A few months ago, we at Canopy Family were delighted to receive a very special visit. Elizabeth “Lissy” Smith, an 11-year-old birder from Texas, joined us in Panama for an unforgettable adventure. Before her trip, Lissy had already seen about 300 bird species, an impressive achievement for someone her age. By the end of her time in Panama, that number had soared to over 500 species.
Lissy’s birding journey began when she was about nine years old. She and her father visited Lake Whitney State Park in Texas and joined a guided bird walk. While the tour was informal, it sparked something special. Lake Whitney State Park, along the Brazos River, is known for its mix of prairie, woodland, and river habitats, making it an excellent place to observe a wide variety of bird species throughout the year. When they returned home, they realized how much they had enjoyed the experience and decided to do it more often. Before long, they bought binoculars and continued birding together, quickly falling in love with the amazing hobby of birding.
Although Lissy had been birding regularly in the United States, her visit to Panama marked her first birding trip outside the country—and we are honored that she chose Panama for this adventure. While searching online for birding trips within the U.S., Lissy and her father discovered that, for a similar price, they could travel to Panama and stay at the Canopy Tower. They were fascinated not only by the diversity of birds, but also by the history of the Tower itself—once a radar station monitoring the Panama Canal, now transformed into a world-renowned birding eco-lodge.
Among her favorite birds seen during the trip were the Rufous Motmot and the Rosy Thrush-Tanager. One of the highlights of her visit was Pipeline Road, one of the most iconic birding sites in the Neotropics. Lissy visited Pipeline twice—her first visit was marked by heavy rain, but she happily returned for a second try. This time, she described it simply as amazing.
Lissy’s family is very supportive of her passion for birds, but most of her birding adventures are shared with her dad, making their trips together especially meaningful. Looking ahead, Lissy plans to continue birding and has already dreamed up a future birding trip as a Christmas present. She would love to return to Panama someday and visit the Canopy Lodge and Canopy Camp as well.
During her stay, Lissy especially enjoyed birding with our Canopy Family guide Jorge, whom she described as incredibly skilled at spotting birds and recognizing them by sound. She shared that she had the nicest time and truly appreciated his patience and expertise. Lissy’s enthusiasm, curiosity, and kindness left a lasting impression on all of us. We truly hope to welcome her back to Panama very soon, and that her visit inspires other young birders to explore nature, follow their curiosity, and discover the joy of birding.