Belize Audubon Society News

Matt Lauer broadcasted live from Blue Hole Natural Monument and Half Moon Caye Natural Monument on November 17 and 18 as part of NBC Today’s “Ends of the Earth” theme week. The Belize Audubon Society’s work on Turtle conservation on Half Moon Caye was highlighted, and the Marine Parks Manager Ms. Losita Lee was also featured on the show. She focused the Red-Footed Booby Birds on the island. Belize Audubon Society was proud to host the NBC crew at both protected areas as we know these are key conservation sites for the country of Belize and the world.

On September 6th, 2008 the Jabiru left Crooked Tree for a day trip in the city to enjoy the carnival but most imortanly to send a message to Belizeans about its home:

By: Geovanni Martinez, Park Warden St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park

O n July 24 2008, around 10 in the morning while standing by the Blue Hole Area I heard a small noise as if though a cohune branch was falling. I looked around quickly but the cohunes near by seemed intact. Then I heard soft murmuring as if people were walking the trail, but I knew nobody was inside the park so I decided to check it out.  I stood by an allspice tree and was checking out  the Dusky Ant Bird Trail to see if  someone was coming from the visitor center, but there was no one.  Then all of a sudden I heard a noise right above me.  I looked up and saw something black moving on the branches above. To my surprise it was a howler monkey!  It was going towards the changing rooms, so I followed it.  

Then it stopped by a Cecropia Tree (Trumpet tree) behind the bathrooms and started chewing on the young leaves.   As i was observing the monkey having breakfast some tourists arrived. The monkey heard the noise from the car then it jumped from tree to tree into the thick forest where I couldn’t see it. The tourists carried on to the blue hole to take a swim, as they were coming down the steps they saw another monkey on the cojotone tree. 

“The Howler Monkey is so named becuase you can hear the roaring in the early mornings and late afternoons. Howlers are herbivores (eat plants only) they eat flowers, tender leaves and fruits.”

After a while I began searching for the monkey again.  I found him eating cocoa leaves by the Hummingbird Loop, this time he was not alone, he or she was with a friend! They both continued enjoying the fresh cocoa leaves. I felt so proud working at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park helping to protect the home of these beautiful creatures so you and I can enjoy!

 P.S In total there were three howler monkeys that day I took some pictures with my cellphone and examined it carfully. As I had guessed it, there was 1 male and 2 females.   

Howler Monkey Facts

Black Howler Monkey- Alouatta pigra  is also known as Baboon in Creole and Zaraguate in Spanish.   The Howler Monkey is so named becuase you can hear the roaring in the early mornings and late afternoons.  Howlers are herbivores (eat plants only) they eat flowers, tender leaves and fruits.

 Belize Audubon Society (BAS) was granted a 3 years project funded by the Protected Area Conservation Trust (PACT) in 2006. The project entitled

“Towards the sustainability of BAS managed Protected Areas” provides funding of activities in two(2) of the protected areas that BAS co-manages,

namely, Cockscomb BASIN Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) and Half Moon Caye Natural Monument (HMCNM). Between September 2008 to February 2009, Year 3 (1^st disbursement) of the project will be implemented. For this period, the project will focus on activities such as fire management training for BAS staff and community members near CBWS; patrols with enforcement agencies within the boundaries of CBWS and HMCNM; monitoring and data collection at both protected areas; liaising with nation and regional stakeholders of these protected areas; and training for staff in hospitality and customer care service.