This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
You may have experienced one of the weirdest weekends of your life, what with all bars and restaurants closed and people maintaining a healthy distance from even close friends and family. Alas, the pickings were slim apart from one freezing raptor counter. Sometimes the little things really do mean the most.
Cameras were still tucked away, but the experience left us all without words. Alas, there must have been some lesson taking place that was beyond my understanding. A Jabiru disappeared up a small stream around one corner, another corner was attended to by a small family of Amazon Kingfishers.
In this first installment, I will focus on my impressions and experiences in the highlands portion of our tour. Many Neotropical families and genera have some of their northernmost members here, such as the spinetails ( Rufous-breasted Spinetail ), Tangara tanagers ( Azure-rumped Tanager ), and guans ( Horned Guan ).
Alas, this little lovely perched on a wire just outside the window of the classroom where I was teaching at the moment, so no photos were taken. We were happy to experience three birds of prey on this jaunt. There is also a family of Barn Owls on the premises, and I have briefly seen the largest of them (enormous!)
Bright, but not the correct shade or combination – or even family. After lunch, we continued our search, this time at the banks of a river where a resident family assured us that the birds passed through regularly. Nevertheless, it was still a magical experience sitting in the jungle. Which birds? The bright yellow birds!
Alas, I only heard this super cool caprimulgid, but did get buzzed by a swift Malaysian Eared Nightjar. We got good looks at Yellow-breasted , Crimson-breasted , Yellow-vented , and Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers along with more mundane representatives of the sunbird family, Plain Sunbird and Thick-billed Spiderhunter.
” OK, we don’t really shout “Yee-haw” in New York, but our profane exclamations are not fit for a family-friendly blog. Suffice to say that our experience echoes across the United States and Northern Hemisphere.
Hornbills are spectacular under any circumstances, but when a pair lands in a bush beside you at eye-level and begin mutual preening , it makes for a spectacular experience. I was attending the 3rd Global Bird-watching Conference in Gujarat and suddenly surrounded not just be species that were completely new, but entire families of birds.
Can a family-focused trip—even to one of the world’s most biodiverse countries—deliver enough opportunities for avian observation to satisfy this serious world birder? With enough planning, you can enjoy a family-friendly, bird-rich vacation in the Panama Canal zone. If you have kids, you’re probably as curious as I was.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 30+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content