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How to Double Your Life List in Ten Days
By Jared Merriman, age 18
It is really a quite simple task. All it requires is
a plane ride to the right country and the
acquisition of the right guide.
In the case of my adventure, the plane ride took me
to Panama and the guides were the employees of
Advantage Tours. Guido Berguido and Venicio Wilson
were absolutely amazing.
I departed for Panama last spring with 328 birds on
my life list. That was after five years of birding
in America; traveling to Florida, Washington,
Louisiana, Arizona, and all across Ohio.
After ten days in the birders paradise known as
Panama, I had seen 330 species. Birding Acheote
Road, Pipeline Road, Old Gamboa Road, and the
mountains of Panama produced more birds than birding
some of the best spots in America.
Sheer numbers do not describe the birders’ paradise
that is Panama, or even the rest of Central
America. The beauty of the species found in that
region of the world is breathtaking, whether viewing
the grandness of the quetzals tail, the grace of a
White Hawk flying against a backdrop of dark green
rainforest, the shocking contrast of colors
displayed by the Violet Sabrewing, or the awesome
power of a Harpy Eagle (unfortunately, our only
sighting was in a zoo).
Every birder should bird Central America at least
once in their life. Not only because it adds to
their numbers, nor only for the amazing beauty of
the birds (which is well worth the plane ticket),
but because every birder improves on the skills they
need to become excellent birders. The dense forest
makes for tricky spotting, and even trickier
identification. Also, a birder learns patience in
the jungles of Panama, as many birds require a short
wait as they work their way through the brush.
So you decide on the reason for traveling to
Panama. Go to boost your life list. Go to view some
of the most amazing birds on earth. Go to learn a
better way to bird. Or, go to practice your Spanish.
But more importantly, GO!!
Page last updated on
Friday July 25, 2008
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