Science is all around you: The Puerto Rican Nightjar
Submitted by José R Almodóvar on
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José: "Greetchen, this time we have a very special guest. Ms. Gloria Archilla, bird photographer, presents spectacular images of a very singular bird of Puerto Rico.”
Greetchen: "Tremendous! Gloria, what is the common and scientific name of the bird? "
Gloria: "It is called the Puerto Rican Nightjar and its scientific name is Antrostomus noctitherus.”
José: "I never had the opportunity to observe a Nightjar, Is this bird an endangered species?”
Gloria: "Although the population increased and is more stable, it is still considered endangered. The main reasons are the loss of habitat and the predators such as the mongoose, feral cats, domestic cats and mice. They are vulnerable because the female will lay eggs in the soil between the dry leaves."
Greetchen: "Where can we observe the Puerto Rican Nightjar?”
Gloria: "The Nightjar is mainly concentrated in the Guánica State Forest and the Susúa Forest in Sabana Grande. It is easier to hear it at night than to see it during the day. Many times I've been looking without success."
The first picture by Gloria of the Puerto Rican Nightjar
José: "Tell us how did you achieve this beautiful photo"
Gloria: "I was walking with friends in the Guánica Forest. I noticed something strange on the branch and stepped back to watch it again. My hands trembled as I was taking the photo, as I knew that I had found the Nightjar! That encounter was a huge thrill. I’ll never forget that day, because this is not common. I have friends who have spent years visiting forests and have never seen the Nightjar. Just, pure adrenaline! "
Greetchen: "What motivated you to venture into bird photography? What do you enjoy most?"
Gloria: "I was the photographer of the family, but one day I had grandchildren and they were so fast that a friend suggested me to buy a more sophisticated camera. I like all types of photography, but I fell in love with birds. My eyes began to see things that previously I never looked and appreciated such as migratory warblers flying over the sea three days to reach Puerto Rico. I started learning the names of birds and their songs. My love for birds caused me a desire to protect our lands and forests."
Another angle of this beautiful "Boricua" bird
José: "You have a personal webpage of beautiful birds and all the photos carry a message describing the species and your experiences. What motivated you to create it?"
Gloria: "Thank you! My goal is to encourage people through my photos, description and comments, to like our birds and to visit our wildlife refuges. I try to tell people how fun it is to encourage the new generations to protect our birds, and especially to enjoy them!”
If you enjoyed this images "like" it and share them with everyone. You can follow Greetchen (@GreetDiaz) and José (@titovolky) on Twitter. Want to know more? Here we include other related resources:
