Most birders who come to Buenaventura Reserve are hoping to see the beautiful endangered El Oro Parakeet. This petite parakeet would normally be a challenge to see in the wild but fortunately there is one special trail where they nest. Access is limited and you must go there with a guide from Umbrellabird Lodge booked in advance with Jocotoco Foundation. The trail is locked for the protection of the birds.
We arrived at the spot about an hour early, the parakeets usually show up around 5pm-ish so we looked for other birds in the meantime. Not many around, here’s a Striped Cuckoo.
Our patience was rewarded as the El Oro Parakeets started arriving right on schedule. First they perched in the trees, then a pair went down to the nest box. One bird went inside the nest while the other kept watch on top. I couldn’t see if there were any babies inside but the behaviour of the adults suggested they were feeding babies.
