Buenaventura Reserve. See a larger image. (Use your back button to return here.)

Buenaventura Reserve

Target size: 4,000 ha (9,900 acres)
Current size, May 2008: about 1,600 ha (4,000 acres)

The Buenaventura Reserve is where the threatened El Oro Parakeet was discovered in 1980, and is well known as probably the richest ornithological site in south west Ecuador. This is a rare remnant tropical cloud forest at about 1000m altitude on the west slope of the Andes with a rich flora. A simple lodge was completed within the reserve in early 2004. (See a virtual tour of the lodge here.)

Hummingbird feeders by the public road are a popular attraction for local people - and now you too can see the birds, from the comfort of your home: WLT has installed a webcam in the reserve. (Read more about the Webcam in the Forest project below.)

Wildlife at Buenaventura

El Oro Parakeets. The Birds are being fitted with radio transmitters as part of a research programme aimed at creating a conservation strategy for this important species, which is almost unknown outside of Buenaventura. Photo: © Martin Schaefer/Veronica Schmidt

The reserve is home to Puma, Ocelot, Howler Monkey and Sloths and the following globally threatened bird species:

• Rufous-headed Chachalaca
• Grey-backed Hawk
• Ochre-bellied Dove
• El Oro Parakeet
• Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl
• Little Woodstar
• Rufous-necked Foliage-Gleaner
• El Oro Tapaculo
• Pacific Royal Flycatcher
• Grey-breasted Flycatcher
• Ochraceous Attila
• Long-wattled Umbrellabird (click for video clip © Yanayacu Biological Station hosted by the Internet Bird Collection - IBC)

The reserve is also home to over 30 near threatened and restricted range (endemic) species of birds. As well as this exceptional avifauna, the reserve is also an important site for endemic and threatened plants. Examples of plants found at Buenaventura include species of the following orchids:

Sobralia sp. There are 30 Sobralia species in Ecuador of which 14 are endemic.

• Habenaria
• Sobralia
• Oncidium
• Dracula
• Macroclinium
• Brassia

Puro Webcam - Webcam in the Forest

In an ambitious new initiative WLT has installed a webcam in the Buenaventura Reserve. The Puro webcam is situated in a prime position to film the incredible variety of birds that come to the feeders in the reserve. The webcam is featured on WLT's sister site, www.wildlifefocus.org, where you can also take a virtual tour of the Buenaventura Reserve and listen to a podcast about the webcam project.

Fundación Jocotoco reserves:

| Buenaventura | Jorupe | Narupa | Río Canandé | Tapichalaca | Utuana | Yanacocha | Yunguilla |

« Back to Jocotoco Reserves page

More Information on the Tropical Forest Project

To learn more about the Ecuador project visit the main project page: Help Save the Rainforests.