Barranca Rancho Liebre is situated below the Mesa de los Alisos. If this place didn't have the jays it would still be worth visiting. The scenery is simply breathtaking with high cliffs and layers of suberb pine-oak forest below. We had to walk a little way down into the Barranca before we came across our first Tufted Jays. We got great 'scope views, looking down on the flock but they passed by a bit quicly. Luckily we came across about 10 more on our way back to the Durango Highway. These were much closer.There are several flocks of "Tufties" in the area. Apparently only one pair from each flock (comprising of 4 - 16 birds) breeds each season. The other members of the group act as "helpers", bringing food to the incubating bird.
The cabins at the Tufted Jay Preserve have showers with hot water, flushing toilets and are quite comfortable. At the moment there's no electricity but it's planned to install that soon. Some of the local Palmito residents prepared our food (delicious) and Santos was our guide to help us locate the Jays. There are plans to extend the accommodations for bigger groups and the continued involvement of the local communities in this way can only help protect this area and the range-restricted Tufted Jay.
