Original abstract in Auk Vol 117. No 3, 2000
"A STRIKING NEW SPECIES OF BARBET CAPITONINAE : CAPITO FROM THE EASTERN ANDES OF PERU. John P. O´Neill, Daniel F. Lane, Andrew W. Kratter, Angelo P. Capparella, and Cecilia Fox Joo. ABSTRACT-In 1996, an expedition of personnel from the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science and the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos made a trail from the east bank of the upper Rio Cushabatay, departamento Ucayali, Peru, northeast to the top of a 1,538-m peak at 7 05´S, 75 39´W. The peak supports cloud forest from 1,200 m to the summit, and this "island" of habitat may be among the most isolated areas of cloud forest in South America. Among the depauperate cloud-forest avifauna we discovered a striking new species of Capito barbet, which apparently is the only member of the genus restricted to this habitat. "
Kolibri Expeditions follows in the footsteps of this great expedition to find the newly described Scarlet-banded Barbet Capito wallacei. We will employ short flights to lessen the time on the river. The hike is very tough so you need to be in good shape. It is hot and there are biting insects. But the reward is outstanding. Kolibri Expeditions made the first successful expedition to the area in 2001 and saw the Barbet. We made another successful (but physically demanding) trip in June 2003 when the Barbet was seen, photographed and video-filmed.
Naturally there will be a whole lot of other species on this trip, but the barbet is the main target.
Due to the real lack of infrastructure, we have decided to skip the Contamana section, that we included previously (Good Macaw lick and chance of seeing Red Uakari monkey), but if you have a request to visit this unique and interesting area as well let us know.
We can set up this trip with a minimum of three people any time you like.
Itinerary :
Day 1. Flight to Pucallpa. Our staff already have all the necessary cooking gear and food loaded up in our private small aircraft. Immediate departure to Pampa Hermosa, where our staff awaits with our peque peque. The Peque is not the most comfortable boat nor the fastest of engines, but it is the best to use in such low flowing river such as the Cushabatay. An outboard motor would constantly hit the bottom. We will camp along the river, since camping is a much nicer option to any of the ramshackle hotels in Pampa Hermosa.
Day 2. Yet another day on this small river. Being the end of the dry season and low water levels it may be possible to see jaguars or tapirs on the shores as well as a lot of other wildlife. In the late afternoon we will be reaching our base at the foot of the mountains.
Day 3. We will probably need yet another morning to reach our camp at the bottom of the peaks of Cordillera Azul.
Day 4-5. It is two days hike walking slowly and birding along the way to around 1200 meters where we will set camp in the cloud forest. The cloud forest consists of a completely different type of vegetation. Lichen-clad and trees full of bromeliads.
Day 6. A full day in this area and also exploring up to the ridge of 1500 meters. The Barbet should be secured during this day.
Day 7. An additional morning if we should need it before we head down the trail to the boats.
Day 8. Contingency day.
Day 9. All the day on the river. We will arrive to Pampa Hermosa in the early afternoon for the flight to Pucallpa and onwards to Lima.
This trip can be combined with the White-masked Antbird and Orange-throated Tanager trip
