Jacobo (“Jacob”) Ortega was born in the province of Cocle.  Jacobo was raised in the beautiful town of El Barrigon, a place that became a national park because of its scenery and high diversity of frogs, plants and, of course, birds.  At age 15, Jacobo changed slingshots for careful observation of the birds.  His life changed when, through his best friend, Clemente, he met Dodge Engleman, president of Panama Audubon Society, who encouraged him to keep studying and learning about the birds.     In 1992, Jacob began working for the Panama Canal Alternative project, a project that was assessing the diversity and quality of the forest in the Panama Canal Zone before its turnover to the Panamanian Government in 1999.  The year 1993 brought a big change for Jacobo when he began working for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in a bird-banding project that was aimed at unraveling the life cycle of bird parasites.  For 7 years, he banded birds in the Canal area, and during that period he learned how to identify nearly 500 bird species by their call and about 200 species by their nests.  Today, his favorite bird is the White-necked Jacobin due to the similarity between his name and that of the bird.     What customers think about Jacobo...   You are a guide who combines profound knowledge of birds, exceptional ability to find them, and humane treatment and empathy toward the birds.  Thanks, Jacobo, and we hope to return soon to Panama.  Marieta Hernández, Venezuela Audubon Society   I have birded in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador and naturally, in my Venezuela, but I have never had a guide as you--a guide completely determined to find every bird in the area and no matter how long or how much work. Mary Lou Goodwin, Birding in Venezuela   We had a wonderful time in Panama made very special because of Jacobo`s skills with the birds and patience with us. Yvonne and Geoff Basley, England   We birded with Jacob for 7 full days and had an outstanding experience.  We are very experienced birders but Jacobo is light-years better.  We highly recommend his services. Ed Hall and Don Lewis, USA   We had a wonderful experience.  You are a great guide.  We are amazed by your ability to find those wonderful birds in the dark forest.  We think you have a very special gift and an encyclopedic knowledge of the birds of Panama. Ed and Wanda Armstrong, USA   Contact Jacobo