At 11:41 AM 1/17/96 -0800, you wrote:
>>Any hot tips for good birding spots in and around Panama City? Is it safe on
>>the streets during the day? Are Panamanians friendly toward USA tourists?
>>Thanks, Stan Ray
>
>There is plenty of remnant second growth and savanna-like country all
>around Panama City, and even patches of forest in the city. Plenty of
>birds in the area. Out around Tocumen airport is great for open-country
>birds of many kinds. Even better if you can find any sort of wetlands.
>And of course the coast is right there, with lots of wintering water birds
>and some residents. I thought the area was excellent for birding when I
>was there in January 1985. Sorry I don't remember details for exact
>localities.
>
>I don't know how things are nowadays for tourists. Nature-tour companies
>cut back on Panama tours because of some anti-American sentiment, surely a
>consequence of the US "invasion" a few years back. I wouldn't put too high
>a profile on my Americanness (I always try to blend in, but not so easy
>when you're laden down with optical equipment), but maybe it's not a
>problem now. Ask travel agents.
>
>Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
>Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
>University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
>Tacoma, WA 98416
>
>
I was in Panama in Jan of '95 with a tour led by Carol Henderson of the MN
Dept of Natural Rescources, DNR. We stayed in Panama city and drove out
each day to bird different locations. There were a number of local guides
involved in our forays. We didn't spend much time in the city so I didn't
get much of a feel for American sentiment. However we did drive through the
bombed area and were told not to take pictures. BTW birding was great.
jerry pruett "In the field of observation,
rochester, mn chance favors only the mind
which is prepared." L.P.