Birdwatching contacts and information around the world. Birders go birding that's bird watching meet new people from different countries. Those who travel, are traveling meet those who host, are hosting and go Birdwatching.

Bird Watching Club for World Travelers.


	Happy 2019!

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	Birding Pals Tour Groups Fixed Dates Tours Save Money

	Birding Friendly Lodging Around the World Pal's Recommended Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Hostels and Camp Sites (Some offer airport pick-up)

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	A Pal wrote "Introduction to Birdwatching" and it includes expert advice on binoculars and telescopes.

Being a Pal:

We have had several great birding days over the years in New Jersey USA with our GREAT BirdingPals: P. in Cape May and B. in Northern New Jersey, both of whom have become firm friends.

Now, we are awaiting our first-time visitor, Dennis, to help him in our own area. Can't wait!

What a wonderful system this is. Well done Knud

Hosting a Pal:

Great - what a great feeling to host a pal having had several birding days with our pal/friends in NJ USA.

Here in the center of England we may not have the hundreds of species that occur in the USA but we can offer some fantastic sights! An example: Our pal Dennis from Florida sent us a wide ranging list of European birds he would like help with. Several were already moving away from us for the winter, quite a few were never going to be seen in the UK but many more were either in our own back garden or at local reserves.

So, Saturday was spent at three different locations in and around the West Midlands - it helped that Sheila and I are members of both the West Midland Bird Club and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. Not only was dennis able to tick off several from his list but he also was looking for mammals and at our first site of Upton Warren, he spotted two Otters a 'first' for him and also for us at that location.

The following day we took Dennis to Wales, which we insist was a new 'country'. Anyway, the object was to see red Kite and boy did we give him that species in abundance! There were approximately 300 at the Gigrin farm feeding station near Rhayader. Dennis also managed to see 'our' Treecreeper too. Inevitably we 'dipped' on some easy birds such as coal tit and green woodpecker, but Dennis managed several at his hotel later in the week.

- Clive & Sheila of Kingswinford, England

You guys are awesome. I will try you again on my next Int'l trip...

-P. Stevens

What a responsive and helpful organization!

No refund, thanks.

Kind regards
- David BD

I want to thank Birding Pal for the opportunity to meet birdwatchers from other countries.

Last days we enjoyed the company of L. Choong in Malaysia who took us to see beautiful places in his country. With his vehicle we toured places he knew and showed us many species of birds. Even though I do not speak English very well, we understood each other perfectly.

Thank you very much Birding Pal and Liung thank you very much for your willingness to accompany us throughout the day.
Best regards from Argentina. Graciela and Hugo

I've used your site many times in locations all over the world!
Thanks for keeping it going.
- A. Grulich-jones

Hi. I want to say that this website and the service it and you offer is absolutely tremendous. I've hosted birders from other parts of the USA, Spain, and the Netherlands. In return, I've been hosted in England, Italy, Hawaii, Colorado, Utah, and Florida.
- M. Chelemer

I really enjoyed using Birding Pal on my recent Ireland trip. I contacted 4 potential pals. Of these I got replies from 3. I ended up spending a fine afternoon with D. McCabe -- he was an excellent driver and guide for the bays and wetlands around Dublin.

I plan to use Birding pal again!
- E. Bergman

I have had two birding pals. One in Singapore and another on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia and both have been excellent. I plan to continue with your organisation.
Best wishes,
- B. Graham

Contact Admin,

On Sunday, Sept. 2nd, M. Hows took me on a bird watching trip to 2 reserves in Suffolk. I am an American who was studying at Cambridge University for a week. M. Hows gave me a wonderful day I added 21 birds to my life list.

Thank you to your organization and especially to M. Hows.
- J. Lane, Minneapolis, Minnesota

I had the best birding day of my life with a Birdingpal in Sydney, AU years ago.
Thanks for your work.
- Jody

"I love this site and have contacted and been contacted many times making wonderful birding friends."
- V. Elliott

I was fortunate enough to go out with B. Lancaster in Sydney yesterday. He taught my sister and I so much about local birds and went out of his way to show us some marvelous things.

Thank you to Birding Pals and Barry for making it possible.

- G. Nomis, South Africa

I have been birding with many "pals" over a number of years and find usually it a very rewarding experience.

I am lucky enough to travel relatively often and have today sent enquiries to "pals" in Spain and Venice.

I think Birding Pal is excellent.

Regards
- T. Paternoster

We have used Birding Pal at least 4 times, always successfully;
Miami, Florida; Anchorage, Alaska; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Grand Manan, Canada.
Keep up the good work,
- Keith & Jade

Hi... I had a wonderful birding experience in Aruba. Our guide, O. Rasmijn, met us at the cruise terminal and drove us to the Bubali Bird Sanctuary and to the salt flats. The highlight was seeing and photographing a large number of black-necked stilts, a young flamingo, and a troupial.
- J. Rapp, Florida

I had a great birding pal experience at St. Kitts.

P. Hanley met us at the cruise ship and took my husband and me for a great day of St. Kitts birding and island history.

He is a kind and helpful man who knows where the birds can be found, and he is so knowledgeable about the island history.

A wonderful day of birding!
- C. Fulton

Audubon's Noah Strycker's Blog follows his challenge for 5,000 birds in one year!

"... Today, though, I was more concerned with chasing the flashy types.
I have connected through Birding Pal
(a website where birders can find contacts in other countries)
with two excellent Costa Rican birders, R. Orozco and J. Fernandez, and we're on a mission this week to track down some of Costa Rica's most eye-catching beauties."

- Noah Strycker
link: Audubon.org Features: Birding Without Borders

Hi,
I have been very happy with the two times I have used Birding Pal.

A year ago I paid $10.00 USD, but I would prefer that you unsubscribe me now.

When/if I'm in a position to use Birding Pal again,

I will gladly pay the $10.00 at that time.
- Bill W.

(admin: Done. We are glad to have you as a Pal at anytime. Your passphrase is good for the rest of your year. Just so you know you can manage all of your Paypal subscriptions at Paypal.com)

I love Birding Pal.

I have enjoyed my Birding Pal membership as it's enabled to to successfully find professional and nonprofessional birders when I travel to new areas.
- Christine

My wife and I had a fantastic time in Australia birding with
M. Lister in Sydney,
J. Sarna in Brisbane
and J. Seale in Cairns

plus S. Megy in Singapore.

All great Birding Pals!

What a great idea - connecting with fellow birders around the world.
Thanks so much for allowing this to happen .

- Bill McMartin
Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy - Director, Land Stewardship

Thank you very much.
That was so kind!
I was able to send a message and paid the $10
I am now getting some good response. My Florida trip is now even more promising for great birding!
Thank you,
- G'day, Brent

BirdingPal.org is a great site. Easily worth the annual $10 for anyone birding away from home.
Cheers John

I recently was led on a birding outing in the Fontainebleau Forest by a Birding Pal in Paris, France. He was a wonderful guide and took care of many details.
Great service!
- R. Currie, California

Contact Admin,
Just wanted to let you know that we had a fabulous time with Birding Pals and a Birding Pal Professional Guide recently in Belgium, England, and Poland.

Thank you so much for this site.
- J.

Do you take visiting birders out?

I sure do take birders out each chance I get. Still quit busy at work :). But if I can, I go out with them cause it's so much fun, and I know, from personal experience, there is no field guide or web site or whatever that can replace the personal experience of a birder who knows his region well, and what birds should be there and were.

So, if for whatever reason I can't get out or they are going to a part of the province that is far from Moncton, I always try and give them at least the best information possible and if possible contacts with local people, that I know would be open to birding with them.

Your idea for this site was a stroke of genius and you should know that you have made a lot of people happy with it. Thanks a million.

Good birding.
- LeBlanc, Canada

Thanks for a great website.
- Regards, M and D Lord, Canada.

Thanks for the delightful service you provide. We've had birders from Germany, Spain, Texas and a few from California. It is so wonderful to meet such dedicated and interesting people.
- Julie and Amir

I am very happy for seen me on Birding Pal website as a contact local birdwatcher in Sierra Leone. I appreciate that very much and i will ready to give my support as soon as i start getting contact from client who want to bird in my country.

I will always keep in touch with Birding Pal.
Best Regard,
- M. Sesay

I have used Birding Pal in Florida with great success.
- Ron

Dear Birding Pal, We have used your web site 3 times for birdwatching tours.
In 2012 with Moses Kandie in Kenya,
in 2013 with Deogratius Muhumuza in Uganda.

Moses and Deo were extremely good birders but also good organisers. We would have no hesitation in recommending them or using them for another trip.
- Helen and Fabrice

Great job, thank you so much dear Vince.
Happy birding to you too!
- Roland

Thanks for the quick reply, Vince.
- Jim
--Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: "WOW--What a Ride!"

Thanks for the quick reply.
- Jeff
--Sent from my iPhone

Thank you, That is a most generous response. ...we won't be able to take advantage of your kind offer, but I appreciate your responding.
~ Deirdre

That's a relief! I did get some good suggestions for birding spots in Arlington TX before my trip last March!

Thanks for the quick reply!
Sincerely,
- Fern

Have your say. Send us your kudos.

Go Birding With A Pal
From Around The World

When You Travel, Find a Pal to Go Bird Watching With.

Host a Traveling Pal coming Bird Watching to a Hotspot You Like.

"Thousands of Pals met so far this year for successful birdwatching and now plan to stay in touch.

Where do you want to go in 2019?
Happy Birding."

The Contact Pals system sends your messages, while keeping your email address private! You get your messages emailed to you and a copy of every message you send.

You can get a passphrase here: Subscribe for $10 a year.

Need a reminder of your passphrase: Email me my passphrase

You don't need to be an expert birder to contact a Pal. However these are serious birdwatchers who are willing to help. It is a privilege to contact them. Your message should reflect decent respect.

A Birding Pal does not charge a fee, however you should pay for their expenses, transportation costs, entrance fees, meals, etc.

Pals will answer your messages quickly, if they can. You might write to someone who is traveling, so write to more than one Pal, and be patient. Let us know if someone doesn't answer and we'll check that everything is okay.

Let us know when you are going to meet a Pal, and then let us know how it went.
Contact Pals Meeting

Happy birding.

Hey Pals

Would you like to write a review of birdwatching trip you went on with a Pal?

Do you want to send a thank you to a Pal you went birding with? Click here to donate their Pal membership for next year, $10.

Pals are required to answer every message.
Did you write to a Pal and not get a reply?

Having a problem with your passphrase?

"The Real Most Inter- esting Man in the World"

Knud Rasmmusen founded Birding Pal to be a Bird Watching Club with a big difference; it's local area would be the whole world.

Pals are volunteers, guides are local professionals and everyone is a bird lover.

"A stranger is just a Pal you haven't met yet."
- K.R.

Knud's Picks
Birding friendly recommendations.

Lodging
Birder Friendly Places to Stay

Tours
Birding Pals Tours

Books
Birding books

Info
Recommendation on everything else

Contact Admin using Contact Pals

or...
by email: adminLinkEmail@contactpals.org

Thank you for being a Pal.

Birding Pal is a well established global website for traveling birders to contact locals who love to go birdwatching with visitors from around the world.

You can find information about birdwatching in a place you plan to travel to and maybe find someone to go with.

If you know your endemics from your migranitories you can show a hotspot to someone who lives far away.

Start by clicking a continent on the map or select from the list.

Read the listings of Pal around the world who like to go birdwatching with Pals.

Contact a few Pals and get the conversation started. You'll need a passphrase from Contact Pals Incorporated by subscribing for $10 a year.

To become a Pal, meet a few Pals listed in your area and see if you'd like to do it. If so, then go to Become A Pal

We list local professional birdwatching guides who will take you birdwatching for a fee at the bottom of each Country/Province/Search page..

As well, we have selected locally run tour operators who will arrange birdwatching vacations; hotels, transportation, meals and fees. Birding Pal Tours

We offer a list of recommended Birding Friendly Lodgings, that are great places to stay, on the budget end of the scale, that are near hotspots and where they love birds, or at least they love birders. Birding Friendly Lodging

Knud made a list of his suggestions for birding books (field guides) by area of the world, at Birding Pal Recommended Field Guides

Going on a business trip, to a conference or on vacation? Will you have a bit of extra time? Don't waste it. Go birdwatching and enjoy the company of a local birder.

We can't do it without you.

Birding Pal swag fund raising
T-shirts $28 - $45,
Mug $17.00,
Bumper Sticker $5.50

Special Men's T-shirt $21

Hoodie Sweatshirt $62.00

Messenger Bag $41.50

Drinking Glass $20.00

"A stranger is just a Pal you haven't met yet." - Knud R.
Many new friendships are made around the world with Birding Pal.

Example Message To A Pal

Hello,
My friend and I will be in the Baltimore area from Aug. 1st until the 13th and we'd love to go birding in the early mornings.
We both are long time birders in the Florida Quays but have not been to your area yet.
Water fowl is what we're use to, so we're excited to be traveling to Maryland.

We both can walk a fair bit on a level hike, five hours or so. Do you like to go early?
The hotspots in your area sound great. We'd like to see the Park most but they all sound terrific.
And we were wondering if you had recordings to play.

If your interested in guiding us we'd look forward to meeting you. We can contribute to gas and take you to lunch.

Thank you for being a Pal,
Vince (& Knud)

Birding Pal Fixed Dates Tours
Pals Vacationing Together
Group Discounts on Birding Vacation Packages

Birding Costa Rica
12 nights/ 13 days

Let's meet in Costa Rica

January 23th until February 03th, 2019
and then in April form the 9th until the 20th, 2019

With Johan Fernandez and Birding CR

We are going to:

· San Jose --Arenal (Arenal Observatory-Caribbean foothills)
· Sarapiqui (La Selva Biological Station -Caribbean lowlands)
· San Gerardo de Dota (Highlands)—Carara National Park area. Southern (Pacific Lowlands)
· Back to San Jose

Itinerary Overview

Day 1: San Jose. Capital of Costa Rica. Arrival day at International airport Juan Santamaria.
Day 2: La Selva Biological Station. Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, Purple-throated Fruitcrow. Visit to Cinchona hummingbird Station. Spectacular Emerald toucanet, the endemic Coopery headed Emerald, Magenta-throated Woodstart.
Day 3: La Selva Biological Station. Great-green macaw, Toucans and Tanagers.
Day 4: Arenal Volcano. Rufous and Broad billed motmots, Rufous-winged Woodpecker.
Day 5: Arenal Volcano vicinity, Keel-billed motmot, Turquoise Cotinga, Great Curassow.
Day 6: Abangaritos, North Pacific Dry Forest, Shorebirds, Jabiru, Long-tailed Manakin
Day 7: Abangaritos, North Pacific Dry Forest, White throated Magpie-jay.
Day 8: Carara. Central Pacific. Emblematic Scarlet Macaw, Manakins and Antbirds.
Day 9: Carara. River Boat tour at Tarcoles. Crocodiles, Spoonbills, Kingfishers
Day 10: San Gerardo de Dota. Most beautiful bird in the world Resplendent Quetzal.
Day 11: San Gerardo de Dota. Hummingbird, Warblers and lots of near-endemics
Day 12: Depart to San Jose. Hotel Robledal.
Day 13: Departure day. Fly home.

Read our Itinerary in detail on our website here

Join Pals on our group tour

Birding in the Caribbean

Every Endemic in the Lesser Antilles:
April 13th - 28th 2019

Islands visited on this trip: Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Vincent, Grenada (with optional extension to Trinidad)

www.birdingtheislands.com

From the magnificent Imperial Parrots dwelling in the montane forests of Dominica and the highly threatened Grenada Dove on the "Spice Isle" of Grenada, to the last population of Whistling Warblers still surviving on the volcanic slopes of St.Vincent's La Soufriere, the Lesser Antilles is home to some of the rarest and most spectacular endemic bird species on the planet. Join Caribbean professional bird guide and Director of Birding the Islands Ltd, Ryan Chenery, on an incredible Caribbean birding adventure through the islands of the Lesser Antilles in search of every endemic, near-endemic and regional indigenous species.

Gaze out across the sparkling Caribbean Sea as you travel between islands by catamaran;

Feel the sand between your toes as you step out of beachside hotels and stroll along miles of white sandy shores;

Endemics seen, indulge in a celebratory cocktail as the sun sets on some of the most stunning coastlines in the world.

This truly is a birding trip with a difference, this is a birding trip through paradise!

Read our trip report for March 2018 Every Endemic in the Lesser Antilles here:

Trip reports

For detailed itinerary and pricing, along with video and slideshows from our trips visit our website at: www.birdingtheislands.com

Red-necked Parrot

Bridled Quail-Dove

St.Vincent Parrot

Birding Pals in Jamaica

Jamaican Mango Hummingbird

Fixed Date Tours (minimum 6 persons)
April 2019
November 2019

ENDEMIC BIRDS IN SOUTHERN AND EASTERN JAMAICA

RAJ Tours Visit our website www.jamaicabirding.com or email us v.turland@gmail.com and rajtoursjm@gmail.com

BIRDING SINCE 2005 * FULLY LICENSED OPERATOR * EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDES * SMALL GROUPS * TRAILS TO SUIT ALL * MAXIMUM BIRDING TIME * AIR-CONDITIONED BUS

6 Days tour price is based on 2 persons/double room from US$1615
Single room supplement US$250

Olive-throated Parakeet.jpg

Read our Itinerary Here

Birding Pals January 2019 Uganda Tour

Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) in Mabamba marsh photo by Martina Stolzi

See our Itinerary page

The tour starts and ends in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. Upon arrival, you will be picked from the Airport by the hotel shuttle and taken to your hotel for refreshments, dinner, and overnight stay. Early arrivals will give a chance to bird around Entebbe areas; the Botanical Gardens and/or any other nearby site.

The highlights of our visit will be a walk in L. Mburo NP woods, Albertine rift endemics in Bwindi and Kibale NPs, & tracking Mountain Gorillas in the misty forests of Bwindi!

This trip runs fin January 2019

Birding guide

Your Guide Deogratius Muhumuza

Deo, a graduate of Tourism from Makerere University Kampala, was born in western Uganda in an area adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bunyaruguru crater zone.

Deo is a keen ornithologist, and a very active member of Nature Uganda - East African Natural History Society (a birdlife international partner in Uganda).

He works as a part-time ornithological researcher with Nature Uganda in important bird areas monitoring, bi-annual waterfowl counts, species conservation surveys and common birds monitoring; plus many other conservation organisations. His knowledge of birds and their habitats is undoubtable.

Deo is currently the General Secretary of Uganda Bird Guides Club, member of Uganda Safari Guides Association.

He is the co-author of the Uganda Cultural guides training manual.

He also runs a local nature and cultural safari company that specialize in birding, wildlife and cultural tours in Uganda.

Contact Deo Muhumuza

Cameroon

The 2nd of each December, February, March and April 2019

TOUR ITINERARY: Douala - Kribi - Campo Ma'an - Buea - Kumba - Korup-Nyassoso - Bamenda - Limbe - Douala.

I had discovered early in my career that it is more fulfilling to visitors if knowledge of birds was complemented with information on other forms of wildlife and even culture of the people.

I have also made it a point of duty to understand the state of tourism support facilities like hotels, restaurants, etc; in the areas I am likely to take Pals to.

I trained as a nature interpreter in the Limbe Botanic Garden in the year 2000, as a professional guide on Mount Cameroon by the Mount Cameroon Ecoturism Organization in the year 2000 and 2003 in the university of Buea, as a professional birding guide around the Mount Cameroon region and beyond sponsored by the World Tourism Organization, Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Society and other organizations in the year 2006 and am recognized by the Ministry of Tourism as a Regional guide in 2006.
- Benjamin Jayin Jomi ("Benji")

Itinerary Word Document