Maybe there could be a "birding pal" feature on this website?
Must admit I only used the Birdingpal website once and ended up paying $180 for the day and buying the guy lunch!! So much for covering expenses. He also told me he could make up his paid job by working at home that evening.
A possible alternative is "birding gurus" an online directory of worldwide bird guides
https://www.birdinggurus.com/
The reason why less people are using BP now is that you have to pay to use their contact form, so I would really welcome a similar scheme on BF. It would have to be voluntary and not for profit (although a separate list for professional guides would also be useful). It could be a simple list of names to PM in a "sticky" thread at the top of each single country forum.
A possible alternative is "birding gurus" an online directory of worldwide bird guides
https://www.birdinggurus.com/
If needed, I volunteer to help, collecting names etc. I think that profiles should include: languages spoken, daily availability (every day, afternoons, weekends only etc), brief info about the area with key species, and also, something which wasn't included in the BP profiles and which I think is very important: if one is willing to meet for a birding "session" (for FREE!!!) or just to provide site information in writing.
It remains to be seen what is the best way to organise such a "service": a dedicated forum or, as I suggested above a "sticky" in each country's forum. A separate list for professional guides, tried and tested by BF members could also be an idea. But of course it's uf the BF staff to decide what's the best way forward.