Newsgroups: rec.birds
Path: utzoo!rising
From: rising@utzoo.uucp (Jim Rising)
Subject: Isla Contoy
Message-ID: <1990Jan31.202928.17103@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 90 20:29:28 GMT

I've been to Isla Contoy a couple of times in December, and 
strongly recommend it.  The Island is essentially uninhabited,
and very pleasant.  As well there are lots of waterbirds:  frigatebirds
(which nest on the island surely; saw lots with inflated gular pouches),
brown boobies, double-crested and olivaceous cormorants, herons, egrets,
white ibis all abound and can be seen closely.  There is a shallow, 
mangrove-lined lagoon that the boats take you through.  The tours stop
at the research station where they cook lunch.  You can hike around
the island.  I'd recommend trying to get to the south end of the island
where there is an area where the frigatebirds apparently breed.  I never
had much luck with land birds there, but who knows.  Could look for
Mangrove Vireo, Tropical Mockingbird, or Cinnamon Hummingbird there.
Also large iguanas are plentyful.
Wintering turnstones will probably hope to share your lunch with you.
If you have the wheels, and like to mix a little archaeology with 
your birds, I also strongly recommend a trip to Coba.
Hope you have a nice trip!
-- 
Name:     Jim Rising
Mail:     Dept. Zoology, Univ. Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada    M5S 1A1
UUCP:     uunet!attcan!utzoo!rising 
BITNET:   rising@zoo.utoronto.ca