{Central Belize } OLDE BELIZE RIVER: The Olde Belize River offers sights for everyone, fishing, birds, wildlife and flora. A run up the river from the Lodge and you never know all that you will encounter.

This year, the jabiru again nested for the 3rd or 4th year, and our riverside Jabiru stork hatched 3 chicks, what a sight! Mikey boated the Belize Audubon up the river for the Christmas Bird count on December 21, 2024 and the pair of Jabiru were already on the nest. Our Audubon birders were very excited about their sightings.
Quick Jabiru facts:

• The largest flying bird in the Americas
• Stand at an average of 5 feet and have a wingspan of 8 feet.
• Has a normally 12 inches long, heavy, black beak
• Life span in the wild is 30 years.
• Jabiru pairs breed for life.
  • Breeding season is between December and May
• The nest is built by the male Jabiru in December and January
  • Nests are very large, constructed of sticks and woody debris, and can be quite deep.
  • Nest width are approximately 3.3 feet (1 meter) and 5.9 ft deep (1.8 meters)
    • These nests are often reused and expanded each year, potentially reaching diameters of over 2 meters
• The presence of a jabiru indicates a healthy, functioning wetland environment

Olde Belize River

Of course there are parrot of different species, Montezuma’s Oropendula, toucans, kingfishers and many other species of birds along the river. As well as birdlife, you may see crocodiles, either Mortlett or Saltwater, both are in Belize; as well as different species of turtles, iguanas, quash, Howler Monkeys (locally known as baboons) and if you are lucky, a tapir.

A boat ride up the Olde Belize River offers up an array of flora along the river goes from dense jungle to tall Royal Palms to thick ferns to open low lying savanna flats. The jungle is then interspersed by settlements and villages, such as Burrell Boom.

And of course, you can sightsee the river; or fish! Your guides will point you in the right direction for Tarpon and Snook, however, you never know if your fly may be stolen by one of our many river ciclyds – the bay snook, tuba or crana.

A day on the river is a highlight of adventure!

Nesting Jabiru

rolling baby Tarpon

Tapir swimming the river

sunning crocodile

Howler Monkey

Royal Palms