AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Photographs Chachalaca

yyou've probably heard the cackling of Chachalaca coming from the back bush.
The Chachalaca is a wild bush turkey. Rarely seen but often heard at sun up and sun down. Of the 39 species of Chachalaca in the world, 3 are found in Belize. Ambergris Chachalaca are brown with pheasant like tail and a red throat, sometime weighing over two pounds. This fowl was most definitely a food source for the Maya and buccaneers living on this island in its past.

They seem to like San Marcos, even though we're very close to the end of the airstrip.

They eat those white berries that the palmeto produces , I've watched them come every day until the last berry is gone and then disappear for months while the palmeto grows more.
I transplanted some palmetos to my yard and they did good.

I live in the midst of a dense palmetto grove...loaded with fruit in season. Lots of birds dine on them...fun to watch!

Do any of you have a picture of a Palmetto? What I thought was Palmetto I was told was really Fan Palm. What I bought as Palmetto is very different.

tomorrow I post a shot

Why would you BUY a palmetto...they grow like weeds all over Ambergris Caye!

DUH - obviously I don't know what I'm doing - LOL
What I think is a Palmetto does not transplant.

Palmettos don't like to move but it has been done sucessfully. They die back but if you are patient they will eventually come back to life.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa3/elbertgreer/palmeto004.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa3/elbertgreer/palmeto003.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa3/elbertgreer/1p001.jpg
I transplanted these a few years back and had about 50% make it.

Since it almost Thanksgiving and I have two Chachalaca croaking most of the night - and since it is so gloomy right now - most of the day I googled and found this old thread.

Would I be thought unkindly of by the locals if we caught one and honored him/her for our neighborhood feast?

And BTW - thanks for the pictures of Palmettos - that's what I thought but was told they could not be transplanted. Now that BEL has stripped a swatch right up to my front garden as soon as they string their wires and get out of here we are going to replant the area. Palmettos here I come.