Bird-a-thon

So here's a fun idea - why not make a pledge for every species of bird I see on this trip?

Since my trip costs all already covered, 100% of your pledge will go directly to the beehive (see my last post).

How it would work - Colombia has a lot of birds (3 times as many as the US) and we're going to be looking in quite a number of habitats, so we are hoping to see 250-400 species. If you pledge, say 10 cents a bird, and we see 300, you'ld be donating $30.

Want in? Comment on this post and simply say how much per species you want to pledge. (Or if you just want to make a one-time donation, you can do that by clicking "donate" below).

The Beehive

Affectionately called the "beehive" because it's always full of activity and motion, the girls' home isn't just for orphans in the technical sense of the word. Many of the 12 girls who call the beehive home have at least one surviving parent, but all are there because their safety, sanity, and in some cases, survival, depended upon getting away from their dysfunctional home lives.

Prior to moving into the beehive, several girls had been victims of abuse. Two sisters watched their mother die at their father's hand. One was severely burned due to negligence. All lacked love, stability, and a fair shot at life.

But all this has changed since the  Free Methodist Church in Colombia came into their lives. The beehive isn't just a place to live, it's an expression of love, a stable environment where the girls receive great nutrition, clothing, and above all - a caring family environment. And now - they're even getting top-notch education at a private school. In other words, the church is committed to their development as a whole-person - a commitment that begins when they set foot in the beehive, and continues all the way through college.

We are proud to be able to support this awesome ministry!

4 Days to go!

Spotting scope - check, binocs - check, owling flashlight - check. What am I missing? Oh yeah... clothes!

As I begin gathering supplies and getting my hiking pack ready to go, I'm reflecting on some of my goals for this trip: 

• To enjoy creation! Colombia is an unparalleled eco-tourism destination. I'm going to love enjoying everything from the arid cactus-carpeted north, to the steamy cloud forrest, to the thin-air parramo. Each ecosystem will be a real treat!
• To learn from the experts, especially our biologist Guide Elkin, and veteran bird tour leader Chris Vanlonkhuyzen.
• To explore this kind of trip providing ongoing income to the girl's home (as well as other charitable projects around the world)
• To build up my life list (if you're new to birding, this means the number of species of birds you've seen in your life).

Has this been done before? We doubt it. Will this be awesome? We're sure of it.

The plan = 11 people + 10 days travelling through Colombia + tracking down rare and exotic bird species like the Black Inca (let) + donating tour proceeds to support the Free Methodist girls' "orphanage" in Bogota.

And you're invited along for the ride. As often as possible on this trip, I'll be posting updates, including a running species total, and trip updates of the feathered and un-feathered kinds.