Home
to the Jabiru Stork, largest
bird in the Western Hemisphere
Bird-watchers, don your binoculars and telephoto lens and get ready to witness
an orgy of ornithological bliss. Herons, ducks, kites, egrets, ospreys, kingfishers and hawks are just a smattering of the 275 bird species seen here, including the Jabaru stork, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet, making it the
largest flying bird in the western hemisphere.
Literally thousands of birds congregate within the sanctuary during
the dry season, taking advantage of shallow water and
easy food resources.
The best time to see them is between February and May. Most migratory birds arrive in November, and leave before the rainy season starts in July. Black Howler Monkeys, Morelet’s Crocodiles, and freshwater turtles can also be found within the sanctuary.
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1984 for the protection of resident and migrant birds. The
Sanctuary is a network consisting of over 12,800 acres of inland lagoons, marshes
and waterways. There
are a number of good trails for sightings.
"The
Birdwalk" is about three quarters of a mile in length.
The elevated walkway passes through wetlands and gives
viewers an opportunity to see the indigenous plant and
wildlife.
Crooked Tree Village lies within the Sanctuary while a three and a half mile causeway connects the village with
the Northern Highway. This sleepy Creole village of narrow sandy lanes, lined with cashew trees, is home to between 600 and 900 residents.
Bird watching is by far the most popular activity, however the village is also famous for its cashews. Cashew trees grow in abundance here, yielding cashew nuts, cashew wine, and stewed cashew fruit. The village celebrates with an annual Cashew Fest in May. There is food, music, lots of dancing and celebration, and of course, lots of cashew. No matter what time of year, however, a trip to Crooked Tree yields a pleasant experience with friendly people and natural beauty.
Chau Hiix
Archaeological/wildlife/birding site. From Crooked
Tree Village, 3-4 hours by canoe each way, or rent a
motorboat: During the dry season
on-site archeologist can give you a tour. Can be reached
by vehicle from mid-April until late May.
Getting to Crooked Tree
From Belize
City, travel on the New Northern Highway for approximately
37 miles (Look for signs). Turn left and travel on
a well
maintained dirt road for several miles until you see
the Information center located on your left, just
before the
causeway, which leads into Crooked Tree Village.
From Corozal - Overnight in the northern border town of Corozal or fly or water-taxi to Corozal from Ambergris Caye in the morning as part of one of our Overnight Packages, which includes Crooked Tree as well as other popular Belize North destinations including Altun Ha, Lamanai and the Baboon Sancturary.
Bird watching is by far the most popular activity, however the village is also famous for its cashews. Cashew trees grow in abundance here, yielding cashew nuts, cashew wine, and stewed cashew fruit. The village celebrates with an annual Cashew Fest in May. There is food, music, lots of dancing and celebration, and of course, lots of cashew. No matter what time of year, however, a trip to Crooked Tree yields a pleasant experience with friendly people and natural beauty.
