanager
Rusty Flower-piercer
Lesser Goldfinch
Black-billed Thrush
Sparkling Violet ear
Collared Inca
Chestnut-capped Brush Finch
Montane Wood Creeper (Spot-crowned)
Red-faced Spinetail
Chestnut-capped Brush Finch
Orange-bellied Euphonia
Multicolored Tanager
Black Vulture
Blue-grey Tanager
Hepatic Tanager
Black-winged Saltator
Yellow-bellied Sisken
Beryl-spangled Tanager
Scrub Tanager
Three-striped Warbler
Bananaquit

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 19:50:

Atrevido.....hold on friend...are you serious? How do you know all these species and have you really been able to identfy that many birds in your yard??? Are you kidding?

Where do you live? The next time I go to Colombia, I have got to visit you (your yard). I did not know you live in Col anyway. But the fact that you can even mention tha tmany birds and know them all by name is MOST IMPRESSIVE.

You know, for all the things that are great about Chicago, unfortunately, we don't have many species here anymore. I say that because when i was growing up, I used to see a few nicely colored birds. We had Cardinals, Blue Jays, Robins, Black crows that crowed all the time...and that is about it. Now, about the only thing that I see are sparows (they are small and ugly too). And of course the city is loaded with those miserable disease carrying pigeons that drop poo all over the place.

Anyway, so where do ya live? Could you do me (PBH) a favor?? Could you take a bunch of fotos and post them in Kernows foto galary. I think that would be great. We already have to many structures and mountainside photos. I think the photos like this would be really nice for the people to see. don't you? You don't have to do it overnight, just when you get a chance. Even if you posted a little at a time they would be cool.

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Atrevido says on Jul 10, 2005, 20:29:

Ok I'll look at the gallery. Of course I have my own here on PBH with a few birds. My yard is at 2100 meters hence all the hummingbirds. On very clear mornings I have a great but distant view to the south east of two of the three peaks of El Nevado De Huila.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 20:48:

Great photos Atrevido !! I just checked out the 5 or 6 you have in you gallery. Really nice close up photos too. How did you get so close without scaring them away? Or were you really far using a zoom lens. Were they taken with a digital camera? The clarity likes too good.


If you could post some more, I would appreciate it. And I am sure others
would too

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kernow62 says on Jul 10, 2005, 20:57:

I thought the same when I looked at your photos, excellent clarity.

What are the little birds in Bogota called, something like Copetones? They were really friendly and would sit in my hand. I saw a few hummingbirds on the way up the mountain in Zipa they were large compared with the ones we have in Florida.

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LeofromPereira says on Jul 10, 2005, 22:59:

The lower the altitude, the higher the biodiversity!
Yes, it is true. Talking about birds, Colombia is proudly the most biodiverse country in the world. Remember that if you want to go birding in Colombia the lower the altitude, the higher the biodiversity! We have 20% of the birds of the planet. I think that that's just amazing! So enjoy!

Check: http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/sacolombia.htm

Leonardo G.
bixarre at hotmail.com

Leonardo G. bixarre@hotmail.com

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 10, 2005, 23:22:

Thanks a lot Leo....... I appreciate your contribution to this thread!!!!

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Atrevido says on Jul 11, 2005, 04:42:

Yes it's "Copeton Comun" or Rufous-collared Sparrow. They seem to like higher altitudes and cooler temperature. I have an Olympus 750 UZ which has a ten x zoom. That gets pretty close. Where is the album where I should post bird pictures?

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kernow62 says on Jul 11, 2005, 04:51:

Atrevido, just post them as you have been to your regular album. The links I put up are to your personal album on PBH.

Nice results, I only have a 6X zoom on my Fuji but the autofocus isn't the best and the manual focus is too slow. I have missed some nice shots of mariposas.

Thanks for the snake link and also the info on the Copeton.

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poco says on Jul 11, 2005, 06:50:

Finca Merenberg Thanks for the post Mario and all of it is true. Glad to see you’ve obviously done your share of studying.

Abused Parrots do suffer. The abuse is primarily caused by the owner leaving the Bird un-attended, no diversion and improperly fed.

Sadly, ignorant owners first teach a Parrot to “BITE� then get rid of the poor animal. Same with the food. A consistent diet of high fat content SEEDS will eventually kill Parrots, especially too many nuts (the food type).

The Parrots I have were caged when purchased. The larger Parrot freely roams the yard when someone watches for dangerous Ferrell cats. The photos show fully feathered wings but Pastora prefers to walk and climb. Parrots CAGED at a nearby house. Darn, they forgot the sides.

ATREVIDO: Did you get the information about Finca Merenberg ? I was in U.S. at that time but paid NO attention. Be more specific in future. If I’d known why you asked I’d have done some research.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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kernow62 says on Jul 11, 2005, 08:33:

Mario and Poco I agree that most of the problems are caused by parrots that are neglected or not given enough stimulation by their owners. That much I never disputed, however if the birds were not caged to begin with, if the market did not exist in the first place for pet birds there would not be so many wild parrots being taken. I am sure you both know that a big industry exists taking grey parrots for example from the wild to be sold as pets, many of these birds die long before they make it to shops to be sold.

That is why I do not like to see caged birds. It is just the way I feel, no ill-feelings directed to those who feel otherwise.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 11, 2005, 08:40:

Uh ha Kernow....an admission!! I knew it! You like taking pictures of mariposas. That's ok, you can come clean Kernow. Your secret is safe here and your wife will never find out.

That's funny, you like taking pictures of mariposas.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 11, 2005, 08:48:

Mario, I was thinking of getting a Cockatiel, but I hear they are really messy and they stuff gets all over the floor. For me that is not a major problem because the place where I would keep the bird has hardwood floor.

But what about the mess in the house? I don't want my bird craping on my leather couch or on my oriental rugs. Bird are not like dogs and will not wait until it gets back to the cage to crap. Right?

If you have any suggestions, I welcome them. We used to have a "Half
Moon". That was the bird that flew into the Living room window after my maid opened the blinds......

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kernow62 says on Jul 11, 2005, 12:59:

What about a bird diaper. What about a bird diaper? Also known as a avian flight suit.

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carter says on Jul 11, 2005, 13:33:

Gomezman The site I was talking about is near Mogotes, Santander about 1hr from my town San Gil and 2 hrs from Bucaramanga.

And of course I live in Colombia. I would never dream on advising people what it is like for a foriegner to live and travel in Colombia if I wasn't one. That would just be stupid, dangerous and misinforming.

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Atrevido says on Jul 11, 2005, 19:08:

Poco Yes I did but haven't had a chance to visit it.

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kernow62 says on Jul 11, 2005, 19:36:

Gomez I didn't say mariposos I said mariposas. ;-)

Have you snapped any good photos of chocolate starfish lately?

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 11, 2005, 20:40:

Kernow, Kernow It's ok man. It's all coming together now. No hairspliting now. Your in the USA remember? We have all kinds of laws to protect you and your friends....whoever they may be. It's your wife I feel sorry for...that's all. But, I don't know her and she doesn't know me, so fear not.

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kernow62 says on Jul 12, 2005, 08:44:

I can't help it if you don't know your own language well enough to know the difference. Let me see; middle-aged attorney, lives alone.... say no more.

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dwmte says on Jul 12, 2005, 09:11:

years ago, while walking up cl 10 in poblado on a sunday morning, there was a chap standing on the corner with two toucans. i ended up buying both of them for about $40.00u.s. we were living in a condo in poblado at the time and i went to some guy in laureles and bought the biggest cage you ever saw...it was about 5 1/2' high and 40+" in diameter. i think i paid close to $100 for it. don't really remember, it was about 15 yrs ago.

anyway. after about a month, one died but the other lived about 3 or four years. when we came back to the states--(california)-- there was an add in the paper for one toucan..he wanted $2,500.00!!
other note...i was amazed at the size of hummingbirds on my finca in llano grande. they were as big as mocking birds.

dw

sorry i havent been around posting, i have a new computer and the fricken thing is dead in the water...thus me, also.

gomezman...real nice thread and all you ornithologist are amazing.

dw

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 12, 2005, 10:13:

Hey D, I was wondering about ya. I am happy with the thread too. Poco made some nice posts -- others too. I was kind of hoping that someone out here would prompt me into buying another bird. After hearing all these stories from people living in Colombia, I feel sad at the fact that I don't have a yard that has such a variety of beuautiful birds to look at...quite literly in "my own back yard."

I am jsut curious, I thought Toucans live a long time....decades in fact. Some parrots supposedly live over a 100 years! It is kind of wierd to buy a pet knowing that the pet is going to out live you Huh? Something must have been wrong with your birds that the one died quickly and the other one lived only a few years.

Anyway, if anyone else has anything to add about Colombia and their bird stories, I would love to know about them.

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poco says on Jul 12, 2005, 11:06:

Toucans are very difficult to keep in captivity outside Zoos Zoos, Private Individuals and conservation groups working together is the ONLY thing between survival and extinction for many bird species.

An example is the worlds LARGEST PARROT.

Page has links to other sources of information about this species.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 12, 2005, 12:17:

Poco, why are Toucans more vulnerable than other species such as McCaws? It is my understanding that McCaws are birds that typically live longer than humans do.

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kernow62 says on Jul 12, 2005, 15:48:

I think it has to do with all the Fruit Loops toucans eat.

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 12, 2005, 16:20:

Kernow, we already established that you are a bit "fruity". You and those mariposa friends of yours.

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poco says on Jul 12, 2005, 17:09:

Made Famous by Fruit Loops G5: Made me look this one up for verification. I’ve thought this for so many years that it was a “fact�,, in my mind.

Lucky it was correct. Toucans are Beautiful birds BUT they are relatively short lived. Range was 6 to 15 years. They will NOT live that long in caged captivity. Main reason being diet and they should have a LOT of space. An aviary would be required.

Life spans of different animals

Bird Times Article

Interesting Toucan Photo

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 12, 2005, 20:22:

God....Thanks again Poco You really are impressive. Thanks a lot for the info. I have read with interest all your links......(the photo is cool too). Now you are really making me want to go buy a bird. What am I going to do????????

What bird can you reccoment for my condo? One that I can let out to fly around? Maybe even one that I can teach not to crap outside my cage???Any suggestionss???

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poco says on Jul 12, 2005, 20:57:

Not sure Parrot is good idea I would avoid having a Parrot if you intend to travel. Plus they take a lot of time and are “messy�. I can almost guarantee you will regret it.

I had a Parrot many years ago but work related travel forced me to “Give it Away�. Finding a good home, and this took time, was a priority. I still check on the bird and the women has taught it new words over the years.

Colombia is different and I have a “yard�, more of a Garden once I “fixed it�. The girls primary responsibility is to make sure the Parrot is treated better than her kid. Plus, Parrots in Colombia don’t “fly away�,, walk away, maybe. Even the Parrots in Colombia know when they have a good deal.

The cockatiels are a good choice but I’d recommend a hand fed baby acquired from a known source,, again this takes time. Now sure but I’d say two are necessary unless you spend a GREAT deal of time with the bird to keep it properly socialized. I think the single birds, lacking a mirror, think they are people.

A friends Parrot, one of the smaller species. Bad edit, Mariposas,, bad choice but better than seeing my knee.
White Fronted Amazon Parrot Not much of a talker. Generally, the African Greys and Double Yellow Head are the best talkers. Then again, they may never utter a word.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 12, 2005, 21:55:

We used to have a Half Moon. Are you familiar with that bird. But you are right, it seems that everone that I know that has a bird other than a canary or a parakeet (forget it as to both) has a a Cockatiel. And I also heard the same about the hand fed thing. In fact, the door man in my building has a sister that breeds and then sells themfor between 55 and 80 dollars a bird. He always tells me how they are hand fed. I guess that is the key to making them social.

As to me spending the time with the bird.....heck that is no problem. I am home almost all the time. My day of traveling is over. I mean I leave town no more than 4 times a year. I go to Colombia once or twice if I can. And then once or Twice to Miami and/or Mexico. Since the doorman has birds, he can take care of it while I am gone. Only the Colombia trip is more than a week. My friends tell me that is a sign of getting old. To me, I'm just a home body. Give me my cable and computer and phone, and I am happy. So, I would have plenty of time to be around the bird. If I remember correctly, birds love to be around people that they know. I can easily dedicate the time that would be necessary to properly socialize the bird. I have a hard wood floor as opposed to carpeting so cleaning up the mess from the cage, while it would be an almost daily ritual, it would be easy to do. The only thing that would piss me off a bit is if he the bird craped on my leather couch. I imagine if I caught it in time, it would not stain the leather.

Bird a work, but not nearly as much as a dog. Dogs require you to be home all the time to walk them. Also, I am allergic to most dogs and cats. I am not allergic to birds. I think a bird would be good company for me and I would be the same for him.

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kernow62 says on Jul 18, 2005, 19:01:

I picture Gomez with a Raven. Oh wait I am thinking of the Adams family again...

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Gomezman5 says on Jul 18, 2005, 21:11:

Kernow, I think you meant maven I am a maven, because I know everything. Don't you know that by now?

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goin_south says on Mar 12, 2007, 23:51:

I don't like cats, By kat1

??

Colombia es

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getting better says on Mar 13, 2007, 01:40:

Loro Bus If you are interested in enivronmental education about parrots in Colombia, you should read about the ProAves Loro Bus:
http://www.proaves.org/rubrique.php?id_rubrique=153

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