Becoming a Birdwatcher: How Birds Changed the Way I See the World
Words and Images by Marck Gutt | Don Viajes
Do you like flamingos? Same here. And who could blame us? They’re flashy, beautiful, and totally unbothered. Like most people, I’ve always had a soft spot for penguins and macaws too. But there’s a world of difference between that and being familiar with manakins, twinspots, and fairywrens. Or, in other words, calling oneself a twitcher.
Gentoo Penguin in Antarctica by Marck Gutt
For years, my love of nature was all about the extreme stuff: spelunking, brutal hikes, canyoning. The wilder, the better. Birdwatching? That was for retirees, I figured. And yet, these days my adrenaline spikes when I see a Gouldian Finch, a Northern Flicker, or an Andean Cock-of-the-rock.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock near Angel Paz, Quito, Ecuador by Marck Gutt
Funny how things shift. I can now tell the difference between hummingbirds and sunbirds. And yes, I cry in Spanish every time Aeroméxico promotes flights to Costa Rica with a Toco Toucan. A gorgeous bird, sure, but one that belongs to the Amazon rainforests, not anywhere near Central America.
So how did I go from barely recognizing Toucan Sam on a box of Froot Loops to planning entire trips around bird migrations? The answer is a mix of consolation prizes and everyday nature. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but I know this much: I’m not alone. Without looking anything like David Attenborough, more and more of us are out there birding.
Consolation Prizes
In my family, the word bird is more likely to conjure chicken tacos than the Audubon Society. Never once growing up did I consider Mexico City a birding territory. I only realized how wrong I’d been when I moved back to Mexico City as an adult. Hummingbirds? Check. Thrushes? Check. Warblers? Check. Mexico City’s suburbia is, surprisingly, a perfect place to go birding.
We relate to wildlife in mysterious ways, don’t we? We’ll spend hours on a boat, hoping for the brief flash of a whale’s fin, or fly halfway across the world just to bounce along in an all-wheel drive, praying for big cats. Yet, the creatures right outside our door go unnoticed. In my case, it was all those long hours searching for whales and leopards that turned me into a birdwatcher.
A lilac-breasted roller isn’t a leopard and an Arctic tern isn’t a whale, but as time went by, spotting these birds stopped being a consolation prize and became an acquired taste. The unexpected encounters grew into a fascination that turned into a hobby. Before long, I was writing enthusiastic essays trying to convince others to give birding a chance.
White-necked Jacobin hummingbird by Marck Gutt
Everyday Nature
If I started listing the places I want to visit for birdwatching, I’d never finish. You only need to watch Netflix’s Dancing with the Birds to start plotting a Papua New Guinea trip to see birds-of-paradise for yourself. Mexico’s lesser-known Isthmus of Tehuantepec is where you’ll find Rosita’s Bunting, a bird with an incredibly narrow range and plumage that looks like it came straight out of Lisa Frank’s mind.
Would I love to see these creatures? Of course. But what I love most about birding is its everyday nature. You don’t need boats, jeeps, or round-the-world tickets to take part. Yes, spotting a rare species for the first time is an incredible moment, but I find it more thrilling to simply watch a pair of Bushtits build a nest outside my second-floor window in downtown Vancouver.
Bushtit in the West End, Vancouver, Canada by Marck Gutt
Birding can be many things. Some birders sharpen their senses, becoming attuned to the world’s overlooked sights and sounds. Others find the perfect pretext to break into filmmaking. If you’re curious, check out The Listers, a very nerdy, very human, and very relatable documentary that explores the wild world of birdwatching.
Chestnut Wood Quail in Valle de Cauca by Marck Gutt
For me, this hobby is about humility and connection. A few months ago, while on assignment in Patagonia, I went birding with Pía Floria, a biologist and author of a lovely children’s book about bird migration. It was one of my most memorable outings in a long time. The highlight? No playbacks, no checklists, no rush. Just dozens of songs reminding us that, thankfully, we’re not alone.
Marck Gutt | Don Viajes
Marck Gutt is an award-winning travel writer, professional photographer, and content strategist. His words and images have been published in world-class outlets including Esquire Mexico, Explore Australia, National Geographic en Español, and Travel + Leisure en Español.
Marck focuses on wilderness, diversity, and conservation. A self-professed language nerd and quality-over-immediacy advocate, he believes good storytelling takes time. Mountains are his happy place and pastries his first true love. He uses he/him pronouns and firmly believes that no human is illegal.
You can find Marck’s on Instagram at don.viajes or check out his portfolio at marckgutt.com
At TerraFauna Journeys, we believe travel can teach us to see the world more closely, just like birdwatching does. Our journeys are designed to slow you down, deepen your connection to place, and support the people and projects protecting the wild. Come birdwatching with us.