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First Bi-Annual Honduras Birding For Conservation Tour Launches Expedition

To Uncover Rare And Exotic Species On A 10-Day Tour

• Worldwide Bird Experts Lead Conservation Tour -

Houston, TX April 21, 2016 – Nestled in the heart of Central America, Honduras will be the setting for an inaugural 10-day Honduras Birding for Conservation Tour from November 4 to 13, 2016.  Founded by James Adams, the Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito's resident naturalist, the event has five international and five Honduran birding authorities leading five teams of 10 avid bird watchers on a quest to uncover the most tropical species and win $30,000 prize money dedicated for bird conservation in Honduras.

Here are facts about our feathered friends in Central America.

• Honduras is home to more than 740 bird varieties such as the Scarlet Macaws, Keel-Billed Motmot, and Lovely Cotinga to name a few.

• There are approximately 71 million Americans who are bird watchers according to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Recreation.          

• Birding is growing in popularity in particular among those who are 50 years or older who have a propensity to travel for this activity.

“I created this event to inspire first-time and repeat bird lovers to uncover the natural beauty of Honduras and discover exotic treasures, some of them endangered, living in a tropical rain forest, pristine cloud forests and ancient Mayan ruins,” says Adams, one of the regions' leading experts.

Renowned Birding Authorities Lead The Itineraries

The birding expedition will be led by the following five illustrious international authorities – Tim Appelton (Britain), Richard Crossley (Britain), Jeff Gordon (USA), Adam Riley (South Africa) and Bill Thompson, III (USA).  These leaders will be accompanied by five respected Honduran guides – Alex Alvarado (Honduran Birds), Santos Calderon (Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito), Elmer Escoto (Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito), Esdras Lopes (Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito) and William Orellana (Beaks and Peaks Tours).

Birders will embark on a three part itinerary – The Mayan Ruins of Copan, The Western Highlands and Lake Yojoa and north coast rain forest around the Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito. The expedition will rotate around the three locations to uncover the rarest varieties of birds in the world.  

The winning team will allocate their prize money to one of the conservation projects listed below.

• E-Bird Program produces an elementary school curriculum focusing on birds such as the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, Resplendent Queztal, Lovely Cotinga and Three-Wattled BellBird.

• Fuente de Vida is designed to protect the natural environment for the Resplendent Quetzal to roam freely on private and public forests near the Santa Barbara Mountains.

• Harpy Eagle Program is committed to preserving the natural habitat for the Crested Eagle, Great Green Macaw, Harpy Eagle and Scarlet Macaw to roam freely near the South West edge of the Rio Platano Biosphere.

• Las Orquideas, a 20-year old forest reserve and organic farm, is dedicated to rare treasures such as the Honduran Emerald, Green-backed Sparrow, Arremonops Chloronotus Twomevi, Three-Wattled Bellbird, and Golden-Cheeked Warbler.

• Macaw Mountain is a rescue center for unwanted, wounded or confiscated Hondurans birds namely the Scarlet Macaw. This establishment rehabilitates, reproduces and re-introduces the endangered free-flying Scarlet Macaw into the Copan Valley near the ancient Mayan ruins.

The winning team receives $20,000 for birding conservation -- $10,000 for a Honduras project and $10,000 for an international project of the team's choice. First prize recipients also receive a $1,000 voucher from Rockjumper Tours (www.rockjumperbirding.com).

Here is information about additional awards allocated randomly to the contestants.

• Second prize winner receives $10,000 for a Honduras conservation project of their choice.

• Zeiss Conservation Prize provides $5,000 for another Honduras conservation project to the groups' choice, as well as binoculars for that project.

• Eagle Optical Conservation Prize allocates 10 binoculars to local Honduran guides based on essay contest sponsored by the Honduran Ornithological Society.

• Holbrook Travel Conservation Prize entails a three-night birding package for each team member to the Selva Verde Lodge in Costa Rica.

“I envision the birding tour will be an ongoing event designed to promote avi-tourism and the protection of Honduras' birds and their natural habitats.  Our international guides are great ambassadors to help elevate the profile of Honduras as a safe destination for bird lovers,” explains Adams.

The Honduras Birding for Conservation Tour is sponsored by The Honduras Government, The Lodge and Spa at Pico Bonito, Panacam, USAID, Canaturh Honduras, Honduras Birds, Institute Hondureño de Tourism, R4R Binoculars, Asociación Hondureña de Ornitologia, Leica Sport Optics, Birdfair, Rockjumper Worldwide Birding Adventures, Bird Watcher's Digest, Birding Adventures, Eagle Optics, American Birding Association.

For more information about the upcoming Honduras Birding for Conservation Tour including price, tour itinerary, birding authorities, please visit www.hondurasbirdingtour.com.

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