A Chachalaca Surprise at Finca Chocolat
While we often share updates about what we plant and harvest, the truth is that Finca Chocolat is home to far more life than the cacao, timber, and spices we cultivate. Our 515 acres are alive with the sights and sounds of Belize’s wildlife — Howler Monkeys calling from the canopy, Peccary moving through the understory, Quash darting between the trees, more snakes than we’d prefer to meet, and even the occasional jaguar (though we usually spot their tracks rather than the cats themselves). Birds are especially abundant, adding flashes of color and bursts of song to the farm every day.
This week, while clearing around some trees, our crew discovered a Chachalaca nest tucked safely away. The mother had likely flown off at the sound of the brush cutters, but the team took care not to disturb the nest. Soon, she’ll return to tend to her young — a small reminder of how closely our work is intertwined with the rhythms of nature.
It’s easy, in the heat of the midday sun or during a sudden downpour, to focus only on the task at hand. But in the quiet of early mornings and late afternoons, we’re reminded just how magical this place truly is — a living ecosystem where cultivated crops and wild neighbors share the same land.