Witnessing One of Costa Rica’s Rarest Wildlife Spectacles: The Agami Heron Rookery

One of the memorable experiences on our NatureArt Lab Costa Rica Nature Tour was visiting an extraordinary Agami Heron rookery—one of only a handful of known breeding colonies in Costa Rica.

Located at Katera de Guatuso, this remarkable site represents an inspiring story of conservation in action. Although local residents had long known that the elusive herons visited this wetland, the significance of the breeding colony was only fully recognised in April 2025, when the property became available for sale. Because his grandfather had owned neighbouring land, local conservationist Odir Rojas understood the importance of protecting this unique habitat. He purchased the property with the vision of safeguarding the colony and creating a protected nature reserve for future generations.

Today, Katera de Guatuso is being developed as both a conservation reserve and an educational centre where visitors, researchers and local communities can learn about one of Central America’s most enigmatic birds. Carefully managed ecotourism will provide vital income to help protect the habitat while supporting environmental education and local livelihoods—a wonderful example of conservation benefiting both nature and people.

The Agami Heron is classified as Near Threatened due to the ongoing loss and degradation of its wetland habitat throughout its range. Unlike many heron species, Agami Herons depend on secluded, undisturbed wetlands where they gather in breeding colonies from April to October. Protecting these few nesting sites is essential for the species’ long-term survival.

Our group observed the colony respectfully from a distance, allowing the birds to continue their natural behaviour undisturbed. Across the flooded trees, pairs of Agami Herons stood quietly among the branches. Some were engaged in elegant courtship displays, while others flew in to snap small branches from nearby trees, carrying them carefully in their bills to build their nests. The rookery was filled with gentle calls between birds and the occasional crack of nesting material being gathered.

Because we visited during the warmth of the early afternoon, activity was relatively subdued. However, hearing Odir describe the colony’s daily rhythms brought the site vividly to life. Before dawn each morning, the herons leave the rookery and fly to the nearby wetlands of Caño Negro to forage, returning later to feed their chicks and continue nesting activities under the shelter of the flooded forest.

Experiences like this remind us that conservation often begins with individuals who recognise the value of the natural world and choose to protect it. Odir’s vision has secured an internationally significant breeding site and created new opportunities for education, scientific research and sustainable ecotourism.

For NatureArt Lab participants, visiting the Agami Heron rookery was far more than an opportunity to see a rare bird. It was a powerful lesson in how local knowledge, community commitment and conservation can come together to protect biodiversity. By supporting projects such as Katera de Guatuso, visitors become part of a larger story—one that helps ensure these remarkable birds continue to breed safely for generations to come.