Chestnut-tipped Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus derbianus)

The Chestnut-tipped Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus derbianus) is a South American species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It occurs in humid highland forests along the east Andean slope from southernmost Colombia to Bolivia.

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They can be found in the very southern part of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia.  They are fairly common in the Mindo area and I saw this one at the Mirador Restaurant near Milpe Sanctuary.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT CHESTNUT-TIPPED TOUCANETS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEO

There wasn’t much on video of this bird but I did find one of the general area that includes the Toucanet at 11:08.  The mist gives you an idea of the weather I was dealing with during our trip.

 

 

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus)

The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus), also known as tunki (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is widely regarded as the national bird of Peru.

IMG_2873 DSCN1081 DSCN1076 DSCN1083 DSCN1074Watching their antics as they dance around hoping to attract the ladies is one of the highlights of a birding trip to South America.  There are a few leks easily accessible to tourists- Paz de las Aves (Angel Paz) near Mindo in Ecuador; Jardin in Colombia & the Cock of the Rock Lodge in Manu, Peru.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT COCKS OF THE ROCK

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

This is a case where you need to see and hear the birds to fully appreciate them.  Here’s a few clips filmed (in order) in Mindo, Jardin & Manu.

 

Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria)

The Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) is a large stork found in the Americas from Mexico to Argentina, except west of the Andes. It is most common in the Pantanal region of Brazil and the Eastern Chaco region of Paraguay. It is the only member of the genus Jabiru. The name comes from a Tupi–Guaraní language and means “swollen neck”.

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They have a huge range over most of South America and are very easy to see in the Pantanal of Brazil.  I was lucky enough to see some chicks in the nest with a parent!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT JABIRU STORKS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

Forbes

VIDEOS

10 point landing!

Fish for lunch!

 

How Eco-tourism Benefits Indigenous People In Peru

Just a little reminder of why eco-tourism is so important to the indigenous people really anywhere we travel.   This article originally published by Peru For Less shows how the Ese Eja people in the Tambopata area of Peru have been exploited and cheated by large companies but how they are benefit by eco-lodges such as Refugio Amazonas.  I was lucky enough to visit there in 2007 and hope to go back someday.

Angela Tambopata--MacawsandAmazon

RESPONSible Travel Peru

Sometimes you can help conserve wild birds with just a simple Facebook “like”.

Click here.

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The original page is in Spanish but Google Chrome will auto-translate it.  Here is some of the text:

What is the target of the campaign Likes Responsible?

This campaign aims also to reach more people with the same vision of responsible and sustainable tourism, sponsorship 24 hectares of Amazon forest ArBio be protected by a conservation project that seeks to protect the rainforest and stop the negative impact of Inter-Oceanic Highway, ArBio read more about here .

How to achieve this?

For every 200 likes, ie 200 new followers or fans on our Facebook page, Responsible Travel Peru agree to donate the amount of money corresponding to sponsor an acre (10,000 m2) located in the concession area ArBio. As you probably know, is worth more intact forest conservation and the generation of oxygen, a reforestation area. Thanks to our community of followers or Facebook fans, this hectare may have the people, equipment and other resources to be monitored and protected from all threats, ensuring their preservation against deforestation illegal mining, ranching, agriculture and poaching.

Currently, respons is collaborating with the protection of 10 hectares, but have set the goal of caring for an additional 24 acres with the help of our supporters, and keep safe 34 hectares of Amazon forest.

How much time do we have to do?

This campaign has a start date of April 22 and only have 30 days to reach the goal set, ie only until May 22, 2014, however, we hope with your help to reach the goal before then and then continue with new RESPONSible actions.

How to know the progress of this campaign?

All developments of this campaign will be posted on Facebook and the pair create an article on this blog that constantly update with all the latest news: ha achieved, certificates attesting donating money to ArBio, pictures project and everything you need to keep you constantly updated .

How I can help protect those 24 acres of forest?

If you want to support this initiative to have a better future, the first thing to do is become a fan of our Facebook page giving to click “like”. If you already are, then help us spreading this article and all Facebook posts to people who, like you, they like RESPONSibly traveling through Peru, working with the sustainable development of communities and the protection of our natural wonders through campaigns like RESPONSible Shares.

Remember: every 200 “likes” on our Facebook page is a new hectare of Amazon forest safe.Help us keep! We and we appreciate the jungle!

Likes RESPONSible Why?

We have two main objectives. On the one hand, we want to help preserve more than 24 acres and 10 we sponsor to help slow deforestation and climate change. Furthermore, we aim to create an online community of people interested in travel involving economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability in order to disseminate more than 70 Peruvian communities we work together for development, as we are the link between these communities and the tourism market.

If you need more information you can leave your comments or questions below.

Support us with a “like”

 They are just over 1000 “likes” so that is 5 protected hectares already………………let’s keep it growing!

 

Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Eco Stays For 2014 (Or Beyond)

Lonely Planet’s top 10 eco stays for 2014 is a spectacular list of some amazing places – one of which I have decided to work into my 2016 trip to South America.  Several of these eco-lodges are in prime birding destinations and are worth checking out.

COSTA RICA – This one would def be on my list if we go back there, wish I had seen this article before last August!

The owners of Lapa Rios (www.laparios.com) named their eco-lodge after watching a family of scarlet macaws fly across a backdrop of jungle. The flock of macaws (lapa in Costa Rican) created a river (rio) of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Witness this spectacle for yourself at Lapa Rios, which looks out over the Golfo Dulce, a tropical fjord where whales and dolphins nurse their young in nutrient-rich, Crayola-blue waters.

PERU – Not sure if we are going to Machu Picchu again as we went there in 2007 but we are going to Manu & Tambopata.

Jose Koechlin von Stein is a pioneer of eco-tourism in Peru; Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-machu-picchu-pueblo-hotel) may just be his crowning achievement.

CHILE – The one I have my eye on (check out this bird list – Austral Parakeet & Slender-billed Parakeet)!  I would use Avios to get an award ticket from Santiago to Puerto Montt – only 4500 Avios for the 569 mile flight.

EcoLodge Chepu Adventures, Chiloé, Chile

A stay in the wilds of Chile, powered by solar panels. Image courtesy of Ecolodge Chepu Adventures.

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A stay in the wilds of Chile, powered by solar panels. Image courtesy of Ecolodge Chepu Adventures.

Tucked away down a seldom trampled dirt road some 38km from the next nearest anything, the tiny hamlet of Chepu sits in the northern sector of Parque Nacional Chiloé. Perched on an overlook peering out to the confluence of three rivers and 140 sq km of fascinating sunken forest – a result of the devastating 1960 earthquake – is EcoLodge Chepu Adventures (www.chepu.cl). The owners have designed everything at this eco-fierce property with the end goal of complete self-sufficiency, from infrared solar showers to wind-generated electricity to wood-alternative fibre construction. Fernando and Amory, two lovely souls who fled Santiago years ago in search of an off-the-grid life, wine and dine green-conscious travellers, who cannot get enough of the mystical kayak trips at dawn, the views and the BBQs.

“Besides being consummate hosts, Fernando and Amory’s dedication to the vision blew me away; and the view of the sunken forest, a phenomenon I had never even heard of, elicited an audible gasp: the dead tree-strewn Río Punta is one of the most amazing things I’ve seen over my travels to 78 countries and counting.” – Kevin Raub

 

New IHG Pointbreaks List A Snoozefest – Valid To 31 May

The new IHG Pointbreaks list is due to go live soon and bookable on their website.  In the meanwhile, another blogger – Points to be Made has kindly published a preview of the complete list.  I did a quick scan through to see if anything stood out as possible value to eco-tourists & bird watchers.

India (could be useful if you are flying into or out of Mumbai, nice hotel in great location)

InterContinental Marine Drive-Mumbai

Kenya (perhaps a place to rest up after a safari)

Crowne Plaza Nairobi

Brazil (Fortaleza is about 12 hours by bus from the Lear’s Macaw stronghold of Canudos.  Sao Paulo has good connections by bus and plane to the Pantanal).

Holiday Inn Fortaleza

Holiday Inn Express Sumare Ave. Sao Paulo

Ecuador (Do you have an early flight to the Galapagos?  What about Napo Wildlife Centre and their parrot clay lick?)

Holiday Inn Express Quito

Peru (You may need a night before or after Tambopata Research Centre because you can never have too many parrot & macaw clay licks)!

Crowne Plaza Lima

Looks like Australia & Oceania have been left off this round, maybe next time?

Birding & Fishing Northwestern Peru

Another excellent video by Birding Adventures with some great footage!  If you would like to visit this area for yourself, use your miles for a Peru award on either One World or Star Alliance to Lima, then connect to Piura in Northwestern Peru.

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Although the host, James Currie does use an app to attract the owl, he does caution against overuse of this practice as it can upset the owl.