Finches in Puerto Rico

[DanteD716]

Hey guys, i know it's been a while but I'm in Puerto Rico visiting family for a few weeks, we live really close to the rainforest. I know some of you guys were interested in the bird life here a while back. So far I've seen a colony of about 20 tricolored nuns, a few pairs of Pintail whydahs are nesting in the palm trees, and I saw 7 or 8 spice finches a few minutes ago. They're so hard to photograph but I'll try

[cindy]

Hey Dante!!! It has been a while....enjoy Puerto Rico!!

[Sally]

It's been a looong while! Lucky you, to get to visit Puerto Rico. Keep an eye out for Strawberry finches, I've heard they have colonized in P.R.

[DanteD716]

Thank you Sally and Cindy!

Sally, I'll be sure to! I know many people here catch the birds and sell them. My uncle's friend ships a lot of animals to the states. I just don't know how people can catch them they're so fast.

On another note, the flock of tricolored nuns returned with about 25 spice finches, and there is a bananaquit pair nesting in the courtyard.

[wilkifam]

HI Dante! Miss hearing from you. Are you still keeping birds?

[DanteD716]

wilkifam hey Lori! Sadly no, I had to rehome my birds a little while back. There have been done health issues in the family and I was spending less and less time with them. We have just moved into a bigger house so maybe I'll get them again when everything is better. Although I have neglected the forum. I'll be sure to stop by more often!

[saulosirds]

DanteD716

Where are you staying at in PR?

I've been to San Juan and Isla Vieques but long before I kept birds. Would love to know where to go if I visit again.

Rob

[DanteD716]

saulosirds I'm in "El duque de Naguabo" but it's up in the mountains alongside the rainforest. All family owned land for the most part. Fajardo (next town over) has a really nice beach and it has several tourist attractions and is a short drive to rainforest. Oh and it has a fairy that takes you to the island of Culebra, which has a beach in the top 10 of the world I believe

[saulosirds]

DanteD716

Dante

You can take the fairy out of Fajardo to Isla Vieques also, there are some amazing beaches as well as this:

http://vieques.com/island-bioluminescent-bay/

Culebra is said to be beautiful also but I have never been there. Since you are so close, you should try and take a day trip to:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque/.

If I remember right, there are a couple of really cool waterfalls and pool areas that you can swim in, and keep an eye out for the Puerto Rican boa, its a rare endangered species that isn't often seen.

Have fun, it's a very beautiful country.

Rob

PS Vieques has a cool black sand beach also.

Edit: PSS Keep your head down and don't get blown away from Tropical storm Bertha

[DanteD716]

Thanks! I'll have to talk to my cousins and see if they'd want to go. That sounds pretty neat! My family's property has a pretty nice chunk of rainforest but I couldn't find any snakes! And thanks! It was thunderstorms all morning, just duped like an hour ago and it's very calm, probably too calm. saulosirds

[DanteD716]

I just set a little trap and managed to catch a pair of little doves (they're used to coming here to eat because the chickens get fed here several times a day) they're the neare birds, no bigger than a canary. I was going to take a picture but they were going crazy in the cage so i let them go. Now only if i could find the strawberry finches that colonize here

[finchmix22]

DanteD716
Good to hear from you! Sounds like a really nice piece of land your family owns, to have some of the rain forest on the property. Can you take some pics? Love to see what it's like there.

[DanteD716]

finchmix22 Hi Deborah! I do have some pictures now but i can't seem to post them off my phone? But I'll take some tommorow and try to figure it out. It is w talky nice section if land although it's all uneven because it's in the mountains.

[saulosirds]

DanteD716

Any idea what specie the doves are? If they are the same I saw on Isla Vieques, they have driven me nuts trying to get a scientific name on them. If you don't know, maybe you post pics when you have time and someone on here will have an idea what they are.

Rob

[DanteD716]

saulosirds Hello! No i was stumped as well. I'd never seen then before. But I'm sure they'll be around tomorrow so I'll try to get some close ups!