Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crests. The harpy's powerful claws can carry off howler monkeys and capuchins, and it
also hunts sloths, coatis, anteaters and just about anything that moves. It's best spotted in
the Parque Nacional Darién around Reserva Natural Punta Patiño.
The elusive, emerald-green quetzal lives in habitats throughout Central America, but
Panama is one of the best places to see it. The male has an elongated wing covert (train)
and a scarlet breast and belly, while females have duller plumage. Parque Nacional Vol-
cán Barú is a top spot for sightings, as is Parque Internacional La Amistad. They are best
seen in the breeding season from March to June when males grow their spectacular trains
and start calling for mates.
Panama's geographical position also makes it a crossroads for migratory birds. Out of
the country's 950 bird species, 122 occur only as long-distance migrants (ie they don't
breed in Panama). From August to December, North American raptors migrate south into
Central America by the millions - at times there are so many birds that they make a
black streak across the sky. The canopy tower in Panama's Parque Nacional Soberanía is
a particularly good vantage point for watching this migration.
In Bocas del Toro, keep an eye out for kettling hawk migrations - October is the best
month to see them in large numbers. The migration of turkey vultures over the islands in
early March and again in October is another striking sight. These big, black-bodied, red-
necked birds can streak the sky and are able to soar for long periods without a single flap
as they migrate between southern Canada and Tierra del Fuego.
OBSESSION FOR OCELOTS
Ocelots are nocturnal, elusive and native to Panama. When researchers and wildlife
photographers had trouble capturing these cats in Panama's dense rainforest, they
turned not to science but to Calvin Klein. Christian Ziegler, a photographer working
on assignment forNational Geographic, remembers, 'After hearing a claim from
the San Diego Zoo, I bought Calvin Klein's Obsession when passing through duty-
free.' The scent, which contains pheromones that appeal to both humans and an-
imals, was sprayed on a tree.
The result? The ocelots rubbed up against bark doused in the scent. But, accord-
ing to Ziegler, the attraction (not unlike many a hormonal drive) proved fleeting.
Endangered Species
According to United Nations data, there are 347 threatened species in Panama. Among
the animals appearing on its 'red list' for Panama are the jaguar, the spectacled bear, the
Central American tapir, the American crocodile, all five species of sea turtle that nest on
