Birds of the Yucatan

We saw this rather large bird in Mexico on our way to the Mayan ruins at Konhunlich, in Mexico.  In spite of it being called the "Little Blue Heron" it is still rather large.  It is grayish-blue, also called slate blue in color.  They build stick nests in trees.  Sadly, the species is in decline since the middle of the last century.

This is the blogger (me) on the steps of the palace at Konhunlich

Here we are at the Palace at Konhunlich

The black vultures we saw were flying over the ruins at Chitzen Itza.  They have the regular vulture's soaring ability.  It was funny that they were soaring over the ball court, since hundreds of years ago some of the players often were sacrificed after the game.  So the ancestors of these vultures may have had a reason to be circling the ball court.   Did these modern Black Vultures have a species genetic memory?  Probably not, but it is kind of cool and kind of creepy to think about it.  The below pictures are from the Mayan (or Toltec) ball court at Chichen Itza. . . Sorry, but I did not catch a photo of the Black Vultures in these photos.   By the way, the Black Vulture is also called the Mexican Vulture.

Black Vulture or Mexican Vulture

Ball Court at Chichen Itza 

Hoop from Ball Court

Another view of the Mayan Ball Court

Our Guide Philipe holding a solid rubber ball like those used in the Mayan Ball Game