Some birders think that Peru is the best country in the world to see birds. With about 1800 different species, most of them year-round residents, Peru is second only to Colombia for bird diversity. Lying just south of the equator, Peru has offshore islands, a lengthy seacoast, coastal lowlands, desert, mountains, arid forest, grasslands, wetlands, and jungle—varied habitat to support a stunning variety of birds.
Endemic Bird Areas in Peru
There are nineteen endemic bird areas (EBA) in Peru: regions that are home to some 120 bird species with restricted ranges that could become extinct if their habitat is not protected. The endemic bird areas range from high Andes terrain to ridge-top forests, through mountain foothills, arid river valleys, and humid lowland forests.
A number of the endemic birds living in the EBAs, like the Royal Cinclodes, are already critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals left. The main threats to these birds are various types of habitat destruction: deforestation, over grazing, fire, and water pollution. For some species, hunting is also an issue.
Bird Watching Destinations in Peru
Peru comprises 1,326,074 square kilometers (512,000 square miles); it's about about the size of Alaska. With so much varied bird habitat, there are lots of birding destinations to choose from. Here are just four popular ones:
- The Tumbesian Region, in the northwest coastal corner of Peru, is a region of dry forest and scrub land. The area is ecologically isolated on all sides and is home to many species that live nowhere else. It is unique, but unfortunately it is also one of the most threatened habitats on Earth. Though the Tumbesian Forest region does not have as many species as other birding areas in Peru, it is home to many, such as the critically endangerd White-winged Guan, that are seen nowhere else. Though forest degradation is a serious problem, conservation efforts are underway in some areas. The Chaparri Reserve in Ciclayo is one such destination enjoyed by birders.
- The northeast corner of Peru, around Iquitos, is relatively low altitude Amazon rainforest described as upland forest, divided by a number of whitewater rivers. An area that may have remained warm and covered with forest through the last ice age, it teems with life—it claims the world’s greatest biodiversity, including more than five hundred species of birds, many of them endemic, and few that can be seen nowhere else. This is a popular tourist destination. Nature reserves here include large areas of fully protected habitat accessed by scientists and various tour operators. As a birding destination, it can’t fail to please.
- Paracas National Reserve is a coastal reserve south of Lima including both sea coast and offshore waters—a stopover for migratory birds, home to many resident species, and a designated Ramsar wetland. Seabirds and shore birds abound here including pelicans, flamingoes, and Humboldt Penguins. Sea mammals and turtles are common as well.The Ramsar designation may invoke an image of a lush green environment, but most of the land in Paracas is desert; it's one of the driest regions in the country. Thus, the reserve protects desert, sea coast, and a section of the Humboldt Current offshore (where cold water rising from the deep Pacific brings abundant food, the attraction for much of the abundant wildlife). Islands where seals and penguins breed lie just outside the reserve.
- The Manu Biosphere Reserve, a park half the size of Switzerland, lies in southeastern Peru near Machu Picchu. The elevation in Manu ranges from just over 1100 feet to over 13000 feet, thus both habitats and species are diverse. The lowland rainforest here is home to over a thousand species of birds, and this is the location in Peru where birders report seeing more than 300 species in a single day.This region of Peru has likely remained largely undisturbed because of the difficult terrain and its remote location. A number of indigenous tribes also live in the reserve, which helps to protect it. Today it is a popular destination for ecotourists and scientists engaged in research.
Sources
BirdLife International. Endemic Bird Area Programme. www.birdlife.org
"Paracas National Reserve." Peru.gotolatin.com
"Parque Nacional del Manu." www.cuscoperu.com
"The Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo (RCTT)." Bodmer, Richard. DICE University of Kent. www.kent.ac.uk
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