I am currently living on Sumba in Indonesia and doing research on the endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoos. So I get to do what I love: Scramble around the forest, watch birds, climb up to nests, help endangered species, teach and learn from other ecologists ...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have really liked the idea of it ... since I first read about it. I have been a member for a long time but don't get to use it a lot. Hosting was often difficult because I lived in field stations or staff accommodation most of the time. Finally here in Sumba I have a spare mattress and sometimes get to host people. I have become very good friends with some of my hosts and keep visiting them. I like the kind of people I meet through couchsurfing.

Interests

I'm interested in everything related to birds, especially parrots. I can get very enthusiastic about them and about most other aspects of Nature.
I feel in a similar way about climbing. I love almost all sorts of climbing: trees, cliffs, artificial walls, canyoning, caving, rope access work ...
I like learning languages. That doesn't mean that I am good at it but I thoroughly enjoy the process of learning and noticing how every new word enables me to communicate a bit better.

• birds
• hiking
• spelunking
• rock climbing
• swimming
• languages
• motorbiking
• tree climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite books are: Douglas Adams "Last Chance to see", GRRM "A Song of Ice and Fire", Most of Jane Goodall's books, Richard Dawkins "The Ancestor's Tale", Jared Diamond "Guns, Germs and Steel"

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Only one?
So hard to choose. Okay maybe this one:
I slept in a hammock hanging high up in the canopy of a Mauritian tree, surrounded by endemic fruit bats, Pink pigeons and Echo Parakeets. Lovely sunset and stars. Not so amazing was that I missed the sunrise because it rained so heavily that I had to get up (or more precisely 'down') veeery early.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greenland, Honduras, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Indonesia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Seychelles