Talking Naturally is a series of podcasts that cover birding and topics of global conservation concern. Podcast host Charlie Moores recently interviewed ABA president Jeff Gordon, so I decided to turn the interviewer’s table around on Charlie and introduce you to his conservation podcasts. [read more…]
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James Currie, host of Nikon’s Birding Adventures TV, was on the scene in Colombia when remarkable news broke that a mystery hummingbird was feeding at a private nature reserve three hours north of Bogotá. At first, the species was thought to be the Bogotá Sunangel, a lost relic known to science only from a single specimen purchased by a collector in 1909 – 102 years ago! James relates the unfolding story of the sighting, filming, and eventual capture of this hummingbird for DNA purposes and proffers some ideas of what it may be. [read more…] Embarking on an exotic birding tour – a professional tour that will immerse you in new habitats in far off lands with the chance of ticking lifers by the hundreds – is one of the sweetest pleasures life can bring. As departure day draws closer, excitement about the birds that await builds, bubbles, then overflows [read more…]
Though recent weather might indicate otherwise, reports from my local bird listserve indicate that spring IS actually occurring. Last night I was reminded of the other sign that spring migration is underway. My bird friends and colleagues say, "Yes! Let's get together and work on that!" Long pause. "After Migration." For example, many birders have advocated the idea of a “Duck Stamp” for birders and wildlife viewers. Based on the example set by hunters, whose licenses and duck stamps help pay for the upkeep and management of the refuges where they hunt, a “Migratory Bird” Stamp (or some such name) would be purchased by those of us who like to ogle, not shoot, birds. Vote on the “Duck Stamp” issue, and others, or offer your own BOLD IDEA right now. [read more…] I assume most of the folks reading this blog are familiar with the mobile app called BirdsEye. BirdsEye was the first (and still the only) app to sync with data in the eBird database at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. By displaying bird location data from eBird onto an expandable map, BirdsEye shows you what birds [read more…] Over 50% of Americans over 18 years of age (roughly 112 million) drink coffee every day. They consume an average of 3 cups per day, or 90 cups per person per month. Assuming each cup contains 0.36 oz of coffee, the average drinker consumes 32.4 oz, or roughly 2 pounds, of coffee per month. The vast majority of that [read more…] My colleagues here at the ABA Blog have written many great posts on topics ranging from wind power to ABA areas to gear and field identification. But no one has yet tackled the very serious problem of what happens when a tragically uninformed bird watcher meets the regrettably uptight compiler. I [read more…] |
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How to Prepare for an Exotic Birding Tour: Tips from the Pros
Veteran birders with international travel experience provide time-proven tips on how they prepare to bird in a new region. See Part I of this post, Study the Birds.
Alvaro Jaramillo, professional field guide, owner of Alvaro’s Adventures
“How much or how intensely you study for a trip to an exotic locale depends on [read more…]