Quetzal - Bird of Central America
For many birders who visit central america, spotting the elusive Quetzal bird is the ultimate goal. This bird was treasured by Mayan culture and is still gorgeous.
I spotted this quetzal in the Monteverde Cloud Forest, in the heart of Costa Rica. All of the guides immediately radioed each other so that they could converge and see the rare bird. It looked like a big, fluffy parakeet up close - very snuggly and cuddly. It sat still for quite a while, letting us all have a good look at it.
In fact, at the famous pyramid of Chichen Itza in Mexico, if you clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, the sound that comes back to you is the sound of the quetzal's call. The royalty of the Mayans used the feathers of this bird for their finery.
Chichen Itza
The Quetzal lives on fruits and insects. The locals have been putting up nesting boxes to try to help the quetzal population grow, with some success.
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