Most birds do NOT visit bird feeders. If you do not understand bird calls and the habitat the bird species you are hearing prefer, you will see fewer birds. Both down here in Costa Rica and back home in northern Minnesota, I use technology as an assist. Here are the devices I bring when I travel:

• Bluetooth Speaker (small)
• Meidase P70 Trailcam
• OwlSense birdsong listening station
• Two extra SD cards (devices stay in the field … I swap out cards)

Upon arriving on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, I setup the trailcam and birdsong listen station deep in the forest where I like to bird. Only 24 hours into our time at Las Catalinas, my devices near Zapotal Beach have ID’d these bird species, which I have successfully now seen and photographed:

• Black-Headed Trogon
• Pale-Billed Woodpecker (see yesterday’s post)
• Squirrel Cuckoo
• Streak-Backed Oriole
• Turquoise Browed Mot Mot

Still on my target to find, and hopefully photograph:

• Elegant Trogon
• Pacific Screech Owl

Once I am convinced I understand a location in terms of species and habitat, I may shift the location of the devices. One very important part of my search process is conducting research via Cornell’s premium database, Birds of the World (not expensive). I pay particular attention to the habitat section. I want to know “why” a given bird species is located where my devices made the identification.

On the trailcam side of the equation, my camera photographed and took a video of a Guatusa. I saw this smaller mammal while birding shortly after sunrise this morning, and while I was not able to get a photograph, my trailcam came through for me. A quick check of Wikipedia helped me understand this animal. I am using the local name my hosts provided me.

While I am using these devices down here in Costa Rica, I follow the same process back home in northeastern Minnesota.

In closing, today’s birds from Zapotal, Costa Rica …

Streak-Backed Oriole

Turquoise Browed Mot Mot

Green Heron at Zapotal Beach

Black-Headed Trogon