Come visit and support the 80 hectare (200 acre) Chocó lowland Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary which was acquired by MCF in March 2005. Trails were completed in July and the 15 meter (50 feet) canopy observation tower was open to the public in October 2005. This important site, one of the last remaining accessible forest remnants found in this key area, is situated in low foothills between 300-350m. The main feature at Silanche is the incredible birding: mixed flocks bombard the visitor all day without a break. Furthermore these flocks include many important Chocó endemics you won’t otherwise find without arranging a trip to Esmeraldas or Colombia: Purple-chested Hummingbird, Chocó Trogon, Double-banded Graytail, Griscom’s Antwren, Stub-tailed Antbird, Black-tipped Cotinga, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager. Rio Silanche, on the other hand, is just three hours out of Quito 7 kilometers down a dirt road taken at kilometer 127 of the Quito-Calacali-Esmeraldas highway. Look for signs on store and follow smaller directional signs along this road until you get to the metal bridge over the Silanche river.

Sam Woods got this female Guayaquil Woodpecker at Silanche

The reserve is comprised of a mixture of primary forest, regenerating forest, former plantation and new agro-forestry parcels. In addition to the canopy observation tower, extensive trails and footbridges make for easy exploration of the forest. The canopy tower can accommodate four researchers or volunteer workers in its downstairs living quarters. Mindo Cloudforest Foundation is seeking donations to help expand and improve the reserve. All conservation efforts in this bioregion are vital to secure the long-term viability of the avifaunal population in such fragmented habitat.

One main goal for the reserve in the short term is to achieve true economic independence and sustainability. To this end we are now selling t-shirts and an illustrated checklist with birds from this sanctuary and from Milpe. In the long term we hope to protect remnant forest in the area, so forming important steppingstones and biological corridors, following watersheds like the Silanche where much riverine forest is still present.

Bird the shade coffee agroforestry parcel. Don´t be shy...