Page 103 - Killdeer

The Bare Throated Tiger Heron is a cool looking Heron in my book.
There has been recorded sightings in southern Texas but their happy
place is the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines from Mexico to Colum-
bia. I found mine in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica. Costa
Rica is a place that puts their nature preserves at the top of their list.
In the little town of Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast at the edge of
the national park is one example. This national park is best viewed by
canoe or small boat with a guide that knows their way around. The
only way to get to Tortuguero is by a 45 minute boat taxi ride. There
are no cars or streets once you get there. You are on foot and can walk
from one end of town to the other in 15-20 minutes where there is a
few walking trails into the park. To Costa Ricans, Tortuguero means
“place where the turtles come”.
Every year many thousands of sea turtles invade the shore and lay
their eggs. At one time the turtles and their eggs was a delicacy of the
locals and game for the poachers. Now the process is protected by the
locals so the turtles will thrive. They walk the beach during this season
from the laying of the eggs to watching the baby turtles make their way
back to the ocean. Still only 1 out of 1000 turtles make it to adulthood
with nature taking it’s course.

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