Monthly Archives: March 2026

Birding Off the Grid. Satellite Communications.

Year 13

Whether a person is remote in northern Minnesota, or down in Costa Rica, having backup communications via satellite is smart. While high end phones and devices such as Garmin InReach exist to insure you may easily text or call anyone … and more … one need not own a premium device or phone with their associated extra costs (device purchase and monthly plans). Recently both while up at the Greenwood Boreal Forest and down here in Costa Rica I tested my Google Pixel 10. While off the grid with zero connectivity I was easily able to connect my phone to satellites. My phone service then allows me to initiate emergency communications to the government authorities.

While I am NOT advocating for folks to purchase an Android phone and use the Google Fi Phone Service (my plan), it IS important people understand the small additional cost of insuring your mobile device has satellite connectivity as part of your monthly service plan. Many new phones and plans have included emergency satellite services. This should be part of your purchase decision.

My Google Pixel 10 cost me a bit over $400, and my monthly Google Fi plan is about $45, which is by no means an expensive phone and plan. While I am NOT able to make phone calls or texts via satellite as desired, if an emergency arises and I need to contact the authorizes via satellite, my phone handles that communication. In my case the emergency app questions me about the nature of my emergency, records my GPS coordinates and contacts the emergency authorities via satellite. This functionality is part of my regular monthly plan. It is NOT an additional cost.

Thus, if you are like me and bird / hike well off the grid … even if only on an occasional basis, consider a phone which has satellite emergency communications services. You do not need regular satellite communications, just the satellite emergency services. It is a good insurance policy if you ever unexpectedly need help.

Here are three screenshots I took from my Google Pixel 10 which I took while testing the satellite service while up at Greenwood early this month. I did not actually send an emergency help request, but my phone allows me to test and understand how the service works.

  • Verifying I have satellite connectivity

  • Aligning my phone with the satellites

  • Sending my test message (not really)

Costa Rican Bird Colony in the Sky

Year 13

I am finally catching up on processing photographs, and these images are from the rain forest. The Montezuma Oropendola is approximately the size of a Raven, and nests within HUGE colonies very high up in extremely tall trees. The nests are over 3 feet long, and in any given colony there will be 30 to 50 nests. I assume the large nests prevent predators from reaching their young. Hopefully these images will help folks understand this amazing, and noisy nesting colony. (My thanks to Janet, a faithful reader of this site who contacted me to point out I had my Oropendolas messed up! These “sky nesters” are the Montezuma variety, not Chestnut-Headed. Thanks, Janet!)

Montezuma Oropendola Nesting Colony … Parent Arriving

More Colony Images …

And just because I like photos of Yellow-Throated Toucans … from the Rain Forest … hopping, flowers and bananas! Down the hatch!

Las Catalinas Dry Creek White-Fronted Amazon Parrot

Year 13

I follow my own advice with regards to habitat! In yesterday’s post I explained about the benefits of birding the “Dry Creek Beds” of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. This morning I was waiting BEFORE sunrise for the golden orb to sends its rays over the steep hill tops to my east. More specifically I was waiting near a tree where I had seen White-Fronted Amazon Parrots feeding the prior morning. It was obvious the parrots knew the long hanging brown “packets” on the tree were food. I hoped and expected the birds would be back at sunrise to feed. I was not disappointed, and even by my standards captured dramatic, beautiful light photographs. (read my description of dry water creek habitat in yesterday’s post). My images published here provide examples ranging from habitat landscapes to flight shots. As a fyi, the sun’s rays were not yet even illuminating the bottom of this tree when I took the sequence of photographs. It was truly the moment of sunrise which I captured because of prior research and planning.

White-Fronted Amazon Parrots