We sent out another list of questions to bird guides who have already been profiled on 10,000 Birds. In the fourth edition of this second series, we ask
What part of bird guiding do clients never see?
Here are the answers.
The preparation and research to find a hard bird. Gabor Orban, Hungary/Costa Rica
Negotiating. Zhang Lin, China
The learning up of species, calls, and new spots to see the species. Lots of work and effort go into finding new spots and scouting areas. Also, the behind-the-scenes work. Getting the car ready and clean, preparing coffee boxes, and lunches. The planning and making sure everything runs smoothly. Marc Cronje, East and Southern Africa
Clients should never see you fretting about anything. You should appear to radiate confidence and make considered decisions at all times. David Lindo, Spain
Clients never see the effort put into crafting a seamless itinerary. Faraaz Abdool, Trinidad & Tobago
The hours of prep and researching sites. John Hague, UK
The pre?dawn logistics: checking the weather, scouting alternative sites, negotiating access, and sometimes repairing equipment. That “invisible” preparation is what makes the day look seamless. Marcelo Carlos De Cruzky, Argentina
Hearing the sound of birds or bird songs. Kwame Brown, Ghana
Much of bird guiding happens behind the scenes. As guides, we spend time studying calls, tracking movements, and understanding habitats to anticipate where birds will be. What seems like a quick sighting is often built on years of experience, patience, and careful observation. We also scout locations, adjust plans, and put in the physical effort to stay alert and in tune with nature. Most importantly, we manage timing—knowing when to wait, move, or stay silent—so that each encounter feels natural and meaningful. Magada Haily Miriam, Uganda
Logistics, safety, and planning on the eye. Spyros Skareas, Greece
The amount of time spent scouting and planning/organizing. And promoting. And the insurance premiums! Most of the work of being a guide happens outside of the day(s) in the field with clients. Also, the blood pressure of the guide when birds like Bicknell’s Thrush are making our lives challenging. Derek Lovich, Maine, USA
After dinner, when sometimes the guide has to share his room and never rests properly due to snoring and other noises that other guides and drivers do. So make sure your guide has his own accommodation! René Santos, Brazil
Pre-tour planning, including script preparation, updating information on flora and fauna, familiarizing oneself with the trails, and checking weather conditions. Sandra Maria Plua Alban, Ecuador
The secret is in the filtering. In our Goa birding zone, there are over 300 potential hotspots, but we only take our guests to the “Top 10.” Why? These specific locations have provided consistent, high-quality sightings for over 25 years. While other spots can be erratic or completely quiet, our guests only see the “best of the best.” They enjoy a day of non-stop sightings, unaware of the hundreds of hours we spend sifting, reviewing, and scouting the “no-show” spots so they never have to. Savio Fonseca, India
The online research about current observations in the region and the previous preparatory trips abroad, where I have to look for good observation areas, and also check out hotels and restaurants. And: my annual tax return – I could do without that one… Rolf Nessing, Germany
And the editor adds:
Much of bird guiding happens long before the clients ever see a bird. Guides emphasize the invisible work behind a smooth tour: researching target species, learning calls, scouting sites, planning logistics, checking weather and access, preparing equipment, arranging accommodation and transport, and constantly adapting to changing conditions. They also stress the importance of projecting calm confidence, even when things are difficult behind the scenes. In short, what appears effortless to participants is usually the result of years of experience, careful preparation, and a great deal of unseen work.
Photo: Hair-crested Drongo, Nanhui, Shanghai, November 2017
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