Eastern Lowlands Pre-trip: The Blue-throated Macaw and Beni Grasslands: Oct 06—10, 2009

Our base for the Eastern Lowlands Pre-trip will be the city of Trinidad for the first two nights, and then we will spend two nights at a comfortable ranch to the north of the city. This trip offers a rare opportunity to look for the Blue-throated Macaw, now one of the world's most endangered macaws still surviving in the wild. Recent estimates place the population at about 50 pairs. Nevertheless, we have an excellent opportunity to see a few pairs of this spectacular bird (usually quite close). In addition, the pantanal-type habitat around Trinidad and at the ranch, which includes grassland, extensive marshland, dry scrub, palm-dominated dry forest, and tall humid riverine forest, is home to a spectacular array of birds which are easy to see. Several years ago we set a VENT record here, totaling 213 species seen in a single day.

This area is home to seven species of macaws, and many large waterbirds and raptors. Woodlands and edges teem with an interesting mix of small and large birds as well and, for the most part, they are remarkably easy to see. This trip provides an exciting precursor, as well as contrast, to our main highlands trip.

Good accommodations in Trinidad, more basic at ranch, but rooms clean, food excellent and exceptionally well presented; absolutely superb birding right at our doorstep; flat and easy walking; travel by bus and/or 4-wheel drive; some muddy conditions possible (weather dependent).