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March 2-17, 2002
By Dwayne Fink
I won the prize, offered by Simon
Thompson, our trip leader and owner of Ventures, Inc., for the closest
guess of bird species our group would ID during the 2 weeks we traveled
around Costa Rica. The challenge was given the second day. At the rate
we were going then, it seemed we would ID all 880+ species found in the
tiny country. I compromised my wild dreams at 410. Everyone else
guessed less. Our final list was 420.
And what birds they were: Scarlet Macaw, 7 species of trogons, all 6 of the toucans, tinamous, tiger-herons, wrens and antwrens, antvireos, antpittas and antshrikes - and on and on. Four species of monkeys, sloth, anteater, agouti – and on and on.
The accommodations and food were wonderful. Every meal included exotic juices, fruits and vegetables. It was a small group: Suzanne Cash and Edna and I of Sonoran AS, plus two great chaps from North Carolina, and our driver/saint Alberto, and Simon. Seven – a nice table full at meals. Everyone got lots of individual attention, which is important when you have days, like we did, when you find 129 species – most new. Suzanne was our naturalist, reminding us that Coast Rica is more than birds – much more.
Some birding spots were easy (roadsides and improved trails) and some were difficult. The fittest of the group took them all. Those slightly past their peak, like me, picked and chose. Edna, my bride, had to forgo much of the trail birding. She broke her arm early on. Fell on a tiled patio at a visitor center. Incidentally, the medical care in Cost Rica is top notch. The country spends its limited resources on health and education. There is no army; only saw 5 or 6 police cars; and the roads don’t suck up money either.
Our local doctor said Edna’s arm had been set well. All he had to offer was a lighter high-tech cast – which will probably cost 10X the original. If you have enough mobility to walk trails, you ought to dare to experience Cost Rica. Expect to be completely overwhelmed with beautiful birds
Oh! The prize? A miniature Resplendent Quetzal. It’s perched now in our family room. Sometimes, when the house is quiet, I hear its call – declaring its specialness – and that of its home in the cloud forests of Costa Rica.
And what birds they were: Scarlet Macaw, 7 species of trogons, all 6 of the toucans, tinamous, tiger-herons, wrens and antwrens, antvireos, antpittas and antshrikes - and on and on. Four species of monkeys, sloth, anteater, agouti – and on and on.
The accommodations and food were wonderful. Every meal included exotic juices, fruits and vegetables. It was a small group: Suzanne Cash and Edna and I of Sonoran AS, plus two great chaps from North Carolina, and our driver/saint Alberto, and Simon. Seven – a nice table full at meals. Everyone got lots of individual attention, which is important when you have days, like we did, when you find 129 species – most new. Suzanne was our naturalist, reminding us that Coast Rica is more than birds – much more.
Some birding spots were easy (roadsides and improved trails) and some were difficult. The fittest of the group took them all. Those slightly past their peak, like me, picked and chose. Edna, my bride, had to forgo much of the trail birding. She broke her arm early on. Fell on a tiled patio at a visitor center. Incidentally, the medical care in Cost Rica is top notch. The country spends its limited resources on health and education. There is no army; only saw 5 or 6 police cars; and the roads don’t suck up money either.
Our local doctor said Edna’s arm had been set well. All he had to offer was a lighter high-tech cast – which will probably cost 10X the original. If you have enough mobility to walk trails, you ought to dare to experience Cost Rica. Expect to be completely overwhelmed with beautiful birds
Oh! The prize? A miniature Resplendent Quetzal. It’s perched now in our family room. Sometimes, when the house is quiet, I hear its call – declaring its specialness – and that of its home in the cloud forests of Costa Rica.
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