Birding in Southern

Orange-throated Tanager (Andrew Spencer)

February 12 – 28, 2015 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 , is the best place in the world to see the strikingly beautiful and rare Orange-throated Tanager. Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson

DAILY ITINERARY

TOUR ITINERARY: Note: breakfast times are estimated and may be changed at the tour leader’s discretion.

Day 1: Thursday, February 12 – 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 13 – 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 . 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 . 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 feeders, which attract swarms of these neat little , 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 14 – 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.

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 2 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson We will search the beautiful mist-enshrouded 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 15 – Buenaventura and El Empalme After another morning in Buenaventura checking for any birds we are missing, we 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 16 – 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 and Ochre-bellied Dove, along with Whooping Motmot, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, White- edged Oriole, White-tailed , and Red-masked Parakeet. Later on, we’ll 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- 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 17 – 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.)

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 3 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson Day 7: Wednesday, February 18 – 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 . (Breakfast: 5:00am, packed lunch in the field. Night and dinner at Hosteria de Vilcabamba,

http://www.hosteriavilcabamba.com/)

Day 8: Thursday, February 19 – 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 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).

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 4 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson Day 9: Friday, February 20 – 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 21 – 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)

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 5 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson Day 11: Sunday, February 22 – 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, 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 23 – 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 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 24 – Río Bombuscaro We 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).

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 6 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson

Day 14: Wednesday, February 25 – 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/).

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 7 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson Day 15: Thursday, February 26 – Yunguilla ReserveWe 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 27 – 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-, 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) 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 28 – Departure The tour ends this morning with a transfer to Guayaquil’s international airport.

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 8 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson

Rainbow Starfrontlet (Nick Athanas)

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

PRICE (including tips, medical evacuation insurance, and all tour details below) For 10 – 11 travelers $4590 per person, double occupancy. For 8 – 9 travelers $4900 per person, double occupancy. For 6 – 7 travelers $5400 per person, double occupancy.

Single supplement is $350 additional and singles are limited This cost is based on a minimum of 6 persons, maximum of 12

What’s included:

 All accommodation from the night of 12 February through the night of 27 February.  Meals from breakfast on 13 February to breakfast on 28 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 12 February and 28 February. 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 Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 9 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson

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.

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 10 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson About Your Guide: David Larson –updated.

David Larson is the Director of Mass Audubon's Birder's Certificate Program, a college- level 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, , 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 12 February (please be aware that the tour starts at 6:00am, after a 5:30am breakfast on the morning of 23 February). It is not a bad idea to arrive a day early (11 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 28 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.

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 11 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson

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.

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 12 800-289-9504 Birding in Southern Ecuador February 12 – 28, 2015 with Dave Larson

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: ______

Travel with the Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 13 800-289-9504