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Recently Sighted at the Canopy Lodge | |
| Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo 4 March 2010 Canopy Adventure Trail Tino Sanchez: "Our top guide Tino, took his regular bird walk along the Canopy Adventure trail, looking for a Tody Motmot and he got it… Every one on his group was very excited about see this bird and suddenly Tino Spotted a Rufous-Vented Ground Cuckoo on the trail and was seen by all the participant of the birding tour… This is been a good week from Ground-Cuckoo at the Canopy Tower and The Canopy Lodge… Well Done Tino! " Rufous-crested Coquette 2 March 2010 La mesa Tino Sanchez: "Tino had a great time birding at La Mesa road once again, where he got to show his group a good selection of birds like; Spot-crowned Barbet, Cinnamon Becard, Orange-bellied Trogon, Black-throated Mango, Blue-throated Toucanet, Bran-colored Flycatcher… And of curse the amazing looking Rufous-crested Coquete… Good job Tino… " Tropical Screech-Owl 24 February 2010 Cara Iguana road Tino Sanchez: "Tino took his group out for a nice birding afternoon at Cara iguana trail, where he show every one on his group; Lance-tailed Manakin, Blue-crowned Motmot, Panama Flycatcher, Long billed Starthroat, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant... Tino also was able to find on a rusting a spot a pair of Tropical-screech Owl, beautiful birds... In the afternoon, Tino went to Rio Indio feeders where his group got amazing views of Spot-crowned Barbet, Golden-hooded Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager... " Slaty Antwren 19 February 2010 La mesa Tino Sanchez: "Tino got a nice mix flocks at la Mesa where this little Slaty Antwren gave every one fabulous view...Other birds observed where; Silver-Throatd Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Golden- winged Warbler, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Tawny-crested Tanager, Spot-crowned Antvireo... Good Job amigo!...." Spot-crowned Barbet 18 February 2010 Rio Indio Tino Sanchez: "Tino took his group to rio indio where every one enjoy the view of this beautiful bird... They also got to see; Emerald Tanager, Streaked Antwren, White-lined Tanager, Long-tailed Tyrant...After a nice lunch at the Canopy lodge Tino took his group to las mozas road where they all got to see the Rose-throated Becard, that was found by Tino for the first time at el Valle a while ago... Others birds seen this afternoon were; Yellow-throated Vireo, Rufous-breasted Wren, Rufous and White Wren, Lesser Elaenia, Garden emerald....Well done Tino!... " Blue-throated Toucanet 6 February 2010 La Mesa Tino Sanchez: "This special toucanet that live in the foothill of the Anton Valley was calling on a cecropia tree and Tino was able to scope it... He also observed other birds like; Bay-headed Tanager, Spot-crowned Barbet, Cinnamon Becard... In the afternoon Tino took a walk with his group to the canopy adventure trail where they all got great views of Bay Wren, Golden-collard Manakin, Black-chested Jay.... Wooo Tino sounds like a lot of fun brother... " Tody Motmot 4 February 2010 Cara Iguana Trail Tino Sanchez: "Tino Sanchez manage to call in a Tody Motmot... He also observed Blue-crowned Motmot, Garden Emerald, Tropical-screach Owl... Nice afternoon at Cara Iguana Trail... " Orange-bellied Trogon 2 February 2010 Gaital Hill Tino Sanchez: "Tino Sanchez had a fantastic morning at the Gaital Hill where he was able to show every one in his group a beautiful male orange bellied trogon.. He also got to see, spot crowned antvireo, Plain ]Antvireo, Slaty Antwren, Gray-breasted woodwren, Rufous mourne, Tawny-crested Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Spotted Woodcreeper, Black-faced Grossbeak, White-ruffed Manakin, Silver-throated Tanager...Well done Tino!" Scaly-breasted Wren 20 January 2010 Canopy Adventure Trail Tino Sanchez: "Tino Sanchez was able to spot and show his bird group this hard to see bird around the Canopy Adventure trail... He also was able to see Eye-ringed Flatbill, Tawny-crested Tanager, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Blue-crowned Manakin, Ruddy-tailed flycatcher, Bay-headed Tanager, Bay Wren, Violed-headed hummingbird, Tody Motmot... Good Job Tino!" Eye-ringed Flatbill 19 January 2010 Canopy Adventure Tino Sanchez: "eyed ringed flatbill Tino Sanchez, took a morning walk around the Canopy Adventure trail where he got wonderful views of this flatbil... He also got to see; White-breasted Woodwren, Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Rufous Motmot, Blue-throated Toucanet.... Good job Tino!" |  Tody Motmot |
    
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Expert Bird Finder
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 |  Danilo Rodríguez Birding Guide |
Danilo's story begins like the story of so many young men in our Panamanian countryside.
He was born near the rural town of Penonome in Central Panamá in 1969. After finishing grammar school he worked as a subsistence farmer practicing "slash and burn" agriculture in his family's plot. However, there was not enough food for everyone, there being six brothers and sisters, and so, at age 16, he migrated to Panama City to look for a job, any job.
Without higher education there were not many opportunities for him but he was lucky to find work as a gardener and "house boy" in the house of a well-to-do family. He worked there for six years until he met his bride, Damaris Moran, who worked as a live-in maid in the house next door. In addition to her other virtues, Damaris had a family whose connections led to a fortunate turn of events for Danilo. As the oldest daughter of Catalino Moran, the caretaker in Raúl's week-end home in El Valle de Anton, she introduced him to success in a career he had never imagined.
About the time Danilo and Damaris married, in early 1991, Raúl was just finishing the Canopy Adventure and was looking for promising young men to work in this new ecotourism activity. Catalino knew this, so he told Raúl about his new son-in-law, who was eager to leave the city and return to the countryside. The rest, as they say, is history.
Danilo and Damaris immediately accepted Raúl's offer of work and moved in with his in-laws in El Valle. A model worker, he proved himself to be responsible, eager for new challenges, and with an extraordinary knowledge of the forest acquired naturally in his early years. He also showed the inherent knack to be a bird guide: a quick eye, a good memory, and a deep love for the natural world. Raúl and Danilo went birding often and, helped only by Ridgely's book, he began to learn the names of the birds, their vocalizations, their habits and habitats. He soon started to report sightings that had never been reported in El Valle; for example, the Dull-mantled Antbird, the Blue Seedeater, and the Rufous Ground Cuckoo -- one of the most sought-after species in Neotropical birding. Some of the members of the Panama Audubon Society would not believe these reports so they asked for evidence, and Danilo provided pictures that he took himself of these rare species.
Danilo had found his true vocation: professional bird guide.
After almost 15 years, Danilo knows the vocalizations and territories of most birds in the El Valle area very well, and can whistle in most of them. He also knows their English names. His patience and persistence for finding birds is exemplary. If the bird is there, he will show it to you. And if it is not, who knows what will show up? In any event, you'll have a great time birding with this Panamanian who has found in nature the path to material improvement and spiritual well being.
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