Guatemala in Central America is a country outstandingly rich in cultural and natural beauty. Ana Paula Oxom was raised in the bustling capital, where access to nature is limited and chaotic traffic prevails. But she found her way to connect with the outdoors, developed expert skills in finding and identifying birds and was able to turn the passion into her profession.
Working in birding tourism
Ana Paula Oxom
For many years, Ana Paula has worked as a birding guide for international tour companies, showing the feathered gems of her homeland to visitors from around the world. One highlight of her tours is also her favorite bird of all: The enigmatic Horned Guan. Seeing this unique creature is only for the toughest birders, since it requires climbing steep slopes up into the cloud forests of the volcanic highlands. „It can be really, really hard – but to watch this gentle giant in its remaining habitat is so worth it, every single time.“ says Ana Paula.
Ana Paula’s favorite bird: The Horned Guan of Guatemala’s cloud forests
Ana Paula
Conservation meets tourism
Recently, Ana Paula has been invested in a new project under the scorching sun of the Pacific slope. „Deforestation for agriculture is a big problem here and wildlife has suffered from it tremendously,“ says Ana Paula. On a piece of land owned by her parents, she has started to restore habitat for wildlife and to develop photo opportunities for bird photographers. „I envision this land to become a conservation sanctuary where both local communities and international visitors can learn to appreciate the beauty of nature, particularly Guatemala’s extraordinary bird life.“
Planting trees
to transform land into a vibrant forest
The area was used for agriculture until recently and the forest had to make way for crops. To allow endangered species to return to the plot, Ana Paula started to plant native trees. „My hope is for the land to transform into a vibrant forest filled with birds and managed in a sustainable way. The first and most critical step toward this vision is reforestation, as the land has been degraded by over 50 years of use as a sugarcane plantation. Restoring its natural ecosystem will not only revive its ecological value but also provide a space to celebrate and share the stunning diversity of birds that make Guatemala so unique.“
Boosting
the local bird diversity
Another measure to boost the local bird diversity are nest boxes that make up for the old trees with their natural cavities that got lost to logging. Bird feeders stocked with banana and papaya offer a rich food supply and make some forest birds easily visible for us humans. Soon, birders from near and far can hopefully enjoy the new haven for birds.
Photo 1: Bananas and papayas attract a variety of tropical birds - 2: Altmira Oriole - 3: Yellow-winged Tanager - 4: First adopter of the new nest boxes: A Lineated Woodpecker uses one to roost at night - 5: Ana Paula birding in the evening. - 6: Food, cover, nesting sites: Once grown, native plants have lots to offer for birds.
Ana Paul Oxom and Leander Khil
World Birding
Even though more than 750 species of birds have been recorded in Guatemala, Ana Paula strives to see many more. She has travelled five continents in the quest to see more species – around 3000 are on her life list so far. She even made it to Tyrol, Austria – the home of SWAROVSKI OPTIK – to search for an almost mythical mountain bird: „Knowing there are over 11,000 species of birds around the world fills me with excitement and curiosity. The thrill of flipping through a bird guide, spotting a species like the stunning Wallcreeper, and then having the opportunity to see it in the Austrian Alps in person is an experience that’s both thrilling and deeply fulfilling,” she says.
