Ecuador – Hummingbird Paradise

July 6, 2015

Although Ecuador only covers 0.2% of the world’s surface, it ranks as the country with the largest biodiversity per kilometer in the world. About the size of Colorado, Ecuador is home to 124 species of hummingbirds, a true hummingbird paradise. By comparison, only 12 species of hummingbirds have been recorded in Colorado. Hummingbirds account for […]

Read Post

Belize Trip Report – Birding at Caves Branch and Chaa Creek

December 17, 2014

Located at the southeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Unlike countries nearby (Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras), Belize lacks a history of Spanish conquest and high population densities. About a third of Belize lies in national parks and nature reserves and there are less than […]

Read Post

Birding Life List – Alaska Magazine (June 2014)

May 30, 2014

Reefs to Rockies Co-founder Sheridan Samano, an avid birder, recently wrote an article for Alaska Magazine. The Last Frontier provides ample birding opportunities. The complete article is posted below. Don’t forget to pick up an issue of Alaska Magazine to read about one of the nation’s premier wildlife destinations. AKMMG_140600_00048 AKMMG_140600_00049

Read Post

The Sex Life of Greater Prairie-Chickens – Sandhills, Nebraska

April 14, 2014

Greater prairie-chickens are a lekking species of grouse that reside in open grasslands throughout several midwestern states. Leks are aggregations of males visited by females for the sole purpose of mating. Males gather together for several months in the breeding season, each defending a territory within the lek. Females typically choose to mate with one, […]

Read Post

Harris’s Hawks On the Hunt – A Family Affair (Tucson, Arizona)

January 11, 2013

When a winter trip to Arizona landed on my travel calendar, I knew a search for Harris’s hawks was in order. Harris’s hawks reside in the arid southwest US, including the Tucson area. This raptor species stands alone when it comes to hunting. They hunt cooperatively as small family units. Why? It increases their chances […]

Read Post

Beach Birding Photo Blog – Riviera Maya, Mexico

November 27, 2012

It didn’t take long to notice a wide variety of bird species in front of our condo in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. Located along the Riviera Maya, Puerto Aventuras is a resort area south of Playa del Carmen. A few short walks along the beach provided an abundance of bird photo op’s. Watching the resident pair […]

Read Post

Birding at Otun Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, Colombia

October 23, 2012

We arrived to Otun Quimbaya after dark on a Saturday. On the way from Pereira we stopped along the Otun River in town in search of the torrent duck, a local highlight. We struck out on the duck, but did see a white-capped dipper in the river. Otun Quimbaya is located in the west slope […]

Read Post

Colombia Birding Trip – Los Alcazares Ecopark in Manizales

September 27, 2012

Nestled between two urban Manizales neighborhoods, Los Alcazares Ecopark proved to be a surprise highlight of the trip. Upon arrival, our guide informed us that a typical two-hour morning birding session at this location often yields 50+ species without walking more than 100 yards down the road from the entrance. We showed up late in […]

Read Post

Colombia Birding Trip – Santa Marta and El Dorado Reserve

September 25, 2012

Approximately 10% of Earth’s living species are found in Colombia. At present, Colombia ranks first in the world when it comes to the number of bird species. Our first major stop for birding on this trip was El Dorado Reserve in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and a two-three hour drive from Santa Marta. El Dorado […]

Read Post

Conservation and Sustainable Tourism in Colombia

September 21, 2012

Back in Bogota after 7 days of birding (Santa Marta, Otun Quimbaya and Cali regions). Final tally of birds seen comes to 317 different species (the group saw a total of 355). To put that into perspective, we saw approximately 1/3 of the total number of species recorded in the US in Canada in just […]

Read Post