CROOKED TREE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
WHAT TO SEE
This mosaic of elongated lagoons, connected by creeks, savannas and logwood thickets is excellent for birds. As the dry season gets underway, they arrive in huge numbers from the Peten and Yucatan as swamps in these areas dry up. By April, the Crooked Tree landscape is alive with flocks of different water birds. Huge congregations of Double Crested Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, and different ducks all can be seen.
The Jabiru Stork, the largest bird in the Americas, also calls in from time to time. They appear in November, build their stick nesting platforms in December or January, and raise their young by June. Where they spend the rest of the year is a bit of a mystery, but the suspicion is Campeche in Mexico.
Crooked Tree also hosts the Peregrine, the world's fastest falcon. They patrol the waterways in search of a meal and have learnt to follow tour boats. The many Coots on the water are distracted when the boats pass, giving the Peregrine a chance to search out their prey, dive and strike. Powerful enough to grab an adult Coot right out of the water, the Peregrine carries its meal off to some perch.
Another Crooked Tree bird spectacle is the Snail Kites, feeding on Apple Snails whose large sun-bleached shells litter the banks. Their white egg clusters are also often to be seen on sedges and rushes, just above the waterline. The Kites hover round the sanctuary year round and are one of its characteristic animals.
Other permanent inhabitants include all Belize's species of kingfishers, and Muscovy and Black-bellied Whistling ducks that nest in the trees around the lagoons. Black Creek or Spanish Creek offer particular good birding, as they meander south to the Belize River. Colonies of Boatbilled Herons can be found. Hard to see but not to hear, they hide away in the darkest recesses of the canopy, but give themselves away with their squawking cackling calls. Along the rivers banks also look out for crocodiles, turtles and iguanas. In the middle of the sanctuary sites Crooked Tree itself Native cashew trees abound. Look out for the bright red Vermilion Flycatcher. It's hard to miss as it sits on fence posts waiting for passing insects.
GETTING THERE
The turn off to Crooked Tree is on the west side of the Northern Highway at Mile 33. It's a dirt road marked by a wooden signpost. If you're coming by a Belize City/Orange Walk/Corozal bus it will drop you off here, which leaves you a two mile stretch to hitch or walk, or there is a direct bus to Crooked Tree village from Belize City. Tour companies also run trips to the Sanctuary from the City and some northern hotels. A range of accommodation is available in Crooked Tree.
The new visitor centre is on the left of the road, a green and white building just before you cross Crooked Tree Lagoon. This is where you have to report in.
Half a day is enough for a visit to the sanctuary, but those really into birds can easily take a day or more exploring the waterways and the village.
WHEN TO GO
Although good anytime in the dry season, the greatest concentration of birds is around April. If you want a boat ride, it's better to come a few weeks earlier otherwise the water is too shallow, and you have to do your bird watching on foot.
VISITOR FACILITIES
To really get the most out of a visit to Crooked Tree, you need to get out on the water. Check at the visitor centre for advice about hiring a boat and a guide from the village. The sanctuary is open seven days a week, from 8am to 4pm. Basic trails are laid out, following the shoreline and village tracks. The Jacana Loop Trail, Trogon Trail and Limpkin Trail are good for wildlife. Belizeans pay an entrance fee of $2 and foreigners $8. Crooked Tree is managed by the Belize Audubon Society.
The site's first visitor centre was built in 1984, equipped with interpretative materials in 1986. A new facility has been opened in 1995 and is located at a new administrative area across the lagoon near the eastern boundary. A trail network has been established using existing village roads and tracks, and a self-guiding map can be bought. Eco-tourism has encouraged the construction of 4 small hotels and there are 3 guest houses. Locals provide guide and boat trip services. Visitor numbers are given below, although these are under-estimates as not all visitors are recorded. Roughly 30% of foreigners fail to sign, arriving in large groups by minibus.
ESTABLISHMENT HISTORY
Following recommendations by Waight (1968), FAO (1978) and the BAS, the site was designated in December 1984 (SI 95).
CURRENT AREA
The sanctuary's area is difficult to determine accurately because:
This mosaic of elongated lagoons, connected by creeks, savannas and logwood thickets is excellent for birds. As the dry season gets underway, they arrive in huge numbers from the Peten and Yucatan as swamps in these areas dry up. By April, the Crooked Tree landscape is alive with flocks of different water birds. Huge congregations of Double Crested Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, and different ducks all can be seen.
The Jabiru Stork, the largest bird in the Americas, also calls in from time to time. They appear in November, build their stick nesting platforms in December or January, and raise their young by June. Where they spend the rest of the year is a bit of a mystery, but the suspicion is Campeche in Mexico.
Crooked Tree also hosts the Peregrine, the world's fastest falcon. They patrol the waterways in search of a meal and have learnt to follow tour boats. The many Coots on the water are distracted when the boats pass, giving the Peregrine a chance to search out their prey, dive and strike. Powerful enough to grab an adult Coot right out of the water, the Peregrine carries its meal off to some perch.
Another Crooked Tree bird spectacle is the Snail Kites, feeding on Apple Snails whose large sun-bleached shells litter the banks. Their white egg clusters are also often to be seen on sedges and rushes, just above the waterline. The Kites hover round the sanctuary year round and are one of its characteristic animals.
Other permanent inhabitants include all Belize's species of kingfishers, and Muscovy and Black-bellied Whistling ducks that nest in the trees around the lagoons. Black Creek or Spanish Creek offer particular good birding, as they meander south to the Belize River. Colonies of Boatbilled Herons can be found. Hard to see but not to hear, they hide away in the darkest recesses of the canopy, but give themselves away with their squawking cackling calls. Along the rivers banks also look out for crocodiles, turtles and iguanas. In the middle of the sanctuary sites Crooked Tree itself Native cashew trees abound. Look out for the bright red Vermilion Flycatcher. It's hard to miss as it sits on fence posts waiting for passing insects.
GETTING THERE
The turn off to Crooked Tree is on the west side of the Northern Highway at Mile 33. It's a dirt road marked by a wooden signpost. If you're coming by a Belize City/Orange Walk/Corozal bus it will drop you off here, which leaves you a two mile stretch to hitch or walk, or there is a direct bus to Crooked Tree village from Belize City. Tour companies also run trips to the Sanctuary from the City and some northern hotels. A range of accommodation is available in Crooked Tree.
The new visitor centre is on the left of the road, a green and white building just before you cross Crooked Tree Lagoon. This is where you have to report in.
Half a day is enough for a visit to the sanctuary, but those really into birds can easily take a day or more exploring the waterways and the village.
WHEN TO GO
Although good anytime in the dry season, the greatest concentration of birds is around April. If you want a boat ride, it's better to come a few weeks earlier otherwise the water is too shallow, and you have to do your bird watching on foot.
VISITOR FACILITIES
To really get the most out of a visit to Crooked Tree, you need to get out on the water. Check at the visitor centre for advice about hiring a boat and a guide from the village. The sanctuary is open seven days a week, from 8am to 4pm. Basic trails are laid out, following the shoreline and village tracks. The Jacana Loop Trail, Trogon Trail and Limpkin Trail are good for wildlife. Belizeans pay an entrance fee of $2 and foreigners $8. Crooked Tree is managed by the Belize Audubon Society.
The site's first visitor centre was built in 1984, equipped with interpretative materials in 1986. A new facility has been opened in 1995 and is located at a new administrative area across the lagoon near the eastern boundary. A trail network has been established using existing village roads and tracks, and a self-guiding map can be bought. Eco-tourism has encouraged the construction of 4 small hotels and there are 3 guest houses. Locals provide guide and boat trip services. Visitor numbers are given below, although these are under-estimates as not all visitors are recorded. Roughly 30% of foreigners fail to sign, arriving in large groups by minibus.
ESTABLISHMENT HISTORY
Following recommendations by Waight (1968), FAO (1978) and the BAS, the site was designated in December 1984 (SI 95).
CURRENT AREA
The sanctuary's area is difficult to determine accurately because: