The other day while I was lying in a hammock and forced to look skyward, I noticed a bit of commotion up above the canopy. There seemed to be an amazing amount of bird traffic.

A group of Scarlet Macaws were making the rounds from one fruiting jungle tree to the next. They always fly in two's, sometimes more, as they mate for life and seem to enjoy nattering at each other all the time. If we can picture the skies above Finca Exotica as a neighbourhood, the macaws would be your noisy-always-complaining but yet colourful neighbours. They are definitely loved for their looks and not for their ability to wake everyone up with their squabbling. If you listen long enough you can almost convince yourself that they are actually gossiping to each other about some trivial community hearsay.

Frigatebirds are always way up high. They like to move with the air currents and often look down right lazy. Just floating around looking down on the neighbourhood with an almost snobby attitude. Big wings, small bodies. They are the neighbours who inherited a beautiful house on the hill that overlooks the community. And they would like everyone to know just how special they are. Think Paris Hilton.

Pelicans are a strange group. Sometimes you see them on their own. But mostly they fly in these large groups, often surfing the waves or flying just above the coconut trees, while maintaining that v-shape formation. And they always seem to be going somewhere, always passing by like they have no time to talk. I consider them as the local police force in a small town where no laws are broken. You see them mostly in the early morning and late afternoon, as if they are doing the rounds. And they are really quite quiet and confident, often freaking me out when I am surfing.

Toucans are the devious ones in the community. They are not to be trusted. Yes they look beautiful, but sound eerie, almost unnatural, and they like to eat other defenseless birds. They are the neighbours who have the expensive house down the road, always dress well, but yet, don't seem to work hard. They may be related to those financial guys on Wall St.

Mealy Parrot are beautiful, like to fly high in the sky, make little noises, but don't get involved with anything in the community. They would be the ones who rent expensive, never buy cheap, are friendly with small talk, but you never really get to know. Yuppies!

Laughing Falcon is often heard but sometimes not seen till it is too late. They like to soar or sit or watch. Always watching. Watching watching watching. But doing very little. They would be the politicians, the ones you vote in because they look like they should know something. But once in office... well they watch, and laugh. And the community, still convince they know something, gives them the respect that they probably don't deserve.

The Turkey Vulture is our trash man. He is always picking up after others. One day a cow died along the road back to town. Two days later it was gone. And I am sure the vultures must have got help, because it was all gone. Unlike the trash in Toronto these days. And the Vultures like all dead stuff. Today, from my hammock, I could see them sitting in a group on the dead branch of an old tree. But they were making me a little nervous when they looked back at me. I swear they were smiling.

This neighbourhood of the birds on the OSA is incredible. I have only touched on the birds I saw in that moment from my perch in the hammock. Supposedly, the rare Harpy Eagle was seen on the OSA last week. And the other day we had this Bare-throated Tiger-heron sitting on the bed in our tent. This bird stands about 2 feet tall and has been seen guarding the gardens of Finca Exotica. It probably was just looking for a place to weather the rain. He wasn't too happy when I convinced him to step outside. Where are those darn Pelicans when you need them!

Pura Vida
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