Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, Patrick is a writer and birding guide who has worked in the travel and tourism industry from the cataracts of Niagara to the Peruvian Amazon. A serious birder since the age of 7, this passion has led him to Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, and his current place of residence- Costa Rica. A biologist and systematist by training, Pat has worked on research projects in Colorado, New York, Wyoming, and Washington as well as in Peru. When not looking for birds in Costa Rica, he spends time with his wife and daughter and practices Chinese martial arts.
He can be reached at information@birdingcraft.com
Skype: patrick-odonnell
December 13th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Hi, just dropping by to say hi. My dad and I like your blog quite a bit. I’m helping him get started with his own, actually – he is based near Turrialba. I just wanted to let you know that he recently posted about you and your blog (http://birdsforbeer.wordpress......a-birding/), if you want to check it out.
Mariana
(my dad’s name is Paul)
February 5th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Patrick,
Your website has been hijacked by Chinese hackers. A few seconds after loading a page, I got taken to some Chinese page.
By the way, I was born and raised in CR and wish you luck in that beautiful part of the world.
* apta
April 8th, 2010 at 4:36 am
Hey there Patrick-
Your blog is great! I saw some of your photos on Surfbirds. I need to come visit you soon. All is well in Buffalo – we are having an early spring. The hawkwatches have been busy and I just got my own banding license – raptors only for now. I am planning on opening my garden/nature shop on Elmwood or Hertel area this August/Sept. Hope your family is well. All the best, Alec
April 8th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Good to hear from you Alec. Can’t wait to hear about the stuff you band and the opening of the garden store! Yes, you need to come down and visit soon!
May 30th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Patrick,
Very nice site! Congratulations on your lovely family and life in Costa Rica. What is the unofficial motto there? Pura vida?
I’ve been living and working in the heart of southeastern Arizona for some time. The weather and the birds are great, but it doesn’t compare to Costa Rica!
A work colleague traveled to the Osa Peninsula last autumn and enjoyed it tremendously. I told her to keep an eye and ear out for the three-wattled bellbird. She enjoyed an extended study after being alerted by several stoked lodge employees. She was amazed to say the least. Her experience has me seriously considering a birding trip to Costa Rica and/or Panama.
Willie and Betsy visited last February. They’re doing well.
Best regards, Mike
May 31st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Hey Mike! Good to hear from you. Man, you picked an awesome place to live. Costa Rica is great for birding but so is SE Arizona! That’s great that Willy and Betsy came down for a visit. Yeah, everyone here is always saying “Pura Vida” and it is pretty much the motto of Costa Rica.
Yes, the Osa is fantastic. Very wild forests with lots of wildlife and of course awesome birding.
Hope to see you down here sometime.
Pat
January 16th, 2011 at 8:05 am
Do you run into any snakes while out birding, like the fer de lance?
January 18th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@Mike- Hi Mike! Yes, I see snakes every once in a while and on most trips to Quebrada Gonzalez.
May 27th, 2011 at 1:43 am
hello..
I have been looking out for an Ornithologist from Mexico & Central America, who could help me with hummingbird and plant interactions.
Will you be able to put me through to someone please ?
best regards,
sangeetha
June 15th, 2011 at 8:25 am
nice know about you, i like your blog
Have a good day
June 15th, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Raul- Thanks! Have a good day too and keep taking pictures of Mexican birds. Yo pase bastante tiempo en Mexico en 95 y 96, viajando por el pais y mirando aves. Vivi en San Luis Potosi y Celaya por un rato donde ensene Ingles. Buenos tiempos esos!
June 3rd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
When out in the forest there, do you ever run into poisonous species like snakes or insects? For examole, the fer de lance?
June 3rd, 2012 at 5:39 pm
@Mike- Hi Mike! I rarely see any snakes and consider myself lucky to see a venomous one. They are around but prefer to stay hidden. Fer-de-lances are fairly common in many areas but you still have to search for them if you want to see them. No problem with the insects. Ants can sting and bite as can bees and wasps of course but you just keep that in mind and stay away from them. Also good to not touch or brush up against vegetation. Here is a post I did about poisonous snakes- http://birdingcraft.com/wordpr.....osta-rica/
September 6th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
I have saved your website under Favorites. it is! I am coming on a tour in February 2013 and trying to learn about the birds before i come. Even tho I do not know you, I hope you and your family are safe and sound after the earthquake. Thank you for the beautiful pictures, great info, etc. Also, commentary @ the earthquake was very informative. Again, take care, be safe!
September 10th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@Sallyanne- Thanks and happy to hear that you will be visiting Costa Rica!
September 14th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Hi Pat:
I’ve been reading about birding in Costa Rica and came across your site – it’s great! I like your writing style, and you seem to be a good birder who cares about birds AND habitat. I am a wildlife biologist but also an avid birder. I’m writing since my father has always wanted to fish in Costa Rica and is planning to go sometime early next year (Jan-Mar). I will hopefully go with him but have never been to Central America, so of course I have to go birding!
I’d love to take 3-5 days before or after the fishing to go birding. Although I would love to target as many endemics as I can, my main goal will simply be to observe as many tropical birds as possible (I have 600+ from US and have seen most of the neotropic migrants found in US). Also want to hopefully get some nice photos as well.
Would you be available to guide at that time? From what I have read and been told the later I go (toward end of March), the more variety I might observe. To do a really good trip, how many days would you recommend? And how would the cost be structured? As far as I know it will be just me, my Dad is not a birder. But I may try to recruit someone else so by the end of 2012 there may be another person who wants to go … so, are you able to guide 2 or more people, or do you prefer to keep it to 1 at a time?
I hope to get a date for the fishing nailed down in next month, and will keep you posted and see if you are available.
Thank you!
Jeff
September 27th, 2012 at 9:55 pm
@Jeff- I have emailed you with some answers to your questions. Yes, I guide more than one person at a time. March is good because more birds are singing and migrants are around but tours also go at that time because it is drier on the Pacific slope than other times of the year.
October 13th, 2012 at 7:41 am
Interested in hiring an experienced Bird Guide for a day or two between Nov 30 and Dec 8. We are staying in the Gunacaste Region at the Barcello Langosto. I would need a driver and car as we will not be renting one. Thanks Elise
November 20th, 2012 at 9:08 am
Patrick;
Just read your essay on the difference between CR and temerate birding. Maybe one of the most concise and accurate descriptions…ever. Well done.
Buying 20 acres bordering Las Cruces in San Vito next month, we hope.
Regards; Greg
January 9th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
Patrick,
Further to our previous conversations – I would like to go birding with you when we dock in Punta Arenas. As previously advised, we dock at 0700hrs on the 30th April and sail at 1800hrs.
Carara NP was mentioned which seems like a great idea – I read about a river close by for maybe herons / kingfishers?
Wait to hear from you – all the best
Paul
January 16th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@Paul- Sounds great, I am sure we will see a lot. Yes, there is a large river near there that is good for wading birds.