Beauty and the Beaks

TraveLLLers3 loves birds and we make time to go birding wherever we are. Whether we are at home in southern Alberta or visiting other countries, one of our favourite pastimes is to view birds in their natural habitats.

We might love birds, but they don't always love us back so we created a mantra for each time we go out and that is, "We only need to see one." Sometimes, we are out at the wrong time of day, or sometimes birds are just camera shy. However, if we get one good photo, we are typically happy.

One of our favourite birding expeditions was in Costa Rica in 2018. We hired a guide who took us to Carara National Park. This park has wonderful hiking trails and plenty of opportunities to view birds, flowers, trees, and other wildlife. Our guide amazed us with his knowledge and his talent for hearing hummingbirds. Their tiny little calls seemed to shout out at him and he was able to identify not only the species but also how many there were! While we were trying to grab a photo of one, he was already pointing out where several others were located.

Another wonderful place for birding in Costa Rica is Chachagua Rainforest. We visited this fantastic location in 2020 and were not disappointed. We were able to see birds ranging from small songbirds to huge hawks. Some of our favourites were the Aracari eating papaya at our feeder and the boat billed heron.

We don't always have to travel to see amazing birds. Our own river valley along the Oldman River in southern Alberta also gives us plenty to see. From Great Blue Herons to Black Capped Chickadees, we are always treated to a lovely sight.

This post is a shout out to our feathered friends and we simply want to share some of our favourites with you. Enjoy!