RMBO Conservation Birding Tours presents
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THIS TRIP IS FULL!!!
Join us for a journey to Jalisco!
Travel and go birding in western Mexico with expert local guides and biologists
Stay as special guests inside two of West Mexico’s premier biosphere reserves
Support international bird conservation
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Discover one of the Earth’s major biodiversity hotspots on a private tour offered
by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) and the University of Guadalajara’s
Manantlán Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation (IMECBIO). As one of
the eight participants on this tour, you’ll travel and go birding with local guides
and biologists in some of the most important bird areas in southern Jalisco, Mexico,
and learn about conservation efforts and challenges in this region. More than 500
bird species are known from this area, including the majority of western North American
migrants and an astonishing 91 endemic and near-endemic species!
All this in an area less than 1/8 the size of Colorado!
RMBO Conservation Birding Tours combine world-class bird-watching and experiential
learning to showcase the biodiversity of continentally important bird areas. These
tours are designed for nature enthusiasts who enjoy getting off the beaten path,
learning about biodiversity and conservation, experiencing local culture and seeing
lots of amazing birds! Trips are led by regional and international bird conservation
experts with local knowledge and exclusive access to pristine and safe natural areas.
Best of all, 100% of proceeds support bird conservation programs in Mexico.
On this trip to Jalisco, we’ll discover the ornithological connection between the
Rocky Mountains and western Mexico and learn about important conservation issues
for migrant and resident birds. We’ll stay as special guests at research stations
in the core zones of two of western Mexico’s most important protected areas – The
Sierra de Manantlán and the Chamela-Cuitzmala Biosphere Reserves – for a truly one-of-a-kind
nature experience. These core protected zones are closed to the public and provide
exceptional opportunities for viewing rare and hard-to-find species. You will literally
step out your door into some of Mexico’s most pristine ecosystems.
We’ll visit all the major life zones in this diverse region, from sea level to mountain
tops, including mangroves and coasts, tropical deciduous and semi-deciduous forests,
pine-oak and cloud forests, wetlands, and more. We’ll visit bird banding stations
where you’ll get a chance to study some of Mexico’s unique birds up close and personal.
We’ll learn firsthand, from regional and international experts, about the ecology,
management and conservation of migrant and endemic birds and their habitats in this
region. And we’ll even squeeze in some snorkeling and a few trips to the beach.
Some of the unique birds we will seek out on this trip include Long-tailed Wood-Partridge;
Banded Quail; Singing Quail; Crested Guan; Lilac-crowned and Yellow-headed parrots;
Mexican Parrotlet; Colima Pygmy-Owl; Eared Poorwill; Mexican Woodnymph; Bumblebee
and Amethyst-throated hummingbirds; Mountain Trogon; Flammulated Flycatcher; Slaty,
Dwarf and Golden vireos; Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo; Aztec Thrush; Red-breasted
Chat; Red Warbler; Orange-breasted and Blue buntings; and many, many more! To see
a list of species seen on last year’s trip,
click here.
The cost for this seven-night, all-inclusive trip is $2,000 per person (excluding
airfare to Guadalajara, Jalisco), and includes an estimated $600 tax-deductible
charitable contribution. The trip is limited to 8 participants. At least two bilingual
guides will be along at all times. Trip leaders include Arvind Panjabi, Siux Diaz,
Eduardo Santana Castellon and Sarahy Contreras. To reserve a spot on this trip,
or for more information, please contact:
Arvind Panjabi
RMBO Conservation Birding Tours
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
PO Box 1232
Brighton, CO 80601-1232
Phone: 970-482-1707 ext. 20
E-mail: arvind.panjabi AT rmbo.org
A $500 deposit is required to reserve a spot on this trip. Full payment is required
at least 30 days in advance of departure (Jan. 20, 2010). 50% refund given for cancellations
made before this date.
100% of proceeds support bird conservation in West Mexico!
Read a trip overview
Read about the accommodations, meals, transportation and what
you should bring
View the tentative itinerary for
this trip
View the bird list for southern Jalisco
and Colima
Trip Overview
We’ll begin our trip in Guadalajara, where we’ll pick you up at the airport in our
comfortable shuttle for the trip to Autlán de Navarro, our base station for exploring
the highlands. In Autlán we’ll look for Mexican Parrotlets and a variety of tropical
deciduous forest birds. We’ll then travel in an open-bed truck (be ready for a bouncy
but spectacular ride) to the University of Guadalajara’s Las Joyas Research Station,
in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, where we’ll spend several days enjoying
the cool climate and birds of the highlands. This area is closed to all public entry,
and many birds that are rare and difficult to see in other places, such as Crested
Guan, Long-tailed Wood-Partridge and Singing Quail can often be seen here. Other
birds in this reserve that we aim to see include Bumblebee Hummingbird; Slaty Vireo;
Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo; Aztec Thrush; Mountain Trogon; Russet, Ruddy-capped
and Orange-billed Nightingale thrushes; and Crescent-chested, Olive, Red-faced and
Red warblers. And those are just a few of the unique birds we hope to see, in addition
to many wintering North American migrants. In the evenings, we’ll do some nocturnal
birding and enjoy presentations from regional experts about the history, management
and conservation in Manantlán. Before leaving the highlands, we’ll also try to visit
another part of Manantlán that hosts a slightly different array of birds.
We’ll then travel on to the coast where we’ll visit lagoons, mangroves and tropical
deciduous forests containing some of the greatest diversity of endemic species anywhere
in Mexico. We’ll stay at the National University of Mexico’s Chamela Biological
Station, in the heart of western Mexico’s tropical deciduous forest, where we’ll
look for Lilac-crowned and Yellow-headed parrots, Citreoline Trogon, Flammulated
Flycatcher, White-bellied Wren, Red-breasted Chat, Orange-breasted Bunting, Blue
Bunting, and many of the other endemic, migrant and resident birds that share this
special habitat. We’ll also take a boat ride through mangroves and spend time birding
in coastal lowlands, spend time at the beach and even do a little snorkeling, if
time allows.
On the final day of our tour, we’ll also visit the exclusive La Manzanilla resort,
which supports some of the richest forest along the southern Jalisco coast and provides
superb birding opportunities that are, again, only accessible through this special
tour. After a late lunch on the beach, we’ll board the shuttle for the return trip
to Guadalajara, where we’ll stay at a comfortable hotel before catching our planes
the next day. For people with later departures, we can arrange a shopping trip to
the historic town of Tlaquepaque for artisan crafts, foods, etc.
Accommodations, meals, transportation
and what you should bring:
Accommodations: With the exception of hotels (3 nights
total), accommodations are at remote field research stations with basic or rustic
conditions. However, rooms and beds are clean and comfortable, and bedding is provided.
Staying at the field stations may involve sharing rooms with 1-2 other trip participants,
and perhaps even with other researchers if the station is at capacity. All efforts
will be made to accommodate light sleepers, noisy sleepers, etc. Bathrooms are generally
separate from rooms and shared with others at the research station. Hot water and
showers are available. At Las Joyas, only composting pit toilets are available,
but they are cleaned daily.
Meals: All meals and snacks are included in the cost
of the trip. Food at research stations is typical authentic Mexican fare. Fresh
salsas, juices, fruit and tortillas accompany most meals. In the van we will always
have an assortment of juices, bottled water and snack foods. At the coast we will
dine on fresh seafood, although alternatives are available for those who prefer
something else. Please advise us of any special dietary needs (i.e. vegetarian,
no shell-fish, etc.) so we can make necessary arrangements in advance.
Transportation: We will provide all transportation within
Mexico after your arrival at the Guadalajara airport. Highway travel will be in
a comfortable air-conditioned 18-seat Mercedes van. Travel to birding sites near
Autlán, and to Las Joyas and back, will be in the back of an open-air pick-up truck
(on cushioned benches). If you have a low tolerance for this sort of travel, or
have difficulty getting in and out of the back of a pick-up truck, we can accommodate
2-3 people in the cab of the trucks – please let us know in advance. However, if
you enjoy birding “on the fly”, we think you will enjoy this mode of travel.
Clothing and personal items: Temperatures will range
from cool (cold at night) in the highlands to hot in the lowlands, so be prepared
for a varied climate. Lightweight long pants and sleeves are recommended for maximum
sun and insect protection. Also bring: a hat, sunscreen, bug dope, water bottle,
flashlight, sturdy hiking shoes, sandals, bathing suit, towel, bandana, warm sleeping
clothes and any personal items you need. Although biting insects are generally not
a problem on this trip, gnats do exist in the highlands. If you are sensitive to
bug bites, you may also want to bring some remedies or lotions to ease any possible
bites and irritations.
Arvind Panjabi
RMBO Conservation Birding Tours
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
PO Box 1232
Brighton, CO 80601-1232
Phone: 970-482-1707 ext. 20
E-mail: arvind.panjabi AT rmbo.org
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