What is your favorite bird species?
The Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo is definitely my favorite bird. However, I’m in love with RAPTORS.
What is your name, and where do you live?
My name is Olman Chaves Calderón and I live in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
I do birding tours mostly in the central Pacific of Costa Rica. This region is home to some endemic species.
How long have you been a bird guide?
I have been a certified tour guide for about 5 years.
Baird’s Trogon
How did you get into bird guiding?
I decided to become an official tour guide because I’ve been surrounded by nature since I was a kid! I used to live on a beautiful island and can remember spotting birds, bats, snakes, frogs, lizards, etc. That’s how it all began.
Red-capped Manakin
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
Being a bird guide has taught me that everything in life takes dedication as well as patience; therefore, based on that aspect, there is nothing I dislike about being a bird guide.
Black-hooded Antshrike
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders?
- White-crested Coquette
- Golden-naped Woodpecker
- Orange-collared Manakin
- Baird’s Trogon
- Charming Hummingbird
- Riverside Wren
- Black-hooded Antshrike
- Spot-crowned Euphonia
- Turquoise Cotinga
- Fiery-billed Aracari
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
The tour takes place in a small community called Esquipulas and lasts about five hours. We mainly focus on endemic species; nevertheless, it is important to know that some of them might show up seasonally, like the Turquoise Cotinga or the White-crested Coquette. Besides that, Esquipulas also offers iconic birds such as parrots, tanagers, honeycreepers, woodcreepers, flycatchers, and birds of prey.
Turquoise Cotinga
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
My suggestion is that even though I provide a high-quality spotting scope, I need to know in advance if the clients don’t have binoculars in order to lend them a pair. Also, bring love for birds!
King Vulture
If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
Here’s my contact +50684325510 or olmanchaves02@gmail.com | Instagram: showing.nature or https://www.instagram.com/showing.nature?igsh=cWVmbDB2dTh0Y3Vy
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