Lanny Mitchell, an enthusiastic birder, returns to Panama, a place with good memories. She's thinking about moving there permanently when she has a casual meeting with a Chinese businessman who is combining a work assignment in Panama with adding birds to his life list.

With their guide, they experience a dormant volcano's signs of sleeplessness. Chinese activities are not all they seem and Lanny is involved with ecological issues and poisonous gases.

Compounding the issue is the discovery of old Spanish gold. The resolution involves Panamanian friends, venomous snakes and a breach of trust.