17/05/2026
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF COSTA RICA. .
Last month National Geographic aired the documentary "Leaf Architects" about Costa Rican bats who design and construct their own leaf homes, then on May 4th, British National Geographic released a special report on the mythical Quetzal bird and its amazing life in the cloud forests of San Gerardo de Dota. Titled "They Called it the Feathered Serpent", scientists learned that this was how the indigenous peoples of that area referred to the Quetzal, describing its feathered tail - up to one meter in length - undulating in the wind as they fly overhead.
Those lucky enough to have seen a Quetzal in person have seen its plumage glisten and glow in the light: emerald green, sapphire blue, or gold, depending on the angle of the sun. Their feathers function like natural rainbow prisms that reflect the light as they soar above the canopy. They are a sight to behold!
Director of the research for National Geographic, Lorna Parkes (UK), describes how among pre- columbian cultures the Quetzal was not just another animal, but one that represented Kukulkan, the feathered serpent deity worshipped by many Mesoamerican tribes. It was forbidden to kill a Quetzal, and their feathers, when found on the jungle floor, were used as currency, sometimes even more valuable than gold.
Today, Costa Rica is one of the few places where Quetzals can be observed with relative ease -- specifically in San Gerardo de Dota, about two hours from San Jose. It is estimated that there are about 100 pairs of these glorious birds living in that 10-kilometer area year-round. They feast mainly on wild avocados that are plentiful in that region.
Lorna Parkes makes clear in this report that although the Quetzal is not in danger of extinction, it does confront many challenges such as climate change, loss of forests, and loss of their habitats through expansion of homes and hotels in the San Gerardo area.
Parkes states, "To see a Quetzal in the wild is an experience difficult to describe. Its intense red chest, neon crown, and its floating tail make it truly seem like a creature from a folkloric legend."
Hotels in the San Gerardo area can help visitors hire an experienced guide to allow them to see these amazing birds. Guides communicate with each other via walkie-talkies and cell phones, so small groups of bird watchers can move quietly and quickly from one location to another where Quetzals, usually in pairs, can be seen, photographed and admired as another one of Costa Rica's amazing natural treasures.
Submitted PROUDLY by Carol Vaughn. . Follow Carol Here:
https://www.facebook.com/CarolBlairVaughn
