In Search Of The El Oro Parakeet

Most birders who come to Buenaventura Reserve are hoping to see the beautiful endangered El Oro Parakeet.  This petite parakeet would normally be a challenge to see in the wild but fortunately there is one special trail where they nest.  Access is limited and you must go there with a guide from Umbrellabird Lodge booked in advance with Jocotoco Foundation.  The trail is locked for the protection of the birds.

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We arrived at the spot about an hour early, the parakeets usually show up around 5pm-ish so we looked for other birds in the meantime.  Not many around, here’s a Striped Cuckoo.IMG_2206a

Our patience was rewarded as the El Oro Parakeets started arriving right on schedule.  First they perched in the trees, then a pair went down to the nest box.  One bird went inside the nest while the other kept watch on top.  I couldn’t see if there were any babies inside but the behaviour of the adults suggested they were feeding babies.IMG_2186 IMG_2184a IMG_2193a IMG_2201a IMG_2200a IMG_2216 IMG_2217a IMG_2221a IMG_2237a IMG_2250a IMG_2251a IMG_2259a IMG_2272a DSCN0677 DSCN0687 DSCN0703 DSCN0675 DSCN0671 DSCN0666 DSCN0663

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Visiting Buenaventura Reserve, Ecuador

The Buenaventura Reserve is managed by Jocotoco Foundation and is located in the south of Ecuador.  This is the home of the El Oro Parakeet so it’s well worth the effort to get there.  The nearest airport is Loja which is served by TAME airlines, then you can take a bus or taxi to Pinas, the nearest town.  You can also get buses from Guayaquil via Machala which are very cheap, less than $10 per person.  An overview and map of the reserve can be seen here.

We left Loja on the 9:15am bus which was very comfortable and only $6 per person.  If you miss the bus, you can get a taxi to Pinas but it will be over $100 so not  a good idea to miss the bus!

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It’s about a 5 hour ride through very beautiful scenery.DSCN0631 DSCN0632 DSCN0633 DSCN0634 DSCN0635

After arriving in Pinas, you can get a camioneta to the reserve and the Umbrellabird Lodge.  The road is pretty bad so don’t use a normal taxi.  DSCN0636 DSCN0637 DSCN0638

Awesome statue of an El Oro Parakeet!  I just love when local people honour their native birds!DSCN0639

And here’s one of a Jocotoco Antpitta.DSCN0641 DSCN0643

Turn off to the lodge.DSCN0644 DSCN0645 DSCN0646 DSCN0648 DSCN0649

At last we arrived!  After checking in and dropping off our backpacks, we asked the same camioneta driver to wait for us and take us and the lodge’s guide to the El Oro Parakeet hotspot which is about 10km from the lodge.  The whole transport cost around $30.DSCN0650