In March 2009 I had the opportunity to travel for almost three weeks with Eduardo (Luis Eduardo Urueña), who was guiding with Barry Walker a Manu Expeditions birdwatching tour in Colombia, as I was learning more about tour opportunities in Colombia.

To start with, Eduardo`s "other job" at the time was as a biologist, and while that was not directly relevant, it is an important aspect because the training and knowledge he has gained as a biologist with ProAves add greatly to his ability to plan and conduct a birdwatching tour.

During our travels, Eduardo had many roles, and in general the trip ran very well because he did them very well.  I would comment specifically on several of those roles:

Finding and Identifying Birds:  Eduardo was expert in the areas we visited in the Magdalena Valley, and thoroughly competent at the reserves we visited in the three cordillera of the Andes.  And he was very proficient at getting what we found in a telescope.

Handling Logistics: Eduardo was extremely good at making the steady stream of minor-but-vital logistical arrangements needed on a daily basis, including 4WD vehicles and even horses to reach remote birding areas.

Improving and Changing the Itinerary:  Based on recent field experience, Eduardo had learned of some better opportunities and he did not stick with the status quo.  Instead he raised the possibilities, and was flexible about making changes to alter the itinerary in useful ways.

Behind the Scenes:  Obviously, given Colombia`s history of internal strife, security is on the minds of visitors.  While birding, one bumps into Colombians who are surprised to encounter foreign birdwatchers; Eduardo interacts easily with the locals to explain our presence.  Further, he stays informed about security issues through his network of local contacts.

The Little Things:  Eduardo understands that a little cooler in the vehicle with a couple of Diet-Cokes helped keep me happy, and he knew who thought 10 a.m. was not too early for a beer, and so forth.  It makes a difference.”
 I look forward to traveling with him again.