Costa Rica bird photography guides

I am traveling to Costa Rica for a short vacation in March, and was thinking to do some bird photography while spending time there. I did an online search and actually found many professional tour guides who, in my opinion, charge way too much for a few photographing sessions. Most of multiple-day sessions are around $3,000 to $5,000. There might be less expensive guides, but I wasn't able to find any yet. My problem here is that I simply cannot justify paying a few bird photography sessions that much. For what I understand, Costa Rica is a bird-rich country, and I wonder how difficult it would be to setup a few flashes, a feeder, perch and a blind anywhere on a public land... This, however, brings up a couple of questions:

1) How justified is the price of professional tour guides? Again, I understand that they normally provide lodging for the nights while the photography session lasts, but I was also able to find lodging for $50-$60 per night. Why would they charge so much to provide few flashes and a feeder? Of course, I have no problem with people trying to make money, but I feel they go way overboard with their charge.

2) Is it practical or even legal for me as a visitor to setup a feeder/flash on a public land in Costa Rica? Or, how practical or difficult would it be to do this at a resort (of course, with the owner's permission). If this is practical/possible, then I even less understand why someone would pay a lot of money to do this with a guide.

Sorry for a lengthier post, but I am hoping that someone on this forum could help with some input here... Thanks...

I can understand your feelings. My wife and I just cancelled a tour we had set (with a guide named Randall) because he threw a new, larger price at us 3 weeks before we were set to go. Now we are heading to the Florida coast (Sanibel, Fort DeSoto, Merritt Island, etc.) for a trip that will cost us a third of what the Costa Rica trip would have run us.

You might Google "birding trip reports costa rica" or something along those lines. I've read several things in the past from those that went through the country birding by themselves.

Best of Luck,
Chuck

Thanks, Chuck! With a good research, I think I can do well without guides. I have already received a reply from one resort that actually prefers photographers doing their own setups and definitely allow photography on their premises. So, I think I will go this route...