How to Double Your Life List in Ten Days

By Jared Merriman, age 18

It is really a quite simple task. All it requires is a plane ride to the right country and the acquisition of the right guide.

In the case of my adventure, the plane ride took me to Panama and the guides were the employees of Advantage Tours. Guido Berguido and Venicio Wilson were absolutely amazing.

I departed for Panama last spring with 328 birds on my life list. That was after five years of birding in America; traveling to Florida, Washington, Louisiana, Arizona, and all across Ohio.

After ten days in the birders paradise known as Panama, I had seen 330 species. Birding Acheote Road, Pipeline Road, Old Gamboa Road, and the mountains of Panama produced more birds than birding some of the best spots in America.

Sheer numbers do not describe the birders’ paradise that is Panama, or even the rest of Central America. The beauty of the species found in that region of the world is breathtaking, whether viewing the grandness of the quetzals tail, the grace of a White Hawk flying against a backdrop of dark green rainforest, the shocking contrast of colors displayed by the Violet Sabrewing, or the awesome power of a Harpy Eagle (unfortunately, our only sighting was in a zoo).

Every birder should bird Central America at least once in their life. Not only because it adds to their numbers, nor only for the amazing beauty of the birds (which is well worth the plane ticket), but because every birder improves on the skills they need to become excellent birders. The dense forest makes for tricky spotting, and even trickier identification. Also, a birder learns patience in the jungles of Panama, as many birds require a short wait as they work their way through the brush.

So you decide on the reason for traveling to Panama. Go to boost your life list. Go to view some of the most amazing birds on earth. Go to learn a better way to bird. Or, go to practice your Spanish. But more importantly, GO!!