Birding and Sightseeing in Peru

Over 1,800 species of birds can be found in the South American nation of Peru – one fifth of the world’s total number – and seeing some fraction of those was a chief draw for Tristan Lowery when his family proposed a trip to the famed Inca ruins of Machu Picchu for the spring of 2019. In this program, Tristan will share his experiences birding on what was primarily a family sightseeing trip to this splendid and varied country. Besides Machu Picchu, Tristan’s journey took him to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the montane Puna grasslands and forests of the Peruvian Yungas, the fascinating mix of indigenous and colonial architecture in the ancient capital of Cusco, and the food and culture of the modern metropolis Lima. And along the way, he managed to see and photograph a good variety of birds on a sometimes foolhardy and mostly unguided but always interesting attempt to bird the tropics for the first time.

Tristan Lowery has been on the board of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club since 2017 and has been serving as the club’s current president since 2021. Tristan also writes the “Birds and Booze” beer, wine, cider, and spirits reviews for the blog 10,000 Birds. Outside of birding, Tristan works in energy policy and regulation for the New York State Department of Public Service.

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Machu Picchu

Blue-and-white Swallows