Last Chance to See (2023 edition) (2 Viewers)

[Maffong]

From those, I recently saw the Merganser and Ground-dove and reckon they are in fairly well-protected areas, so aren't close to exctinction. The Canes are still in the 1000s, the Eagle is fairly stabel and Orange-bellied Parrot is magically climbing out of an all-time low count (I thought 20-30) towards 70+.
Mangrove finch isn't reachable anyway, so whether it gets extinct or not, nobody can see it.

The populations of the Ground-dove is extremely tiny. A single predator that learns how to catch them could possibly wipe out the entire popultion that's known.
The Merganser population is tiny and fragmented, while chances are good that they won't go extinct, some kind of political crisis could very easily wipe the species out.
The Cranes might still be around 3000, but 98 % winter around the Three Gorges Dam, so are prone to any problem that occurs there or a virus.
Glad to hear the Parrot is making a recovery, last time I checked their future seemed very grim.
I seem to recall a fairly recent trip report where they managed to get Mangrove Finch from a boat.
Vampire Finch is apparently not on anyones itinerary judging by the extreme scarcity of ebird records.

Not sure what the BirdLife whining is supposed to mean, but it shouldn't be too difficult to understand that sometimes EVEN birders need to step aside. Not sure how that relates to Galapagos, where you can still find 99% of your targets, with Mangrove Finch and perhaps Vampire Finch being the only species that are not available.

 

[temmie]

Hi, I wasn't trying to be overly optimistic, but there is some difference in what I would consider 'last chance in 2023' and birds that I am pretty sure they will have chances in the few coming years. Ofcourse, it could be that e.g. BE Ground dove suddenly disappears, never to be refound (a bit like Jerdon's Courser). But it's not in the same league as e.g. Alagoas Antwren with 6 birds counted in a forest fragment that's too small for the bird to survive, or, even worse, Stresemann's Bristlefront, last seen in 2019 (I have met the observer and that will be the closest I ever get to that bird)...

What's the thing with the Birdlife whining?

 

[Mysticete]

The populations of the Ground-dove is extremely tiny. A single predator that learns how to catch them could possibly wipe out the entire popultion that's known.
The Merganser population is tiny and fragmented, while chances are good that they won't go extinct, some kind of political crisis could very easily wipe the species out.
The Cranes might still be around 3000, but 98 % winter around the Three Gorges Dam, so are prone to any problem that occurs there or a virus.
Glad to hear the Parrot is making a recovery, last time I checked their future seemed very grim.
I seem to recall a fairly recent trip report where they managed to get Mangrove Finch from a boat.
Vampire Finch is apparently not on anyones itinerary judging by the extreme scarcity of ebird records.

Not sure what the BirdLife whining is supposed to mean, but it shouldn't be too difficult to understand that sometimes EVEN birders need to step aside. Not sure how that relates to Galapagos, where you can still find 99% of your targets, with Mangrove Finch and perhaps Vampire Finch being the only species that are not available.

SACC split the Vampire Finch in 2017, so it's a recent enough split that folks probably haven't though about revising trip itineraries for it, especially given how many years of the pandemic occurred during that interval. Given time I am sure some company will find a way to include, especially for a bird called VAMPIRE FINCH.

 

[Tiraya]

I'd be surprised if one of the more expensive birding related cruises didn't target vampire finch. There were companies at least pre-pandemic that tried for ALL of the endemics, including Mangrove Finch.

Any examples? I haven't found one yet that didn't skip both vampire and mangrove.

 

[Mysticete]

Any examples? I haven't found one yet that didn't skip both vampire and mangrove.

I can't remember specifics, but like Maffong I remember reading a bird tour trip report with Mangrove Finch (This was awhile ago). When I initially posted, I forgot how recent a split Vampire Finch was, so it makes sense there was no prior attempts at it. But I still stand by the idea that someone is going to eventually add it to there itinerary.

 

[opisska]

This is quite an interesting read because it made me have a look at what can be seen at Galapagos and I was quite surprised how boring the offer is

 

[lgonz1008]

This is quite an interesting read because it made me have a look at what can be seen at Galapagos and I was quite surprised how boring the offer is

The Galapagos does have a couple dozen endemics/near-endemics to offer, not just bird wise but also other animal groups. But sadly, it's seen as a big tourist trap that makes everything far too expensive for what it offers, with the money you'd spend in a tour of the Galapagos, you could easily do an all inclusive trip through Brazil or New Guinea, both of which are destinations I'd choose over it.

But seeing "Darwin's Laboratory" is a big appeal of the islands, to the point that friends I have that don't know the difference between a pigeon and a pelican, want to visit it because they heard about it in school.

 

[Mysticete]

Yeah, its basically a pilgrimage site for many of us in Biology (Even though arguably Patagonia played an even larger role in the Origin of Species than the Galapagos Islands). It's on the list of places to visit but probably only in the far off future, when I am financially more secure.

 

[lgonz1008]

Yeah, its basically a pilgrimage site for many of us in Biology (Even though arguably Patagonia played an even larger role in the Origin of Species than the Galapagos Islands). It's on the list of places to visit but probably only in the far off future, when I am financially more secure.

Similar boat myself, and like you said, Patagonia is arguably a place with a larger role for Darwin (and for many international birders too).

 

[temmie]

I remember having a very hard time when I was in La Selva lodge, Ecuador.
Every night at dinner I talked to other visitors. Most of them were Americans, and invariably their Ecuador trip consisted of 2-4 days in La Selva to have a taste of the Amazon rainforest (and ofcourse all of them came in flying Quito-Coca), and 5-7 days on the Galapagos. They entirely skipped the E-Andes (or W-Andes for the same matter), and spent a ridiculous short amount of time doing rainforest excursions.

They all were surprised I spent so much time (5 days) in la Selva, and asked me if I would go to the Galapagos, and I could only say that I didn’t have the money and I had too many birds to see on the mainland…

 

[Tiraya]

Much of my interest in Galapagos is not only for birds, so the potential "yield" for me is higher than the weight of X # of endemic finches. Some really interesting plants, invertebrates, and the likes, that also contribute part of my life list. Having said that though, I probably won't go unless I can find a tour that offers all the finches, since I probably won't do a second trip there in my lifetime.

 

[Mysticete]

Much of my interest in Galapagos is not only for birds, so the potential "yield" for me is higher than the weight of X # of endemic finches. Some really interesting plants, invertebrates, and the likes, that also contribute part of my life list. Having said that though, I probably won't go unless I can find a tour that offers all the finches, since I probably won't do a second trip there in my lifetime.

In some ways I think the finches are the most boring endemics, at least compared to things like the most northern species of Penguin, Flightless Cormorants, Marine Iguanas, etc.

Probably oversplit too

 

[pbjosh]

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a diehard world birder who does most everything independently and inexpensively. I drove myself from the US to Argentina birding and camping for several years. I have been to zero major birding lodges and just a few lesser known lodges. Mostly find my own birds / explore off the beaten path.

That said, the Galapagos strikes me as really decently administered for how much tourism it receives. The islands are well conserved and the visits are tremendous as only one boat lands at each site at a time. Not the crowding that apparently used to occur or that I could imagine with the demand.

You can call it an eco-tourism trap if you like but two weeks on a boat in the Galapagos was one of the best trips / experiences of my life and I hope to repeat it. Absolutely worth the money to me. If you only worry about money and how boring the finches are, maybe it is not for you. If you like tremendous wildlife experiences, be careful of prejudices.

 

[raymie]

Stresemann's Bristlefront is probably down to one individual now. I know it was being reliably seen for a time, no idea if that's still the case or if the species is even still alive.

Akikiki and Akekee will probably be gone before the end of the decade. There's a bunch of other Hawaiian endemics in extremely dire situations (notably also Palila, Maui Parrotbill and Puaiohi), but those two definitely stand above the rest.

Given the severity of recent fires in the western US I have my doubts the Cassia Crossbill will survive the next few years, either.

I've heard the development situation on Socotra is getting worse as well - you may want to see the endemic ecosystem and avifauna there sooner rather than later.

 

[Tiraya]

I've heard the development situation on Socotra is getting worse as well - you may want to see the endemic ecosystem and avifauna there sooner rather than later.

According to a lot of places, Socotra is already on a "don't visit" list. Hmm...

 

[Tiraya]

Stresemann's Bristlefront is probably down to one individual now. I know it was being reliably seen for a time, no idea if that's still the case or if the species is even still alive.

Any idea how a random person like me would even make an attempt for such a thing? Seems like a long trip and a lot of foreign navigation.

 

[temmie]

Stresemann's Bristlefront is probably down to one individual now. I know it was being reliably seen for a time, no idea if that's still the case or if the species is even still alive.

Akikiki and Akekee will probably be gone before the end of the decade. There's a bunch of other Hawaiian endemics in extremely dire situations (notably also Palila, Maui Parrotbill and Puaiohi), but those two definitely stand above the rest.

Given the severity of recent fires in the western US I have my doubts the Cassia Crossbill will survive the next few years, either.

I've heard the development situation on Socotra is getting worse as well - you may want to see the endemic ecosystem and avifauna there sooner rather than later.

One bristlefront?
As far as I know, the female hasn’t been seen since October 2019. So I would say it’s more likely there are exactly zero individuals left, at least in Mata dos passerinhos. Not very likely there are birds outside that place, but still more likely than there is one in that forest.

 

[temmie]

If you only worry about money and how boring the finches are, maybe it is not for you. If you like tremendous wildlife experiences, be careful of prejudices.

Ofcourse there is more than the finches and one can enjoy the whole experience.
But you can’t deny it’s expensive and most people who go there come to see the tame wildlife and cannot ID any of the finches and totally neglect the mainland Ecuador biodiversity while on their so-called Ecuador trip. I was staying 5 nights at la selva lodge, quoted at that time at 750 dollar, I got it down to 500 dollar (this includes all meals, boats from coca and locally, and a guide). Nowadays, my package goes for double the price…! Most were surprised I spent 5 days there (the Galapagos gringos could only endure a 3-day stay in the hot and humid Amazon) and none on the Galapagos. I explained them that my whole trip for a month, intercontinental included, cost 2000 euro, Galapagos would easily double that.

As a birder wanting to see it all, the Galapagos can be a frustrating place as logistics don’t cater for the occasional die-hard birder. Just read George Wagner’s report on cloudbirders.

If you want to get a general feeling and are willing to spent quite some money, ofcourse it’s nice to be on a live-a-board boat and dive with leguanas and turtles, sipping a cocktail in the evening. (If you invite me, I”ll say yes in a heartbeat!). But it’s a happy few thingy for those prices and the price / value ratio is skewed due to the popularity of this archipelago with rich tourists, let’s be real about that.

 

[Xenospiza]

According to a lot of places, Socotra is already on a "don't visit" list. Hmm...

It is currently occupied by the UAE and is apparently safe and straightforward. You can see everything (including Abd el Kuri) in a week.
A shame I don't have time, because this would be the time for me to get strange stamps in my passport...

 

[pbjosh]

But you can’t deny it’s expensive and most people who go there come to see the tame wildlife and cannot ID any of the finches and totally neglect the mainland Ecuador biodiversity while on their so-called Ecuador trip.

I really don't think you need to be able to ID the finches to enjoy the Galapagos, it's so much more than just birding/ticking. In fact, I barely remember the finches and they were NOT a highlight. Whether many Ecuador tourists miss the mainland biodiversity doesn't really have anything to do with whether the Galapagos is a worthy destination or not. I mean, I agree with your points, but they're totally separate from the question of whether the Galapagos is a trap that isn't worth the money. I rate it as one of my all time top wildlife / seeing the world experiences, even if I also was not able to see all the endemic birds. Sometimes the experience is greater than the number of ticks and, in fact, those are the experiences I seek out rather than just rote listing.

But it’s a happy few thingy for those prices and the price / value ratio is skewed due to the popularity of this archipelago with rich tourists, let’s be real about that.

I disagree here - a lot of people can and do afford it, and there are boats at a lot of different prices. What we paid for a live-aboard boat was expensive-ish but in the realm of what most ecolodges charge and the experience was tremendous. Galapagos is sort of a bucket-list / once in a lifetime experience for most people. I get the impression that a lot of people save up for a trip to the Galapagos, it's not only wealthy travelers with nothing better to do. And of course a lot of visitors aren't students of biology nor biodiversity but doest that matter? Do you need to be an art historian to go to the Louvre or Prado? Do you need to be an architect to appreciate the Sagrada Familia? I don't think that birders are magically more deserving of the Galapagos experience or that they even get more out of it than others. I would actually guess it's the reverse - that there's a subset of birders who will go there for the ticks and will not really appreciate the whole experience as much as many non-birders do.

It has its price, and for me it is worth it. As I said, I am hoping to return at some point, it was absolutely magical for me. Most world birders can afford to go to the Galapagos if they are making regular international trips, and I just wanted to comment that I don't think it should be discarded off hand due to cost / popularity / limited number of ticks / other subjective prejudices.