During the weekend of July 11 and 12, after many dry, summer-like days, the rain surprised Town once again. And with it came a few old friends who tend to visit from time to time when the conditions are right.
In previous editions of The Daily, we have shared how Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, known in Costa Rica as “piches” or “pijijes,” have appeared in Town during or shortly after the rain. When the retention ponds in El Prado fill with water, they temporarily create the kind of calm, shallow freshwater space these birds look for to rest, feed, gather, and move comfortably through the landscape.
This time, however, their visit looked different. Near the retention ponds in El Prado, our Department Head of Project Management at DCL, Las Catalinas’ construction and development department, found several of them standing together in a group. At first glance, the photo almost looks unreal. Their long upright posture, bright pink legs, soft chestnut bodies, and stillness give them the look of little figures placed carefully on the ground.
But they are very real. Known scientifically as Dendrocygna autumnalis, Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are social birds, often seen in pairs or groups. Their shape is part of what makes them so striking. They stand taller than many ducks, with long necks and long legs that give them an elegant, almost goose-like silhouette.
They also have a few habits that make them different from what many people imagine when they think of ducks. They are comfortable walking on land, grazing in open areas, resting near shallow freshwater, and even perching in trees. Their name comes from the high, whistling calls they make, especially when flying together.
Seeing several of them gathered in El Prado made their presence feel even more special. Not just because they were there, but because they seemed completely at ease, standing together in one of those quiet rainy-season scenes that can appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly.
For now, they remain temporary visitors, moving through Town when the conditions are right. And every time they arrive, whether in twos, threes, or this time as a whole little group, they add something wonderfully unexpected to the landscape of Las Catalinas.
For now, they remain temporary visitors, moving through Town when the conditions are right. And every time they arrive, whether in twos, threes, or this time as a whole little group, they bring a brief flash of wildness to El Prado: pink legs in the grass, soft whistles in the air, and a scene that feels almost too charming to be real.