A Chalalaca for Your Birthday?

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

It's not a typical birthday thing for me to go out and watch birds. Especially with a charming and informative guide who came prepared with a powerful spotting scope. Even my best guy - who is definitely not on friendly terms with binoculars - at least said that he had a great time.

And how could you not have a fine time when you got to see motmots, chalalacas, honeycreepers with bright red legs and a cute pygmy owl?

Josue

Our guide, Josue de Leon Lux, knows every bird (in English and Spanish) at Los Tarrales Reserve in the Guatemalan highlands (we just happened to be in the neighborhood and thought we'd stop by...). He knows them by sight, by sound and probably even by first name. Most importantly, he could easily locate them through the scope so that we too could get a view. And in all his free time, he records the local bird calls for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY.

I'm ready to go again, anytime. Even if it means putting up with another birthday.







Special thanks to Jack Miller

Miller Atomic Research Services