Tropical Birding I: It IS a Jungle Out there

And then, there are the noises. It took me a full morning before I realized the dripping water sounds I heard reverberating through the forest had nothing to do with water, but were the calls of the crested oropendola. Other birds called in mournful tones; others, like toucan barbets, simply “tooked” to each other.

The jungle, for all its discomforts, is, indeed a paradise, but before you decide to go, there are a few things you should be aware of.

First, if you’re new to tropical birding, go with an established tour group that specializes in birding. Again, I recommend Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (www.ventbird.com) because of their experience and the way they manage their international tours.

Second, do your homework before you go; get to know your birds. One of the best field guides for this is the new Birds of Ecuador, written by Robert Ridgely and illustrated by Paul Greenfield.

Third, visit your friendly medicine-man. You’re going to need a few immunizations for this trip, including typhoid, yellow fever, and a malaria preventative.

Finally, if you do go, try to get your equipment insured. As much as I would have loved to share my trip photos with you, I can’t. The film I shot was stolen, along with all my camera equipment, the day before I was to fly home. Luckily, my insurance company covered my equipment. Sadly, they could not cover the lost film.

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