Chan Chich: Belize Jungle Lodge and Nature Reserve

GJCS School President Adelia Cermenio with the winning ticket

Ms. Sivan Ritz from San Diego, California, USA. Upon winning the raffle Ms. Sivan exclaimed "We loved our time in Chan Chich, and so I'm thrilled about this! It's funny, but we had intended to donate to the local school even before we knew about the raffle, which makes this even more amazing." Congratulations! We look forward to seeing you in the upcoming year!

Each year, in a considerable effort to raise money for the Gallon Jug Community School Scholarship Fund, Chan Chich Lodge raffles a great prize in the name of education: a round trip ticket for 2 with a 4-night double occupancy all-inclusive stay at the Lodge, including room, meals, beverages and daytime activities.

For further information on Gallon Jug Community School and the scholarship fund please visit:

The annual Christmas Bird Count originated in 1900 to protest the traditional bird shoot held on that day in the USA. Today volunteers from all 50 U.S. states, Canada, parts of Central and South America, Bermuda, the West Indies, and Pacific islands count every individual bird and bird species encountered during one calendar day. Each count group has a designated circle 15 miles in diameter (about 177 square miles) where they try to cover as much ground as possible during a 24-hour period. The data collected by each group are then sent to National Audubon Society headquarters in New York for tabulation http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/.

Belize City began its Christmas Count in 1969 followed by Belmopan a few years later and then Gallon Jug. Besides being a fun social and sporting event for participants, Christmas bird counts help track trends in bird populations over time revealing interesting and scientifically useful information.

December 31, 2007 will mark the 18th CBC here in Gallon Jug Estate. We normally have participation with excellent birding teams from Belize City and Belmopan and we invite guests at Chan Chich to join us. You don't need to be an expert birder, everyone is welcome. We never know exactly what we'll see in the way of birds, but normally we average around 200 species for the day. Please join us.

18th Annual Gallon Jug Christmas Bird Count Results

by Carolyn M. Miller

The 18th annual Gallon Jug Christmas Bird Count took place on December 31, a fitting way to end 2007 in a birding paradise. Twenty-nine hearty birders representing talent and skill from the annual VENT group led by Paul Wood contributed 80 species in the environs around the Lodge. Ben and Amanda, Lodge managers, brought out their "secret weapon," later revealed to be master birding guide, Gilberto Vasquez, who has led guests in the Chan Chich/Gallon Jug area for nearly 20 years.

The intrepid "Eagles," from the Corozal Community College Environmental Club, led by Graham Sampson, counted around Laguna Seca and camped on the Escarpment. This dedicated group spent two days in Gallon Jug, returning on the 1st. Covering "Gallon Jug proper," the Bowen family made use of a new innovation, a golf cart, reported to be an exceedingly quiet "birding buggy" with excellent viewing. Barry and Dixie provided the only jaguar sighting for the day, at the forest/sugar cane interface along the Laguna Verde road. Finally, fearless compilers, Bruce & Carolyn Miller, counted in the outer reaches of the Gallon Jug circle which included the Hillbank Road and the Punta de Cacao road.

Daybreak comes late this time of year and with a heavy overcast that developed into drizzle then downpour, at least for the Gallon Jug contingent, the count was off to a slow start. That left us tallying a few sodden Ocellated Turkeys, too bedraggled to drag themselves into the forest where, it seemed, most other birds were huddled. Fortunately, the rain eventually let up with a surge in bird activity mid-morning. Like last year, migrant species were few in both total numbers and species, whether due to the weather conditions or simply low populations trends; it is too soon to say. There were some nice views of the ever popular Keel-billed Toucan and lots of enthusiasm for good looks at the tiny Stub-tailed Spadebill. We looked for the Tropical Mockingbird and the Vermilion Flycatcher pair that had been hanging out but they were not to be seen on count day. Luckily, we can include them for Count Week along with the spectacular Spectacled Owl caught on camera at Chan Chich.

And now for the statistics. Twenty-nine participants counted 2173 individual birds for a total of 171 species -- an excellent result, especially given the rainy conditions that persisted on and off during the day. The most individuals ever counted was in 2000, totalling 4772, and the minimum of 1718, in 2006. The most species ever counted was 238 in 2000 and the least was 171, this year and also in 2006. Rainy conditions and fewer count teams deployed throughout the count circle likely accounted for this. Still a good time was had by all with more than a few champagne toasts raised to excellent birding at Chan Chich Lodge. We'd love to have you join us next year, same time, same place for the 19th Annual Gallon Jug Christmas Bird Count.