2012 Colombia Endemics Tour

TOUR OVERVIEW

Colombia is the most bird-diverse country in the world, featuring more species even than the larger countries Brazil and Peru. Nearly 490 birds found in Colombia are absent from neighboring Ecuador, including 74 endemics found nowhere else in the world. Our tour of the Magdalena Valley, which separates 2 mountain chains in central Colombia, and the Santa Marta Mountains of NE Colombia is designed to see as many specialty birds as possible during a 2-week itinerary, including as many as 45 Colombia endemics and near endemics. Emphasis will be on endemic and range-restricted species, but we still expect a high species count. We're working with an experienced tour operator in Colombia to arrange logistics.

TOUR ITINERARY

DATE	ACTIVITY	MEALS	ACCOMMODATIONS
1-Fri 01/20	Arrival in Bogota. Transfer to hotel.	D	Hotel La Casona del Patio
2-Sat 01/21	All day birding Chingaza NP near Bogota.	BLD	Hotel La Casona del Patio
3-Sun 01/22	Morning bird La Florida Park. Then bird areas near La Vega. Transfer to Mariquita.	BLD	Hotel La Posada De La Ermita
4-Mon 01/23	Morning bird Libano area. Afternoon bird Laguna del Hato.	BLD	Hotel La Posada De La Ermita
5-Tue 01/24	Morning bird Bella Vista Reserve. Afternoon transfer to El Paujil Reserve.	BLD	El Paujil Lodge
6-Wed 01/25	All day bird El Paujil Reserve.	BLD	El Paujil Lodge
7-Thu 01/26	All day bird El Paujil Reserve.	BLD	El Paujil Lodge
8-Fri 01/27	Transfer to Cerulean Warbler Reserve, birding en route.	BLD	Lodge in Reserve
9-Sat 01/28	All day bird Cerulean Warbler Reserve.	BLD	Lodge in Reserve
10-Sun 01/29	Morning bird nearby coffee fincas. Afternoon transfer to Ocaña.	BLD	Hotel Plaza del Ocaña
11-Mon 01/30	All day bird Bushbird Natural Reserve.	BLD	Hotel Plaza del Ocaña
12-Tue 01/31	Early transfer to Bucaramanga and fly to Santa Marta via Bogota. Transfer to El Dorado Reserve in Santa Marta Mountains.	BLD	Jenian Ecolodge
13-Wed 02/01	All day bird El Dorado Reserve.	BLD	Jenian Ecolodge
14-Thu 02/02	All day bird El Dorado Reserve.	BLD	Jenian Ecolodge
15-Fri 02/03	Morning bird Minca area. Afternoon bird Los Flamencos NP. Transfer to Riohacha.	BLD	Hotel Barbacoa
16-Sat 02/04	Morning bird Los Flamencos NP. Afternoon fly to Bogota.	BLD	Hotel La Casona Del Patio
17-Sun 02/05	Transfer to airport. Flights home.	None	None

TOUR MAP

TOUR DESCRIPTION

DAY 1 - BOGOTA

International flights arrive by evening. Participants are met at airport and taken to the hotel, La Casona del Patio in Bogota. Those arriving a day early have free time to explore the city.

DAY 2 - CHINGAZA NATIONAL PARK

Early departure for Chingaza National Park, a mountainous area 50 km east of Bogota. The park features temperate scrub intermixed with Chusquea bamboo, montane cloud forest, alpine lakes, and a vast expanse of Frailejones, a shrub with tall flowering stalks found only at a few sites in NW South America. Birding is along the main road and track through the park. Endemics we hope to see include Brown-breasted Parakeet, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, and Mattoral Tapaculo. Possible near-endemics include Longuemare's Sunangel, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, and Rufous-browed Conebill. We'll see many other higher elevation birds typical of the eastern Andes as well. Night at Hotel La Casona Del Patio in Bogota. Night at Hotel La Casona Del Patio in Bogota.   Show Possible Species

DAY 3 - LA FLORIDA PARK & LA VEGA

Early morning birding La Florida Park, a wetland outside Bogota. Endemics we hope to see include the endangered Bogota Rail, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Apolinar's Wren, and Rufous-browed Conebill. Remainder of day birding Jardin Encantado and El Tabacol Lagoon Park outside the small resort town of La Vega 90 minutes from Bogota. Possible endemics there include Apical Flycatcher and Velvet-fronted Euphonia in the drier habitat along the main road below La Vega. A dirt side road just before La Vega is a good place to look for the rare Rusty-breasted Antpitta. Laguna del Tabacal is surrounded by humid to dry forest as well as scrub. This habitat is good for birds such as Red-billed Scythebill and Rosy Thrush-Tanager. Night at Hotel La Posada De La Ermita in Mariquita.   Show Key Species

DAY 4 - LIBANO & LAGUNA DEL HATO

Early departure and morning birding around Libano, a heavily deforested agricultural area. Scattered patches of remnant dry forest around Libano are restricted to gullies, so birding is mainly from roadside. These forest patches are home to the endangered endemic Yellow-headed Brush-Finch, which is quite common in the area. Other endemics we hope to see in the same area are Tolima Dove, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Blossomcrown, Yellow-headed Manakin, and Crested Ant-Tanager. Afternoon birding at Laguna del Hato near Mariquita. Endemic birds we hope to see in the dry forest include Colombian Chachalaca (a likely future split from Speckled Chachalaca), Apical Flycatcher, and Velvet-fronted Euphonia. Night at Hotel La Posada De La Ermita in Mariquita.   Show Possible Species

DAY 5 - BELLA VISTA RESERVE & TRANSFER

Morning birding in Bella Vista Reserve, a forest preserve near Victoria. Endemic birds there include White-mantled Barbet, Beautiful Woodpecker, Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant, and Sooty Ant-Tanager. Afternoon transfer to El Paujil Natural Reserve, a restricted area operated by Pro Aves Foundation. Birding stops en route. Night at lodge in reserve.   Show Possible Species

 

 

DAYS 6 & 7 - EL PAUJIL NATURAL RESERVE

Two full days birding El Paujil Reserve. The marquee bird is the critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow, a difficult bird to find. This curassow was re-discovered in 2003 and is now protected. The population has been increasing and the bird is now less shy so visitors have a good chance of seeing it. El Paujil was created to protect this species and is the only place in Colombia where it can be reliably seen. Nights at lodge in reserve.   Show Key Species

DAY 8 - TRANSFER

Transfer to San Vicente de Churcuri near the Cerulean Warbler Reserve, a 9-hour drive. En route we have to change to 4-wheel drive vehicle because of the road. Birding en route to break up the drive. One of our stops will be to look for the endemic Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird. Night at lodge in reserve.

DAY 9- CERULEAN WARBLER RESERVE

All day birding Cerulean Warbler Reserve a 545-acre tract of relict Colombian Oak forest established to protect wintering habitat of the Cerulean Warbler. The reserve is home to a surprisingly high diversity of important Colombian birds. Three critically endangered species are found there, namely Gorgeted Wood-Quail, Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird, and Colombian Mountain Grackle, the latter currently considered a subspecies of Mountain Grackle. Also look for several other endemics there as well as a newly described, more brightly colored subspecies of Rufous-naped Brush-Finch (subspecies yarigierum, a complicated brush-finch complex that will likely be split in future. Night at lodge in reserve.   Show Key Species

DAY 10 - COFFEE PLANTATION & TRANSFER

Morning birding coffee plantations near the Cerulean Warbler Reserve to look for several endemics. Then transfer to Ocaña near the Bushbird Reserve. Night at Hotel Plaza Real de Ocaña.   Show Key Species

DAY 11 - BUSHBIRD NATURAL RESERVE

All day birding Recurve-billed Bushbird Reserve, a forest with heavy stands of bamboo. The reserve protects 60 acres of unusual subtropical dry cloud forest existing only along ridge tops that experience frequent, dense cloud cover. It's the best place to find the endangered Recurve-billed Bushbird, a strange antbird known only from old specimens and a single sighting in 1965 until it was rediscovered in Venezuela in 2004 and in Colombia in 2005. Our goal this day is to see this secretive species, a denizen of dense undergrowth and thickets. Photos of the species were first published in July 2007 and were taken by our guide, Luis Urueña, and Adriana Tovar. While our primary goal is to see the bushbird, we'll also seek out other birds found in the reserve. Afternoon transfer to a new birding locale near Pueblo Nuevo. There we hope to see the near endemic Golden-winged Sparrow and the rare Todd's Parakeet, a likely split from Painted Parakeet. Night at Hotel Plaza Real De Ocaña.   Show Key Species

DAY 12 - TRANSFER & FLIGHT TO SANTA MARTA

Early morning transfer to Bucaramanga and flight to Santa Marta. Following lunch in the city, transfer by Toyota 4x4 to El Dorado Natural Reserve, about a 2-hour drive. Night at Jenima Ecolodge in reserve.

DAYS 13 & 14 - EL DORADO NATURAL RESERVE

The best birding in Colombia is in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, location of the El Dorado Natural Reserve. The reserve protects 1800 acres of subtropical and montane forest and is considered the "Holy Grail" of birding in Colombia. 19 endemics are found within the reserve. The reserve also features some 14 near endemics found only in Colombia and neighboring Venezuela or Panama. In addition, we expect to see Santa Marta Metaltail, a possible split from Tyrian Metaltail. Many endemics and other species can be seen in the gardens below the balcony of the lodge, which provides very comfortable accommodations during our stay. We'll have 2 full days to explore this amazing place. Nights at El Dorado Lodge in reserve.   Show Key Species

DAY 15 - MINCA & LOS FLAMENCOS NATIONAL PARK

Minca is a small town 30 min from Santa Marta. Shade coffee farms predominate. These are located in more humid areas above town. Dry scrub below town provides different habitat where the secretive Black-headed Antshrike occurs. The birding is fantastic and merits an entire day. Night at Hotel Barbacoa in Riohacha.   Show Key Species

DAY 16 - LOS FLAMENCOS NATIONAL PARK

Morning birding Los Flamencos National Park, a coastal wetland and dry forest reserve created to protect a large population of American Flamingo. Our visit is during non-breeding season when the flamingos are especially abundant. Many wintering shorebirds also congregate in the lagoons. Away from the wetlands, dry forest and scrub predominates. Afternoon visit several sites near Santa Marta to look for endemic Chestnut-winged Chachalaca, a bird of dry scrub. Late afternoon fly from Santa Marta back to Bogota. Night at Hotel La Casona Del Patio in Bogota.   Show Key Species

DAY 17 - END OF TOUR

Morning transfer to the airport. End of tour there. International flights home.

ACCOMMODATIONS DURING TOUR

HOTEL LA CASONA DEL PATIO

Hotel La Casona del Patio is located in Bogota Colombia. It was converted from a traditional family home and features rooms that each have a theme around different landmarks of the city. The hotel features excellent service, security, and tranquility. The hotel restaurant serves excellent traditional and international cuisine. Internet access is available. Rooms include comfortable twin or queen beds, private bath with hot water showers.

HOTEL POSADA DE LA ERMITA

Hotel Posada De La Ermita is a comfortable hotel in Mariquita that offers tranquility, meeting rooms, a restaurant with typical dishes of the region, excellent service, and internet access. Rooms feature twin or queen beds, private bath, ceiling fans, and private balcony.

EL PAUJIL LODGE

El Paujil Lodge is located in El Paujil Reserve, which was established to protect the critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow. The lodge consists of basic accommodations with private bath along with dining room facilities. Rooms have electricity and air conditioning.

CERULEAN WARBLER RESERVE LODGE

Cerulean Warbler Reserve Lodge is located in the Cerulean Warbler Reserve Reserve, which was established to protect the rapidly vanishing habitat of migratory Cerulean Warblers. The lodge provides basic accommodations and dining facilities.

JENIAM ECOLODGE

Jeniam Ecolodge is located within El Dorado Reserve in the Santa Marta Mountains. The lodge was build from non-native pines cleared from the reserve and provides comfortable facilities for its guests. The lodge serves 3 healthy meals per day in its Blue Moon Restaurant. Shared rooms are spacious and have electricity and gas-heated showers. A treehouse on the highest point in the reserve provides stunning views of the mountains and Caribbean beaches. It is located close to the Santa Marta Parakeet nesting area.

HOTEL BARBACOA

Hotel Barbacoa is a pleasant 4-story hotel located in the city of Riohacha along the Caribbean coast. The 3-star hotel features mini-bar and internet access. Rooms are comfortable with twin, double, or queen beds, private bath, and cable TV. Area restaurants near the hotel are conveniently located and serve a variety of traditional and international meals.

JIM WITTENBERGER

Jim Wittenberger developed a fascination for birding as a teenager, a passion that carried him through to a PhD in Zoology from the University of California. As a graduate student, he studied polygamous mating behavior, territorial behavior, gender differences in parental behavior, and avian song dialects of Bobolinks in eastern Oregon, leading to publication of several empirical and theoretical papers on the species. He published a variety of subsequent papers in leading scientific journals on song behavior, colonial behavior, territorial behavior, and mammalian social behavior. These culminated in publication of a far-reaching textbook he authored on the evolution of animal social behavior, which was widely received as a significant contribution to the field. He was an invited speaker at the British Animal Behavior Society meetings in Cambridge England, and his contribution became the closing chapter of the symposium proceedings. He was honored as an Elective Member of the American Ornithologists Union in 1981 and received the Harry R. Painton Award from the Cooper Ornithological Society for best paper of the year in 1983. Shortly thereafter, he decided to enter the then relatively new field of software engineering, a career he has pursued ever since. He has traveled extensively throughout the world, including to Hawaii, Alaska, the Pribilof Islands, Central America, South America, Europe, Australia, East Africa, and much of North America.

LUIS URE&tildeN;A

Luis Urueña is an expert Colombian birding guide who speaks excellent English. He is a biologist trained at the Universidad del Tolima and has done research on endangered birds in Colombia since 2000. He received a conservation program award from the British Petroleum Company in 2004 for his work on the highly endangered and enigmatic Blue-billed Curassow while working with the ProAves Foundation. Luis and his wife Andrea operate as land agents for some of the top birding tour companies in the world. He has been guiding birding tours since 2008 and has co-led tours with Steven Hilty, author of Guide to the Birds of Colombia, each of those years. He is highly skilled in the field at both finding and identifying Colombian birds, and he knows how to find and see all the endemic and specialty birds in Colombia. He knows many local people throughout the country, who are indispensable in making the logistics of a tour go smoothly. We have relied heavily on his expertise to plan itineraries that make best use of our time while on tour in Colombia.