Bit of a delve back into the South America archives and Jocotoco Antpitta from last January. These birds (there's two different individuals in these pictures) were at a feeding station in the newish Jocotoco Foundation Tapichalaca Reserve, performing extremely well one wet morning for their admirers.
You have been warned!
When we arrived at the feeding station there was already a Chestnut-naped Antpitta bounding around on the path and after a good look at that one we made our way into position as the worms were put down on the trail. You can just see the first Jocotoco over his shoulder waiting patiently in the photograph above.
After a short while a couple of Jocotocos were in full view, happily feeding around us and posing for the photographers. Jocotoco was only discovered in Southern Ecuador in the late 90's indicating the species' restricted range (Ecuador had been extensively explored ornithologically). It has a distinctive song and has recently been discovered in extreme Northern Peru.
Antpitta baiting is not an exercise for the purist I guess. However training these individuals to approach the feeding station otherwise unmolested produces much needed revenue for the foundation and means that the rest of the local population can go about its business without visiting birding groups using playback.
Jocotoco Antpitta at Tapichalaca, Ecuador February 2009.
Who needs binoculars?
SHUT UP!
Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Tapichalaca February 2009.
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