Black vulture photographed at Yaxha park
Posted June 11, 2019
Vultures are important to iconographers, epigraphers, and biologists. Vultures occur as lid handles on Early Classic ceramics. Vultures occur in hieroglyphic inscriptions. And vultures are part of the food chain in many parts of the world.
There are four species of vultures in Guatemala and adjacent countries. We have found the Black Vulture and the rare King Vulture in the Lake Yaxha area of Peten. Eventually we should be able to find the turkey vulture in the future.
Since the King Vulture is extremely rare, if you are a birder come to the Parque Nacional Yaxha Nakum Naranjo. The Hotel Ecolodge El Sombrero is adjacent to the entrance to the park.
You can rent a boat-and-lanchero to cruise the lake. There are capable registered Guatemalan guides to help you find the birds you are interested in.
These black vultures were spotted by Maria Alejandra Gutierrez, FLAAR Mesoamerica photographer, alongside the Rio Ixtinto, near Isla Topoxte, the first week of June.
