CURRENT MISSION

To keep on learning and living simply on this beautiful place called Earth...

ABOUT ME

Long story: Michael Starkey serves as Chairman of the SAVE THE FROGS! Advisory Committee. In this position, he rallies together scientists, volunteers, and others in order to help broaden SAVE THE FROGS’ mission of conservation. Mr. Starkey regularly gives lectures on amphibian conservation at universities, schools, and to public interest groups. Mr. Starkey has worked as an ecological consultant for environmental consulting firms and government agencies such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish & Game. He has worked with a wide diversity of California wildlife, including California Tiger Salamanders, San Francisco Garter Snakes, Giant Garter Snakes, bats, and ringtails. He has also worked at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, studying larval development and parental behavior of the neo-tropical frog, Leptodactylus insularum. After witnessing the result of widespread extinction of amphibians in the Panamanian rainforest, Mr. Starkey became dedicated to conserving amphibian species around the world. Mr. Starkey began working with SAVE THE FROGS! in 2010 to inform the public about the threats facing amphibians and to to help nurture a society that respects and cherishes all forms of wildlife. He has given presentations on frog conservation in the USA, Canada, Belize, Ghana, and Germany.

Long story short: I am a nerdy vegan that loves animals, travel, and adventure. I like to help others and hopefully I can help you out with your journey.

PHILOSOPHY

Live simply so others may simply live.

Gandhi

Everything for everyone, nothing for ourselves.

Zapatistas

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Honestly, I believe in the good in people. I want to prove to the world that people looking to travel (whether by street, car, bike, etc) are good people looking for adventure... not serial killers... So, I pick up hitchhikers and try and help people that are traveling when I can. In return, hopefully I can surf across the world with my enthusiasm to build positive relations with others across the globe.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have hosted some amazing individuals and connected with good friends who host/surf with others. It is a great community and I am still learning about it.

Interests

Biology, Herpetology (frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizard, etc), Travel, Central America, Learning Spanish (still working on that one...), Rock Climbing, Aikido, Chess, Didgeridoo, Juggling, Beer, Latin American Revolutions, Gardening, Cooking, Music, and many many many more things....

• animals
• wildlife
• fish
• reptiles
• amphibians
• cooking
• beer
• vegan
• gardening
• chess
• reading
• traveling
• billiards
• juggling
• music
• cycling
• fishing
• hiking
• rock climbing
• biology
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Documentaries (nature mostly), Spanish-Speaking Foreign Films, Sci-Fi/Fantasty (Avatar, 5th Element, Alien, etc)...

Music: K'Naan, Dalek, Sublime, Tool, The Devotchkas, Kid606, DJ Donna Summer, Otto Von Shirach, Shakira, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Mano Chao, Misfits, Rage Against the Machine, Tim Fite, Honeyhoney, Knifehandchop, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, Jefferson Airplane, Guano Apes, Food For Animals, Daft Punk, Cypress Hill, Bong Ra, Alice in Chains, MGMT, Alanis Morissette, Die Antwoord, Eddy Herrera, The Locust, M.I.A., Virus Syndicate, The Roots, P.O.S., Natacha Atlas, Ojos de Brujo, Orishas, Passion Pit, Revolting Cocks, Primus, Ministry, Portishead, Secret Chiefs 3, Tecknoist, PJ Harvey, Tomahawk, Public Enemy, Wu Tang Clan, Bismallah Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Buraka Som Sistema and more...

Books: Field Guides, and books about travel... John Muir especially

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

It was a particularly warm night in the forest, and the humidity was thick. So thick in fact, that we could see the steam from our breath. A couple of friends and I were hiking along a road that went deep into the Panamanian forest. From the road we cut into some brush to follow a stream. Note: While looking for life at night in the jungle… hike the streams… This particular stream was split in two by a large buttress tree root and at the base of the root, a small, shallow pool had formed. Located in the pool happened to be a five foot long Spectacled Caiman. Caiman are the smaller cousins of the Alligator, only reaching lengths of 8 feet (2.5 meters). During my stay in Panama, I was hoping to get an up close look at a Caiman... so I decided to do just that. As I came to this decision, I can quote one of my friends telling me, "I am going to photograph you doing this so we have evidence of your death". Regardless, as I approached the Caiman, he decided he wanted nothing to do with me and proceeded to submerge himself in the water, but the water was not very deep... so he was clearly visible. With both hands, I carefully grabbed the Caiman behind the head and pulled him out of the water. Now this is no simple task, as he is thrashing about, open mouthed, with a fire in his eye that could melt all the ice in the Arctic. Not a happy Caiman at all! During this time, he is beating and bludgeoning me with his huge tail, so I somehow find a way to get a better grip on him and he proceeds to calm down. The power and fight in this animal was breath-taking. This is not some subdued captive croc at the local zoo, this is an incredibly strong and intelligent predator... perfectly adapted to life in the rainforest. After a few photos and a few words of thanks to this individual, I released him back into the stream. He proceeded to growl at us as he walked into his burrow in the stream bank.
Ok, so in reflection, I am not a thrill junkie by any means and I am not some overcompensating macho-man looking to be tough. This experience, along with many others, helps to encourage my passion for reptiles and amphibians, and this also allows me to help relate this passion to others. Reptiles and amphibians are not as charismatic as some species and many people fear them. Yet, this Caiman is truly a beautiful animal that deserves respect, and as we continue to destroy the forests, pollute the streams, drain the lakes, etc… that does not deem much respect to this animal and all other animals. By reading this story, hopefully the next time you read, see, or hear about the Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus), you’ll have a better appreciation for them, and hopefully all species that share this planet with us. Please let me know if this story did that for you. I would appreciate it.

Teach, Learn, Share

I agree with the CouchSurfing Philosophy 100%. Let's engage.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belize, Ghana, Guatemala, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Panama, United States

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