Parrot-watch Eco-tour to Rancho Los Ebanos, Mexico: October 2004

Wednesday, September 29 2004 @ 06:41 PM UTC

Contributed by: MikeSchindlinger

We're planning another trip to Rancho Los Ebanos, Tamaulipas, Mexico, where birding is awesome! Los Ebanos, a five thousand acre ranch on the Gulf of Mexico, is home to three sympatric Amazon species, Amazona oratrix (Yellow-headed), Amazona autumnalis (Red-lored) and Amazona viridiginalis (Red-headed or Green-cheeked).

Red-heads are endemic to a very small area and are highly endangered though fortunately, they are still doing well at this site. We will make two or three daily field tours to see the amazing flora and fauna of the Gulf Coast lowland forest including kingfishers, herons, cormorants, roseate spoonbills and osprey on the lake and channel and many shorebirds on the coast. High on the list of many birder's 'desired to see' list are the Elegant trogon and Blue-crowned motmot and we have gotten good views of them on most visits. Raptors and other migratory species funnel through this site and are in great abundance in the fall. There's a wonderful variety of habitat and an abundance of species!

The Los Ebanos cooks treat us very well with tasty local cuisine, and there's plenty of time for relaxing in the palapa hammocks sipping a cool cerveza!

We have visited this area on our tours for the last ten years, and have never been disappointed. This October we'll also make a side trip to nearby Ciudad Victoria, visit the market there, and tour the area just south around Tula and Juamave where Military macaws frequently feed from the pecan trees. This is also habitat to the rare and endangered Maroon-fronted amazon and though we can hope for a view, unfortunately, it is not likely.

The tour begins in Harlingen, Texas on October 21st and we'll spend the first evening there at Vieh's Bed and Breakfast <http://www.vieh.com/>www.vieh.com . In the morning, we'll head south to Los Ebanos and be there for four days, then to the Ciudad Victoria area. After our tour, we'll arrive back at the Harlingen, Texas airport in time for 4:30 PM or later departures on October 27th. The trip is an excellent value at $1189 including bird viewing, room and board (but not airfare, tips, snacks on the road or the Ciudad Victoria Market).

This tour is limited to a maximum of six people so reserve your space as soon as possible.

SPECIAL OFFER: Groups of two to six will receive a discount of $50 each.

For more information or to make a deposit, please contact J. Marie Digatono at <mailto:oratrix6@aol.com>oratrix6@aol.com, 763.315.1749. Visit <http://www.vistadepajaro.com/>www.vistadepajaro.com to read logs of recent trips.

Eco-tourism is an excellent way to contribute to crucial habitat preservation. What a thrill to bird at this incredible site!

Note: Some of us are meeting for a couple of days (10/20 & 21) of pre-trip birding in Texas at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge and at Sable Palms. Please contact me for more details.

Marie, Vista de Pajaro Eco-tours

Vista de Pajaro Eco-tours
And Unique Custom Stainless Steel Cages
Make a difference by your travel choices! Join us for an unforgettable trip,
Tamaulipas, Mexico October 21 - 27, 2004 www.vistadepajaro.com

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