The Quetzals of Costa Rica - A Hackberry Farm nature photography workshop field report

“If you wait here, he’s been showing up to feed from this avocado tree around 6:30 for the past few days,” says Mario, describing what we should all expect for the next couple of hours.   Mario speaks with a thick Costa Rican accent, but his English is more than adequate.  For a couple of generations, he’s been kind enough to guide people into the high mountains south of San Jose.  Here, the birds of all kinds are numerous, but we’re willing to wait on just this one.  We met here at this lone wild avocado tree just after the sun rose at 5:30 am, and if all goes well, we’ll catch a glimpse of the star of the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7sFfqsxWKU

The mountains here are lush and green.  Each day, clouds roll in and out of the valleys all around us.  This immense and wild cloud forest is a rich habitat for scores of bird species, but the one we’re after on this nature photography workshop is a brilliant green avian species that’s about the size of a parrot:  The resplendent quetzal.

The resplendent quetzal is a remarkable bird and has been admired for centuries - especially in Mesoamerican civilizations. The feathers of the magnificent bird were used in antiquity by Mayan chiefs and other tribal royalty.  The bird was so venerated by Central American cultures that its facsimile appears on stone etchings throughout ancient cultural ruins.  The quetzal catches the attention of modern cultures, as it is prominently featured on Guatemala’s official coat of arms and its national flag.

Back at the avocado tree, we wait - but not for too long. In an instant and as if on cue, the bird sweeps in from the south and lands amongst the branches.  At first, he alights deep in the tree - the branches obscuring any chance of a good photograph.  So each guest jockeys for a better position.  In the end, however, we wait.

“If you get ready, he’ll fly and pick an avocado,” explains Marino.  He is right.  The bird flies, flutters while he plucks the tree fruit, and then disappears deep into the woods.  It’s classic behavior.  His retreat deep into the forest to the shade allows the bird time to digest the morsel.  Although his colors make him incredibly showy, it also makes him easy to spot by predators.  Therefore, while he digests his meal, he hides away, cloaked by the trees and shadows.

Soon, he makes another appearance to feed once again.  This time, however, he lands in plain sight.  The male is brilliant green, with blue accents.  Its iridescence is nearly unparalleled by any other bird I’ve ever seen.  While he is perched, he slowly moves his head back and forth as if to show off his beauty.

While he sits on the branch, cameras engage to capture his splendor.  From this view, you can see his long, sweeping tail feathers draped beneath him.  The feathers are long, smooth, and unlike any bird I’ve ever seen.  Suddenly, the bird flies again to land on another perch.  We all readjust and continue taking pictures.  Then, without warning, he flies and disappears like a ghost in the jungle.

He’s gone.

In all, we spent maybe five minutes with the mysterious bird, but it was all worth the wait.  Each guest looks at the back of the camera and beams with delight as they admire the results of their work and the rewards of being patient.

Later in the day (just like the day before, we head higher up into the mountain to photograph a menagerie of birds.   The list of species we see is long, and the birds are colorful.  Perhaps the most spectacular show is the hummingbirds.  Blitzing around the flowers are dozens and dozens of the diminutive species jockeying for a sip of nectar from the flowers.  One second, we see a volcano hummingbird; the next, a fiery-throated hummingbird lands and displays its bright red feathers while he poses for photos.  The birds are plentiful, and everyone has the opportunity to try a variety of compositions and photographic techniques.

This adventure ends - like others seem to end- way too soon.  On this extension, we’d been embraced by beautiful lodging and incredible hospitality.  On top of that, we see some incredible wildlife.

You just can’t beat that.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES