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	(Ross's Gull header by Dave Hawkins)

SOUTH AMERICA, ECUADOR
WILDSUMACO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY and LODGE, ECUADOR Foothill Screech Owl © Roger Ahlman A new lodge in Ecuador's Eastern Foothills, built for birders by birders. For years, birders have visited the Sumaco area to see species that are tough to find elsewhere, but until now comfortable guest accommodations have been unavailable. Set on a ridge in the Andes' Eastern Foothills, Wildsumaco Lodge has panoramic views reaching across the Rio Pucuno Valley and to the Andes beyond. On clear days the distant snow-covered heights of El Altar, Chimborazo and Antisana Volcanoes glow white against the blue sky. North of the lodge is Sumaco National Park, with the volcano Sumaco stretching up some 3800 meters. Wildsumaco Lodge was built with birders and outdoor enthusiasts in mind. At the end of a long day, birders want a quiet, comfortable room, a private bathroom with a hot shower, outlets to recharge electronics, and space to spread out books and birding gear. Wildsumaco Lodge features home-style cooking from around the world and 3 meals a day are included in the rates. Soft drinks, wine, beer, and bar drinks are available. The lodge can accommodate either individuals or private groups, or tour groups of up to 20 persons in our 10 guest rooms. Birding at Wildsumaco is fantastic, and our bird list now contains over 400 species. Amazing mixed species flocks, recently containing Straw-backed Tanager, can be leisurely studied from our deck. Possibilities from Wildsumaco's trails include birds that are rare and nearly impossible to see elsewhere, such as Gray-tailed Piha, Yellow-throated Spadebill and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater. Short-tailed Antthrush and Wing-banded Wren often sing, while more uncommon species like Gray-throated Leaftosser and Plain-backed Antpitta are seen occasionally. The very rare Andean Laniisoma has a territory along one of the trails. Twenty-two species of hummingbird are known to have visited our feeders to date, and on one wonderful day in July 2008, 17 species were seen in a hour or so, including Napo Sabrewing, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Gould's Jewelfront, Violet-fronted and Black-throated Brilliant, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Violet-headed Hummingbird and Gray-chinned Hermit and our first record of Lazuline Sabrewing. We have a day perch for Great Potoo, and at any time the endangered Military Macaw or rare Spot-winged Parrotlet might fly by, or Black Hawk-Eagle soar overhead. In the evening we have stakeouts for Foothill and Rufescent Screech-Owls and Band-bellied Owl. For additional information or reservations, please view our website www.wildsumaco.com, or send an email to: bonnie@wildsumaco.com Click here to find out more about Wildsumaco TAPICHALACA RESERVE, ECUADOR "DONATE TO SAVE RAINFOREST; $100 BUYS ONE ACRE" The Tapichalaca Reserve protects an unusually wet area of montane forest on the eastern slope of the Andes that includes almost all of the known range of the recently discovered Jocotoco Antpitta. The area is home to other vulnerable restricted-range birds such as the Bearded Guan, Golden-plumed Parakeet, and Masked Saltator. Large mammals such as Spectacled Bear and Woolly Mountain Tapir can also be found here. With assistance from World Land Trust, Fundación Jocotoco has created a 6,000-acre private reserve with a small lodge for visitors. World Land Trust-US is an international conservation organization that purchases and protects lands that are critical for preventing immediate species extinctions and are exceptionally rich in biological diversity. Other World Land Trust-US Projects (http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/projects/index.html) include: • Buenaventura Reserve, Ecuador, an area of unusually high bird endemism and the only habitat of the critically endangered El Oro Tapaculo and the El Oro Parakeet; • Cosanga Valley, Ecuador, lands covered by Andean cloud forests, host many endemic, rare and endangered species; • San Rafael, Paraguay, a core tract of endangered Interior Atlantic forest; • Tumbesian Region, Ecuador of south-western Ecuador, a highly threatened tropical dry forest with hundreds of endemic species. Save land with World Land Trust-US: Your $100 contribution purchases and saves an acre of rainforest forever. http://www.worldlandtrust-us.org/supporting/index.html Click here to find out more about the World Land Trust MINDO, ECUADOR > PACHIJAL ECOLODGE Pachijal is a shining example of conservation and sustainability. More than 500 of 1500 bird species of Ecuador are in the Valley of Mindo. Our guides can help You to see them. We have one single and five double rooms, four of which can accommodate up to four beds. Every rooms hasa its own bath and hot shower. Every room has its own covered patio. A panoramic roof terrace has tremendous views. Other activities include biking and horseback riding on more than 40km trails in the forest, guided nature tours, cultural history and much more. Click here to see Pachijal		Useful Resources • Where to go Birdwatching in South America • Latest S. America Birding News • Professional Birding Guides • Local Birders • Local Weather • Click Here to Go Back to the Main Accommodation Page • Approximately 40,000 birdwatchers every week. • Ranked the Number 1 Amazon.com Associate for Birding websites • Ranked in the Top 5 for Birding Websites by both Yahoo! and Google • Every one of our readers are birding enthusiasts from all over the world. Over 60% visit the site every day, making Surfbirds one of the most popular birding websites in the world . • Only costs $100 or £50 or 100 Euros for a listing for a year! Email us for details on how to be included (click here)