My way from nature to birds

Hi!

My name is Christian Bech, and I am the Birder in Chief at Exotica Fruit Farm.

I grew up beside a forest in Denmark, which became my playground as a child. My father introduced me to natural history at an early age, not only by family nature walks, where he showed me trees, scrubs, birds, snakes and lizards, but enrolled both of us in the local Natural History Society.  He knew all the birds and we made nesting boxes and had a feeding board in winter. I learned to use binoculars and at a later point got my own.

A couple of classmates and I had a little birding club, where we roamed the forest and explored the nearby lakes.
So nature and birding was in my blood from early age.

Late teenage years and beginning to work had me putting birding on a shelf for some time, but when I moved to Belize in the mid 80’s, was overwhelmed and immersed in such a natural wealth every day – it got me gradually started again.

I became a licensed tour guide in Belize in 2007. Ever since I have concentrated on birding and it has been my passion since.

Being a rather small country with a rich diversity of habitats and 605 recorded species of birds, Belize offers some excellent opportunities of bird watching for both the amateur bird watcher aswell as for the more avid birders.

At Exotica you will find yourself in a very bird-rich habitat!

Having a large and varied fruit plantation bordering a rich rainforest habitat with easily accessible trails gives you the possibility of some amazing bird encounters of both year-round resident birds as well as migratory species, using the area as wintering territory, or others using our forest as a feeding stop over on their journey further south.

We use eBird to record species seen or heard here, and in a relative short time we have recorded 145 species.
Knowing the habitat, I am certain, that over the coming months, we will be able to record well over 200 species here.  
Using eBird as our recording tool not only serves as an excellent data base for precise recording but also contributes to both local international bird science.

I am really excited about being able to share my passion and knowledge with guests and locals coming here to the farm.

Birding at Exotica also gives you the opportunity of being part of building our constantly growing list of recorded bird species and who knows? Maybe even finding something rare.

Exotica also offers the opportunity of exploring other habitats nearby.

A little walk of a few hundred yards puts you in a pine forest and savannah habitat where other species can be found and the same can be said if you walk in the other direction birding along the Georgetown road will again give you the possibility of seeing other species.

With a vehicle you may also explore Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and Mayflower/Bocawina National Park are just a short drive away as are other birding hotspots.

Exotica Farms is registered as a hotspot on eBird so any eBird user can enter their bird finds to our location.

I looking forward to see you here and share this marvellous birding location here with you!

Happy Birding!