Birding in Southern Ecuador - massaudubon.orgBirding in Southern Ecuador Orange-throated Tanager (Andrew Spencer) Thursday, February 11 to Saturday, February 27, 2016 with Dave Larson

Birding in Southern Ecuador

Orange-throated Tanager (Andrew Spencer)

Thursday, February 11 to Saturday, February 27, 2016

with Dave Larson

A birders paradise!

Extraordinary endemics, marvelous lodges, and experienced, fun leaders – this is a very

complete birding adventure covering the full range and diversity of habitats in the

southern part of the country. Here, in the lower foothills of the eastern Andes, is the best

place in the world to see the strikingly beautiful and rare Orange-throated Tanager. And

that is just one of the amazing birds highlighted on this tour!


February 11 – 27, 2016 with Dave Larson

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society

208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 2

800-289-9504

DAILY ITINERARY

TOUR ITINERARY: Note: breakfast times are estimated and may be changed

at the tour leader’s discretion.

Day 1: Thursday, February 11 – Guayaquil

Upon arrival in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, you

will be transferred to the Hotel Continental for the night

(25 minutes drive). (Night: Hotel Continental, Guayaquil

http://www.hotelcontinental.com.ec/)

Day 2: Friday, February 12 – Manglares-Churute to

Buenaventura Reserve We will start our birding in the Manglares-Churute

ecological reserve about an hour from our hotel. The

reserve sports a mix of wetlands, mangroves, and semi-humid forest. This is arguably the best place in

Ecuador to see the threatened Pacific Royal-Flycatcher along with a number of other species not likely

to be seen elsewhere on the itinerary, including Jet Antbird and Orange-crowned Euphonia. Shrimp

ponds, not far from the reserve, offer a good chance to see the bizarre Horned Screamer. After the

morning heats up, we drive south for about 4 hours through the coastal plain.

Depending on water levels, we may stop at some roadside pools for waterbirds, shorebirds, and

waterfowl. In the afternoon we will arrive in Buenaventura reserve, and begin our birding at the terrific

hummingbird feeders, which attract swarms of these neat little birds, including Emerald-bellied

Woodnymph, Baron’s Hermit, Violet-belled Hummingbird, Green Thorntail, White-necked Jacobin, and

Green-crowned Brilliant. Fruit feeders also attract a

variety of interesting birds like Rufous-headed

Chachalaca, Green Honeycreeper, and Pale-

mandibled Aracari, and some rather tame South

American Coatis often come around as well. Time

permitting; we may also make a first attempt at

seeing Long-wattled Umbrellabird at a display site

not far from the lodge. The umbrellabird is one of

the iconic species of the region, and we may try

several times if necessary. (Breakfast: 5:30am,

packed lunch in the field. Night and dinner at

Umbrellabird Lodge

http://www.fjocotoco.org/buenaven.htm).

Day 3: Saturday, February 13 – Buenaventura

Reserve The reserve was created especially to protect the largest known population of the endemic El Oro

Parakeet. If the birds are nesting, reserve wardens may be able to take us to active nest sites. Even out of

the nesting season, we stand a reasonable chance of finding a small flock during our time here. There are

plenty of other birds as well, and activity along the main track through the reserve can often be superb.

http://www.hotelcontinental.com.ec/

http://www.fjocotoco.org/buenaven.htm





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We will search the beautiful mist-enshrouded forests for local species

such as Pacific Tuftedcheek, Ochraceous Attila, Song Wren, Esmeraldas

Antbird, Club-winged Manakin, Rufous-throated Tanager, Gray-

breasted Flycatcher, and Brown-billed Scythebill among hordes of more

common birds like Bay-headed and Blue-necked Tanagers, Bay Wren,

Choco Toucan, Spotted Woodcreeper, Ornate Flycatcher, Ecuadorian

Thrush, and Scarlet-rumped Cacique. Much of the birding will be on a

moderately inclined dirt road through the forest, but we’ll have to take

short walks on muddy and sometimes steep trails to get to the

Umbrellabird lek and other stakeouts. Night and dinner Umbrellabird

Lodge).

Day 4: Sunday, February 14 – Buenaventura and El Empalme After another morning in Buenaventura checking for any birds we are

missing, we will drive south to the reserve of Jorupe. This drive will

take most of the rest of the day, but we’ll stop late in the afternoon at some impressive deciduous forest

near El Empalme. Among the giant Ceiba trees we may see White-headed Brush-Finch, Tumbes

Sparrow, Tumbes Hummingbird, Baird's Flycatcher, Elegant Crescentchest, and others. We’ll arrive at

Urraca Lodge around dusk, in the heart of the dry forest of the Jocotoco Foundation’s Jorupe Reserve,

for a three night stay. (Breakfast: 5:30am, packed lunch en-route. Night and dinner Urraca Lodge.

http://fjocotoco.org/jorupe.htm).

Day 5: Monday, February 15 – Jorupe It will be nice to not have to drive anywhere this morning as the action starts right around the lodge.

With luck, some of the tougher species could visit the feeders early in the morning, such as Pale-browed

Tinamou and Ochre-bellied Dove, along with Whooping Motmot, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, White-

edged Oriole, White-tailed Jay, and Red-masked Parakeet. Later on, we’ll bird the dirt roads and well-

built trails targeting shy Tumbesian endemics such as Blackish-headed Spinetail, Henna-hooded

Foliage-gleaner, Slaty Becard, and Watkins’s Antpitta. Owling can often be good, with West Peruvian

Screech-Owl and Spectacled Owl often around the lodge at

night. (Breakfast: 5:30am, lunch at the lodge. Night and

dinner Urraca Lodge.

Day 6: Tuesday, February 16 – Sozoranga and Utuana Farther from Jorupe, the road takes us up into the mountains

again, and the cooler weather will be welcome. Forest

patches near Sozoranga (a 45-minute drive) hold yet more

Tumbesian endemics like Bay-crowned Brush-Finch,

Chapman's Antshrike, Tumbesian Tyrannulet, Loja

Hummingbird, and Black-cowled Saltator. We continue on

up the windy road to the Utuana reserve, where we look for rare species like Gray-headed Antbird,

Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Piura Hemispingus, and Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant.

The unbelievably cute Black-crested Tit-Tyrant is likely to be a highlight, and the hummer feeders here

attract Purple-throated Sunangel and Rainbow Starfrontlet. (Breakfast: 5:00am, packed lunch in the

field. Night and dinner Urraca Lodge.)

http://fjocotoco.org/jorupe.htm





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Day 7: Wednesday, February 17 – Utuana, Catamayo, and Vilcabamba There’s a lot of driving today, but we’ll have time to target anything we still need at either Jorupe or

Utuana before leaving the Tumbesian region behind. A short stop in the Catamayo Valley could get us

finches such as Drab Seedeater, Chestnut-throated Seedeater, and Band-tailed Sierra-Finch, then we’ll

head to Vilcabamba for the night, where we’ll also try a stakeout for Plumbeous Rail. (Breakfast:

5:00am, packed lunch in the field. Night and dinner at Hosteria de Vilcabamba,

http://www.hosteriavilcabamba.com/)

Day 8: Thursday, February 18 – Cerro Toledo and Tapichalaca

Over the next three days we will concentrate on the temperate forests near the continental divide, home

to many spectacular birds. We’ll start by taking 4WD vehicles up a rough road to Cerro Toledo, draped

by beautiful elfin forest right below treeline. This is the easiest spot to see the near-endemic Neblina

Metaltail, and we have a great chance to see the tough-to-find Masked Mountain-Tanager as well. On

rare occasions, small flocks of the threatened Red-faced Parrot are encountered. Other birds we may see

here include Red-hooded Tanager, Bearded Guan, Paramo Tapaculo, Mouse-colored Thistletail, Gray-

breasted Mountain-Toucan, Golden-crowned Tanager, and Pale-naped Brush-Finch. In the afternoon we

drive over the remote Cordillera de Sabanilla to Tapichalaca reserve, home of the fabled Jocotoco

Antpitta, which has become easy to see now that it comes in to a feeder every day to eat worms. We

spend two nights in the cozy lodge in the reserve, which has some nice hummer feeders. (Breakfast:

5:00am, packed lunch in the field. Night and dinner in Tapichalaca Lodge

http://www.fjocotoco.org/tapichala.htm).

http://www.hosteriavilcabamba.com/

http://www.fjocotoco.org/tapichala.htm





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Day 9: Friday, February 19 –

Tapichalaca While the Jocotoco Antpitta is

our main target today, we should

see plenty of other good birds

along the trails, such as

Chestnut-caped and Slate-

crowned Antpittas, Chusquea

and Ocellated Tapaculos,

Golden-plumed Parakeet, Barred

Fruiteater, Black-capped

Hemispingus, Orange-banded

Flycatcher, White-throated

Quail-Dove, and various

mountain-tanagers. Sometimes

the reserve wardens know of a

day roost for Long-tailed Potoo.

The walk up to the Jocotoco feeding area is a narrow forest trail that has some short steep sections, and

is often slippery and muddy. Although the walk is not long, we will take our time getting up there as

there are many birding possibilities en-route. Worms are put out for the antpittas at 8:00am, so we will

pace the walk to arrive at that time.

The beautiful hummers visiting the feeders also provide great entertainment and photo-ops; some of the

species usually present include Flame-throated and Amethyst-throated Sunangels, Chestnut-breasted

Coronet, Collared Inca, Speckled Hummingbird, and Long-tailed Sylph. In the afternoon, we may bird

along the road below the lodge towards the town of Valladolid where occasionally Chestnut-crested

Cotinga can be seen, or spend more time around the lodge. (Breakfast: 5:00am, lunch at the lodge. Night

and dinner in Tapichalaca)

Day 10: Saturday, February 20 –

Tapichalaca to Yankuam Lodge After another morning of birding in

Tapichalaca or along the road to

Valladolid, we will have a rather

long drive (6-7 hours) down the east

slope of the Andes to Cabañas

Yankuam, where we spend two

nights. The last two hours of the trip

are along a dirt road through forest

patches that can yield good

sightings, so we’ll have some stops

to see species like Violaceous Jay,

Channel-billed Toucan, Little

Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tyrant, and others. We can also look for Bluish-fronted Jacamar, only recently

discovered in Ecuador. (Breakfast: 5:00am, packed lunch. Night and dinner in Cabañas Yankuam,

http://www.lindoecuadortours.com/enrainforestlodge.html)

http://www.lindoecuadortours.com/enrainforestlodge.html





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Day 11: Sunday, February 21 – Nuevo Paraíso and Shaime

This area in the lower foothills of the eastern Andes has come to prominence as the place to see the rare

and unique Orange-throated Tanager. There is no easier place in the world to get this strikingly

beautiful bird. Other possibilities here include Speckled Chachalaca, Gilded Barbet, Magpie Tanager,

Blackish Pewee, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, Zimmer’s Antbird, along with a plethora of foothill

species and even a few birds more typical of the Amazonian lowlands. White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant was

also recently discovered in Ecuador at one of the tanager stakeouts, and we’ll try our hand at seeing it.

There are currently two sites to see the Orange-throated Tanager. One of them is along a newly built dirt

road, and while the birds are currently easy to see along here, there is a possibility the forest will soon be

cleared. The other “traditional” site involves walking about 2 miles along a very muddy trail, though we

will only look here if the tanager can’t be found at the easier site. (Breakfast: 5:00am, packed lunch or

lunch in the lodge. Night and dinner in Cabañas Yankuam)

Day 12: Monday, February 22 – Yankuam to Copalinga After some final birding around Yankuam, we will depart for Copalinga Lodge (about a 3 hour drive),

on the edge of Podocarpus National Park. The grounds of the lodge are great for hummingbirds like

Wire-crested Thorntail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Fork-tailed Woodnymph,

and Spangled Coquette, and Blackish Nightjar can often be found close by. Tanager feeders here are

sometimes very active, and other times strangely abandoned. Copalinga is run by a very friendly Belgian

couple that goes out of their way to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. (Breakfast: 5:30am, packed

lunch or lunch at a restaurant en route, Night and dinner at Copalinga http://www.copalinga.com )

Day 13: Tuesday, February 23 – Río Bombuscaro This morning we will bird an excellent forest trail about 15 minutes from our lodge that has many

localized species, including Coppery-chested Jacamar, Ecuadorian Piedtail, White-breasted Parakeet,

Amazonian Umbrellabird, Foothill Elaenia, Olive Finch, Black-billed Treehunter, Blue-rumped

Manakin, and Equatorial Graytail. Other more common birds we may see are Paradise and Green-and-

gold Tanager, Andean Motmot, Green Hermit, Red-headed Barbet, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, and Marble-

faced Bristle-Tyrant. In mid-afternoon, we will return to the lodge, where we can either have some

relaxed birding around the lodge, or take a short drive to other nearby sites. (Breakfast: 5:30am, packed

lunch in the field. Night and dinner Copalinga).

http://www.copalinga.com/





800-289-9504

Day 14: Wednesday, February 24 – Old

Zamora road and drive to Cuenca

We will start birding along an old dirt

road about 25 minutes from Copalinga

that passes through some amazingly

productive forest patches. Some birds are

easier to see here than at Rio Bombuscaro,

such as Andean Cock-of-the-rock,

Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Lined Antshrike,

and Olivaceous Greenlet. Farther along

this road, we’ll target some scarce species

of higher elevations including Vermilion

and Blue-browed Tanagers, Chestnut-

tipped Toucanet, among others. We’ll

spend the afternoon driving north to

Cuenca, where we stay two nights in a lovely hot spring resort. Depending on the time, we may be able

to bird some temperate forest along the way. (Breakfast: 5:30am, packed lunch. Night and dinner at

Hosteria Durán, http://www.hosteriaduran.com/).

Day 15: Thursday, February 25 – Yunguilla Reserve We will need an early start since it is a two-

hour drive to the reserve. The dry woodland and scrubby hillsides of Yunguilla are home to the critically

endangered Paled-headed Brush-Finch whose entire known population resides within this reserve. We’ll

also have a chance to see some other scarce birds such as Little Woodstar and Blue Seedeater. We’ll

likely arrive back to the resort in the early afternoon, giving you some well-earned downtime. (Soaking

in the thermal baths is highly recommended!) (Breakfast: 4:00am (or we’ll take it with us), packed

lunch. Night and dinner at Hosteria Durán).

Day 16: Friday, February 26 – El Cajas National Park A short drive from Cuenca brings us to this beautiful park,

which protects temperate forest and scrub, windswept

páramo, patches of Polylepis woodland, and pristine

highland lakes. We’ll start our birding near one of these

lakes where we could find Ecuadorian Rail, Andean

Ruddy-Duck, Andean Teal, and Yellow-billed Pintail,

while the surrounding forest has a variety of colorful

tanagers and hummers. We’ll then stop to look for the

endemic Violet-throated Metaltail and local Mouse-

colored Thistletail (if we missed it in Cerro Toledo) Rainbow Starfrontlet (Nick Athanas)

in roadside scrub, eventually reaching the grassy paramo,

where we should pick up Tawny Antpitta, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Many-striped Canstero, Stout-billed

Cinclodes, and others. The gnarly Polylepis is loaded with pretty Tit-like Dacnises, and there’s a good

chance to find a Giant Conebill. The highway through the park continues on to Guayaquil (3 hours), and

we will complete a magnificent circuit of the southern part of Ecuador. (Breakfast: 5:15am, packed

lunch, night and dinner: Hotel Continental, Guayaquil)

Day 17: Saturday, February 27 – Departure

The tour ends this morning with a transfer to Guayaquil’s international airport.

http://www.hosteriaduran.com/





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TOUR PRICE, TERMS, AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

PRICE: $4990 per person, double occupancy.

Single supplement is $500 additional and singles are very limited and not possible at one location.

This cost is based on a minimum of 8 persons, maximum of 11

Included in price

All accommodation from the night of 11 February through the night of 26 February.

Meals from breakfast on 12 February to breakfast on 27 February. Many lunches will be taken in

the field.

Some drinks. The lodges typically include water or juice and tea or coffee with each meal. If

meals do not include drinks, reasonable soft drinks will be provided. Most lodges will provide

safe drinking water at a designated spot so that you can just refill your bottles. When this is not

available, it will be provided for you free of charge. Do not drink the tap water unless the tour

leader tells you it is safe.

Bilingual Ecuadorian guide (José Illánes).

Mass Audubon guide, David Larson.

All necessary ground transport in a small bus with a local driver.

Group airport transfer on the first and last day. Should anyone need an airport transfer at another

time, this can be arranged for a small additional cost.

All entry fees to sites mentioned in the itinerary.

All tips for guides and drivers (you may wish to additionally tip hotel and lodge staff).

Local guides where required by park or reserve regulations.

Trip Preparation information, bird and species list.

Medical and emergency evacuation insurance (policy details will be sent).

What’s not included:

Flights to Guayaquil, Ecuador (see below).

Snacks (if you have a favorite snack, you might want to bring some with you from home).

Additional drinks apart from those included.

Alcoholic beverages.

Excursions or activities not included in the tour itinerary.

Travel insurance – recommended to purchase

Extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, telephone calls, and personal items.

Excess baggage charges.

Expenses that could arise from the change, delay, or extension of the trip due to circumstances

beyond our control (e.g. weather, natural disaster, flight delays/cancellations, lost luggage, road

closures, etc). We strongly recommend everyone purchase Travel Insurance.





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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

A valid passport is required for entry into Ecuador. It must be valid for at least six months past the time

of your scheduled return. A visa is not required for tourists who stay less than 90 days. By law you are

required to carry your passport with you at all times. It is a good idea to make a photocopy of your

passport photo pages and to keep the copy in a different place from the passport during the tour.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

There are no inoculations required for travel to Ecuador. However, it is always wise to keep your basic

shots such as tetanus, polio, and diphtheria up to date, and you may want to consider the vaccines against

Hepatitis A & B (rare in Ecuador). We strongly recommend that you review the itinerary with your

physician to discuss personal health needs. Malaria is present in some parts of coastal Ecuador, but not

in the areas visited on this tour. Despite this, your physician may still give you a prescription for anti-

malarials and recommend that you take them. Yellow Fever is not a risk in Southern Ecuador. We will

spend one day at high altitude around 12000-13000 ft. Sunscreen should be used every day, especially in

the highlands. In respect to other participants, we ask that there be no smoking in dining areas, vehicles,

and any enclosed place where the group gathers.

PACE AND DIFFICULTY OF THE TOUR

This is a moderately fast-paced tour. It involves long days in the field and some early starts, and many

lunches will be taken in the field. There will often be opportunities to take afternoons off to relax around

the lodge; since afternoon birding is often quite slow, this can be a good idea for people who like a bit of

extra downtime. This is a bird-focused tour, and opportunities to see other wildlife are rather limited,

though we should spot at least a few mammal species along with some herps and butterflies. Physically,

this tour is more difficult than average, though anyone of reasonable fitness level should have no major

problems. At least six days of the trip will involve spending part or all of the morning walking on trails.

Some of the trails have short sections that are steep and slippery, and expect a lot of mud at

Buenaventura and Tapichalaca. Apart from travel days, expect to walk 2-3 miles a day on average. There

are some rather long drives on this tour, ranging up to six-seven hours in length (e.g. Buenaventura to

Jorupe, Tapichalaca to Yankuam, and Copalinga to Cuenca). Road construction in the area can

sometimes cause delays.

CLIMATE

In the Southwest, February is the rainy season, though the rain tends to fall in short, heavy downpours

that don't interfere very much with the birding. In the Southeast (i.e. Rio Bombuscaro) it can be wet

year-round, though February averages a little drier. You should always be prepared for rain and carry

rain gear on most outings. A small portable umbrella is recommended in addition to traditional rain gear.

Be sure to use sunscreen, even on cloudy days. The tropical sun can burn you surprisingly quickly,

especially at high altitudes.

Most of the trip will be spent at moderate elevations (500-1500 m, 1600-4000 ft) in the Andes and the

climate should be quite pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 15-27ºC (60-80ºF). In the high

elevations at El Cajas, it can be damp and cold (0-10ºC, 32-50ºF), especially in the early morning, so

bring some warm clothes including gloves. Guayaquil and the Pacific coast are at sea level and can be

rather hot and muggy this time of year. Temperatures may reach over 33ºC (90ºF) during the day.





800-289-9504

About Your Guide: David Larson –updated.

David Larson is the Director of Mass Audubon's Birder's Certificate Program, a

college-level ornithology course, and teaches a bird ecology course for naturalist guides

in Belize. He is the Science and Education Coordinator for Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats

Education Center in Newburyport, where he designs and leads educational programs and

field trips. He holds a PhD in zoology from the University of Minnesota and has served

on the faculty of Boston University. He is the vice-president of the Nuttall

Ornithological Club and is an editor of Bird Observer. He has birded and led expeditions

throughout North America, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Central America, Trinidad, Ecuador, Brazil,

Botswana, Kenya, and Japan. Note: Photos not otherwise noted, were taken by David Larson

Travel Arrangements: You, the traveler, are responsible for booking and paying for your own

international flights. Once you reserve your space, we will provide you with suggested flights and tell

you which flights our leader will be on. You may book flights directly with the airline, online, or with a

travel agent. Please be aware that most tickets are non-refundable, therefore you should not book your

flight arrangements until you have checked with us to be sure the tour has the minimum number of

participants.

Suggested Arrival: Please book flights that arrive in Guayaquil (GYE) no later than the night of 11

February (please be aware that the tour starts at 6:00am, after a 5:30am breakfast on the next morning).

It is not a bad idea to arrive a day early (10 February) as insurance against flight cancellations, weather

delays, or missed connections. We would be happy to book you an extra night in our Guayaquil hotel.

Departure: Unless you have other plans in Ecuador, you should book flights that leave no earlier than the

morning of 27 February (or very late evening on 27 February for some airlines).

Coming from the US, it is easy to find connections to Guayaquil via Miami with several airlines

including American, via Houston on United Airlines, and via Atlanta on Delta Airlines.





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TERMS & CONDITIONS

APPLICATIONS, RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS: Early applications are strongly encouraged. Trip rosters usually must be

finalized 4 months before departure! All applications must be accompanied by a completed reservation form and a $500

deposit. Deposits can be by check or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). We reserve the right to decline your application. In the

case of questionable health, we reserve the right to require a physician’s certification to affirm you are capable of the activities.

Final payment is due 90 days before the departure date. Final payment must be by check or money order.

RATES: All tour prices are based on double occupancy. If you would like us to find you a roommate, we will do our best,

but cannot guarantee a share. If we cannot find a share, you will need to pay the single supplement. All forms and fares are

accurate at the time of publication, February 2014, but are subject to change at any time prior to departure. It is our policy to

only pass on the actual amount of any increases in airfares or land costs such as those increases due to the devaluation of the

dollar. Rarely, a price increase may be called for if the group falls below the minimum, as listed in the itinerary.

PHOTOS: Mass Audubon reserves the right to make use of any photograph taken on the tour. We guarantee that no photos

of a comprising nature will be used. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

TRIP INSURANCE: A brochure and application for optional trip cancellation, illness and baggage insurance will be sent to

you upon registrations. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself. Mass

Audubon does provide Medical Evacuation Coverage as part of the tour price.

CANCELLATION Policy: If you need to change your booking, you must inform us immediately in writing. All

cancellations must be done in writing and are effective upon receipt in the Massachusetts Audubon Travel Office. Cancellations

received up to 121 days prior to departure will be refunded deposits less a $300 per person fee. For cancellations between 120

and 90 days prior to departure, all deposits will not be refunded. There are no refunds for cancellations 90 days or less from

departure. We strongly urge all travelers to purchase trip cancellation insurance. You will be sent information from the

Massachusetts Audubon Society upon receipt of your deposit.

Your Responsibility: Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, group travel trips by their

nature involve a certain amount of risk. Trip participants should understand that the domestic and international trips

sponsored/operated by Massachusetts Audubon Society (Mass Audubon Tours) - hereafter collectively “M.A.S.” - involve

known and unknown risks. M.A.S. assumes no responsibility for injuries, death, financial losses or damage to clients’ property

caused by or occurring during participation in any of the travel trips sponsored/operated by M.A.S. Trip participants must

assume responsibility for having sufficient skill and fitness to participate in the trips and activities offered or sponsored by

M.A.S. Trip participants must also certify that they have no medical, mental or physical conditions which could interfere with

their abilities to participate in the activities and/or trips they are participating in and they must assume and bear the cost of all

risks that may be created, directly or indirectly, by any such condition. It is the responsibility of trip participants to have in

place adequate insurance to cover any injury, damage or emergency transportation costs related to their travel and/or

participation in trip activities and/or to bear the costs of such injury, damage or emergency transportation costs. Because of the

risks associated with the travel trips sponsored by M.A.S. we urge all trip participants to supplement their own insurance with

travel or vacation or emergency response types of insurance. M.A.S. requires that all trip participants acknowledge and assume

these risks by reading and signing an M.A.S. Release and Waiver and Assumption of Risk contract prior to departure.

CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL: Travelers will be provided with an itinerary and trip preparation information. It is expected

that travelers will read this information prior to trip departure. Travelers will be responsible for completing an application

reservation form, including the personal information and a release of liability. (see attached) Travelers will be expected to abide

by the terms set for in the invoice. During the tour, travelers are asked to respect and follow the directions of their guide and

leader.





800-289-9504

RESERVATION /APPLICATION FORM

Passenger 1 Name as shown as passport:

Nickname for Name tag: _________________________________ Date of Birth: _________________________

Passenger 2 Name as shown as passport:

Nickname for Name tag: _________________________________ Date of Birth: _________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________________ State________ Zip; ________________________

Phone: Home:____________________Work: _______________________Cell:___________________

Email address:_______________________________________________________________________________

Room Preferences

_____I request single accommodations where available and will pay the single supplement.

_____I would like to be assigned a roommate. If one is not available, I will pay the single supplement.

Personal Information:

___I/We are non-smokers. (If you are a smoker(s), please check here___ and note that smoking is limited to

outdoors in non-group spaces)

___Is there anything we should know about your health that might impact your ability to participate comfortably

on this trips? Please describe: ___________________________________________________

Deposit: Please find my enclosed check ______ or please charge __________ my credit card for the deposit:

VISA___MC___ Card #___________________________________________________Exp.______________

Checks should be made payable to “Massachusetts Audubon Society”

Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________

Documents

Birding in Southern Ecuador - massaudubon.orgBirding in Southern Ecuador Orange-throated Tanager (Andrew Spencer) Thursday, February 11 to Saturday, February 27, 2016 with Dave Larson