Birding in Peru

Massachusetts Audubon Society

Featuring the Manu Wildlife Center

September 27 - October 10, 2008

Land Program Cost: $3,995

Registration Open - Please call us at (800) 451-4321 or email

Study Leader - Elissa Landre

Elissa Landre is the Director of Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. She has led tours in Belize, Trinidad, and Tobago, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Ecuador, and Mexico. She has consulted on interpretation, guide training, and marketing for ecotourism at national parks in Bolivia and Poland, holds a master’s degree in biology, ...more

Expedition Leader - Renzo Zeppilli

Renzo was born in Lima- Peru and began breeding psittacines when he was 13. He became a professional birder 1992 working in Los Roques Nantional Park. Renzo returned to Peru ten years ago to guide birding trips in the Southeastern Peruvian rainforest, specifically the Tambopata – Candamo national park, Colca Valley, Paracas, the Cuzco region and Bolivia. He is currently leading bird tours between the Manu Biosphere Reserve and other interesting and remote high Andean more...

Summary

Join us as we explore the wonders of Peru and Amazonia, home to more than 1,800 bird species. Barry Walker, one of the most highly regarded birding guides in South America, has designed this itinerary to maximize your chances of seeing the highest number of species by traveling the best cross section of the Manu Wilderness.

Begin in Cusco with a visit to the Huacarpay Lakes region where we search for high elevation endemics and specialties of montane scrub and marshlands, including the stunning Bearded Mountaineer. Other species include Giant Hummingbird, Rustyfronted Canastero, and about 60 other species.

As we begin our descent into the Manu World Biological Reserve, we begin a transect through one of the richest biological areas in the world. We stop for mixed species and flocks of tanagers and flycatchers as we search for Peruvian endemics such as Red-and-White Antpitta. Spend two nights at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge with its nearby lek of Andean Cocks-of-the- Rock. The birding in this cloud forest area is spectacular with Versicolored Barbet among other species coming to the lodge’s fruit feeders.

Continue into the Amazon Basin by boat, with a river journey along the Alto Madre de Dios River and the opportunity to see Fasciated Tiger-Heron. Stay at the charming Manu Wildlife Center, where an extensive trail system takes us through diverse habitats with the opportunity to see over 300 species, including Peruvian Recurvebill and Rufous-headed Woodpecker. Visit a mineral lick where macaws and parrots feed daily.

For an optional post trip extension, travel by train along the rushing Urubamba River to the world-famous archaeological site of Machu Picchu. Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dippers are common and we search for Silverbacked Tanager, Sclater’s and Bolivian Tyrannulets, as well as for Peruvian endemics such as Inca Wren, Green-and-White Hummingbird, and the very local endemic, Masked Fruiteater.