One of the challenges of accomplishing most all of life’s mundane tasks while staying at Canopy Tower, such as pouring the morning’s first cup of coffee for example, is the always present possibility that one of your fellow guests will spot an interesting bird, mammal, or insect from the tower’s 360 degree view, roof-top observation deck and, as is the custom of bird watchers all around the world, want to share it with everyone else present. Suddenly the call will come down the stairs to the library and dining room, “Hey, there’s a (insert any of the myriad different species of wildlife that can be seen in Panama here) in view!” Suddenly everyone within heading range of the call stops whatever they are doing; books are dropped, cups hit tables, and everyone scrambles up the stairs to the deck for a look.
Such was the call that came down this morning. I had already been up top once already and poured myself a cup of coffee there (the superb staff of Canopy Tower sets out pots of coffee and water for tea each morning not only on the dining room buffet table but on a small buffet kept on the observation deck as well), and was down in the dining room pouring my second glass from the pitcher of fresh papaya juice to which I have now become addicted when a voice was heard from above – “Long-billed Gnatwren heard calling!”
Up the stairs I dashed to find Jeff Bouton, Leica’s sport optics marketing manager, and Canopy Tower’s chief guide Carlos Bethancourt, already scanning the canopy foliage for the elusive little bird. Unfortunately, as all bird watchers know happens, and especially as everyone who has seen just how dense the jungle foliage of the tropics can be and how effectively small, skulking birds can hide within it, the gnatwren was not to be seen.
No matter, turning to go back downstairs to finish pouring my glass of juice, Carlos caught sight of a Black-breasted Puffbird (a life bird for me) perched in a cecropia tree at eye level to the deck and out not more than twenty meters. That’s the way it often works when bird watching at Canopy Tower – even when a sighting of one species is missed, another seems to be always nearby just waiting to be discovered.
