" This book covers one of the largest and most complex avifaunas
in the world and makes finding almost any species recorded from
Peru possible. It is clear and concise, and should serve as a
model for future bird finding books. Anyone interested in birds,
whether an avid field person or just an armchair birder, will
want to have it! "
Dr. John P. O'Neill, Staff Research Associate, LSU Museum of Natural
Science, Baton Rouge, Louisisna, USA
" This is a great book. I'm very impressed with it: the
wealth of detail, the easy to interpret maps, the terrific illustrations,
all in all it is a very "slick" piece of work. Very
well done. "
Dr. Thomas S. Schulenberg, Environmental and Conservation Programs,
Field Museum of Natural History
" This amazing book ... is just crammed with useful, and
accurate, information on where to see virtually every one of the
huge number of birds that call Peru home. Nicely written and meticulously
researched, it's sure to enhance Peru's reputation as one of the
premier birding destinations in the world. Now we need something
like it for Ecuador! "
Dr. Robert S. Ridgely, Director of International Bird Conservation
- Audubon, Autor of several Book: Birds of Ecuador, The Birds
of Southamerica (I, II), etc.
" Peru is one of the worlds premier birding destinations
and has the second highest diversity of birds on earth. This bird
finding guide by Thomas Valqui is a milestone in Peruvian birding
literature. Nine years in preparation, Thomas Valqui visited all
but a handful of the birding localities in this book, painstakingly
gathering information on vegetation types, kilometre readings,
local transport and access options and sketching very useful maps.
Most intelligently using information provided by colleagues and
other birders in Peru he compiled what can only be described as
a complete inventory of all presently known birding localities
within the country. The book is user friendly and divided up into
geographical regions.
A short list of special and sought after
birds and help on how to access the site using public transport,
where available,
is given, plus detailed directions with sketch maps on how to
get there. The books overall appeal is accentuated with colour
photos of habits by Walter Wust and charming pen and ink bird
sketches by Dan Lane. Valqui takes great pains not only to provide
a complete site guide but to also provide additional useful information
in the introductory chapters on suggested reading and references,
climate, travellers tips, bio -geographic bird regions, and a
very good section on the habitats found in Peru complemented by
Wust’s photos. Valqui also takes pains to warn the reader
of the potential hazards of travelling in Peru’s remote
interior and provides information on tour agencies and lodges
specialized in catering for travelling birders for those who prefer
to set their trip up in advance. Principally, the book is aimed
at birders travelling alone in Peru, either by public transport
or with a hire car, yet I used it the other day and that’s
after 20+ years birding far flung corners of Peru.
In short a
bird finding masterpiece, marred only by printing errors on some
of the sketch maps where numeric symbols appear to
have been omitted on some maps. A complete list of Peruvian birds
is provided at the back of the book. A must for anyone visiting
Peru. "
In: South American Explorer Vol. 77, Fall 2004/Winter
2005 Issue, and
"Birding World" by
Barry Walker
Manu Expeditions
bwalker@amauta.rcp.net.pe
" ... Just back from Iquitos. Can't tell you how much I enjoyed
your book. It was a tremendous help. I think that coupled with a
good field guide your bird-finding guide really becomes an invaluable
tool to anyone visiting Peru. We found every one of the endemics
in the Iquitos area (except for Mishana Tyrannulet) with the help
of your book. I can tell you that we would definitely not have seen
ANY of the endemics without the help of your fabulous bird-finding
guide. "
Dr. James Clements, Ibis Publishing Company, Author of Birds of
Peru, Birds of the World: A checklist, and others
" It is great to finally have Thomas's book in hands! As I
have birded quite a bit in Peru myself, I can judge the quality
of the treatments for several sites, and I certainly find very little
to criticise or to add. One finds all information necessary to find
the birds. One thing to add in a future edition (or to put on the
website) might be a list of sought-after species (endemics, some
other rare or spectacular species) with tips on where and how to
find them. This would save much time from looking up the species
throughout the text. I only wish I had all this information in hand
when I visited some of these sites. Quite likely, I would have several
additional bird species,under the belt. As it is, I certainly must
return to Peru with Thomas's guide in hand to fill some most annoying
gaps in my bird list. "
Dr. Michael Kessler, A-v-H Institut, Abteilung Systematische Botanik,
Universität Göttingen, Germany
" Thomas Valqui, Peru’s preeminent native-born ornithologist,
has produced a stunning bird-finding guide! It sets a new standard,
eclipsing any such work, to date, for any country in South America.
The author’s many years in the field, coupled with his remarkable
attention to detail, have elevated this book far beyond the sum
of every trip and expedition report for Peru combined. It is no
wonder that it took nine years to write!
Beautiful Peru has long been an enigma to bird watchers
not on organized tours, and none of these tours have ever managed
visits to many of the one-hundred-and-fifty sites covered. This
landscape is now significantly altered. For the first time ever,
great information is available for both the novicelooking for birds
around Cuzco, and the die-hard masochist intent on a three-week
expedition attempting to see one of the more remote taxa, although
information about a possible stay in hospital afterward will have
to be found elsewhere.
The plan of the book is simple and clear, the color photographs
of habitats a wonderful touch, the index indispensable. The problem
of seemingly weekly changes in Peruvian taxonomy has been handled
with numerous references to subspecies of note. Another problem
is that out-of-date guides are the norm in the neotropics - new
places are always being discovered and known ones often change,
sometimes quickly.
This will be addressed by updates on a web site mentioned
in the introduction. To my knowledge, this is a first. Finally,
the inclusion of unnamed new species should get any bird-watcher’s
attention!
This work is an obvious labor of love done in a gently humorous
style. Whether you want to stay home and dream about Peruvian birds
instead of watching TV or get in there and whack away, it is an
absolute must. "
Mark Sokol (sokol@sonic.net), Sebastpol, California, USA
" ... You must get hold of Where to Watch Birds in Peru by
Thomas Valqui. It came out a couple of months ago and I got mine
yesterday - it is absolutely amazing. All the logistics are covered
for travel & budget birding. Check out this website for further
details on how to get the book and for regularly updated corrections
and further sites... "
Tom Mckinney in Birdforum, www.birdforum.net , 19 Sept 2004
" Just want to include my congratulations to Thomas on this
achievement. The book is out-standing. Packed with information where
to see many special birds - totally in an expedition birding spirit
- and if it wasn't because Peru still is somewhat complicated if
one does not speak Spanish, I would have to take up another occupation.
But on the contrary I think this book will stimulate people to come
to Peru - both independent travellers and those that seek help of
a professional bird-guide. And more people coming to Peru is what
is needed to spread some eco-dollars into the most conservation
worthy areas of Peru. Buy this book - it is a goldmine for everyone
- bird guide, group traveller or independent do-it- ourself birders.
The Spanish proverb of something very valuable and worthwhile applies
here - Vale un Peru! "
Gunnar Engblom, Kolibri Expeditions, www.kolibriexpeditions.com
, In: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Birdingperu/ 12 Nov 2004
" Mike Andersen, Dan Lebbin, Tim Perkins, and I were in the
Huancabamba-Tabaconas-Chinguela region just over a week ago, using
mainly Thomas' new book as our guide. After a rugged 3 1/2 week
trip around the"Northwest" and "Maranon" regions
described in the book, I have nothing but good things to say about
the book. A couple areas needed a little time to find the proper
locations for birds, but this is more because the sites have changed
rather than the directions not being explicite...... "
Pete Hosner In: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Birdingperu/ 22
Dic 2004
