Andean Birding - birdwatching, Andes and Amazon, bird conservation, ornithological research

Galapagos

Andes

Amazon


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		Andean Birding will be heading into its 10th year of operation January 2013. Originally started by Charlie Vogt and Jonas Nilsson, Jonas has gone on to focus on the Wildsumaco Lodge operation and related projects. The General Manager, Charlie has spent 22 years actively birding in Ecuador and other Andean/Amazonian countries. He was a resident guide at Sacha Lodge for a year as well as a frequently invited guide at Kapawi, Yachana Lodge, Tiputini Biodiversity Station as well as leading Wilderness Travel groups to the Kofan village of Zabalo. In addition he has guided for VENT and as a backup for Field Guides and Birdquest. Charlie has conducted many ornithological research projects and has published 5 papers, 3 in ornithological journals (see Research). More recently he has undertaken bird surveys for Maquipucuna Foundation in rustic cacao plantations laying the groundwork for future Bird-friendly Chocolate certification. He was attracted to Ecuador because of its extraordinary bird diversity (over 1600 species nestled in an area the size of Colorado), which is due to the juxtaposition of: varied topography, diverse habitats and its extraordinary bird diversity. Here the Andes rise majestically between the coastal plain and the legendary Amazon basin creating more than 40 major ecosystems and 9 endemic bird areas. There is a lot to discover, to protect and to convey to others about the birds and their environment. Improved infrastructure and accessibility to birding areas has made Ecuador a great place to live and work - and of course to visit!

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We also design our tours, when at all possible, to stay at lodges which are run by conservation organizations such as the Jocotoco Foundation (the most effective bird conservation group in Ecuador) or hotels which preserve substantial tracks of forest and demonstrate a clear environmental mission. These lodges are more expensive but the proceeds go directly to conservation.

Our Mission

Andean Birding was founded in order to promote responsible bird tourism. Beyond our commitment to provide you with the best bird trip for a great price, our mission is to foster bird conservation and to further ornithological research in the Andean region. By choosing Andean Birding you will help protect bird species and their habitats in Ecuador.

Browse our site for descriptions of our standard tours which offer comfortable opportunities to see hundreds of bird species.

We are long-term residents of Ecuador who employ Ecuadorians, and all operating expenses support the local economy. We're proud of Ecuador, its people, and its birds!

Andean Birding is eager to tackle your specific birding interests and committed to providing you with the best, cost-effective itinerary for your birding pleasure backed by the knowledge and experience we have gained in the Andean region.

We look forward to welcoming and guiding you soon!

Ourselves

Charlie Vogt

Charlie Vogt

Born in California but reared in Boston, Charlie is an expert on the birds of Ecuador and has associated with Jonas on several expeditions in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. A major contributor of recordings to Xeno-canto.org, a birdsong database, he has conducted bird surveys and prepared bird lists for many foundations and protected areas in Ecuador including Yachana Lodge, Maquipucuna and La Perla Reserves and Madidi Natl. Park in Bolivia. His sense of discovery has led him to find one new bird species for Ecuador as well as many new provincial records (3 cited in Ridgely and Greenfield, 2001). In 2004 he undertook one of the first ornithological expeditions to the slopes of Gran Sumaco (a new UNESCO Biosphere Reserve). With a B.S. from Colorado College an M.S. in Evolutionary Biology from NAU and 8 years at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, Charlie has also obtained a comprehensive knowledge of tropical botany and entomology. He has led tours for Wilderness Travel and Harvard's Museum of Natural History. Rounding out his business sense and teaching abilities, he has also worked for many years in environmental consulting and most recently served as Academic Director for the Ecology Program with the School for International Training in Ecuador. His easygoing style and humor serves him well with everyone.

Roger Ahlman

Roger Ahlman

Roger is a native of southern Sweden where he has been an active and respected birder for more than 25 years. He has served on the regional records committee for several years and traveled extensively around the world on both private and organized trips. South America has become his favorite continent and he has completed birding trips to most countries, in particular, Peru and Ecuador. Roger has been a professional bird guide in Peru for the past year and has led successful trips to all parts of the country.

He has rediscovered the Cinnamon Teal in Ecuador with the first record in 65 years. He is known for his patience with inexperienced birders and is great at spotting birds and getting people onto them.

Boris Herrera

Boris Herrera

A native of Quito, Boris has grown up around the birds of Mindo on the west slope. He managed Canandé lodge for the Jocotoco Foundation in the northwest tropical lowlands for a full year, leading bird tourists to see many Chocó specialties. When not guiding he is working with Jonas on the Wild Sumaco Project, with bird surveys, developing trails and supervising the construction of the lodge. He has an exceptional talent for spotting birds and recognizing their calls. His family farm, called Mindo Loma, has become a popular birder’s lodge with their active hummingbird feeders attracting such beauties as Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Empress Brilliant. Fruit trays yield the uncommon Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager and the surroundings hold Orange-breasted Fruiteater and Hoary Puffleg.