Pat O’Donnell

Pat O’Donnell

Pat O’Donnell started watching birds at the age of seven in Niagara Falls, New York. The birding was good in western New York but no amount of gulls could distract him from the siren song of neotropical birds. Ever since a first, fateful trip to Costa Rica in 1992, he has focused on the incredible wealth of birds found in the American Tropics. A biologist by training, Pat has participated in ornithological studies in North America and Peru, and has birded in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. A freelance writer and bird guide, he resides in Costa Rica with his wife and daughter.

 
Birding in Costa Rica on the Providencia Road

Whether guiding or not, I try to get out birding at least once a week. It provides a much needed escape from the greater San Jose area of Costa Rica (an over-urbanized place with skinny, twisting streets frequented by a plethora of bad drivers). It also gets me up into natural habitats where I can [...]

 
Good Birding in Costa Rica near Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa is a beach in the northwestern part of Costa Rica. There may be other places called “lovely beach” in the country but this is the official one. The beach is decent but, for birding, you should really head inland. I went up that way this past weekend for a short family vacation with [...]

 
New Birding site in Costa Rica with Big Birding Potential

The Sarapiqui region has long been known as one of the main stops on every birding trip to Costa Rica. Home of the La Selva research station, the fame of this rainforest reserve helped spur the development of ecotourism in Sarapiqui during the late 80s and early 90s. Several hotels that cater to birders were [...]

 
Some Recent Birding Magic from Carara National Park, Costa Rica

When planning a birding trip to Costa Rica or other biodiverse tropical locales, there are a few basic steps that most birders take. Above all, a field guide must be acquired to hint at the birds that creep, fly, and call from those distant, beckoning rainforests. This is of basic important because you need  a [...]

 
Highlights from Birding Costa Rica in 2011

2011 came to an end and 2012 was ushered in with fireworks, rivers of spirited drink, and grapes. Well, at least in Latin America there are grapes. You are supposed to eat 12 and then you get good luck for the coming year. I can’t recall if I took part in the grape-eating tradition at [...]

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