Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
5/31/09 – 6/3/09
Between Orange Walk and Belize City two large groups of lagoons form the heart of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Comprising over 40,000 acres and including the small village of Crooked Tree, this fluctuating wetland area hosts 276 species of migrating and endemic bird species. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by the Belize Audubon Society which runs a visitor’s center located just across the causeway on the right as you enter town. The visitor’s center provides maps of town and information on trails and wildlife in the area.
Lagoon from Crooked Tree Visitor’s Center
Lagoon from Crooked Tree Lodge
Jabiru Stork (Jabiru mycteria)
We opted to stay three nights at the newly built Crooked Tree Lodge which sits at the north end of town on the west side of the lagoon. The Crooked Tree Lodge is owned by a young couple who bought and renovated the old Paradise Inn property after getting married there four years ago. Angie grew up in Crooked Tree Village and was happy to return to this peaceful spot. Mick and Angie have put an enormous amount of labor and love into the property, and it shows. The five cabanas were renovated from the floorboards up and are now modern but basic, retaining rustic charm without daily maid service, TV or AC. They also allow camping on the 11 ½ acre property, which is a B&B-type, family-style atmosphere. Mick and Angie are gracious hosts and provide up to three gourmet, hearty and delicious meals a day, each for an extra charge.
Crooked Tree Lodge Cabana
Lagoon edge at Crooked Tree Lodge
Crooked Tree Lodge is right on the lagoon and also has a small pond which attracts herons, kingfishers, turtles and other wildlife. There are many places to wander and sit throughout the lodge property as well as connections to the trails and roads in the sanctuary. Boat rides on the lagoon are also a good way to view the birds, although there is sometimes not enough water in the dry season to allow this. From the decks and trails around Crooked Tree Lodge, we saw Jabiru storks, limpkins, snail kites, neotropical cormorants, blue herons, roseate spoonbills, ringed and pygmy kingfishers, boat-billed herons, green herons, parrots, vermillion flycatchers, gray-necked woodrails, turtles, crocodiles and iguanas.
Limpkin (Aramus guaruana dolosus)
Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (male)
Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (female)
Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)
Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea stictoptera)
Besides the wildlife, Crooked Tree is famous for cashews and the village hosts a cashew festival the first weekend in May each year. The sandy roads that lead through town are lined with crooked cashew trees. The village is small and quiet, with only a few restaurants and shops that may or may not be open and/or have items for sale. The best bet for a coke or a snack is the gray store behind the row of busses across from the visitor center. Otherwise, visitors are fairly dependent on their own supplies or hotel for meals. While a stay in Crooked Tree is not cheap, the birds and wildlife are a must for any nature lover in the area.
Between Orange Walk and Belize City two large groups of lagoons form the heart of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Comprising over 40,000 acres and including the small village of Crooked Tree, this fluctuating wetland area hosts 276 species of migrating and endemic bird species. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by the Belize Audubon Society which runs a visitor’s center located just across the causeway on the right as you enter town. The visitor’s center provides maps of town and information on trails and wildlife in the area.
Lagoon from Crooked Tree Visitor’s Center
Lagoon from Crooked Tree Lodge
Jabiru Stork (Jabiru mycteria)
We opted to stay three nights at the newly built Crooked Tree Lodge which sits at the north end of town on the west side of the lagoon. The Crooked Tree Lodge is owned by a young couple who bought and renovated the old Paradise Inn property after getting married there four years ago. Angie grew up in Crooked Tree Village and was happy to return to this peaceful spot. Mick and Angie have put an enormous amount of labor and love into the property, and it shows. The five cabanas were renovated from the floorboards up and are now modern but basic, retaining rustic charm without daily maid service, TV or AC. They also allow camping on the 11 ½ acre property, which is a B&B-type, family-style atmosphere. Mick and Angie are gracious hosts and provide up to three gourmet, hearty and delicious meals a day, each for an extra charge.
Crooked Tree Lodge Cabana
Lagoon edge at Crooked Tree Lodge
Crooked Tree Lodge is right on the lagoon and also has a small pond which attracts herons, kingfishers, turtles and other wildlife. There are many places to wander and sit throughout the lodge property as well as connections to the trails and roads in the sanctuary. Boat rides on the lagoon are also a good way to view the birds, although there is sometimes not enough water in the dry season to allow this. From the decks and trails around Crooked Tree Lodge, we saw Jabiru storks, limpkins, snail kites, neotropical cormorants, blue herons, roseate spoonbills, ringed and pygmy kingfishers, boat-billed herons, green herons, parrots, vermillion flycatchers, gray-necked woodrails, turtles, crocodiles and iguanas.
Limpkin (Aramus guaruana dolosus)
Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (male)
Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (female)
Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)
Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea stictoptera)
Besides the wildlife, Crooked Tree is famous for cashews and the village hosts a cashew festival the first weekend in May each year. The sandy roads that lead through town are lined with crooked cashew trees. The village is small and quiet, with only a few restaurants and shops that may or may not be open and/or have items for sale. The best bet for a coke or a snack is the gray store behind the row of busses across from the visitor center. Otherwise, visitors are fairly dependent on their own supplies or hotel for meals. While a stay in Crooked Tree is not cheap, the birds and wildlife are a must for any nature lover in the area.
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