COBA AND THE BIRDS
By Anne Kiehl & Dave Krieg
Birds and butterflies were everywhere. Anne stared through her binoculars at the big greenish yellow eye rings of a Violaceous Trogan. We were thrilled to see this big blue and yellow bird with his purple throat. Another new bird for us
The Sacbes (ceremonial avenues) were most unusual. They were constructed with a base of stone 3 to 6 feet above the surrounding land and between 15 feet and 33 feet wide and covered with a very durable white mortar. Forty sacbes passed through the center of Coba, all straight.
A massive stone cylinder was found that was probably used for flattening these roads. Archaeologists believe the Mayas came very close to inventing the wheel at this time, but never managed it.
Since the site is large and the roads are in fairly good shape, the park rents bicycles to visitors. Also, you can hire young boys with tricycles that seat two passengers. We were still at a far corner of the grounds at closing time, and the park staff came for us with a tricycle to speed our departure. A very bumpy ride.
It was all such a thrilling experience that we went back the next day.
was the Turquoise-Browed Motmot. We wish the sketch here could show its green, blue and orange-red colors. Do you know that the absence of feathers from part of their tails results from the bird biting them off? Why? The birds haven't explained. They are also called Tick Tocks as they wave their tails sideways just like a clock pendulum.
This was at Coba Ruins, in NE Yucatan, which we visited on 1/25/03. Coba's name means stirred by the winds. The Mayas established this city in 300 BC. People were drawn to the area because of it's many lakes and marshland, which was unusual for Yucatan. The population reached about 50,000 between 600 AD and 900 AD. Its empire covered an area of about 50 square kilometers, the largest in the northern lowlands. Only 5% of the ruins have been excavated. It is believed that between 5000 and 6000 mounds are still unearthed. The structures are surrounded by thick jungle. Many are still overgrown with vines, flowers and even trees.
Climbing Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid on the peninsula (138 feet high), was a real challenge. There was a heavy rope to hold and give us confidence -- and the view from the top was spectacular.
