Costa Rican Birding Technology Assist

Most birds do NOT visit bird feeders. If you do not understand bird calls and the habitat the bird species you are hearing prefer, you will see fewer birds. Both down here in Costa Rica and back home in northern Minnesota, I use technology as an assist. Here are the devices I bring when I travel:

Bluetooth Speaker (small)
Meidase P70 Trailcam
OwlSense birdsong listening station
Two extra SD cards (devices stay in the field … I swap out cards)

Upon arriving on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, I setup my trailcam and birdsong listen station deep in the forest where I like to bird. Only 24 hours into our time at Las Catalinas, my devices near Zapotal Beach have ID’d these bird species, which I have successfully now seen and photographed:

Black-Headed Trogon
Elegant Trogon
Pacific Screech Owl
Pale-Billed Woodpecker
Squirrel Cuckoo
Streak-Backed Oriole
Turquoise Browed Mot Mot

Once I am convinced I understand a location in terms of species and habitat, I may shift the location of the devices. One very important part of my search process is conducting research via Cornell’s premium database, Birds of the World (free while in Costa Rica … small fee while in America ). I pay particular attention to the habitat section. I want to know “why” a given bird species is located where my devices made the identification.

If you would like to read extensive, detailed reviews about the OwlSense Birdsong Listening Device, and / or the Meidase Trailcam please follow the links to my other website, 365DaysOfBirds: (all reviews posted on PuraVidaBirds and 365DaysOfBirds are NEVER sponsored, nor does the author, Rich Hoeg, take any compensation for his work)

Meidase Trailcam
OwlSense Birdsong Listening Device
Bonus, you may wish to learn about the BirdNET-Pi Birdsong Listening Device
- BirdNET-Pi uses the Cornell BirdNET database and ID’s birds
- Note: BirdNET needs local power and internet!
Visit my “Birding Knowledge, Reviews, Evaluations and Services” web page

While I am using these devices down here in Costa Rica, I follow the same process back home in northeastern Minnesota. In closing, here are a few birds from the day’s birding efforts near Zapotal Beach including both Trogons.

Streak-Backed Oriole