S6E37: Ken in Western Panama

S6E37: Ken in Western Panama

Author: Ken Behrens & Charley Hesse April 12, 2026 Duration: 1:10:37

The final installment of our Panama series. Ken tells Charley about his western Panama adventure. How did Ken manage to miss all the brushfinches yet find all the quail-doves?! How was his climb up Panama's highest mountain?


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Intro by Jenna Pinchbeck https://www.jennapinchbeck.com/ Jennapinchbeck@gmail.com. Theme music by John Behrens https://nashvilleaudioproductions.com/Feel free to contact us at: ken.behrens@gmail.com &/or cfchesse@gmail.com


Pheasant Cuckoo recording courtesy of Scott Olmstead, XC1035981. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/1035981. License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0

Naturally Adventurous Podcast

Nature - Travel - Adventure - Birding


There’s a particular kind of curiosity that pulls you off the beaten path, toward the rustle in the undergrowth or the call from a distant canopy. Naturally Adventurous is built on that impulse, hosted by two guides who have followed it across continents. Ken Behrens and Charley Hesse aren’t just passing through; they’ve built lives in the remote corners where they’ve settled, from Madagascar to Thailand, Ecuador to South Africa. Their conversations are less like formal interviews and more like the stories swapped at the end of a long day in the field, rich with the details of a lifelong obsession with birds and natural history. Each episode pulls you into the texture of a place-the sounds, the surprises, the occasional misadventures-that comes from seeking out wild creatures in wild landscapes. You’ll hear about the logistics of navigating a swamp, the thrill of an unexpected sighting, and the quieter reflections on how these journeys shape a perspective. This podcast is for anyone who feels that pull toward the untracked, offering a deeply personal and authentic audio postcard from the world’s most fascinating ecosystems, all through the experienced ears of two people who have made a life out of looking.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Naturally Adventurous
Podcast Episodes
S5E22: New Caledonia and Maybe the World's Weirdest Bird [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:51
New Caledonia is a Melanesian island northeast of Australia. It's home to an amazing bird that makes up its own family. Ken visited recently, and Charley a few years ago. They talk about this unique island, from its poli…
S5E21: Ken's top 10 Birds from New Zealand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:05
Learn about Ken's budding romance with flightless birds, and long-awaited encounter with some of the world's largest *flying* birds. Tui recording courtesy of Barry Edmonston, XC794785. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.o…
S5E20: South America Big Year with Chris Bell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:31
Chris Bell shares some highlights of his South America Big Year (and a half) with Charley. Sierra Azul Antbird recording courtesy of Guilherme de Melo Becher, XC764477. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/764477. License Cr…
S5E19: NEW ZEALAND - CHARLEY'S TOP 5 BIRDS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:04
Charley gives Ken his Top 5 New Zealand birds (with an honorable mention, of course). North Island Kokako recording courtesy of David Bradley, XC534282. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/534282. License Creative Commons A…
S5E18: Aotearoa (New Zealand), Land of Surprises [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:11
The guys were both in New Zealand recently, though on separate trips. What surprised them about the country? How did it compare with Australia? Tui recording courtesy of David Boyle, XC927436. Accessible at https://xeno-…
S5E17: Under Over Down Under [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:30
Hear about what Ken thinks are the most overrated and underrated things in Australia. Bar-shouldered Dove recording courtesy of Marc Anderson, XC816821. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/816821. License Creative Commons A…
S5E16: Alaska Top 12 Highlights (part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:43
Hear about Ken's top 6 sightings from his Alaska trip earlier this year. These include some of the coolest creatures in North America! Smith's Longspur recording courtesy of Frank Lambert, XC356212. Accessible at https:/…
S5E15: Northern Territory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:12
Join Charley & Ken to hear all about their adventures in the Northern Territory of Australia. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page at: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landi…
S5E14: OUTBACK AUSTRALIA ROADTRIP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:14
Join Charley, Ken & Iain around the campfire to hear all about their epic outback adventure. If you wish to support this podcast, please visit our Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/naturallyadventurous?fan_landing…
S5E13: Alaska Top 12 Highlights (part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:54
Some of these confuse Charley, and some of them grip him off. All are fun to chat about. Bohemian Waxwing recording courtesy of Peter Ward and Ken Hall, XC512253. Accessible at https://xeno-canto.org/512253. License: Cre…