|
|
Birding tours in
Dominican Republic.
The major interest of birding trips to the West
Indies resides in the endemic species, but we sure
will not overlook, at least during the migration seasons,
the important number of migrants passing through or
wintering.
The Dominican Republic (48440 km2) occupies the eastern
two-thirds of the Island of Hispaniola (Haiti is the
western third). This island is the highest of the
Caribbean islands (Pico Duarte 3175 m). Most of the
country is mountainous, supporting deciduous, semi-evergreen
forest, mountain rain forest and pine forest.
The South-Western region (Sierra de Baoruco) combines
these habitats with a semi-desert zone of thorny scrubs,
cactus scrubs along with a beautiful coast, lagoons,
lakes and cliffs.
This area will be the region of interest of our birdwatching
trip. Indeed, the 28 endemics of the island have been
recorded here as well as numerous Caribbean specialities.
(near to 250 bird species total).
The sites to visit during our birdwatching tour are: |
|
SIERRA DE BAORUCO VIA DUVERGE. |
| |
|
DUVERGE - PUERTO ESCONDIDO |
Thorn scrubs and woods, cactus. |
|
Specialities :
+ Burrowing
Owl, Least Poorwill, Flat-billed Vireo, Hispaniolan
Palm-Crow...
|
|
PUERTO ESCONDIDO - EL AGUACATE
|
Thorn woods, more humid foothill forest. |
|
Specialities :
+
Narrow-billed Tody, Hispaniolan Parrot, Bay-breasted
Cuckoo...
|
|
EL AGUACATE - ZAPOTEN |
Altitude forest, pine forests. |
|
Specialities :
+
La Selle Thrush, White-winged Warbler, Hispaniolan Trogon...
|
SIERRA DE BAORUCO
VIA PEDERNALES. |
Climbing on this side of the Sierra will drive us
through progressively dry to humid and pine forests. |
|
Specialities :
+ Golden Swallow, Hispaniolan Parakeet, Two-barred
Crossbill...
|
|
CABO ROJO |
Cliffs. |
|
Specialities :
+ White-tailed
Tropicbirds...
|
|
JARAGUA NATIONAL PARK |
This area of arid thorn wood and dwarf dry forest. |
| |
Specialities :
+
Green-tailed Ground-Warbler, White-crowned Pigeon...
|
|
LAGUNA OVIEDO,
LAGUNA DE RINCON AND LAGO ENRIQUILLO. |
-Specialities :
+ West-Indian
Whistling Duck, White-necked Crow, Greater Flamingo... |
| EBANO VERDE |
+ Endemic Eastern Palm Tanager
|
8
DAYS BIRDING TOUR
As
mentioned earlier, all the above sites are located in the
same part of the country, thus a 8 days trip is ideal to
see a good number of species including most of the endemics.
A
15 days tour combines the Dominican Republic and Puerto
Rico.
| Less focused tours can be planned
for groups or individuals who wish to concentrate
on the cultural or other wildlife aspect
of the country (although in no way are these
ignored on our standard bird watching
trips). |
[ Please
contact us for details]
GUIDES |
+
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES
By Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley , Orlando Garrido,
Allan Keith ans Janis Raffaele (Princeton). |
+
THE BIRDS OF HISPANIOLA.
By Allan R.Keith, J.W. WILEY. (B.O.U). |
| |
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
| |
+
No
visa required. Valid passport.
+
No compulsory vaccinations. No necessary prophylaxis.
+
Infrastructure:
Good driving conditions. Satisfactory accommodation.
+
Language:
Spanish.
+
Local
time: GMT-4
+
Electricity:
110 volts. American sockets.
+
Currency:
Dominican peso. US$ accepted.
+
Climate:
Tropical, Dry season: December to April.
+ Do
not forget to pack: binoculars !, mosquito repellent,
sweat-shirt, rain gear. |
|
All lodging is provided in hotels or comfortable
lodges, near to or on-site.
The tour prices include lodging in double
rooms (a supplement if 15% is charged for single room accommodation),
all meals, transportation within the country, guide and
entrance fees for the national parks. These prices do not
include: international flight(except between Puerto Rico
and the Dominican Republic for the combined trip), alcoholic
drinks, personal spending, airport departure tax, tips and
travel insurance (repatriation, luggage loss and flight
cancellation).
|
|
|
![Copyright © de A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE WEST INDIES ..::[ BROAD-BILLED TODY ]::..](../Default/Todier_A_bec.gif)
