Week Twenty Two: Intro to Birdwatching

It’s fully summer now, and it absolutely feels like it… kind of. I’ve been thinking a lot about how summer hits differently here in the Caribbean and South America. The weather doesn’t really change, it’s pretty much the same year-round and we’re still working five days a week. Actually, it’s a little cooler now, which is nice, but it doesn’t have the same kind of summer feeling I grew up with.

What I miss most are those long summer nights, where you head out for dinner, maybe swing by a bar after with friends, and it’s still bright and warm out at 9:30. There’s something about that kind of lingering daylight that just feels right, and I think I took that for granted. I appreciate those summer vibes more now. But still I’m getting to enjoy new things in new ways here, and I’m thankful for the opportunities coming my way. That’s the good part.

Intro to Birdwatching 

This week felt like the unofficial start to birdwatching season or my birding era. I think its an adjacent hobby to photography and why not give it a try with all these cool animals around. My new friend Mr. Persaud joined us, and we did a few relaxed walks through the Botanical Gardens, soaking in the scenery and seeing what we could spot.

Wildlife photography is something I’ve always appreciated, but doing it in real life (especially with birds) is a whole other thing. When the bird is just chilling, it’s fine; you can think about composition, light, and angles. But the second it starts to move? That’s where things get tricky. Even seeing the birds can be a challenge, and identifying them adds another layer. There are so many colours, sizes, and species to keep track of.

Even with my “zoo lens” (around 200mm), I can only get so close. It’s making me appreciate those mega-zoom wildlife lenses, 500mm, 700mm, even 800mm,  that give you those crazy-detailed shots of feathers and eyes and beaks. That level of closeness? Wild. But for now, I’m learning to work with what I have and still tell interesting visual stories.

I’ve also been chatting with other wildlife photographers, some you might have seen in our Q&As, and more coming soon, and they’ve all reminded me that the number one skill is patience. You wait. You watch. You don’t rush the moment. You also don’t want to disturb the animals — there’s a balance between getting the shot and giving space. And yeah, I’m not going to lie, part of me is still a little bit afraid of getting attacked. I wear bright clothes, I’m not exactly stealth, and when a hawk or falcon makes eye contact? I feel it.

The Birds of Georgetown (So Far)

Each time I go out, I see something new. I’ve spotted laughing falcons (who look exactly like Pidgeot from Pokémon), hawks with red tails, vibrant parrots flying overhead, and someone even said they saw a macaw. Still haven’t seen it myself, but now I need to. That collector mentality in me is activated.

Sometimes I’ll be walking between offices or running errands, and that’s when I see the coolest birds — and of course, I don’t have my camera. But I’ve started bringing it more often. It’s helping me get more intentional about learning not just how to take better bird photos, but how to edit them too. Wildlife photography has its rhythm. There’s overlap with street or landscape work, but I’m realizing it asks you to think differently.

My usual golden hour walks around 4 to 5 pm are now my favourite part of the day. The lotus flowers, the trees, the glow of the light hitting the feathers just right… It’s something else. Photography is such a gift. It’s taught me to slow down, pay attention, and stay curious. I’m just a happy camper out there with a camera and a mission.

The Good, The Challenge, and What’s Next

The Good:
Animals! I can’t touch them, but they’re beautiful. One of my favourites this week was the black-collared hawk. White head, deep black neck ring, tan-brown body, and black-tipped wings. In the sunset? Just magical.

The Challenge:
Logistics. We’re deep into planning for the upcoming Biodiversity Summit and some partner workshops, and there’s a lot of production involved, print materials, design, approvals, quality control. I’m bouncing between being the creator, the reviewer, the printer liaison, and more. The team is helpful, but it’s still a lot of hats to wear.

What’s Next:
We’re heading back to Lethem this weekend! We’ll be working on some new projects, doing interviews, and spending time with some of the Indigenous communities there. I think this trip will feel a little different than the last one. Can’t wait to share more about it once we’re back. Keep an eye on the socials for updates!