Description

Hoatzin

The country of Guyana is located on the northeast shoulder of South America. It is bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname and the Atlantic Ocean. The peoples of this English-speaking country are primarily a mix of East Indian (Indo-Guyanese), Afro-Guyanese and Amerindian.

The diversity of habitats within Guyana supports just over 800 species of birds from 72 different families. Georgetown, the capital, is located on the coast supports 200 species from 39 families alone.

In addition to its birdlife, Guyana is home to 225 species of mammals, 880 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 6,500 species of plants.

Our tour will begin with a river trip in search of Guyanas national bird, the Hoatzin, also known to the locals as the Canje Pheasant. Belonging to its own order, Opisthocomidae, Hoatzin are social birds, sedentary and vegetarian with a fermentation system similar to cows.

Our tour will then take us from the Georgetown botanical gardens, where we will search out Blood-colored Woodpecker and Festive Parrot, to Karanambu, home to Diane McTurk and her Giant Otter Conservation Project. Birding along the Rupununi River will provide great looks at the many kingfishers, herons, egrets, storks, terns, shorebirds and raptors that are at home in this part of the country. While at Karanambu we will be treated to the interplay of seasonal wetlands and savannah, water birds and grassland birds. In addition there are good chances to see Giant River Otters, Tapir and Giant Anteaters.

From Karanambu we will drive to Surama Eco-Lodge, owned and operated by the Makushi Amerindians and where we have a very good chance of seeing the Harpy Eagle and a Lek of the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock.

Next, our stay at the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway will take us 100 feet above the forest floor into the upper reaches of the forest canopy. Birds we will look for here include, Caica parrots, Paradise Jacamar, Guianan Toucanet and Rufous-throated Antbird.

We will then visit Iwokrama Field Station, a rainforest location and home to 500 species of birds and 200 species of mammals. Some of the birds of interest here are Capuchinbird, White-plumed Antbird and Waved Woodpecker. Our stay at Rockview Lodge will provide us with the opportunity to bird the transition zone between rainforest and savannah. Here we will find many raptors, nighthawks and nightjars, flycatchers, parrots and hummingbirds.

Kaieteur Falls, the world’s largest single-drop waterfall speaks for itself and the flight to and from the falls exposes views of the vast unbroken savannahs and rainforests that make this country so desirable for birding and wildlife viewing.