birding...

Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin ©Nick Athanas, Tropical Birding http://www.tropicalbirding.com/

A birding trip to Peru should really be the first of a series of trips to the second country in the world for bird diversity (after Colombia). The country holds some 1780 species of birds. There are 125 true endemic birds and additionally c. 110 EBA species (Endemic Bird Area species as identified by BirdLife International). Peru has more EBAs than any other country in South America with 16 EBAs in total. That`s why you should consider Peru for more than one trip. More new species of birds have been described from Peru than any other country in the last 30 years, partly due to legendary late Ted Parker`s and John O`Neill`s (from Louisiana State University) surveys in Peru during the 70s to 80s. The political violence of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s has come to an end now. Peru has recently also subdued Coca-growing in many areas, which is why suddenly, practically the whole country lies open for birding and is safer than most places of South America. There are still a handful of species in Peru that are known of, but remain to be described to science. There are areas that have never been thoroughly surveyed by any ornithologists, which is aptly demonstrated by the new splendid Scarlet-banded Barbet (in Auk, 2000). There may yet be many ornithological surprises to come from Peru in coming years.

There are still many areas which are only poorly known and, doubtless, there are still new birds to be discovered; a thrilling prospect for birders with exploring spirits.

Birding in Peru does not have to be birds and nothing else. The country is extremely rich in archaeology with the Inca culture - much present to this date - only the tip of the iceberg. The famous Shangri-La like ruins of Machu Picchu is also an excellent place for birding. The Inca Wren was described from here in 1985. You can easily do the Lima-Paracas-Nazca-Arequipa-Puno-Cusco-Machu Picchu open-jaw circuit overland on your own which would give many easy to identify birds, with lots of culture on the way.

Peru is also famous for its hiking possibilities. Famed areas good for birding as well are the Inca trail to Machu Picchu with a number of Cusco endemics such as Vilcabamba Tapaculo, Parodi`s Hemispingus, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, etc and the Cordillera Blanca where the Polylepis forests hold White-cheeked Cotinga and Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch. Cusco as a base gives further access to great birding. Some of the most threatened birds of the continent such as Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, White-browed Tit-Spinetail and Royal Cinclodes are quite easily seen at Abra Malaga.

Manu National park and the areas around it hold around 1000 species of birds. The mountainous region is accessed with high clearance vehicles with the final destination of Amazonia or Pantiacolla Lodge both of which hold over 500 species of birds. This is also the port of lowland Manu. Manu Wildlife Centre is the best lodge for birding and situated actually outside of the national park. It is the variety of microhabitats, including good bamboo areas as well as easily accessible terra firma and Heliconia thickets, as well as an excellent canopy tower that makes this one of the top lodges on the continent. It is however quite expensive and you have to arrange for a boat to get there in advance, or fly in and out from Cusco to Boca Manu or buy a package.

There are many more easily accessible lodges from Puerto Maldonado with much the same birds as Manu Wildlife Centre, but maybe not as birder friendly albeit less expensive. The most famous one - Explorer`s Inn still holds the world record lodge list (close to 600 species) as well as the world record for a big day (Ted Parker and Scott Robinson 331 species).

The Peruvian Amazon is overwhelming and without a trained bird-guide with a good ear or joining a bird tour, chances are you will feel pretty lost and with few clues on what birds to concentrate on when you encounter a flock that can hold up to 50 species. Kolibri Expeditions, Manu Expeditions and Tanager Tours can supply you with a much-needed guide for the lowlands.

Near Iquitos ACEER has the famous half-mile canopy walk way, worth a visit. Other good areas - recently opened - for lowland birding include Pucallpa, Tarapoto, Villa Rica-Puerto Bermudas road and Satipo. Birders still have to find the way here, but prices are lower and birds are plentiful.

One could travel the classic and recently paved Central Highway from Lima to Tingo Maria and enjoy some great birding on the way. For the detours to Santa Eulalia valley, Marcopomacocha, Junin lake and Bosque Unchog a 4WD vehicle is recommended. The highlights include Great Inca-Finch, Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch, White-cheeked Cotinga, Diademed Sandpiper-plover, Junin Grebe, Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager, Bay-vented Cotinga, Chestnut Antpitta and Oilbird.

The North and Central parts of Peru hold some magic birds like White-winged Guan (thought extinct until 1977); Marvelous Spatuletail, Orange-throated Tanager (pre-arrangements essential) and Great Spinetail, which recently have become accessible to birders. However, logistics and roads are in very poor conditions in most places and it is wise to seek local advise on going to some of the areas. The road between Chiclayo and Rioja is paved but there are no hotels near the best birding area around Abra Patricia.

Two areas in the extreme North are worthy of note. Tumbes National Forest holds virtually all the Tumbesian Endemics in vast and excellent habitat. Birders have in the 90s gone to Southern Ecuador to see these species where the habitat is very fragmented and scarce. Tumbes is much better. Ayabaca and Huancabamba areas have a similar avifauna to Cajanuma in Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador and could well be included in a Tumbes circuit. The new Jocotoco Antpitta from Ecuador should occur near Huancabamba as well, but has still to be found. You could be the one to find it! There is so much yet to explore in Peru.

Many good species of seabirds are present in the Humboldt current passing off the coast of Lima. Paracas has, traditionally, been the place to watch them, but you rarely come out to pelagic waters to see Albatrosses and the like. Kolibri Expeditions is initiating whale-watching trips from Lima - an activity not known previously in Peru even though there is great potential. This will enable also avid seabirders to get to the pelagic species.

Gunnar Engblom will answer queries and give support to independent birders contacting him at the email address below. You may need help in booking internal tickets, car-hire or in finding a suitable itinerary. You may want a bird guide or to join a fixed departure.

This page brought to you in association with:
Birding Ecotours

http://www.birdingecotours.co.za Birding Ecotours Join us for phenomenal Brazil & Peru birding. Our many Peru programmes include Marvellous Spatuletail, Scarlet Barbet and Golden-backed Mountain Tanager expeditions, a Tambopata Amazon rendezvous, Muyuna and Explorama Iquitos adventures, Central Highway birding, Amazon and White River trips, Lima birding (including pelagic trips), plus a lot more. Contact us also about other South American destinations, North American birding, and about our well-established African birding programme. All our tours are superb custom-made and set itinerary birding adventures that contribute to conservation and local communities. Click the logo & tour our website or email: info@birdingecotours.co.za
 

This page brought to you in association with:
Manu Expeditions

Manu Expeditions is a professional Peru-based company with 25 years experience, offering bespoke birding trips to Peru, Bolivia, Chile & Colombia. Our very experienced neo-tropical birding guides and naturalists specialise in catering for serious bird watchers and photographers as they know where to find the more sought after and difficult species, but do not ignore other aspects of Natural History. Our tours cover the coast, highlands and rainforests and our leaders provide you with excellence in birding whilst ensuring that arrangements are trouble free [we are bird watchers ourselves so know how important smooth logistics are]. Private trips are tailored to your needs being as intense or relaxed as you like and we never cut corners, using only top class accommodation and vehicles.