Date: 5/30/25 3:57 am From: Elizabeth Shores <efshores...> Subject: Re: Guyana birding trip
Great report, Karen! Attack monkeys and “mud, bugs, bees, mosquitoes, and other bugs.” Quite a contrast to lounging in sweatpants with wine.
Elizabeth Shores
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 30, 2025, at 12:57 AM, Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> wrote:
>
> I've had birders asking about my trip to Guyana South America in March. They are curious about such a remote birding site. Below is information about my ASCA presentation and what I submitted to our Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) News of Members newsletter about my trip.
> June 12 is our Audubon Society of Central Arkansas monthly meeting. I'm giving a Zoom presentation about my trip. You don't have to be an ASCA member to watch any of our meetings. Kevin Krajcir, our vice president, will post an email with the link on ARBird to our ASCA meeting about a week out. Easy to sign up. You can watch the ASCA meeting in the comfort of your home with a glass of wine and in your sweatpants. We meet the second Thursday of each month at 7pm. All meetings are by Zoom. Everyone is welcome to watch anytime.
> I'm posting this is because ASCA has great monthly speakers at our meetings. They are always interesting, knowledgeable, and informative speakers. Check us out each month. Below is a quick outline of our trip.
> Karen Holliday
> Maumelle Pulaski County
>
>
> Karen Holliday traveled to Guyana South America in March. The trip was with longtime birding friends Shane Woolbright whose brother is Joe Woolbright, also Art Evans from Gravette, and his 14 year old nephew Ewan Martin. Ewan was a last minute addition because Art's wife had to drop out of the trip. Ewan is very interested in nature and involved with the Boy Scouts. This was his first birding trip and was thrown into the deep end doing a challenging two week international trip. He was a trooper. Never complained about the long days, very early starts, walking lots forest trails with mud, bugs, bees, mosquitoes, and other bugs.
>
> The trip started in Georgetown the capital of Guyana, where the group did local birding at the botanical garden's excellent habitat. Very birdy, including several Limpkins.
>
> Leaving Georgetown, the group traveled south on the international (and unpaved) road that runs from Georgetown south to the southern border, and finishing two weeks later at Lethem. An hour's flight from Lethem took them back to Georgetown, where they spent the night then flew back to the U.S.
>
> They quickly learned to run when they found troops of Spider Monkeys up in the trees. The monkeys despise humans and would immediately start throwing large branches, dead wood pieces, anything they could break off and throw at them.
>
> When the monkeys weren't throwing trash at them, they saw a wonderful array of bird species for a total of 283 species, many new species. The Harpy Eagle was everyone's target bird. They were so excited to see it at the beginning of the trip and with excellent, very close views. It raised its crown at them in annoyance for being bothered. Their favorite animal was the Giant Anteater, which they found two times.
>
> The Guyanan people were so friendly, helpful, and pleased to show their country and all its natural treasures. Because it was formally an British commonwealth everyone spoke English, making it easy to talk with them, learn about their culture and their country. It was an excellent trip with great birds and birding friends. A new country for everyone.
> Karen Holliday
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
