Steven Hilty, one of the most distinguished birding guides of the world and author of the famous A Guide to the Birds of Colombia, has returned to Colombia to guide birding tours after 23 years of absence. Hilty works with one of largest birding tour companies in the world, Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT), of Austin. Texas, and they have partnered with EcoTurs to visit several of ProAves’ bird reserves and other birding hotspots in Colombia.

In El Dorado Natural Bird Reserve

Steven Hilty (far right) with his group. In front (left) Luis Eduardo Urueña, EcoTurs professional guide. Far left, Christian Olaciregui, Regional Caribbean Director of ProAves’ reserves.

Two tours have already finished with success, in February and April, and other tours are already fully booked this year. To join Steven Hilty, you can book up future trips planned for 2010 through VENT. Tours are co-led by Luis Eduardo Urueña, EcoTurs professional birding guide.

Hilty’s tours are about 15 days and visit the El Paujil, Cerulean Warbler and El Dorado Bird Reserves, all owned by ProAves, as well as other hotspots such as Parque Chingaza, Parque La Florida and Los Flamencos Sanctuary on the Caribbean coast. In the first tour, the group registered an amazing 467 bird species.

Following the completion of VENT’s second tour to Colombia Hilty noted the following: “Although the ProAves reserves can be somewhat complicated to reach, the opportunity for groups to spend two to three days at each of these secluded sites, away from noise and traffic and the congestion of human settlement, is absolutely priceless. ProAves is to be commended for their pioneering efforts and I can hardly wait to visit more of their sites.”

Contribution to reforestation

In El Dorado Bird Reserve, VENT tour not only donated funds to assist ProAves conservation work, but also helped manage our tree nursery for reforestation.

In ProAves we are extremely grateful that VENT has donated significant support to ProAves to help bird conservation actions. Such donations are essential to protect and expand the reserves and ensure excellent habitat for many endangered bird species.

Thanks to the improved security in Colombia, and international marketing by EcoTurs, there is growing interest in international birding trips to Colombia, especially to ProAves reserves. If you wish to visit our reserves and thereby help support conservation please don’t hesitate to contact us at info @ ecoturs.org”