5. Pelagics
We were very pleased to have Dylan Walker, who has written books on cetaceans, onboard on our last pelagic. Dylan wrote this nice report from his experience.
With Dylan's help we are setting up a protocoll to census seabirds and cetaceans during our regular pelagics. Hopefully, we shall be able to get some very interesting results of patterns of occurance.
We shall also start to promote pelagics in other parts of Peru where the continental shelf is closer to the coast.
In a near future we want to arrange pelagics from the northern part of Peru, which should/could include species such as Least and Black Storm-Petrels, Nazca and Masked Booby, Galapagos Sheerwater and Galapagos Petrel.
We also have our eyes on trying to arrange pelagics from the south. where many of the Chilean species such as Juan Fernandez, De Filippi's and Stejneger's Petrels, Royal and Wandering Albatross may be possible.
Both areas are also promising for cetaceans.
If you are a pelagic freak, please enquire how to set up pelagics in the north or the south. We will probably need a group of some 4-5 people (read guinea pigs) to be able to cover the costs. I also would like to remind those photographers that have joined our pelagics in the past, that Bob Flood (lesserkestrel2002 at hotmail.com) is looking for high quality pictures to illustrate a forthcoming article for Birding World magazine regarding the Lima pelagics. There is some pay for those that can supply good pics.

6. Cerulean Warbler in Peru.
As you may remember from the last newsletter Kolibri Expeditions and INCASPIZA obtained some funding to carry out surveys for Cerulean Warbler in Central Peru. The fieldwork was carried out by myself and our excellent new guides Alex Duran and Antonio Coral.
In spite of lots of effort we failed in finding the Cerulean Warbler, but since we know of a record just three weeks before our visit to Villa Rica we know that they are present, albeit in low numbers. Observation opportunities were lost to poor weather and difficult light, as well as muddy and sometimes impassible roads.

Nevertheless we obtained some interesting results.

• During the 1998-1999 study from Villa Rica, Smithsonian Institute (Sterling et al) found the Cerulean Warbler only in “rustic” coffee plantations. In such plantations coffee is grown under indigenous shade trees remaining from the native forest before the understory was cleared for coffee. We hardly found any such habitat during our study. Most of what was there 6-8 years ago, has been replaced with fast growing Inga and Albizia as shade trees species that carry no epiphytes and much less leaf cover. It may be that the coffee boom of what is marketed as shade-grown coffee, does not actually promote the more bird friendly rustic plantations (song bird coffee), but rather promotes more monocultures with Inga and Albizia (still shade-grown). It appears that both yield and quality is higher in such conditions and that the market (ultimately the consumers) does not know how to separate between terms such as organic, song bird coffee, shade-grown coffee, etc.
  We interviewed people at the farms and it is clear that many of those areas that previousle were considered rustic, have converted to being mono-cultures today.
  From historical data of presence of Cerulean Warbler in Peru most, if not all, records are from altitudes between 900-1800m. In our study area very little natural habitat remains covering this elevation near roads.
• We scouted some new areas in central Peru during the course of this study, which have been integrated in the tours to Cerros de Sira and Gran Central Peru (presented below) and gave us reason to rewrite the Satipo road program.
• We trained and/or introduced 5 Peruvians to birdwatching. We feel it is necessary and important to give Peruvians the possibility to become local guides.

7. Kolibri Community.
The web project for our clients - Kolibri Community - was mentioned in the past newsletter. But not much happened. Our programmer had some other projects and it was left for a long period. But now we are activating it again.

Here is a summery of the features of these pages. Note that for some functions you have to sign-up by using your e-mail - the same email this newsletter is addressed to.

These will be sorted into different databases that will eventually be the beginning of interactive picture database of all flora and fauna of Peru. Click here to become a member of the Kolibri Community.

8. Kolibri Ambassadors - tell the world about us.
That's right! If you think nature tour operators should be in the forefront to promote habitat conservation, protection of threatened species and involve the local communities to benefit from the presence of the tourists you would probably like that more people discover such tour operators. We think we can do lot of good and more good, if more people would know about us, and word of mouth is much more effective than any other advertisement.

This whole thing with Kolibri Community and Kolibri Ambassadors is to connect with our clients. We are determined to be the best and the proudest bird tour operator in Peru and South America. We shall deliver the goods and make birding trips that you will brag about. We shall only have satisfied clients.

I am not saying that everything will be perfect and totally a smooth ride all the time. Peru is too rough on the edges to guarantee that. Furthermore, we take our clients to remote areas where many of the most essential comforts available in Norfolk, Falsterbo or Jamaica Bay are completely lacking. But we shall do everything we can to provide you with top service and attention. We deliver the birds and we involve the local communities so that the habitat of the birds can be protected by the inhabitants right next to the same habitat. And what is more, travelling to some of these areas is still much cheaper compared to those that have all the commodities.When you finish your trip with Kolibri Expeditions you will probably tell your closest friends about it - and that is good. But you could do more. Write a trip report, link to us on your web-site, present a slide-show to your bird club, write an article for a birding magazine, post pictures on different birding web-pages providing a link or mentioning about Kolibri Expeditions. Simply become a Kolibri Ambassador.
We shall reward you with 200 US$ off on your next Kolibri Expedition trip for all ambassadors collecting a minimum of 20 points in a year (see below) and monthly gifts to the Ambassador of the month each month.
We wanted to have started this at the beginning of the year, but with Beto (our webmaster and programmer) absent, it took a bit longer. We start right now! Become an Ambassador today by signing up on the Kolibri Community pages and read more about how you can earn "points" to win a free 15 day trip with Kolibri Expeditions (value 2000 US$) by the end of 2007. Once again this is a win-win scenario.
Kolibri Expeditions get inexpensive and effective advertising by providing excellent, responsible and good value trips that the ambassadors will gladly promote, the ambassadors get cheaper and better trips next time they go, and the local communities in the end will get income and sufficient numbers of visitors to ensure viability in investing in community run lodges etc.
In the end all visitors to the birding areas will benefit because there will be more places to stay and services will be better and there are incentives for the locals to save their nature areas.

9.Parlez-Vous Français? Sprechen sie Deutsch? Talar du Svenska?
We have added Fabrice Schmitt from France to our staff. He will be guiding several French speaking groups in 2007 as well as full Argentina and Chile circuit in English October-December 2006 (see below). Roger Ahlman will continue to guide for us occationally even though he now lives in Ecuador. He is for example guiding the Satipo road trip that starts on September 25. Obviously both Roger and I can guide groups with Scandinavians, who wish to have a Scandinavian speaking guide (Swedish, Danish and Norwegian). In 2007 we have already two private Swedish-speaking groups confirmed.
We naturally have many Spanish speaking guides and could also defend ourselves, among the guides present, in Portuguese, Italian and German. But if any birder with mother tounge of the latter languages as well as Dutch and with South America experience is interested to work for us let us know. We are expanding into other markets!

10.Upcoming trip: Manu Jaguar and birding tour Sep 6-17, 2006
A new way to visit Manu famed for its mammals. Most scheduled tours to Manu are not for birders. Group sizes are very large. But yes you do see a lot of mammals and the big birds. However, the guides don't know their antbirds and your fellow travelers can care less if they see more than one species. Birding groups on the contrary mostly don't go to Manu park proper because of cost and time constraints, and the fact that all the bird species can be seen outside the reserved zone of park. But what if you want to have the best of both worlds. What if you are dying to see a jaguar. Until now there have been no regular trips to Manu where you make this your main target and still attempt to fill you birdlist with antbirds and foliage-gleaners.
Now Kolibri Expeditions introduce the Jaguar Safari for birders. Prepare yourself for a fantastic experience. Read more here.

We shall also visit an active Harpy Eagle nest. The nestling is about 8 months old and is found within 100m from the nest. On our July trip 2006 Peri Smith managed to capture this photo. It shall be even more impressive now. There is a hide in a canopy tower from which it is possible to photograph at close range. Check the calendar on the web-page. for other Manu trips in 2006-2007.





11. Upcoming trip: New 10 day Puno department trip Sep 22-Oct 1, 2006 with a Bolivia/North Chile extension.
This new trip gives you the Peruvian endemic Green-capped Tanager and an not yet described Thistletail. Furthermore Abra Maruncunca is the only accessible site in Peru for Scimitar-winged Piha. This may not seem much, but recent exploration in the border area to Bolivia have added several species to the Peruvian list that previously were considered Bolivian endemics, such as Yungas Tody-Tyrant, Yungas Antwren, “Pilòn Tyrannulet” (undescribed Phyllomyias) and Bolivan Recurvebill. Since most of these are difficult in Bolivia we might as well try to see them in Peru instead. We are sure there will be more discoveries here. For example during our 3 day speed recce of the localities we found a new species to Peru – Ochre-cheeked Spinetail. Imagine what we will come up with some more time available.
Other good birds from this region include Black-hooded Mountain-Toucan, Black-winged Parrot, Light-crested Spinetail, blue-rumped race of Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager and it is possible that Black-capped Antwren and Swallow-tailed Cotinga could occur as they have been found in nearby Bolivia.

During the recce trip it was conceived that far too much time was spent in the vehicle. Therefore, we have introduced two hiking days between Limbani and Sandia. This will ensure the highland specialties and relieve us of the dusty road trip. While we walk our driver will move the vehicle to the trail end. We only have to carry a day-pack and some lunch food.

Since the trip takes place at altitudes over 4000 meters for large periods we recommend that you take a few days in Lima or in Cusco to get used to the altitude. In Cusco the Abra Malaga program connects very well with this trip.

13. Upcoming trip: Satipo road. Sep 25-Oct 11, 2006
This is the future best seller for Kolibri Expeditions since it leaves from Lima where we are based. No one knows these areas as well as we do. In fact many of the sites on the Central circuit is found by us. It is a great area with fantastic species such as Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager and as many four undescribed new species. Read more about the tour here. There is a recent trip report from the Carpish part and one recent report from the Satipo road part. 14. Argentina and Chile trips October-December 2006.
We are running a series of complete Argentina and Chile trips during the last months of the year back to back. All these trips are confirmed. You may book any leg or the whole thing for over two months!!. Small group - max 7 pax. Guide is Fabrice Schmitt.
Oct 6-10. Arica and Lauca National Park. North Chile
Oct 11-14. Arica (Chile) - Jujuy (NW Argentina) Connection. Horned Coot almost guaranteed!!!
Oct 14-29. North-west Argentina 16 days. Rufous-capped Dipper and many more.
Oct 30-Nov 7 North-East Argentina - Entre Rios, Ibera Marshes and Iguazu Continuation on the NW Argentina trip.
Nov 9-29. Complete Patagonia trip. This is the budget version containing some camping. But it is also possible to do it with very nice hotels throughout.
Nov 30-Dec 3. The ferry to Puerto Montt. Spectacular journey at sea in great comfort. Contact us for more info.
Dec 4-18. Central Chile and Juan Fernandez Archipelago Total Chile and the most spectacular seabirding island land birds on the Juan Fernandez peninsula. It is possible to do only the Juan Fernandez part. You have to book early as there is limited space.

15. New North Peru program.
The new North program is built around a 12 day core between Cajamarca and Tarapoto featuring the Marvelous Spatuletail and it is possible to do this full section without camping. We have departures programmed for October and December. One may make several different add-ons to this core to include for instance Orange-throated Tanager or White-winged Guan.Kolibri Expeditions have purchased land for the Marvelous Spatuletail together with Santos Montenegro - a local who is being trained by Kolibri Expeditions to become a bird guide. The money for this was achieved by raising funds through this newsletter. Thank you very much. The land has been circled with barbed wire to protect it from grazing animals. In fact it has become known as the best stake out in the area to see a full plumaged male. Santos Montenegro regularly takes birders from all visiting bird tour companies. Thanks to the Kolibri Expeditions initiative and the Kolibri clients there is now a place for everyone to see this wonderful species. Just look at these photos by Luiz Mazariegos.