The Thrill of Adventure

A slippery climb to view a Swallow-tailed Kite and the epic beauty of Semuc Champey

I love birding.  Period. But I love birding Central and South America a little bit more. My first great passion was Spanish.  It brought me to this chapter in my life.  Once upon a time, a small town boy from Wisconsin dreamed of exploring the rain forests and ancient civilizations of Central and South America. He had read about them in his National Geographic magazines.

Clay-colored Thrush enjoys an avocado

 Today that dream has turned into reality. Back in 2006, I went to Guatemala for the first time but I wasn't a birder.  So I returned last year with my new eyes and camera ready for the journey.  Birding in an exotic locale is an adventure.  There aren't reliable ebird reports in many places.  Many times I had to speak with people about a particular bird.  They didn't always know what the names of the birds were but if I had a pic on my cell phone, they'd generally recognize them right away. At that point, they'd give me directions to the various spots and also the time frame in which the birds usually showed up. I found that I was the first person reporting in many of these incredible places. And it was a very rewarding experience. 

This is where my heart belongs and perhaps one day I will return here for a longer stretch, but there is a great big world waiting to be explored.  I chose Guatemala over Costa Rica or Panama this time because it was underbirded. Plus, if you forced me to choose, I'd pick Guatemala because it is such a colorful country. The Mayan culture is still rich and alive.  However, it wasn't always the easiest place to travel and the birds could be a challenge.  

Watching a volcano erupt in the distance

 But at the end of the day after lots of research and exploration, we had the most incredible views from our lodges. 

Slaty-tailed Trogon

 There are no safety rails in Guatemala like one might find in Costa Rica or in parts of Panama.  People would ask me the purpose of my trip and I'd tell them that I was birding.  They wrinkled their noses.....meaning they didn't understand.  So I began to tell them that I was a photographer filming the amazing Guatemalan wildlife.  And then they understood. Birding is still an unknown for many around the world. We are the ambassadors for our feathered friends in this crazy human world. If people understand that there are those who would pay money to get a glimpse of their birds, they then might consider protecting areas for people to come visit. The idea is slowly catching on. 

And the animals were incredible.  With birder eyes, nothing goes unnoticed.  Plus I had a friend with me who also helped in the searches and she was amazing.  Together we laughed at the most uncomfortable situations.  I think by the end of the month, she understood my addiction towards birds better. 

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush(that's a mouthful)

 And while on the trails in Guatemala, I noticed during my research of strange birds that there were two birders who also reported on Ebird.  In fact, they were some of the only ones who reported often.   Both had male names and I assumed that they were older until one contacted me via Facebook.  Turns out, the top ebirders for Guatemala were two high school students.  I loved that my stereotype was shattered.  As a teacher, it is my hope that we get more young people to bird.  And I have seen an increase in their numbers!  In fact just the other day, I met a high school student with a group of birders in the Arizona area.  I had assumed the older gentleman was his grandfather.  Turns out he was a birder! Isn't our lot a strange one?  Where else can generations join together for one common goal and discover birds? Each offering the other knowledge, experience and quick spotting by sight or sound.  I think it's pretty amazing.  

Gray Silky-flycatcher

 Now birding still isn't "cool" by the regular gang, but it's catching on.  Why?  Epic locales like the ones we visit entice the young at heart to explore places that they've never heard about before.  And when I asked these young people why they've chosen birding as their hobby, they've explained to me that not only are birds amazing but that it takes them to strange and exciting places. When I heard "strange", I immediately thought about the smelly sewage plants and dumps:) Then there are the epic National Parks. We can camp, hike, canoe, etc.  Birding is also a personal challenge and for some, a competition. How many trips around the world did it take me before I put 2 and 2 together? I'd prefer not to think about it:) I'm here now and that's all that matters. 

My next series for Birding is Fun will focus on several Guatemalan places that I thought were great for birding.  I'll share some secrets with you as well plus give you some info for your non-birder crew who might want to follow. We'll explore Antigua, Tikal, Semuc Champey, Lake Atitlan, and other locales.  Each place offers birders great spaces to explore while having other things of interest for the non-birder crowd.  It's like a two-for-one:) While on this trip, I snapped this picture(below) of an artist painting her mural near Antigua.  It inspired me as I sat and watched her work.  It got me thinking about my own photography and life list. This became the header for a personal blog to help organize the sightings of new and old birds alike. 

 Each year I learn more and more about birds and it's thrilling. That's why Birding is Fun!

Where will this trail lead me?  What will I discover?