The trip price of $2,650.00 is all-inclusive within Panama, including lodging, meals, transportation, and expert guiding by Ivan Hoyos, an Ancon Expeditions leader. Group size is limited to 6 plus our guide.

For more information, please see my Panama Trip Report on Surfbirds at: /trip_report.php?id=689 or contact me directly.

Hasta great birding!
Elise

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Hooked On Hummingbirds is an enjoyable new DVD packed with great footage and facts about these little jewels delivered nonstop by a narrator who seems almost as hyper as the hummers themselves! All hummingbirds regularly occurring in the United States, plus a few in Costa Rica for a total of 20 species, are shown in good close detail. Slow motion lets viewers in on secrets not normally visible to the naked eye because they happen so quickly, such as hummers flying upside down while fighting, various other flight patterns, and feeding activities.

Watching this educational DVD and learning all about hummers is akin to having a visit from a master hummingbird bander like Stacy Jon Peterson of Mountain Home, ID, who provided the photos on the DVD’s jacket covers. Stacy is similarly entertaining to watch and listen to as he “processes” birds. Like his friend Tom in the DVD, he spouts off interesting and well-researched hummingbird facts—“Calliopes weigh about 2.5 grams, only as much as a penny”—while showing observers details on the tiny creature in his hand.

The best difference between watching Stacy and seeing the DVD though is that when he’s finished measuring, weighing, sexing and aging it, you can hold the little hummer. It feels electric in the palm of your hand!

Hooked on Hummingbirds is widely available, but purchasing a copy straight from Stacy’s website will directly benefit hummingbird banding efforts: http://www.trochilids.com. Enjoy!

*To Catch a Hummingbird a wire cage is placed around a favored feeder. When a hummer enters to feed, the trap door, attached to a fishing line, is quickly snapped shut, trapping the hummer inside. The tiny bird is then carefully caught in the bander’s hand and removed from the trap.

Photos: Hummingbird Trap photo by David Faike. All other photos by Elise Faike.

Four years ago Bushnell renamed B&L riflescopes (their first products to have Rainguard) and enjoyed increased sales. So Bushnell has now opted not to renew the licensing agreement allowing use of the B&L logo when it expires at the end of April 2004, and is renaming the Bausch & Lomb Elite, Custom and Legacy optical equipment lines. This includes B&L Elite binoculars and spotting scopes, which will be renamed "Elite by Bushnell". (The Discoverer binocular line has been discontinued).

According to Barbara Mellman, Public Relations Consultant at Bushnell, the spotting scopes have already been rebranded. These products are exactly the same as when they wore the B&L brand, so they’re exactly the same quality products. I’ve taken either the Elite 60mm or Elite 70mm spotting scopes on various birding trips when luggage weight was a consideration, and they performed superbly.

However, in mid-2004 a brand new binocular series will be introduced, “Elite by Bushnell”. In order to differentiate them from the old B&L Elites, their design will be radically different. Though no one is saying yet exactly what they’ll be like, the optics will be equal, if not higher quality than the B&L Elites, and they’ll retain their relatively affordable pricing. I’ll miss the old Elites’ classy design, ease of use and viewing comfort, to list a few of their qualities. They were named Elite for a reason.

The B&L Elite branded binoculars and spotting scopes have pretty much moved out of the Bushnell warehouse and through dealers, soon to be history. Some B&L Elite, Custom, Legacy and Discoverer binocs and a few scopes can still be found at mail order suppliers like Christophers, Ltd., www.birdbino.com, 800-356-6603. But don’t wait too long.