Abundant and easily seen mammals and reptiles, as well as an avifauna nearly twice the number of birds as found in the United States—nearly 1400 species!—have created a network of lodges and accommodations designed for eco-tourist groups like ours. Henri Pittier National Park, only two hours from Caracas, is our initial destination. We will have three days here to explore one of the world’s great cloud forests. Of special interest are Pittier’s endemic Blood-eared Parakeet, Groove-billed Toucanet, and Handsome Fruiteater. Along the mile-high Choroní Road in the park we’ll watch for a host of hummingbirds, as well as dazzling tanager flocks that may contain a dozen species, including such beauties as Golden, Bay-headed, Beryl-spangled, Fawn-breasted, Silver-beaked, and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager. At the old Rancho Grande Station itself we may encounter White-tipped Quetzal, which is confined to these northern cordilleras. In Bolivar state our comfortable lodge at Las Claritas is situated midway between the vast Guianan rain forests and the soaring blue plateau mountains called tepuis that have long intrigued scientist and poet alike. W. H. Hudson’s famous novel, Green Mansions, is set in the magical forests that rise out of the rolling grasslands of the Gran Sabana. The names of the birds in this little visited region reflect the special charm of the place: Peacock Coquette, Velvet-browed Brilliant, and Crimson Topaz among the hummingbirds, Rose-collared Piha, Scarlet-horned Manakin, both White and Bearded Bellbirds, and the Pompadour Cotinga among the hundreds of others of special interest. And of course we’ll make a special effort to see the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock. After meeting in Caracas, this tour features just two accommodations, which will facilitate our nature studies in this fascinating area.

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