ENSIFERA CAMP The first Ecotourism Forest Conservation Tourism at the Sacred Valley of the Incas YANAHUARA-URUBAMBA

Cesar Cusihuaman at his birding spot

In this year of the COVID pandemic, I haven’t been able to post or write any of my adventures for the obvious reasons that the pandemic has made changes for everyone. Now that I understand and thought of how to properly deal with this new life, I’ve decided to start posting some of my recent short excursions and old tours within South America with good friends, clients and travelers from all over the world.

The first one that comes to mind is a promise I made to my good friend, Australian mate Ian Fraser.  Ian and I have travelled for over thirteen years in South America. I recall that after I met him, I promised to show him an amazing hummingbird that he wanted to see In South America.  It happens in my country, Peru, as well in another neighbour countries like Ecuador; after many attempts I couldn’t find a good birding spot where I could show it to him and guarantee a photo of it.  After some years exploring Southern Peru with no luck, we decided to see new regions of the country.  Finally, he and his clients (friends) were able to see and photograph it at the Southern Ecuador Yanachocha Reserve Jocotoco project.

We’ve been traveling together for many years and have seen and visited some interesting Ecotourism Projects within South America, some of them with amazing wildlife and great stories behind them.  This time, I want to tell you a short story about my hometown and one of the last-day excursions from Cusco to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas

One hour-and-half away from the city of Cusco, a local highlander, a quiet young fellow, has earned a place in birding and created a fantastic location to see magnificent birds, including my promised-one to Ian Fraser—the fantastic Sword-Billed hummingbird.

Three years ago, Cesar Cusihuaman and his family, all of them highlander farmers, decided to create a Private Reserve to protect their county and small town at Yanahuara (nearby Urubamba city).  Cesar and his family contributed, in their small way, to protecting from the incremental loss of Native forest. Today, they are regarded as pioneers of the first Ecotourism Forest Conservation Tourism at the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Right now, their place is better known as ENSIFERA CAMP. It is open to public after two years of hard work–reforesting, planting, building, creating a perfect environment for several number of special birds, endemics that can be seen just in Peru, including the amazing birds I promised Ian Fraser a long time ago.

Sword-billed Hummingbird
This ridiculous hummingbird has the longest bill in relation to its body size of any bird in the world. In addition to the striking bill, look for the overall muted green body color with a bronzy head

Both of this Hummingbirds (Sunbeams) Inhabits high elevation, semi-arid montane ridges and cloud forests. White tufted Sunbeam (on the left) is Large, darker inhabits a restricted range in the high Peruvian Andes. has a beautiful bold white tuft on the breast. Compared to the similar Shining Sunbeam (on the right), has a darker brown head and body and a much brighter white chest patch. 

Cesar’s previous experience in conservation gave him great ideas on how to start his own camp. After working many years in the Manu road and ecolodges, he finally achieved a creation of the perfect environment for many birds that can be easily seen in his property. He is also feeding the birds with worms; he’ll shortly be able to show you some Antpittas, that after many months of persistence are finally feeding from his hands.

 

  Rufous Collared Sparrow & Eared Doves
(both of them common and widespread in the western lowlands, west and east slopes of the Andes and inter-Andean valleys, mostly all over South America)

 

Golden Billed Saltator (widespread in much of southern South America)

3 hummers in this Photo. Tyrian Metaltail (top left) Black-tailed Trainbearer
White bellied Hummingbird (middle right)

Sparkling Violet-ear Hummingbird.
Large aggressive hummingbird that usually dominates feeders or flower patches, Common and widespread in the Andes.

The most remarkable thing about Cesar is his persistence.  Even in the face of indifference, scorn or outright opposition from family and neighbors he carried on with his dream. We should treasure them and be very glad for their change of fortune.

Chesnut-Breasted Mountain Finch (endemic to Peru)
Medium-sized sparrow-like bird of rocky mountain scrub habitats.

White-bellied Woodstart
Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like large bumblebees. Females in particular can be difficult to distinguish from other woodstars; look for their brighter and better-defined white belly patch and larger white patches on the sides of the lower back.

Giant hummingbird Largest hummingbird in the world, with its size compensating for rather drab plumage; no similar species. 

Click in the image to see a short video

If you're in Cusco, heading to Machu Picchu–which is entirely possible–there are several reasons to stop by Cesar’s Bird Ecotourism project in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, not the least of which is to do yourself the favor of this experience. But, more so, by supporting and helping people like Cesar and what he stands for is probably even more important.

Here some more photos of Ensifera Camp:

Peruvian Sierra - Finch

Tumbo - Passiflora mollisima

Waqanki - Masdevallia Veitchiana

Tyrian Metaltail Small hummingbird with short, straight bill

White bellied hummingbird

Black-tailed Trainbearer

Cesar Cusihuaman
Email : sincesar1487@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Ensiferacamp
Mobile number & WhatsApp 0051 974897869