Off to the Caribbean

Saturday, February 20
Hollywood, FL

     It’s the day prior to our departure for the cruise to the Panama Canal and other points of interest along the way. We decided to head down to Fort Lauderdale a day early and avoid the last minute rush. As a nice by-product of this plan, we’ll bird a few spots recommended in Bill  Pranty's book, A Birder's Guide to Florida. Our first stop after checking in at the Comfort Inn is the Anne Kolb Nature Center. This is part of the West Lake Park where in the past the Smooth-billed ani has been found. The park is a very nice facility, but on this day not all that birdy. We hike along the boardwalk which winds through the mudflats, but there are few waders and fewer songbirds. The mainstay of the area today is the Boat-tailed grackles and White ibis. Being a Saturday, there are many local folks taking advantage of this fine day and the activity may have served to limit the numbers of birds. There are two sites located across the street from one another, but neither provides the birds we were hoping for.

     Our next stop is further west along Sterling Ave called Brain Piccolo Park. This is supposed to be a “hot spot” for burrowing owls and this one lives up to its reputation. In spite of being a facility which is primarily soccer, baseball, and cricket fields, areas are roped off and flagged where the owls are nesting. Thankfully, people who use the park seem to respect the space allotted to the owls and we find a good number of burrows. Few have activity, however, but one in particular is occupied by a cooperative bird which is more than happy to pose for us. As we photograph the owl, we find a number of Monk parakeets and other non-native parrots flying overhead. A Loggerhead shrike also is nearby and gives us some nice looks. We should have come here in the first place! It’s getting late in the day and we decide to call it quits, heading back to the motel to prepare for our departure tomorrow morning.