John Gallego
Ornithology Specialist
I know the temptation. You've flown 2,000 miles. You have one day. You want to see the Endemic Tanager. You have the app on your phone. One push of a button, and the bird thinks a rival is in its territory. It comes rushing out, stressed, defending its home. Snap. You got the photo.
The Cost of a Photo
But consider the cost. That bird just spent precious energy fighting a ghost. In the high Andes, where calories are scarce and the cold is constant, that energy deficit can be the difference between surviving the night or not. Years ago, I watched a guide blast a call for a Tapaculo. The poor bird spent 20 minutes flying frantically back and forth. It was heartbreaking.
We decided then and there: we don't do that. Our guides are trained to use patience, local knowledge, and mimicry (whistling) which is far less aggressive than digital playback.
The Reward
Now, we wait. We learn the patterns. We sit still until we become part of the landscape. And when the bird comes out—because it wants to forage, not because it's angry—that willingness makes the encounter pure magic. It's harder, yes. It requires more skill. But when you look that bird in the eye, you know you haven't harmed it. That is the only way to bird.
This philosophy is central to our expeditions. We are observers, not intruders. Join us, and see the difference.
