Carl Hansen with the Smithsonian Institute (click for more) shares his photos of the jungle canopy taken from a giant construction crane. Good idea for getting up close and personal with the birds. They are so difficult to photograph since they live way up in upper story of the canopy. I never expected to become a bird watcher since I like things like kayaking, white water rafting and snorkeling, you know; low to the ground and water filled type activities.

Living in panama with so many wonderful birds has changed me for sure. I have never seen so many amazing colors in nature like I have seen with the birds of Panama. When you travel to Panama you could decide to be a bird watcher to. Below are some of my new favorites. It is very Zen like to watch the birds and patiently try not to stir so you don’t scare them off. Relaxing and exciting at the same time. Right now many species are migrating so we get new ones all the time.

Here is our favorite hummingbird who lives in the yard and hangs out on the open porch.

His name is “socks and he let’s us get within 4 feet of him and talks back when spoken to.

This is an immature male red legged honey creeper; slightly larger than a hummingbird and smaller than a sparrow.

He loves bananas. When mature he is irridescent blue and outstandingly beautiful.

Always bright and lovely this is one of the many colored tanagers from the back yard

who come to eat at the feeder every morning.

This balsam tree is a favorite of many different kinds of birds.

But this particular “star throat” hummer likes the banana blossoms best.

Our Banana tree in bloom - invitation to the birds.

I never knew that Meadowlarks like to “graze” their way across lawns and fields.

They cruise along collecting bugs and are not shy at all.

Colorful tanagers - they stay in pairs most of the time.

Here is one more of our star hummer- the “snowy breasted!”

This is a rufous tailed hummer. They think big and are very aggressive but are very small, about 4 inches and very fast traveling up to 35 MPH as they chase their adversaries. It is sometimes like a landing strip in the yard and they often zoom very close to our heads as they defend their turf.

The blue tanager!

I hope you enjoyed this little bird preview. In my next post I will be featuring an animal rescue center located here in Boquete called Paradise Gardens. I fell completely in love there with a baby 2 toed sloth.

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