Barry and Tweets:

In February 2001 I birded 10 days in Panama with Borderland Tours, Tucson,
Arizona. Most of the time we were in Cana, with 2 tented-nights at Cerro
Pirre. Upon our arrival we stayed at the Hotel Executive and ended our tour
at Hotel Airport Continental Riande which offered very fine birding. The
areas we birded while in Panama City included Panama Viejo, Costa del Este,
and Juan Diaz Mangroves. These mangroves are the most extradordinary
dump-site I've ever seen. The birding was great, however. To my knowledge,
the only way in and out of Cana is by plane. We flew in on a Twin Otter and
flew out on two smaller planes. I would think that reservations would be
required for a stay at Cana camp which has its own armed guards. The hike to
Cerro Pirre is one-of-a-kind and also requires advance planning.

The group bird list was 286 species, 6 mammal species and 9 reptile and
amphibian species. We used the Second Edition, 1989, Guide to the Birds of
Panama, Ridgely. For about $10.00 Kinkos can split the book into 2 spiral
bound books, one with plates and one with text. I used my scanner to make a
duplicate cover for the plates. I also added additional pages for notes.
For a small fee you can get a Birds of Panama checklist from Borderland
Tours, website www.Borderland-tours.com.

Joyce Meyer
Woodinville, WA