{"id":3003,"date":"2018-12-22T17:31:13","date_gmt":"2018-12-22T16:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/albicillaexplorer.com\/?p=3003"},"modified":"2019-07-28T16:05:23","modified_gmt":"2019-07-28T14:05:23","slug":"christmas-bird-count-on-pipeline-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/albicillaexplorer.com\/en\/christmas-bird-count-on-pipeline-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Bird Count on Pipeline Road"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cOwling\u201d<\/h5>\n

The forest was completely quiet. There were no sounds, everything was quiet. It was dark and there was still some time until the sun would rise.<\/p>\n

A loud and clear whoOOobroke the silence! We listened expectantly, but there was only the sound of silence. Again a whoOOo! It was not a Black-and-white Owl<\/strong> we heard. It was Kent<\/strong>, imitating the species. After another few attempts with no response, we tried with a play-back<\/em> of Mottled Owl <\/strong>instead. This time there was response right away and the first species of the day was \u201cin the book\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n

We were \u201cowling\u201d or in layman\u2019s terms, listening for owls. That was why we were up and about so early and standing in the forest imitating owls with play-back. As it turned out, this was the only owl we heard.<\/p>\n

\"P\u00e5

Early morning at the Panam\u00e1 canal on our way to Christmas Bird Count.<\/p><\/div>\n

Christmas Bird Count<\/h5>\n

We were traveling up Pipeline Road<\/strong> by the Panam\u00e1 Canal <\/strong>together with Kent<\/strong>, Nancy<\/strong>, and Evelyn<\/strong>. It was getting light and the birds were starting to stir<\/p>\n

It is not our first time birding <\/em>on the famous road. It is in fact only little more than a year since we were here last (read about that in The famous Pipeline Road<\/a>). Pipeline Road is a hot spot for birds and a place we wanted to visit again. When we a few days earlier were offered to join the team that would cover Pipeline Road<\/em> in Audubon Panam\u00e1<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s yearly Christmas Bird Count<\/strong>, we immediately said yes.<\/p>\n

\"Pipeline

Pipeline Road, Soberania NP., Panam\u00e1.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Christmas Bird Count <\/strong>is primarily a North American event, but several Latin American countries participate \u2013 including Panama and Ecuador. It is the National Audubon Society<\/a><\/strong> that is organizing the event, which this season is being held for the 119th time.<\/p>\n

The counting takes place from December 14\u00a0to January 6\u00a0and thereby also during Christmas, hence the name. In short, the idea is to register as many bird species as possible within 24 hours within a radius of 15 miles (24 km) of some selected spots. You can read a lot more about the event on the Audubon’s<\/em> website under Christmas Bird Count<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Julefuglet\u00e6lling

Christmas Bird Count at Pipeline Road, Soberania NP., Panam\u00e1.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/h5>\n
A swarm of army ants and antbirds<\/h5>\n

We have mentioned this before, and we will do so again. When you are birding in the tropics you generally hope to encounter a mixed species flock<\/em>. The forests, whether lowland rainforest or a cloud forest in the mountains, can seem very quiet and devoid of birds. This changes significantly if a mixed species flock<\/em> appears. All of a sudden the forest can be swarming with many different birds and then you have to be quick. The flock can disappear again almost as quickly as it appeared in the first place.<\/p>\n

It will take too much explanation to go into details of the different types and compositions of mixed species flocks <\/em>but another thing that you are hoping to find is a swarm of army ants, This can mean that a mixed species flock<\/em> and antbirds within it could be around!<\/p>\n

This was exactly what we encountered on Pipeline Road. We were lucky enough to encounter a swarm of army ants! And these ones were some fairly large ants which you do not want to tangle with \u2013 the have a nasty bite!<\/p>\n

\"En

An army ant had chosen to cling to Evelyn’s trousers. Pipeline Road, Soberania NP., Panam\u00e1.<\/p><\/div>\n

We left Pipeline Road and quietly followed the swarm into the trees. There were a lot of ants and birds as well. Fortunately, we didn\u2019t have to go very far before we were in the middle of a mixed flock of birds \u00a0– and there were antbirds! There were Bicolored Antbird<\/strong> and Spotted Antbird and then there were one of our target species<\/em> \u2013 Ocellated Antbird<\/strong>. There were even two of them that we got a very good look at before they disappeared.<\/p>\n

However, the other birds were in no way shy. They were so occupied by snatching insects trying to escape the army ants, that they hardly noticed our presence. From a distance of only a few meters, we could enjoy birds that are normally quite difficult to spot.<\/p>\n

In addition to the above-mentioned antbirds, the flock also consisted of among others Grey-headed Tanagers<\/strong> and Plain-brown Woodcreepers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Bicolored

Bicolored Antbird, Pipeline Road, Soberania NP., Panam\u00e1.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Plain-brown

Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Pipeline Road, Soberania NP., Panam\u00e1.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/h5>\n
Moonwalking<\/h5>\n

A Red-capped Manakin<\/strong> called out. We stopped but we couldn\u2019t see it. We have previously seen the species in Panama and Costa Rica, but we have never seen it dance! Yes, dance \u2013 just like many other birds the manakins \u201cdance\u201d<\/em>. And if there is a species who know some moves<\/em> \u2013 it is the Red-capped Manakin<\/em> \u2013 it is known for its moonwalk!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have seen it before?\u201d<\/em> \u2013 asked Kent<\/em>. We had, but we said that we would like to see it again. And very appropriate there was a lek<\/em> not far from where we were. Again we left the road and disappeared into the forest.<\/p>\n

There were about six manakins<\/em> at the lek<\/em>. They were flying all around us and none of them perched long enough to get a proper view. But against all expectations, there was one manakin who \u201cfelt like dancing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t last long, but we were treated to a dance show that we will not forget anytime soon. There were sidesteps left, sidesteps right, small jumps, wing-snapping<\/em>\u00a0and there was moonwalking <\/em>on a branch! Watch the video below.<\/p>\n

\"Moonwalking.

Moonwalking. Red-capped Manakin, Pipeline Road, Soberania NP., Panam\u00e1.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n