I remember a few years ago hearing about a movie with Steve Martin and Owen Wilson called The Big Year. It's about a couple of guys that make huge personal sacrifices in their efforts to spot and record the most species of birds in one year. And I thought "Seriously?!?". What a stupid premise for a movie and an even more stupid way to spend a year. I've watched the movie now and I have to admit it...I kind of get it!
Now, I'm not going to quit my job, leave my family and globe trot around the world...wait a minute...I guess I sort of did that, too! Well, I didn't do it just for the birds. But I have to say that the birds of Belize are incredible. Each year as our garden, plants and trees develop we are seeing a changing bird population. Of course, the best months are right now, when it's winter everywhere else. Most mornings I can sit on my deck and spot ten to fifteen different species. And that's before I've had my coffee and my eyes have barely opened!
Now, I'm not going to quit my job, leave my family and globe trot around the world...wait a minute...I guess I sort of did that, too! Well, I didn't do it just for the birds. But I have to say that the birds of Belize are incredible. Each year as our garden, plants and trees develop we are seeing a changing bird population. Of course, the best months are right now, when it's winter everywhere else. Most mornings I can sit on my deck and spot ten to fifteen different species. And that's before I've had my coffee and my eyes have barely opened!
Adam doesn't exactly share my enthusiasm. He'll respond with an appropriate "That's cool" when I rant about a new species I've sighted or some funny behaviour displayed by one of our resident birds. And he can name way more birds by sight than I think that he'll ever admit. But I wouldn't say that he is passionate.
Thankfully I have a friend, Nicole, who does share the same giddy excitement for the birds that I do. Nicole and her husband Bart are from Saskatoon but they spend half the year here. Guess which half? Have you been to Saskatoon in January?
They only live a few minutes from us but her bird watching is totally different from ours. Their house is just off the river and they have much denser jungle around them. Nicole has toucans!!!!!! Lots and lots of toucans!!!!!
I remember when we first visited Belize seven years ago I really wanted to see a toucan. It is the national bird of Belize and all the tour guides told us to 'keep our eyes open and up in the trees'. Five weeks trekking around and not one toucan. I was honestly starting to think it was just something made up by the Belize Tourism Board. So I went home disappointed. But I can truly say that Belize does have toucans. They are just all at Bart and Nicole's house!
A few mornings ago I headed to Nicole's place nice and early for coffee, company and bird watching. It was so amazing. I didn't keep track but I bet we saw around twenty different species! All the while sitting in our comfy deck chairs with hot coffee and banana bread. A great way to start any day.
Thankfully I have a friend, Nicole, who does share the same giddy excitement for the birds that I do. Nicole and her husband Bart are from Saskatoon but they spend half the year here. Guess which half? Have you been to Saskatoon in January?
They only live a few minutes from us but her bird watching is totally different from ours. Their house is just off the river and they have much denser jungle around them. Nicole has toucans!!!!!! Lots and lots of toucans!!!!!
I remember when we first visited Belize seven years ago I really wanted to see a toucan. It is the national bird of Belize and all the tour guides told us to 'keep our eyes open and up in the trees'. Five weeks trekking around and not one toucan. I was honestly starting to think it was just something made up by the Belize Tourism Board. So I went home disappointed. But I can truly say that Belize does have toucans. They are just all at Bart and Nicole's house!
A few mornings ago I headed to Nicole's place nice and early for coffee, company and bird watching. It was so amazing. I didn't keep track but I bet we saw around twenty different species! All the while sitting in our comfy deck chairs with hot coffee and banana bread. A great way to start any day.