Zapata Peninsula – Cuba

About

The Zapata Peninsula or Peninsula de Zapata is located on Cuba’s Southern Coastline, South East of Havana. Most of the Peninsula is covered with vast marshland that is largely uninhabited. It is one of the least populated regions of Cuba. Though, in 1961, Playa Giron was one of the two landing sites in the Bay of Pigs Invasion, which is located on the Zapata Peninsula. Most of the Peninsula is a protected zone through UNESCO. It is safeguarded nationally as the Gran Parque Natural Montemar and Internationally as the Cienaga de Zapata UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It was established in 2001 in an effort toward conserving biodiversity and natural resources. It spans out to 1745 square miles, though 75% of the peninsula is considered a swamp area. Cienaga translates to Swamp in English, making it Zapata Swamp. The vast swamps, forests, and marshlands of the Zapata Peninsula create a perfect habitat for diverse wildlife species and an excellent location for birding. It is known worldwide as a birdwatching region. Some of the region’s visitors include the world’s smallest bird, the Cuban Bee Hummingbird, to Cuba’s national bird, the Cuban Trogon. It is also home to the Cuban Crocodile. You can see Cuban Crocodiles at the Criadero de Cocodrillos Crocodile farm. The farm played a crucial role in bringing them back from extinction, it was founded in 1962. They focus on conservation and breeding. Owen visited in March 2019 and has photographed over 67 different birds from the Cuban Green Woodpecker, West Indian Woodpecker, Cuban Black Hawk, Yellow-throated Warblers, to hummingbirds like the Cuban Emerald, to many more.  

© Michael Schultze

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Birds found here

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  Fernandina’s Flicker

  
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  Cuban Trogon

  
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  Cuban Emerald

  
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  Cuban Black Hawk

  
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  La Sagra’s Flycatcher