

Cherie Pittillo, “nature inspired”, zoologist, wildlife photographer, and author, explores nature everywhere she goes. She’s identified 55 bird species in her Merida, Yucatan backyard view. Her column, published on the 7th and 21st of each month features anecdotes about birding in Merida, Yucatan and beyond. Contact: all4birdies@gmail.com All rights reserved, ©Cherie Pittillo
Whenever I’m immersed in nature, I usually don’t think about music unless Mother Nature has shared her earth sounds with me. However, I stopped to photograph a virtual *smorgasbord of birds or “smorgasbirds” that fed on the peanut-sized fruit of the “tourist tree” (chaka/chakah Spanish). I didn’t expect to think of a song. No, not by Chaka Khan, but by Diane Krall.
“Peel Me a Grape” came to mind.
Nicknamed the “tourist tree” due to its peeling bark like sunburned visitors in the Yucatan, the tree served what appeared to be a bevy of berries at this leafy, fruit salad bar.
It’s not the peeling tree bark that made me think of the song; it was how the birds ate the fruit.
For example, this Great Kiskadee picked the round fruit and managed to separate the outer skin from the fleshy fruit. It peeled off the peel.
Quickly, it sheared off a section of the outer protective coat which fell in front of it. By the way, I never realized the tiny sharp tip of the upper beak existed. Look closely.
Then it opened its beak and tilted its head to change the position of the fruit.
And with some apparent tongue action, it readied to eat the skinless fruit.
It repeated this sequence several times.
Success came in the form of triangular juicy fruits that fit within a circular skin!
By the way, another local name for this tree is gumbo limbo. It does sound musical to me.
Go explore nature and you will find it “appealing”.
“Smorgasbird” species in this small tourist tree: 3 Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, 2 Tropical Mockingbirds, 1 Clay-colored Thrush, 3 Great Kiskadees, 2 Couch’s Kingbirds, 3 Social Flycatchers, 2 Hooded Orioles, 4 Orchard Orioles, 1 Altamira Oriole.
Oh, a frisky, male White-winged Dove landed in the tree not to eat fruit, but it tried to hook up with a female to give up her forbidden fruit.
more recommended stories
Researchers are looking to implement the use of sargassum in chemicals, blocks and cell phone batteries
The Center for Research and Advanced.
Do you know how many US mass shootings have been registered in 2023?
Gun violence is a fixture in.
Paraíso Sisal: Damage from the Campos Agüero Real Estate company may be irreversible, they left the community unprotected
The voracity with which the Campos.
Chichén Itzá returns to the first place in the national ranking of tourist affluence
Last February, Chichén Itzá once again.
The “Yucatruck” is in CDMX giving away free Cochinita tacos
The Tianguis Turístico 2023 has already.
With dances and rides, Chekubul Fair 2023 will be held
On April 5th the fair for.
Readability of incorrect text
Yes, we are often able to.
Canadian expat declares war on Chelem residents -Watch Video-
A group of neighbors of the.
Climate change and logging are destroying the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Mexico
Every year, millions of monarch butterflies.
Angry Popocatepetl volcano records 235 exhalations in 24 hours
During the last 24 hours, the.
Avian culinary skills at their best paired with great narration. As always great pictures.