It's tricky to pick the right camera equipment for a trip, especially when weight and size are important priorities. No camera out there is free from compromises, and the compromises usually grow as the gear shrinks. All of that was on my mind when choosing camera equipment for my recent trek in Nepal.

The first day of April is traditionally a day for pulling a good prank on someone. April 1st is also marked on the calendar as International Bird Day. We’ve been celebrating it for over 120 years, and only last week did I learn about the positive effects birdwatching has on the human brain. Experienced birdwatchers are said to develop a denser and better-organized brain structure thanks to their hobby. So if you’re not in the mood to learn a foreign language or play a musical instrument—both known to benefit the brain in similar ways—grab a pair of binoculars and a camera and head outside instead. Stay sharp! And, thanks to our Photography News, stay informed as well.

I just returned from Nepal! Before you ask, the answer is no – I didn’t see Mount Everest on this trip. Instead, I was visiting a different region of the Himalayas to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek. This trek maxes out at 17,770 feet, slightly higher than Everest Base Camp and sometimes considered the world’s highest trekking pass (but still nowhere near the summit of Annapurna I, which reaches 26,545 feet). I want to emphasize that I did NOT try to summit Annapurna, which would most definitely be the last thing I ever attempted on this earth, as it is considered the deadliest mountain in the world to climb.

Today, I would like to take you on a journey into the dark green twilight of the tropical Andes…where a raging mountain torrent weaves its way between the rocks. Where foamy water thunders down into the depths of a rock gorge. Where the branches of the trees are covered with decorative carpets of orchids, ferns, bromeliads, mosses and lichens. For, it is in this mysterious world that you can encounter one of the most iconic birds in all of Latin America – the Andean Cock-of-the-rock.

At 3,798 meters, the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in the Austrian Alps. In fact, it could be considered one of Europe’s last wildernesses, as there are no cable cars and the summit is only accessible to trained climbers. The steep slopes belong only to the birds and the few species of mammals that call it home. It is a world of snow, ice and jagged peaks. But even this seemingly unspoiled place is undergoing a dramatic transformation due to global warming, perhaps faster than anywhere else.

Spring has finally arrived in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where I’m writing these lines. You can feel it in the air—and at last, you can hear it too—that wonderful season of love. A few days ago, while out for a run along the river, this reality really hit me. Not because I saw more couples in love than usual on the trail, but sadly, because of the first dead frog of the year. Every year, thousands of them are killed under car wheels on their way to the water, where they breed. Give their love a chance, and please drive carefully.