Half-Moon Caye & Lighthouse Reef
As the sun rose over the tranquil Caribbean waters, a cacophony of bird voices could be heard overhead…an omen of things to come. Just after breakfast we made our way to the beach at Half-Moon Cay Natural Monument. For ten months of the year the most numerous inhabitants of the island are the red footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds who nest in the Ziricote trees. Nesting starts around December and chicks are on their own in just a few months.
Those of us who made our way to the observation platform were able to observe many of the behaviors associated with breeding avian life. Male magnificent frigatebirds were displaying their red inflated gular pouches and flapping their wings – in hopes of intimidating other males and attracting the elusive females on the look out for a suitable mate. Meanwhile, red footed boobies were busy tending to their nests and guarding their newborn chicks from the kleptoparasitic ways of the neighboring magnificent frigatebirds. Overtime frigatebirds have developed a taste for bird eggs and hatchlings.
One of the highlights of our day was the opportunity to snorkel and dive on the Belize Barrier Reef. Amongst the turtle grass and coral outcrops we encountered a large variety of colorful reef fish and corals. Highlights included a hawksbill turtle, a large manta ray and several large nurse sharks.
In the afternoon under the palms we could hear the osprey’s calling; we saw at least four ospreys and two nests. Half-Moon Caye provides perfect seaside real estate for these fish eating raptors (see photograph above).
As the sun rose over the tranquil Caribbean waters, a cacophony of bird voices could be heard overhead…an omen of things to come. Just after breakfast we made our way to the beach at Half-Moon Cay Natural Monument. For ten months of the year the most numerous inhabitants of the island are the red footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds who nest in the Ziricote trees. Nesting starts around December and chicks are on their own in just a few months.
Those of us who made our way to the observation platform were able to observe many of the behaviors associated with breeding avian life. Male magnificent frigatebirds were displaying their red inflated gular pouches and flapping their wings – in hopes of intimidating other males and attracting the elusive females on the look out for a suitable mate. Meanwhile, red footed boobies were busy tending to their nests and guarding their newborn chicks from the kleptoparasitic ways of the neighboring magnificent frigatebirds. Overtime frigatebirds have developed a taste for bird eggs and hatchlings.
One of the highlights of our day was the opportunity to snorkel and dive on the Belize Barrier Reef. Amongst the turtle grass and coral outcrops we encountered a large variety of colorful reef fish and corals. Highlights included a hawksbill turtle, a large manta ray and several large nurse sharks.
In the afternoon under the palms we could hear the osprey’s calling; we saw at least four ospreys and two nests. Half-Moon Caye provides perfect seaside real estate for these fish eating raptors (see photograph above).
