Courtesy of: Aruba Daily
ARUBA – Soothing, relaxing, connecting with nature…these are some of the attributes many find in the activity of bird watching. It’s a growing hobby worldwide, and here in Aruba with some 236 registered species of birds locals and visitors to our island are captivated with “birding” opportunities. Aruba’s semi-arid climate, diverse flora and fauna, and unique landscapes of beaches, reefs, mangroves, marshes, rolling countryside, and lushly landscaped resorts are havens for species that take up permanent residence, as well as those species just passing through for rest and refueling before journeying on to North or South America.
In 2010, Aruba Birdlife Conservation was officially established with the aim of protecting the biodiversity in general, and birds in and around Aruba, in particular. The foundation is working towards official protection status for several areas of the island inhabited by birds, as well as areas frequented by birds for feeding and breeding. This year, the foundation launched its new website (www.arubabirdlifeconservation.com ) where information can be found on bird watching and conservation on Aruba.
Shoko Owl Named National Symbol of Aruba
Our beloved shoko owl (athene cunicularia arubenis) was declared Aruba’s fifth national symbol last year after an ambitious awareness campaign spearheaded by Aruba Birdlife Conservation’s president, Mr. Gregory Peterson, with cooperation and support of Diego Marquez of Arikok National Park. The popularity and community support for official recognition of the shoko owl through venues like facebook prompted the government to add the bird as the fifth national symbol along with our flag, coat of arms, national anthem, and the official Aruba logo.
This burrowing owl is only found in Aruba, and those lucky enough to spot these cute creatures will likely see them during the early morning and early evening hours bobbing, weaving, and winking on the doorstep to their homes dug in the ground.
