At the Savegre Mountain Lodge, a pair of Resplendent Quetzals was nesting on the hotel grounds just a short walk from our cabin. The birds took turns excavating a nest hole in a tree. The cavity was large enough that the birds disappeared inside, but about a foot of the male’s tail stuck straight out while he was working. When the male left the nest hole, he suddenly dropped almost straight down, probably to evade predators. The mate of the excavating bird waited nearby, which afforded a great opportunity for observing behavior and taking photographs. Watching their behavior up close was fascinating.
DAVE WENDELKEN Costa Rica
