DOCSLIB.ORG

MADAGASCAR: the Wonders of the “8Th Continent” a Tropical Birding Set Departure

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MADAGASCAR: the Wonders of the “8Th Continent” a Tropical Birding Set Departure MADAGASCAR: The Wonders of the “8th Continent” A Tropical Birding Set Departure November 3—28, 2013 Guide: Ken Behrens All photos taken during this trip. All photos by Ken Behrens unless noted otherwise. TOUR SUMMARY Madagascar has long been a core destination for Tropical Birding, and with last year’s opening of a satellite office in the country, we have further solidified our expertise in the “Eighth Continent.” This was another highly successful set-departure tour to this special island. It included both the Northwestern Endemics Pre-Trip at the start and the Helmet Vanga extension to the Masoala Peninsula at the end. Although Madagascar poses some logistical challenges, especially in the form of the national airline Air Madagascar, we had no problems on this tour, not even a single delayed flight! The birding was great, with 196 species recorded, including almost all of the island’s endemic birds. As usual, the highlight was seeing all five of the incredible ground-rollers, from the roadrunner-like Long-tailed of the spiny forest to the wonderful rainforest-dwelling Scaly. There was a strong cast of vangas, including Helmet, Bernier’s, and Sickle-billed. In fact, we saw every member of the family save the mysterious Red-tailed Newtonia which is only regularly seen in the far south. As normal, the couas were also a favorite. From the shy and beautiful Red-breasted of Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 the eastern rainforest to the huge Giant Coua of the dry western forest, we were looking for and at couas virtually every day! The bizarre mesites form a Malagasy endemic family, and we had superb extended views of all three members of the family. The asities form yet another endemic family, and we saw all of its members including the Schlegel’s Asity (shown on the first page of the report) and the rare Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity. The Malagasy warblers were recently found to constitute an endemic family, the Bernieridae. Most of these warblers at not colorful, but there is much to be enjoyed in their subtly different shapes and very different feeding strategies. We “swept” this family, save for the enigmatic Dusky Tetraka. We had a close encounter with the incredible aye-aye! Photo by Leslie Clapp. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 The colony of gorgeous Red-tailed Tropicbirds on Nosy Ve was much enjoyed and photographed, as always. Madagascar Crested Ibis is one of the toughest birds on this tour, but this year we were treated to the sight of not just one, but two active nests! We had excellent perched views of Madagascar Sparrowhawk, Henst’s Goshawk, and Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk, some of the island’s most elusive raptors. Coastal sites held good shorebirding as normal, and we spotted both Lesser and Greater Sandplovers, Madagscar Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Crab Plover, and a surprise Little Stint. Owls and nightjars were well represented; we had daytime looks at both scops-owls, Madagscar Long-eared Owl, Marsh Owl, White-browed Owl, and Collared Nightjar (on a nest!). Many tours visit Madagscar too early to see the migratory Sooty and Eleanora’s Falcons, which arrive quite late, but we were late enough to get both. OK, the birding was great. But in Madagascar the birding is only part of the story. Of course, we run birding tours, and the birds have priority in some sense. However, one of the amazing things about tours to this island is that you can also see an astounding array of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife, without sacrificing a single bird. Sometimes birding tours see more mammals than do devoted mammaling tours! The trip’s best shorebird was the Crab Plover, which forms its own family. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 The “mammaling” on this tour was exceptional. Actually, the best sighting on our tour was a mammal, and not a bird: the bizarre and rarely seen aye-aye, which we observed at short range for almost an hour during an eventful night walk when we also spotted the extremely rare hairy- eared dwarf-lemur. Overall, we recorded 45 mammals of which 35 were lemurs, from the tiny mouse-lemurs up to Indri, the largest living species. Between were a captivating range of dwarf- lemurs, several spunky sportive-lemurs, a couple of tree-clinging woolly-lemurs, a variety of brown-lemurs, and both of the big and beautiful ruffed lemurs. There were some other great mammals too, such as the bizarre lowland streaked tenrec. This was also an exceptional tour for reptiles and amphibians. We racked up 62 species of reptiles, which is a new record for Tropical Birding or any other birding tour company as far as I know. The chameleons alone showed incredible diversity; we saw 14 species, including the world’s two largest chameleons, and one of its smallest. Geckos were spectacular. Best of all was the giant leaf- tailed gecko, one of the best-camouflaged animals on earth, but it had strong support from pictured big-headed gecko, with eyes like the evil lord Sauron, and a bunch of beautiful blazing green day geckos (like the peacock shown to the right). The presence of iguanids on Madagascar is a mysterious fact of biogeography, making us especially appreciate seeing six species of iguanas. Snakes were amazing too. In most countries, even those with high snake diversity, you can do a 3-week tour and see only one or two snakes. We notched up 12 species of snakes, Peacock day gecko, just one of the 62 species of seeing several individuals of many of these reptiles that we saw during this tour. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 species. The boas are another Malagasy biogeographic mystery, and were also the serpentine highlight. We saw a gorgeous Dumeril’s ground boa in the spiny forest, a Madagscar tree boa hunting mouse-lemurs in Ranomafana’s rainforest, and an enormous Madagascar ground boa on Masoala. We identified 24 species of frogs, again one of the highest totals ever for a Madagascar birding trip. Madagascar is certainly rich in wonderful birds, and we enjoyed these to the fullest. But its range of reptiles and amphibians is just as wondrous and accessible, and a trip that ignored them would be sorely missing out. Our tour group soaks in some amazing scenery in the Madagascar highlands. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Nuthatch Vanga (left) at Perinet and Zombitse sportive-lemur (right) at Zombitse. Lesser hedgehog tenrec in the spiny forest near Ifaty. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 ITINERARY November 3 Tana to Majunga. Drive to Ankarafantsika National Park. November 4 Ankarafantsika NP. November 5 Ankarafantsika to Majunga. November 6 Betsiboka Delta boat trip. November 7 Majunga to Antananarivo. November 8 Flight to Tulear. Drive to Ifaty. November 9 Ifaty. November 10 Ifaty to Tulear. November 11 Boat trip to Nosy Ve and Anakao. November 12 Tulear. November 13 Tulear to Zombitse National Park to Isalo. November 14 Isalo to Anja Park to Ranomafana National Park. November 15 Ranomafana National Park. November 16 Ranomafana National Park. November 17 Ranomafana to Antsirabe. November 18 Antsirabe to Andasibe. November 19 Mantadia NP. November 20 Andasibe to Tana. November 21 Tana to Maroantsetra. November 22 Maroantsetra to Masoala. November 23 Masoala National Park. November 24 Masoala National Park. November 25 Masoala to Maroantsetra. Flight to Tana. November 26 Tana to Anjozorobe. November 27 Anjozorobe. November 28 Anjozorobe to Antananarivo. NORTHWESTERN ENDEMICS PRE-TRIP MAIN TOUR HELMET VANGA EXTENSION Iguanids like this collared iguanid demonstrate Madagascar’s unique biogeography. There are no iguanids in Africa, the short distance across the Mozambique Channel. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 PHOTO GALLERY Follows tour’s chronology Sickle-billed Vanga, one of the best of the island’s bounty of vangas. Quite common at Ankarafantsika. Rufous Vanga baby and adult. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Madagascar Paradise-Flycatchers come in different morphs, all beautiful. Coquerel’s Coua is common on the forest floor of western deciduous forest. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 We had beautiful views of Bernier’s Teal in the Betsiboka Delta. Madagascar Sacred Ibis in the muddy Betsiboka. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Sunset in the spiny forest. Thamnornis is a weird Malagasy greenbul endemic to the spiny forest. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Subdesert Mesite is one of the top birds of the arid southwest. The three-eyed lizard, very common in the spiny forest. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Long-tailed Ground-Roller, the only ground-roller found outside of the eastern rainforest. Pictured big-headed gecko is a nocturnal beauty of the spiny forest. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 The Banded Kestrel has become increasingly difficult to find in recent years. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 A perfect day in the paradise of Nosy Ve… which hosts a breeding colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Warty chameleon on an octopus tree, a real spiny forest scene. Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Madagascar Nightjar nest near Tulear. Red-shouldered Vanga (left) at La Table, and a nice haul of seashells from Nosy Ve (right). Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Standing’s day gecko in Zombitse National Park. Psychedelic jigsaw! Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov. 3-28, 2013 Ambatoharanana giant treefrog… the name is bigger than the frog. Parson’s giant chameleon is tied with Oustalet’s for the title of the “world’s biggest chameleon.” Madagascar Set Departure Tour Nov.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Shahezan Issani Report Environment and Social Impact Assessment for Road Asset 2020-03-02
    Draft Initial Environmental Examination Project Number: 53376-001 September 2020 IND: DBL Highway Project Prepared by AECOM India Private Limited The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “Terms of Use” section of this website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. FINAL ESIA Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of Road Asset Anandapuram-Pendurthi-Anakapalli Section of NH-16 Dilip Buildcon Limited September 19, 2020 Environment and Social Impact Assessment of Road Asset – Anandapuram – Pendurthi – Ankapalli Section of NH 16, India FINAL Quality information Prepared by Checked by Verified by Approved by Shahezan Issani Bhupesh Mohapatra Bhupesh Mohapatra Chetan Zaveri Amruta Dhamorikar Deepti Bapat Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position 01 23 April 2020 First cut ESIA report without Yes Chetan Zaveri Executive Director monitoring data 02 30 April 2020 Draft ESIA report without monitoring Yes Chetan Zaveri Executive Director data 03 9 July 2020 Final ESIA report with monitoring Yes Chetan Zaveri Executive Director data and air modelling
    [Show full text]
  • ISSAP Madagascar Pond Heron
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals Secretariat provided by the United Nations Environment Programme 15 th MEETING OF THE CMS SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL Rome, Italy, 27-28 November 2008 UNEP/CMS/ScC15/Doc.6 DRAFT INTERNATIONAL SINGLE SPECIES ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE MADAGASCAR POND HERON ARDEOLA IDAE (Introductory note prepared by the Secretariat) 1. The Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Madagascar Pond Heron Ardeola idae was initiated jointly by CMS and AEWA in 2007 upon a recommendation of the 14 th Meeting of the CMS Scientific Council. 2. The plan covers the entire range of this intra-African migrant. The drafting of the Plan was commissioned to the BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat with financial support provided by the Ministry of Environment of Italy and was compiled by a team under the management of Paul Kariuki Ndang’ang’a. Earlier drafts of the Plan have been consulted extensively with experts and governmental officials at the Range States. 3. The Plan has already been adopted by the 4 th Meeting of the Parties to AEWA (Antananarivo, Madagascar, 15-19 September 2008). Action requested: The Scientific Council is requested to: a. review and endorse the Plan; and b. transmit the Plan to the Conference of the Parties for adoption. For reasons of economy, documents are printed in a limited number, and will not be distributed at the meeting. Delegates are kindly requested to bring their copy to the meeting and not to request additional copies. DISCLAIMER The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP/CMS concerning the legal status of any State, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of their frontiers and boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Barn Swallows AKA: Mud Swallows
    Barn Swallows AKA: Mud Swallows. Close relatives: Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow Scientific Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Aves, Passeriformes, Hirundinidae; Hirundo; H. rustica. Bird Size & Markings: Adult Barn Swallows are about 7” long, stand 4” high and have a 13” wingspan. They weigh less than 1 ounce. Males have metallic blue back, wings, and tail with rufous to tawny underside. The blue crown and face is contrasted with the cinnamon forehead and throat. Females are not as brightly colored. Habitat: You can find Barn Swallows feeding in open habitats such as fields, parks, marshes, meadows, ponds, and coastal waters. Their nests are often easy to spot under protected overhangs. Nesting/Dens: Barn Swallows lay 3 to 7 eggs in each brood and can hatch broods twice a year. Brood fledge in about 2 weeks. Both sexes construct the nest of mud pel- lets. If attached to a wall or beam, the nest is half-cup shaped. If on top of a surface, A mating pair of Barn Swallows. They prefer to the nest forms a perfect small cup about 3” wide. Nest sites are almost exclusively at- build their nests where there is overhead pro- tached to man made structures with overhead protection; roof eaves, the underside tection from the weather. of bridges, inside barns and stables, etc. Food: Barn Swallows eat insects - both flying and terrestrial. They usually take rela- tively large, single insects rather than feeding on swarms of smaller prey. They typi- cally feed just above shallow waters or turf. They have been known to follow tractors and livestock, eating the insects that are flushed out by their movement.
    [Show full text]
  • Madagascar, 1998
    A mammal, bird, reptile, orchid and people-watching trip to - Madagascar (and a very short stay in Mauritius) 18-10-98 to 21-11-98 Dave Siems and Steve Anyon-Smith “weird (verb) – Madagascar” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ When our first guide, Patrice Rabearisoa, asked us what we wanted to see, he went white (not easy) at our reply – “we want to see all the birds, mammals, reptiles, orchids and everything else of interest in the forest, in no particular order.” He showed us all these things and more in the paradise that was, and still is, in parts, Madagascar. Outline of Trip “Madagascar” I said to Dave, and his eyes lit up. Five weeks later we were looking at lemurs. Our advice was that there was no safe or even practical way to visit a country populated by thieves, thugs and other human detritus of the worst order. There was said to be no usable public transport and if the food or the locals didn’t kill you, the insects most definitely would. So Dave and I set out to test these propositions. Madagascar is renowned for its wildlife, political instability and not much else. Our mission was to see as much of the native fauna and flora as possible during a five-week stay. We used public transport at all times and hired local guides at every location (this is generally compulsory anyway). We scattered ourselves widely throughout the country as the habitats are extremely varied, boasting rainforest, semi-desert, the so-called spiny forest and anything in between. Our expectations for the trip were not high given that we had little prior information and fully expected to be roasted slowly over a kitchen fire somewhere if we had managed to avoid perishing in a traffic accident.
    [Show full text]
  • MADAGASCAR: the Wonders of the “8Th Continent” a Tropical Birding Custom Trip
    MADAGASCAR: The Wonders of the “8th Continent” A Tropical Birding Custom Trip October 20—November 6, 2016 Guide: Ken Behrens All photos taken during this trip by Ken Behrens Annotated bird list by Jerry Connolly TOUR SUMMARY Madagascar has long been a core destination for Tropical Birding, and with the opening of a satellite office in the country several years ago, we further solidified our expertise in the “Eighth Continent.” This custom trip followed an itinerary similar to that of our main set-departure tour. Although this trip had a definite bird bias, it was really a general natural history tour. We took our time in observing and photographing whatever we could find, from lemurs to chameleons to bizarre invertebrates. Madagascar is rich in wonderful birds, and we enjoyed these to the fullest. But its mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects are just as wondrous and accessible, and a trip that ignored them would be sorely missing out. We also took time to enjoy the cultural riches of Madagascar, the small villages full of smiling children, the zebu carts which seem straight out of the Middle Ages, and the ingeniously engineered rice paddies. If you want to come to Madagascar and see it all… come with Tropical Birding! Madagascar is well known to pose some logistical challenges, especially in the form of the national airline Air Madagascar, but we enjoyed perfectly smooth sailing on this tour. We stayed in the most comfortable hotels available at each stop on the itinerary, including some that have just recently opened, and savored some remarkably good food, which many people rank as the best Madagascar Custom Tour October 20-November 6, 2016 they have ever had on any birding tour.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Fish and Herptiles in Traditional Folk Therapies in Three
    Altaf et al. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2020) 16:38 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-00379-z RESEARCH Open Access The use of fish and herptiles in traditional folk therapies in three districts of Chenab riverine area in Punjab, Pakistan Muhammad Altaf1* , Arshad Mehmood Abbasi2*, Muhammad Umair3, Muhammad Shoaib Amjad4, Kinza Irshad2 and Abdul Majid Khan5 Abstract Background: Like botanical taxa, various species of animals are also used in traditional and modern health care systems. Present study was intended with the aim to document the traditional uses of herptile and fish species among the local communities in the vicinity of the River Chenab, Punjab Pakistan. Method: Data collected by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were subsequently analyzed using relative frequency of citation (FC), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), similarity index (SI), and rank order priority (ROP) indices. Results: Out of total 81 reported species, ethnomedicinal uses of eight herptiles viz. Aspideretes gangeticus, A. hurum, Eublepharis macularius, Varanus bengalensis, Python molurus, Eryx johnii, Ptyas mucosus mucosus, Daboia russelii russelii and five fish species including Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cirrhinus reba, Labeo dero, Mastacembelus armatus, and Pethia ticto were reported for the first time from this region. Fat, flesh, brain, and skin were among the commonly utilized body parts to treat allergy, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory disorders, sexual impotency, skin infections, and as antidote and anti-diabetic agents. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Duttaphrynus stomaticus, and Ptyas mucosus mucosus (herptiles), as well as Labeo rohita, Wallago attu, and Cirrhinus reba (fish) were top ranked with maximum informant reports, frequency of citations, and rank order priority.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Aves: Hirundinidae)
    1 2 Received Date : 19-Jun-2016 3 Revised Date : 14-Oct-2016 4 Accepted Date : 19-Oct-2016 5 Article type : Original Research 6 7 8 Convergent evolution in social swallows (Aves: Hirundinidae) 9 Running Title: Social swallows are morphologically convergent 10 Authors: Allison E. Johnson1*, Jonathan S. Mitchell2, Mary Bomberger Brown3 11 Affiliations: 12 1Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago 13 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan 14 3 School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska 15 Contact: 16 Allison E. Johnson*, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1101 E 57th Street, 17 Chicago, IL 60637, phone: 773-702-3070, email: [email protected] 18 Jonathan S. Mitchell, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 19 Ruthven Museums Building, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, email: [email protected] 20 Mary Bomberger Brown, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska, Hardin Hall, 3310 21 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583, phone: 402-472-8878, email: [email protected] 22 23 *Corresponding author. 24 Data archiving: Social and morphological data and R code utilized for data analysis have been 25 submitted as supplementary material associated with this manuscript. 26 27 Abstract: BehavioralAuthor Manuscript shifts can initiate morphological evolution by pushing lineages into new adaptive 28 zones. This has primarily been examined in ecological behaviors, such as foraging, but social behaviors 29 may also alter morphology. Swallows and martins (Hirundinidae) are aerial insectivores that exhibit a This is the author manuscript accepted for publication and has undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecosystem Profile Madagascar and Indian
    ECOSYSTEM PROFILE MADAGASCAR AND INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS FINAL VERSION DECEMBER 2014 This version of the Ecosystem Profile, based on the draft approved by the Donor Council of CEPF was finalized in December 2014 to include clearer maps and correct minor errors in Chapter 12 and Annexes Page i Prepared by: Conservation International - Madagascar Under the supervision of: Pierre Carret (CEPF) With technical support from: Moore Center for Science and Oceans - Conservation International Missouri Botanical Garden And support from the Regional Advisory Committee Léon Rajaobelina, Conservation International - Madagascar Richard Hughes, WWF – Western Indian Ocean Edmond Roger, Université d‘Antananarivo, Département de Biologie et Ecologie Végétales Christopher Holmes, WCS – Wildlife Conservation Society Steve Goodman, Vahatra Will Turner, Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Conservation International Ali Mohamed Soilihi, Point focal du FEM, Comores Xavier Luc Duval, Point focal du FEM, Maurice Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Point focal du FEM, Seychelles Edmée Ralalaharisoa, Point focal du FEM, Madagascar Vikash Tatayah, Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles Andry Ralamboson Andriamanga, Alliance Voahary Gasy Idaroussi Hamadi, CNDD- Comores Luc Gigord - Conservatoire botanique du Mascarin, Réunion Claude-Anne Gauthier, Muséum National d‘Histoire Naturelle, Paris Jean-Paul Gaudechoux, Commission de l‘Océan Indien Drafted by the Ecosystem Profiling Team: Pierre Carret (CEPF) Harison Rabarison, Nirhy Rabibisoa, Setra Andriamanaitra,
    [Show full text]
  • Madagascar: the 8Th Continent with Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Nov
    Madagascar: The 8th Continent With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, 2018 866.900.1146 800.426.7781 520.558.1146 [email protected] www.naturalistjourneys.com or find us on Facebook at Naturalist Journeys, LLC Naturalist Journeys, LLC / Caligo Ventures PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 / 800.426.7781 Fax 650.471.7667 naturalistjourneys.com / caligo.com [email protected] / [email protected] Madagascar: The 8th Continent With Naturalist Journeys & Caligo Ventures Isolated from any continental landmass since the Cretaceous period, Madagascar has drifted through the Indian Ocean, following its own evolutionary course, having only five major terrestrial animal colonization events since the time of the dinosaurs. The result is an island where every land mammal is endemic, as are nearly half the bird species. Reptiles are well represented as well, like chameleons, and day and leaf-tailed geckos. The uniqueness of this island’s fauna makes it one of the world’s great destinations for the birdwatcher and naturalist, alike. Our tour features both birds and mammals. We focus on Madagascar’s most iconic and charismatic bird species (we hope to see over 95% of the endemics), as well as the Island's other oddities, like endearing lemurs and strikingly bizarre chameleons. We also focus on the Island’s geology and geography with resulting various habitats ― from the spiny forests of Ifaty with its towering baobabs and other-worldly Didierea octopus trees, to the verdant rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia
    [Show full text]
  • Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus Frenatus)
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal NeoBiota 27: 69–79On (2015) the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko 69 doi: 10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 RESEARCH ARTICLE NeoBiota http://neobiota.pensoft.net Advancing research on alien species and biological invasions On the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko (Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus frenatus) Omar Torres-Carvajal1 1 Museo de Zoología, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Apartado 17-01-2184, Quito, Ecuador Corresponding author: Omar Torres-Carvajal ([email protected]) Academic editor: Sven Bacher | Received 11 June 2015 | Accepted 27 August 2015 | Published 15 September 2015 Citation: Torres-Carvajal O (2015) On the origin of South American populations of the common house gecko (Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus frenatus). NeoBiota 27: 69–79. doi: 10.3897/neobiota.27.5437 Abstract Hemidactylus frenatus is an Asian gecko species that has invaded many tropical regions to become one of the most widespread lizards worldwide. This species has dispersed across the Pacific Ocean to reach Ha- waii and subsequently Mexico and other Central American countries. More recently, it has been reported from northwestern South America. Using 12S and cytb mitochondrial DNA sequences I found that South American and Galápagos haplotypes are identical to those from Hawaii and Papua New Guinea, suggest- ing a common Melanesian origin for both Hawaii and South America. Literature records suggest that H. frenatus arrived in Colombia around the mid-‘90s, dispersed south into Ecuador in less than five years, and arrived in the Galápagos about one decade later.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Victoria Department of Biology INCREASES IN
    University of Victoria Department of Biology INCREASES IN CHARCOAL PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SUSTAINABLE CHARCOAL SUPPLY CHAIN TO THE CITY OF TOLIARA IN SOUTHWESTERN MADAGASCAR WORK TERM REPORT In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Biology Co-op Program Winter 2010 Work Term 1 By Julie Bremner WWF Explore International Youth Volunteer Performed at : WWF Madagascar and West Indian Ocean Programme Office Ankilimalinika, Madagascar Job Supervisor : Rina Andrianarivony Fuel wood Project Officer 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT 2 INTRODUCTION 3 DISCUSSION 8 CONCLUSION 16 WORKS CITED 18 MAPS 20 2 ABSTRACT The Spiny Forest Ecoregion of Southwestern Madagascar is a zone of tremendous biodiversity and endemism. It is of key importance to the subsistence lives of villagers in the region and the urban population of Toliara that increasingly depends on forest fuel wood resources for their daily energy needs. Prolonged drought conditions in the area have led to increasing demands on the forest while villagers switch from farming to charcoal production as a means of earning a living. Urban population growth and resultant fuel wood demand increase has further exacerbated the deforestation of the spiny forest, which is currently exhibiting the highest rate of deforestation in Madagascar. WWF has stepped in to attempt to mitigate future forest loss through the establishment of the Synergy Energy Environment in the South West (SEESO) project. SEESO has as its goal the establishment of a sustainable fuel wood supply chain to the city of Toliara originating from the Atsimo-Andrefana region. The project is encouraging the adoption of a more efficient charcoal production technique, the plantation of trees for future charcoal production and the implementation of a system of regulations and governing bodies that will ensure the prolonged sustainability of the region’s forest resources.
    [Show full text]