BIRDS IN PERU AT THE RUTLAND BIRD FAIR – UK

Birds in Perú is a Peruvian company dedicated to the environment and its conservation, and our specialty is birdwatching in Peru. This year we will also be attending the BirdFair 2008, promoting the most important and impressive birdwatching routes Peru has to offer.

Birds in Perú offers 5 different products, or tours, that have been designed with a passion for “aviantourism”, meaning that each one covers a large part of the Peruvian territory and includes much avian diversity. This means every tour we operate allows the enthusiast to observe a great number of resident bird species, as well as migrant and endemic species. Every tour we offer is a highly recognized, world renowned circuit. For more information please contact us at vmbirdsinperu@saaqp.com.pe or visit our website, www.birdsinperu.com

BIRD OF THE MONTH - AUGUST

The Zambullidor of Junín - Podiceps taczanowskii

The number one priority for Birds in Peru is the conservation of this species. We have been making regular observation excursions in order to determine individual numbers and in what kind of condition the species is in.
The Zambullidor of Junín is an intriguing species that has lost the evolutionary capability of flight; this compounded with the dangers presented by the mining industry surrounding it’s natural habitat (the Junin Lake), has lead to drastically shrinking populations. Other worrying factors are the species low reproduction rates and increasing incidences of hunting.

The distribution of the Zambullidor is limited exclusively to the Junin Lake, at more than 4000m above sea level, in the central Peruvian Andes, and located just a few hours from Lima.
Birds in Perú offers you the opportunity to visit this zone, where you may observe this species and at the same time contribute to it’s conservation. Feel free to contact us, at vmbirdsinperu@saaqp.com.pe

PERU TO SERVE AS HOST TO THE NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS of 2011

Peru will host the Neotropical Ornithological Congress (NOC) in 2011, organized by the Ornithological Union of Peru and other Peruvian ornithological organizations. This congress takes place ever four years in different countries within the Americas. Its main objective is to support investigation and conservation efforts for birds found in the American Neotropic.

The event includes scientific programs, national and foreign investigative conferences, workshops and the like. Both ornithology enthusiasts and birdwatchers alike are most welcome to attend, and take advantage of the many new bird observation routes the country has to offer.

Three main cities are currently competing to receive the honor of hosting this grand event: Arequipa, Cuzco and Lima, all of which offer a variety of ‘aviantourism’ activities. Birds in Perú would like to offer you the possibility to participate in this exciting event, as well as visit the many impressive birdwatching destinations in Peru. Please contact us at vmbirdsinperu@saaqp.com.pe for further information.

PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT HONORS ESTEEMED PERUVIAN ORNITHOLOGIST

Chancellor José A. Garcia Belaunde, on behalf of the Peruvian Government, honored Dr. John O´Neill in the capital city of Lima, with the Order “Merit for Distinguished Services”, in recognition of his more than 35 years of dedicated bird research in Peru. The ceremony took place in the Torre Tagle Palace, Peruvian Chancery Headquarters, on Tuesday, June 17th.

Friends of John O´Neill living in Peru celebrated at a recent event, where Birds in Perú were also participating, and we are pleased to present some shared moments with our most esteemed friend. .

Photo: In the halls of the Peruvian Chancery, from left to right: Víctor Martínez (Birds in Perú), John O’Neill, Gustavo del Solar (re-discoverer of the White-Winged Guan) and Leticia Alamia (John O’Neill’s wife)

PELAGIC, SHORE AND MIGRATORY BIRDS

This is the most comprehensive, comfortable, and safe tour of its kind offered in Peru.

The route exists almost entirely on the Peruvian Coast, and the observation sites along the way are the most important bird conservation sites (IBA’s), or RAMSAR sites. On the open sea one can observe the Peruvian Diving Petrel, Cape Petrel, Cook´s Petrel, Westland Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Storm-Petrel, Markham’s Storm-Petrel, Hornby’s (Ringed) Storm-Petrel, Wilson´s Storm-Petrel, White-vented Storm-Petrel, and Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel. It is also possible to observe Sabine´s Gulls, the Swallow-tailed Gull, Black-browed Albatross, Southern Fulmar and the ever present South Polar Skua and Chilean Skua. In northern Peru one can also observe the White Ibis, Mangrove Black Hawk, Yellow Warbler, Masked Water-Tyrant, Wood Stork, Chilean Flamingo, and Western Sandpiper etc.

Down in Paracas you can observe the Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Booby, Guanay Cormorant, Neotropic Cormorant, Chilean Flamingo, Andean Condor, Western Sandpiper, Snowy Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstone.

We use safe and comfortable sea craft that are specially designed for birdwatching purposes.
Rest assured that we stay in the best available accommodation in each zone we visit, and of course it is our priority to provide visitors with delicious, sanitary, and clean meals.

HIGH ANDES AND VOLCANIC MOUNTAIN BIRDS

This circuit covers the Central Andean ranges, as well as the volcanic mountains found in the south of Peru.
Here we observe birds around the high altitude Andean lagoons, found in the Lima and Junin Departments, and the volcanic mountains such as Chachani, Misti and Pichupichu found in the Arequipa Department. This is a truly fascinating birdwatching tour.

Some of the species one can observe between Lima and Junin are the Andean Condor, Mourning Sierra-Finch, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Great Inca-Finch, White-bellied Cinclodes, Junin Grebe and White-cheeked Cotinga. Further south on the volcanic mountain circuit one can find species such as the Bar-winged Cinclodes, White-crested Elaenia, Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Ornate Tinamou, Puna Hawk, Andean Lapwing, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Puna Ground-Tyrant, and Peruvian Sierra-Finch, among others.

CLOUD AND RAINFOREST BIRDS

This entire tour takes place in the southern Peruvian Jungle, in the territory surrounding Manu National Park, and we begin in the city of Cuzco. The Manu National Park was declared a National Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in the 1970’s, and is home to some 1000 bird species, as well as many other animals. It is said that around 10% of all vegetation species in existence worldwide reside inside this park.

Some species one can observe along this route are the Andean negrito, Godwit and Baird’s Sandpiper, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, los Giant Hummingbird, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Bearded Mountaineer, Rusty-fronted Canastero, and Streak-fronted Thornbird; all of which can be seen relatively close to the city of Cuzco.

In the area surrounding Manu one can spot the Collared Trogon, Military Macaw, Fasciated tiger Heron, Hoatzin, Spix`s guan, Venezuelan flycatcher, Razor-billed Curassow, Red and green Macaw, Ringed kingsfisher, Scarlet Macaw, Sunbittern, Koepcke's Hermit, White-bearded Hermit, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Black-eared Fairy, Golden-tailed Saphire, Blue-tailed Emerald, Rufous-crested Coquete, Amethyst Woodstar, Bluish fronted Jacamar, Fine-barred Piculet, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Cabani's Spinetail, Bamboo Antshrike, Manu Antbird, Amazonian Antpitta, and Rusty-belted Tapaculo, among many more. .

LIMA – HILLS AND WETLANDS (RAMSAR SITES – RAMSAR CONVENTION IRAN 1971)

This tour takes place in the coastal zone of the Lima Department. The Lomas de Lachay (Lachay Hills) are a representative example of the ecosystems found on hills on the Peruvian coast. Their proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes them an ideal site for endemic and other species.

Another site we visit on this tour is the Paradise Lagoon, a beautiful lagoon fed by marine waters, where one can observe such migratory and resident species such as the Burrowing Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Vermilion Flycatcher, Peruvian Sheartail, and Oasis Hummingbird, and species endemic to Peru such as the Coastal Miner, Thick-billed Miner, and Grayish Miner. You may also see the Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Chilean Flamingo, Black-faced Ibis, Cinnamon Teal, and White-cheeked Pintail, among others.

NORTHEASTERN(TUMBESINA ZONE, ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES)

This North Eastern route is possibly one of the most impressive and fascinating birdwatching routes in the world. It covers some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, where more than 800 species of birds can be observed, many of which are endemic.

The route crosses Peru transversely from the North East to the North West, covering multiple ecosystems; starting from the high altitude tropics, passing through the famous cloudy forests, the Abra Porcuya (the lowest mountain range pass), and finally reaches the dry forests found in the Tumbesina region of the northern Peruvian Coast.

The list of observable species here is extensive, to mention but a few: the Koepcke’s Hermit, Violet-Headed Hummingbird, Golden-Tailed Sapphire, Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner, Rufous-Winged Antwren, Golden-Headed Manakin, Slaty-Capped Flycatcher, Speckled Chachalaca, Cobalt-Wingd Parakeet, Little Cuckoo, Violaceous Trogon, Ringed Kingfisher, Lafresnaye's Piculet, and the Andean Cock of the Rock, all found at the very beginning of the tour.

A little lower, in the Abra Porcuya, one can observe endemic species such as the Royal Sun angel, Ochre-Fronted Antitank, Bar-Winged Wood-Wren, Johnson’s Toddy-Tyrant, White-Capped Tanager, Red-Hooded Tanager, and Yellow-Scared Tanager. We may also see the recently rediscovered Whiskered Owlet. Along this route one can also spot the world’s most beautiful hummingbird: the Marvelous Spatuletail.

As we get closer to the Tumbesina region on the coast, an area well known for it’s endemic species, one can observe the Pacific Parrotlet, Peruvian Pygmi Owl, Streak-Headed Woodcreeper, Tumbes Hummingbird, Tropical Parula, White-Tailed Jay, White-Edged Oriole, Peruvian Plantcutter, Fasciated Wren, Superciliated Wren, and Tropical Gnatcacher, among many other species.
As you can see, this is one of the most comprehensive birdwatching routes worldwide.