Mark Stackhouse

I had a great run for the CEC Birdathon this year. My normal trip to the U.S. this time of year was cancelled, so I wasn't able to add birds from there to my total as usual (thus not getting to close to my original species goal), but I made the most of birding in my home state of Nayarit, Mexico, including exploring some new areas I had never visited. I managed to find 302 species here, the first time I (or anyone) has found more than 300 species in Nayarit during the month of May. In the process, I was able to spend some time mentoring young birders who joined me in the field, and added some valuable scientific information about our local birds and their life histories. It was so much fun to do!

Above all, I was able to do it while supporting the important work of the Cope Environmental Center - wins all around for everyone, including, most importantly, the birds and the planet we share with them.

Muchisimas gracias to all of you for supporting my efforts!

Here's an Elegant Euphonia, Chlorophonia elegantissima (Spanish: Eufonia Gorra Azul), a lovely bird that we were lucky enough to see several time during the CEC Birdathon.