Birds You May See on Your Estuary Tour
Many kinds of herons can be seen in the estuary. Herons are long-legged freshwater-coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. Egrets are also "herons". Although herons resemble birds of other families, such as the storks, ibises, spoonbills and cranes, they fly with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They also differ because they have powder down. Many herons nest colonially in trees. Of the diurnal or day herons there is little difference between the sexes in plumage. But for the night herons the sexes differ in appearance. Many species of heron have more than one color morph. The herons that are most interesting and unique to the North American traveller are the tropical forms which also tend to be the earliest herons on the evolutionary tree of life. They are the Tiger herons (Tigrisoma) and the Boat-billed heron (Cochlearius) from which other more recent forms evolved. Very little is known of the life history of these herons. Please contribute sightings and any observations on your tour. We suggest you make a checklist of the birds you see while you are in the Tamarindo area. As this may be your only trip to these unique ecosystems.
Mangrove Specialists. Mangrove trees have mastered one of the greatest adaptive challenges. They tolerate greatly fluctuating water levels and salinities. Mangrove trees receive fresh water from inland rivers and tidal water from the ocean. In the dry season, here in Tamarindo, rivers dry up and contribute no fresh water. So the mangrove here receive only tidal salt water during the dry season. Mangrove, of more wet and rainforest climates, do not suffer this same seasonal limiting factor. There are seven species of Mangrove here. The most endangered of these species is on dry land most of the year. Without mangrove forests, suspended sediment would enter the ocean and smother coral reefs and sea grass beds that need clear water to receive sunlight. Mangroves are also nurseries for fish that populate the oceans. Mangroves have a few highly specialized birds closely associated, only with them. These include the Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Warbler, Mangrove Black hawk, Mangrove Vireo, Mangrove Swallow and Mangrove Hummingbird. Other migratory species that are tightly associated with mangrove during northern winter months..are the Prothonotary Warbler and Yellow warblers. These beautiful North American warblers can be readily seen in December - March.
Mangrove Specialists. Mangrove trees have mastered one of the greatest adaptive challenges. They tolerate greatly fluctuating water levels and salinities. Mangrove trees receive fresh water from inland rivers and tidal water from the ocean. In the dry season, here in Tamarindo, rivers dry up and contribute no fresh water. So the mangrove here receive only tidal salt water during the dry season. Mangrove, of more wet and rainforest climates, do not suffer this same seasonal limiting factor. There are seven species of Mangrove here. The most endangered of these species is on dry land most of the year. Without mangrove forests, suspended sediment would enter the ocean and smother coral reefs and sea grass beds that need clear water to receive sunlight. Mangroves are also nurseries for fish that populate the oceans. Mangroves have a few highly specialized birds closely associated, only with them. These include the Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Warbler, Mangrove Black hawk, Mangrove Vireo, Mangrove Swallow and Mangrove Hummingbird. Other migratory species that are tightly associated with mangrove during northern winter months..are the Prothonotary Warbler and Yellow warblers. These beautiful North American warblers can be readily seen in December - March.