Cayman Islands: nestled in the calm, turquoise waters of the western Caribbean is the peaceful British Crown colony known as the Cayman Islands

SOUTH OF CUBA--AND JUST 480 miles south of Miami--the Caymans consist of a trio of islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. All are blessed with sun-kissed beaches, waters teeming with fish flecked with gold, and a grand 500 years of culture, history, and beauty. But the Caymans are also home to over 220 bird species, including the Cayman parrot,Amazona leucocephala caymahensis, one of two subspecies found only in the Caymans (the other subspecies are in Cuba and the Bahamas).

You can spot this native bird along the National Trust's Mastic Trail, a restored 200-year-old footpath through a 2-million-year-old woodland area located in the dense interior of Grand Cayman Island. The picturesque trail winds from swamplands tangled with black mangroves to forests; past mango, tamarind, and calabash trees and delicate wild banana orchids to grassy glades dotted with palm trees. The best time to see the Cayman parrot is February through May; you'll often find it nesting in the hollow tops of dead royal palms during March and April. Be on the lookout for Caribbean dove, West Indian woodpecker, Cuban bullfinch, and smooth-billed ani. Book a guided tour at (809) 949-1996.

Established in 1990, the 180-acre National Trust Brac Parrot Reserve protects the nesting area of the endemic, endangered Cayman Brae parrot Amazona leucocephala hesterna. The latest census estimates about 400 of these lovely, iridescent emerald green parrots on the Brae. This endangered subspecies of the Cuban Amazon parrot can be seen in this unspoiled tropical woodland from February through May. The noisy parrots nest during March and April, loudly announcing the beginning of spring. Book guided tours at 345-948-2222.

Booby Pond Nature Reserve on Little Cayman, a 204-acre site comprising a saltwater pond and surrounding mangrove habitat, is a natural rookery, home to an estimated 5,000 nesting pairs of red-footed boobies (one of the largest breeding colonies in the Western Hemisphere). Boobies mate for life and nest from February through July in the mangrove trees within the sanctuary. You'll also find 200 pairs of magnificent frigate birds. While on Little Cayman, keep an eye out for migratory shorebirds, which are seen frequently here. You're likely to see waders as well as a variety of herons, stilts, and even the endangered West Indian whistling duck. You may also see the whistler in the North Side district of Grand Cayman at the Willie Ebanks Farm (located at the end of Hutland Road). The farm is also home to blue-winged teals, coots, grebes, and an occasional osprey or peregrine falcon.

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