Cecropia Leaves and Oropendolas

Yesterday I saw Patricia, a fabulous illustrator and wonderful friend. She has traveled and plied her artist skills many times in Central and South America, and I wish she could come with me to tutor me in observing and drawing it all. Maybe next trip. She keeps dried cecropia leaves on her desk to remind her of the spendors of the tropics. The photo below (read more) is from Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Miami, where - coincidentally - Patricia's brother once worked. These leaves are so distinctive that I imagine every traveler to the tropics would recognize them in some fashion.

By way of a conversation with Nancy and Denny (who we met while birding a year ago in Arizona and who told us about this Panama trip - they are going too), Ron learned about Xeno-Canto, a website that "shares bird songs from around the world." Ron doesn't know how he missed this. I suppose it is just as well - how would he even be ready to leave in morning if he had spent the past who-knows-how-long recording all those bird calls??? So, how about the call of the Chestnut-headed Oropendola? While looking at the photo below, go to this link and play one or more of the calls/songs that has/have a number listed in the "TIME" column. Cool.

The oropendolas are pretty interesting - colorful and conspicuous, and they make amazing pendulous nests in colonies high in the trees. We have frequently found them just by the sounds of their friendly chatter among themselves. The Chestnut-headed Oropendola (one of four Oropendola species in Panama) is common is some of the areas we'll visit.

And actually, we are pretty much ready to go. This is not typical for me. I hate packing, but Ron is a good influence on me. He even printed out a packing list, which has been very helpful. Anyway, we had a laugh tonight when our friend Lynn called about taking us to the airport tomorrow. She thought maybe we would want to load our stuff into the car tonight - ha ha ha!!! She has some impression that we are highly organized. How sweet she is.


So, next post from El Valle on Wednesday, perhaps.