Field Notes
Find our more about our expeditions and conservation work in the field notes
When Identifying Coral Snakes
When Identifying Coral Snakes When identifying coral snakes we often think of ‘red to black venom lack, red to yellow kill a fellow’. This simple rhyme originated in the United States where it can be successfully used to identify the two native species of coral...
Wildlife encounters in the coastal wetlands of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.
Wildlife encounters in the coastal wetlands of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Drifting on the slow moving waterways, the sun starts to rise in the early morning dawn. The rich colours in the sky reflecting on the surface of the still waters are perfect for...
Agroecology in the cloud forests of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
Agroecology in the cloud forests of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala Corn is a sacred crop to the Mayan peoples of Guatemala. Unfortunately the cultivars most commonly used in the cloud forests require pesticides and fertilisers to grow well, and this destroys soil quality....
Snake Declines Linked to Frog Fungus
Snake Declines Linked to Frog Fungus The decline of amphibian species due to a fungal disease called chytridiomycosis (or chytrid for short) has been well documented. Many tropical amphibian communities have experienced dramatic declines in numbers, and several...
Seven Years in Guatemala – The Highlights
Seven years in Guatemala with Indigo Expeditions Looking back over last seven years of conservation and research in Guatemala - let's look at what Indigo Field Teams have achieved. 2013 In our very first year of working in Guatemala we ran four expeditions to...
A journey from ponds to jungles!
Field Notes Revisited: I am fortunate to spend a significant portion of the year in the tropics surveying the forests of Guatemala for amphibians and reptiles. This is a dream come true for me. While there is a huge need for conservation work in tropical regions, it...
Nature Tours & Travel
Wildlife encounters in the coastal wetlands of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala.
Wildlife encounters in the coastal wetlands of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Drifting on the slow moving waterways, the sun starts to rise in the early morning dawn. The rich colours in the sky reflecting on the surface of the still waters are perfect for...
Largest sea turtle release on record for Guatemala
Largest sea turtle release on record for Guatemala December 2019 saw the largest release of sea turtles known in Guatemala. During the first week of December 16,643 baby olive ridley sea turtles were released on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. The endangered turtles...
Filming for nature conservation in Guatemala
Filming for nature conservation As a young boy growing up in the UK I was fascinated by wildlife documentaries. They seemed so far away and exotic, something that was out of reach, almost unachievable. At the same time, they sparked a fire that has only increased in...
Autumn Equinox in Petén: Mayan temples, howling monkeys and hunting nighthawks
Autumn Equinox in Petén with nigel marven It's 4 am and I am fumbling around in the darkness attempting to find the flask of coffee on the table in front of me as I try and wake up and prepare for the day ahead. We are in the restaurant area of our hotel, El Sombrero...
Discover biodiverse birdlife in a maze of freshwater lagoons
Discover biodiverse birdlife in a maze of freshwater lagoons When we think of coast lines it’s easy to just think of the beach and its immediate surroundings. However, it’s often the case that highly diverse habitat is found hidden behind the waterfront. This is...
Absorb the Mayan culture of Lake Atitlán
Absorb the Mayan culture of Lake Atitlán As you travel west out of Guatemala City for about 4 hours you will find yourself at Atitlán, an idyllic lake high in the mountains. Here in the crisp air surrounded by volcanos, is one of Guatemala’s natural wonders. When the...
Indigo Archives
Scaphiodontophis annulatus found on Indigo Expedition.
Scaphiodontophis annulatus found on Indigo Expedition. One week into the first December 2013 expedition and surveys are going well. We didn't know how it would go this time of year, but we certainly didn't expect this half coral snake Scaphiodontophis annulatus to...
Red to black venom lack. Red to yellow kill a fellow.
Red to black venom lack. Red to yellow kill a fellow. Another species I was very excited to find is the variable coral snake (Micrurus diastema). As its common name suggests its colouration and pattern are highly variable. Due to this fact, I treat any snake with any...
First impressions of Laguna del Tigre National Park
First impressions of Laguna del Tigre National Park My first evening at the tranquil Estación Biológica las Guacamayas got off to a great start! No more than 10 minutes into my first night walk and we find a coral snake disappearing into a pile of sticks at the side...