Argentina Bird Tour:

You will be dancing the birder’s tango after you tour Argentina, the eighth largest country in the world. An established park system and dedicated staff maintain large protected areas over almost 3500 km, from the painted deserts of the northern Andes, to the misty lenga forests of Tierra del Fuego. This vast distance contains a staggering variety of habitats yielding 983 bird species with 16 species found only in Argentina. From Parrots to Penguins, explore one of the friendliest countries in South America.

What to expect:

In Iguazu Falls while we wait for sunrise in the paranense forest, the Surucua Trogon whistles softly, and the Solitary Tinamou mournfully calls from dense woods. The most dominant sound comes from far away, a distant constant rumbling strangely unlike anything you have ever heard before. It takes some time to realize that you are listening to a waterfall ten times the size of Niagara Falls, located kilometers away. Now the light slips in, the forest comes alive with bird song drowning out the water sound. White-shouldered Fireyes, Tufted Antshrikes call from down low, the trees above are filled with singing Black-goggled, Ruby-crowned and Chesnut-headed Tanagers, Conebills, Greenlets, and Woodcreepers. Robust and Linneated Woodpeckers hammer from up high, and Brown Capuchin Monkeys swing through nearby trees. A Red-ruffed Fruitcrow flaps low below the canopy, and disappears after briefly inspecting us.

Floating silently in a dugout canoe in the Estero Ibera, the endless grass and water is broken by palm “montes”, in the second largest wetland in South America. In the marsh around us Yellow-breasted Crake call and Stripe-backed Bitterns dart away. Flocks of Muscovy and Brazilian Ducks, White-faced Tree Ducks, Yellow-billed Pintail, Spectacled and Silver Teal, Red Shoveler and Rosy-billed Pochard fill the sky with rushing wings. Long stringy V’s of Ibis and Maguari Stork pass slowly over. On floating mats of vegetation Southern Screamers perch until the last minute then explode with lumbering wings their racous calls mixed with the roar of Howler Monkeys in the palm islands. In the nearby grasslands the Greater Rhea strikes a tall profile and Strange-tailed Tyrant wavers from plant tops.

Sparkling like thousands of shimmering pink jewels, the Flamingos cover the vast Lago Pozuelos in front of us. Huge Andean Geese and flocks of Puna Teal and Crested Ducks line the bays, and thousands of White-rumped Sandpipers and Wilson’s Phalaropes mix with little Puna Plovers on the mudflats. Mountain Caracaras perch on low bushes and the tinkling sound of the pretty Puna Yellowfinch fills the thin high altitude air. Rocky scree slopes host Grey-breasted Seedsnipes and Puna Tinamou, while flocks of Golden-spotted Doves burst from cover.

Argentina has almost 1000 species of birds and our tour of the northern regions will cover the hottest bird spots from the steamy Iguazu to the desert canyons of the Andes. Join us at Just Birding and treat yourself to a very special tour with tour leader George Bradd and assisting local Argentine guides.

Above photos by
Noberto Bolzon, Buenos Aires Argentina.
Below photos by Emmanuel Franc, Buenos Aires.

Winter Tour Details

Our tour of Northern Argentina will start in Buenos Aires where we visit Costenera del Sur a reserve on the banks of the huge Rio de la Plata. Then we fly to Iguazu National Park on the border of Brazil. Hard to find species are targeted at every stop on the tour. Here we look for specialties like the San Paolo Tyrannulet and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. A splendid variety of jeweled hummingbirds await us including: Planalto Hermit, Scale-throated Hermit, Black Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Glittering-bellied Emerald,Violet-capped Woodnymph, and Blue-tufted Starthroat.

Next we go to Ibera marshes, the second largest wetland in South America looking for the hard to find Stripe-backed Bittern, Strange-tailed Tyrant and the striking Yellow Cardinal.

Starting in Salta in the Andes we travel north and up in elevation all the way up to Lago Pozuelos, a RAMSAR site on the border of Bolivia. In Calilegua National Park we find the Golden-collared Macaw in the high forests above the surrounding sugar cane fields and the loud call of the Collared Forest Falcon echoes at dawn. In Yala National Park we look for the shy Torrent Duck and the rare Rufous-throated Dipper and the Lyre-tailed Nightjar. The Red-tailed Comet hummingbird, Slender-tailed Woodstars and White-bellied Hummingbirds whir from fragrant flowers.

In the high desert canyons of Humahuaca we search for the elusive Sandy Gallito and the White-tipped Plantcutter. Aplomado Falcons, Variable and Bicoloured Hawks soar above the ridges. At Lago Pozuelos up in the treeless puna and rocky canyons live the Puna Tinamou, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, Golden-spotted Doves and the soaring Andean Condor. The endangered Vicuna graze in the grasslands and thousands of ducks, geese, shorebirds and flamingos cover the lake and mudflats. The local Argentina guides are top notch, some of the best in their areas.

Bus is the only public transportation to some of the best birding locations. Upon arrival at our destinations we will travel by foot and in buses, taxis, and local bird guides' vans.

Food

People in Argentina don't eat breakfast and normal dinnertime is 9 or 10 p.m. until midnight. Consequently most of the time we will prepare or purchase breakfast food the night before. Sometimes we will cook our own breakfast; often we take our food with us and eat during our walk. Lunches will be eaten in the field; dinners will be eaten in restaurants.

People love to eat meat in Argentina. A parrilla will offer a variety of different kinds of meat. Expect your steak to be so big you are embarrassed to not be able to eat more than half. Vegetarian dishes will be hard to find in restaurants. Fresh fruit and vegetables are readily available. Local dishes such as locro and empanadas are meat based and delicious. The Italian influence is obvious with menus offering pizza (some vegetarian), lasagna and ravioli. Fish are not widely available although river fish are served in Missiones province and trout and venison is eaten in Patagonia.

Itinerary and prices

All of our South American tours are custom tours and do not follow a
standard fixed itinerary. Consequently prices will vary according to
the number of days you want and what birds/and or ruins you might want
to see or visit. We will also vary the standard of accomodations that
you might want according to your budget. One that will not change is
our committment to security and your safety which is paramount in both
Canada and foreign countries. Consequently some things will not be
possible because they are too dangerous. For example the Tingo Maria
area in Peru has traditionally been a dangerous area for reasons of
terrorism and as of this date (May 2007) is a no-go area.
Just as we reserve the right to cancel Pelagic tours in Canada due to high
seas, we refuse to operate in particular areas in South America.

Figure out which birds you want to see, give us an idea of your
comfortability level (are you an outdoor camper or do you prefer rooms and
hot showers?) and your budget, and we will work from there.

Terms and Conditions of Tour for Argentina

A deposit of $400 US per person is due with registration and will hold your space. 50% of balance payable 90 days before departure and final 60 days before departure. Payment in full when booking less than 60 days before departure. Please pay in check to Just Birding.
$200 of deposit will be nonrefundable, but may be used for another tour within one calendar year. $200 of deposit refundable as follows: In full with cancellation IN WRITING 90 days prior to departure; 50% refund with cancellation IN WRITING 45 days prior to departure. No refund is available less than 45 days prior to departure.

What you will need:

Clothing: The climate will be everything from warm and humid to cold and dry. In the high Andes the wind can be strong. We will pass through many distinctly different climates from the Pampas to the Andes.

Raingear: Bring light raingear with zippers on underarm and sides of rainpants. A raincoat with a hood with drawstring is good.

Footwear: A good sturdy pair of hiking boots will serve best. Trails are not wet enough to need gum boots like some other tours. Bring two pairs of socks, one wool and one cotton, use those new non-slip fabrics to reduce friction.

Pants: I find the "river pants" sold at MEC to be perfect for my outer pants. They are a light fast drying durable pant that is dense enough to be mosquito proof. I also bring a pair of pile pants to go under my outer pants for extra warmth on cold non-windy mornings. Then in the Andes I also wear another pair of pile pants on top with a windproof outer shell.

Hats: A baseball hat with brim or jungle type hat is good. Dark coloured hats are better, green, blue, grey, brown.

Pile Jacket:
These are good for layering with other clothes for warmth and insulation. A pile jacket with high collar is good. I bring one normal fleece for inner layer, then a second one with polar fleece inside and windproof layer on the outside. A new synthetic called PRIMALOFT is both light and warm.

Sunglasses: Make sure glasses have 100% UV and 100% IR protection. A neck strap for easy removal is handy.

Luggage: A good frameless backpack for large luggage and a small light daypack for carrying camera, binoculars, passport, lunch, water bottle. Separate items and organize and pack in dry bags that are used for white-water rafting and kayaking.

Vaccinations: You need Yellow Fever, Typhoid vaccination, Hepatitis A & B and your tetnus shot must be up to date. Check with your local health authority to see what they recommend.

Money: The official currency in Argentina is the peso. One American dollar is worth 3 pesos. Argentine people are suspicious of American cash and won't change it. Funds are best carried in pesos. One handy thing about Argentina is that the ATM machines in larger urban area allow withdrawals on your home account. So you don't have to carry a lot of money, you just get it as you need it.

Passport/Visa: You will get a visa for Argentina when you land at the airport. You must carry a passport with you at all time as sometimes the army will stop and check passports.

Language: Argentina is Spanish speaking. Many European settlers came here in earlier years and many people are of Italian and German descent. English is not widely used.

Binoculars/Field Guide
Bring your favourite binoculars and lens cleaning solution and cloth.
Two books are available, you make your choice.
Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica by Martin R. de la Pena and Maurice Rumboll. Birds of Argentina and Uruguay by Tito Narosky and Dario Yzurieta. In addition I would highly recommend the small annotated checklist called Lista de las Aves Argentinas/Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Argentina by Juan Mazar Barnett and Mark Pearman.

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