WHitehawk Birding blog

Welcome to the Whitehawk Birding Blog! Here we share fun birding and nature facts and news in posts that we hope you find of interest. We hope you enjoy!

  • Birding the Panama Canal

    Birding the Panama Canal

    Birding around the Panama Canal is some of the best Panama has to offer. Time spent here offers the chance for an incredible wildlife experience. It also affords one the opportunity to explore the fascinating history that helped shape Panama’s future, its policies about conservation, and, in part, its culture. A Brief History of the…


  • Black Hawk-Eagles in Panama

    Black Hawk-Eagles in Panama

    Amongst the several species of raptors that one can see in Central and South America, the Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus) is probably one of the most common to see. They can be found in different types of habitats ranging from secondary and primary lowland forests, disturbed forest, open areas, woodlands and forest edges practically all…


  • Getting Ready for the 2020 Global Big Day

    Getting Ready for the 2020 Global Big Day

    This year has started off a little different around the world. Our current global health crisis has forced many people to stay inside under lockdown and quarantine situations. One day we will be back out to enjoy birding at our favorite hotspots and travel internationally again. In the meantime, this is the best opportunity to…


  • Darien, Panama: A Land of Exceptional Diversity

    Darien, Panama: A Land of Exceptional Diversity

    I visited Darien, Panama, for the first time, more or less, 10 years ago. At the time, I was working on a conservation project for The Peregrine Fund. My goal for the trip was to help capture and radio tag a juvenile Harpy Eagle. Darien impressed me from the first moment. On the day of…


  • Bird Migration in Panama

    Bird Migration in Panama

    The Isthmus of Panama is a land bridge that connects North America to South America. Historically, it was the key location of the Great Faunal Interchange, where large land mammals crossed freely between the two continents. Today, it still remains one of the greatest places on Earth to experience the spectacle of migration year after…


  • Live Wildlife Webcams

    Live Wildlife Webcams

    We have the benefit of living in an age of ever-innovating technology. For all of us nature lovers, there are now many ways to bring the outdoors, along with the enjoyment it brings, into our homes. While nothing is really the same as being in the great outdoors, one of the ways we can enjoy…


  • Our Guide to Ornitherapy – Getting Started

    Our Guide to Ornitherapy – Getting Started

    Though still not a common term, you may have heard it floating around in your birding circles or on social media. If you have heard of it, you might be wondering “What is ornitherapy?” And, “How can I practice it?” Simply put, Ornitherapy is the practice of observing birds to calm the mind, to ground…


  • Top 10 Birding Sites in Central America

    Top 10 Birding Sites in Central America

    Central America, from the southern border of Mexico to the infamous Darien Gap of Panama, is a true birder’s paradise. These tropical countries have much to boast about. Endemic species, important bird areas, dozens of different ecosystems and accessible birding destinations abound. Travel here is relatively effortless. There is easy access to national parks and…


  • Notes from Bhutan: Pre-tour visit highlights

    Notes from Bhutan: Pre-tour visit highlights

    Druk Yul, otherwise known as Bhutan, is Whitehawk’s newest travel destination. Whitehawk’s first tour to Bhutan is scheduled for April 2020. So Yeray and I traveled there in December to finalize all the details for the upcoming trip. Following the same itinerary as the group will in April, our journey officially started in Guwahati, India.…