During a People to People trip to Cuba sponsored by the National Audubon Society, I was lucky to travel with a small group of people who all shared a love of nature. Although I’m a biologist, but not an avid birder, some in our group were. We spotted everything from endemic birds to small mammals, land crabs and snails. However, the list of bird species observed was astonishing. One highlight of our visit was sighting the Cuban Tody (Todus multicolor). While in the Zapata swamp, we heard the Cuban Tody’s staccato call. The bird, slightly larger than a hummingbird, was initially difficult to find among the foliage, but its whirring wing beats allowed us to pinpoint its location.

ALTON BIGGS FOUNDING PRESIDENT, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BIOLOGY TEACHERS Birding in Cuba with National Audubon Society