JUNE 2011 fieldguides® BIRDING TOURS WORLDWIDE Avian Adventures in the Land of Oz By Megan Crewe If you’re looking for new and novel experiences, there’s nothing like a trip “Down Under” to deliver them. here you are, cruising through the lush dairy region of Australia’s southeast, thinking, “Why, this looks just like Wisconsin,” when suddenly a mob of bright pink parrots rises screeching from the roadside. Or you’re ambling through a park full of scrubby brush, thinking, “This could almost be South Texas,” when a pack of kangaroos suddenly bounds across your path. Or you follow the noise of electronic static and birdsong snippets—the sort of sounds that might come from a fellow birder’s At top, Simpson’s Gap near Alice Springs; above, a Powerful Owl, Tmalfunctioning recording equipment—and discover a male Superb Lyrebird dancing on his stage, his impressive tail true to its name, gives quite the plumes curled up over his head. And you begin to realize just how unique a place Australia really is! intimidating stare! [Photos by Continued on page 10 guide Chris Benesh] Delightful Distractions WHAT WE VALUE (from Birding in Borneo) Jan Pierson Rose Ann Rowlett n the next page, Mitch e’re watching a big mixed flock in the most extensive tract of Lysinger introduces new Field Guide Willy Pérez in an primary tropical rainforest leftinBorneo,theworld’sthird- entertaining and informative largest island. “Watch for movement; check every bird.” One O W piece about a leader who’s a great fit sails across, lands on an exposed trunk, and disappears. Where did it go? for our company. We hope to make a Binocular examination of the spot reveals, instead of a bird, a small broadbill- few more additions to our guide staff green lizard! It’s Draco cornutus, one of 10 Bornean members of the genus of in the next year or two (read more “flying lizards.” Of course, they don’t actually fly,butglide from one trunk to about that at the end of my column Continued on page 11 on p. 3 for more info), and that has got me thinking about what we value This Wallace’s Flying Frog, Rhacophorus nigropalmatus, has come down from the canopy to just above a small at Field Guides. forest pool, where his calling attracts females that will descend to mate and lay their eggs before returning to the Continued on page 3 rainforest canopy, where they spend most of their time hunting insects. [Photo by guide Richard Webster] Also in this issue: 2/Field Guides Most Wanted • 4/Fresh From the Field • 8/Upcoming Tours • 9/Guatemala • 10/Brazil Nutshell • 11/Last Spaces 800-728-4953 / www.fieldguides.com FIELD GUIDES MOST WANTEDLIST Reported by “Special Agent” Mitch Lysinger Physical features: about 5’ 6” (but mightevenbeskilledintheartof hooked from the beginning, and then I this all depends on whether he is up gathering larger crowds for had the privilege to spend some quality on his toes to see a new bird or not), discussions on conservation and time with him in the woods…wow! easy smile, sometimes crooked hat guide training in both English and Not only was he sharp with one of the (but who cares?), glasses (but these Spanish. For your own safety and world’s toughest avifaunas, but he was could be a prop… you never know enjoyment, our only suggestion is a master at dealing with adverse withhim),andkeepshimselfingood this: if you do think that you have situations. You name it: from shape; rumor has it that he plays a spotted Willy in the field, please stay uncertain flight schedules on muddy meangameofsoccer. as close to him as possible for a great landing strips to dealing with time…and lots of birds! indigenous Amazonian customs that ur agents have been in hot Occupation: Guide (and don’t call takethepatienceofasaint.Hewas pursuit of several top him “Guido,” if you know what’s RECENT BREAKING UPDATE: rock solid. Oguides, including Willy P. good for you!)… though some would We are proud to announce that As I flew back to Quito from (see photo above), the coolest say he finds birds and sells smiles for Willy was recently apprehended and Kapawi,IknewthatIhadtoget customer of all. Need more details? a living. brought in as the newest Field together with Willy again, and I Read carefully… Guides leader on (but not limited to) invitedhimtoaccompanymeonsome GENERAL RUN-DOWN: multiple charges of eagle eyesight, future Field Guides tours in the Name: Willy Pérez Willy has been armed and natural humor, and group highlands; needless to say, Willy was a dangerously competent in entertainment. So all can rest easy. hit with the folks all the way around. Nationality: Ecuadorian. But don’t Ecuador—not to mention numerous HavinggrownupontheWest be fooled. Willy is married to a sightingsinotherSouthAmerican Joking aside: Slope of Ecuador not far from a wonderful British woman (and they countries—for over a decade now WillyisatalentthatIhavehadmy birding spot some of you may be have two beautiful little daughters), with binoculars, scope, and eyeoneversinceIledmyfirsttripto familiar with, Tinalandia, Willy has so he speaks English fluently. recordingequipmentinhandatall theveryremoteKapawiLodge—in always been a man of the outdoors; he times. Beware: his wit, charm, and Ecuador’s Amazon—many years ago, remembers the days long gone when Date of Birth: Sometime in the late birding prowess have the ability to wherehetrainedasanaturalist- monkeys and toucans were practically 60’s, but he may have had surgery to win over groups anywhere from 1-14, birding guide for a couple of years. right at his childhood doorstep. These make himself look 10 years younger. anditisstronglysuspectedthathe His easy-going demeanor had me thrilling experiences would later 2 800-728-4953 / www.fieldguides.com WHAT WE VALUE Continued from page 1 Come the first of July we will have operated 75 tours in 2011 to date. We love to peruse the trip reports from our guides (wading through tales of grouse and prairie-chickens from our recent Colorado Grouse tours, Dune Larks and Pel’s Fishing-Owls from Namibia & Botswana, and spring migrants from an array of North American trips recently was great!). And who wouldn’t—after all, there’s hardly anything more exciting than seeing new birds and new places. These reports reflect that. But it’s also very important to us to read about the full context of those tours…your thoughts on your experience with Field Guides, as reflected in the post-tour evaluations you send us. These arrive in a steady stream at our Austin office. When they hit my desk here in Maine, the first thing I glance through is your assessment of that overall experience, beyond just what you saw— it’s a quick finger on the pulse of how we’re doing. As I write this, there’s a small, fresh stack waiting, and a quick flip through that in-a-nutshell line on the evaluations reveals “excellent,” “excellent fun,” “very good experience,” “very good,” “exceptional,” “excellent,” “very enjoyable,” “awesome,” “excellent,” “very positive,” “excellent,” “super,” “excellent,” “great,” and “excellent.” That’s wonderful to read, and all of us from our great guides in the field to our terrific office staff in Austin will keep working to generate more of the same. As a team, we really like Above: Rufous Wren, a denizen of the temperate zone. Left: Willy searching consistency! for birds in the high paramo at Papallacta Pass—there’s a Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe to be found out there! [Photos by participants Kevin Heffernan So, do you know someone who might make a great & Cheri Jetmore] Field Guide? We are currently looking for a couple of ? outstanding guide prospects to join the Field Guides inform his respect for nature and exciting destinations below and team community, and we’ve added a new page to our help develop his keen talent of up with him to see for yourself what website (www.fieldguides.com/guidesearch.html) with observation. What can you say? It afindheis.Prettysoonitwillbe information about the attributes we seek in prospective guides. wasbakedintohisblood.Asforhis time to honor Willy with an official Check it out, and if you know of someone you think might fit the people skills…well, this can’t be Field Guides trademark bird bill, let us know by using the new guides contact link toward the taught.Justhappenedtobeapartof name…and who knows? Maybe after bottom of that new page. In the meantime, read about Willy and his genetic mold! getting to know him, you’ll come up start planning! Butdon’ttakemywordforit: with the perfect choice! havealookatWilly’stourdatesand Willy’s 2012 Schedule Jewels of Ecuador: Hummers, Tanagers & Antpittas, January 21-February 7 with Rose Ann Rowlett & Willy Pérez or February 11-28 with Mitch Lysinger & Willy Pérez Ecuador’s Wildsumaco Lodge, March 16-26 with John Rowlett & Willy Pérez Central Peruvian Endemics: The High Andes, June 1-18 with Dan Lane & Willy Pérez Montane Ecuador, July 19-28 with Willy Pérez Bolivia’s Avian Riches, September 8-23 with Dan Lane & Willy Pérez Northwestern Argentina: The Chaco, Cordoba & Northern Andes, October 17-November 4 with Dave Stejskal & Willy Pérez Ecuador’s Wildsumaco Lodge, December 28-January 7, 2013 with Willy Pérez 800-728-4953 / www.fieldguides.com 3 FRESH FROM THE FIELD Rose Ann Rowlett’s tour to Borneo in March was marked by many thrills: Seeing the canopy birds of the towering dipterocarp forest from eye level from the walkway at Danum Valley Rainforest Lodge; staring into the eyes of an Orangutan that frankly does not give a damn, my dear; wanting to reach out and pet a Red-bearded Bee-eater; and as for that pheasant, the Great Argus, sometimes we can see one on a display ground, sometimes we stumble into one on a forest trail, and sometimes we simply have to take pleasure in knowing we are sharing the forest with them.