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Baudo Oropendola Photo: Fundación ProAves

(Washington, D.C., September 29, 2010) An expedition in northwestern Colombia by the conservation organization Fundación ProAves has discovered two previously unknown colonies of one of the world's rarest, most endangered birds – the Baudo Oropendola (Psarocolius cassini). The expedition was funded in part by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation's leading bird conservation organization.

Prior to this new discovery of about 70–80 birds near the Western Cordillera, fewer than a dozen birds were known to exist from a single, different location about 75 miles away. The find represents a major expansion of our knowledge of the bird's range.

“American Bird Conservancy is thrilled to have helped fund the research expedition that led to this stunning discovery of these two new colonies of this rare bird. Now we need to work with ProAves to conserve and protect them. Their work with us on this and many other projects has advanced the cause of bird conservation enormously,” said ABC President George Fenwick.

The Baudo Oropendola is listed as endangered under IUCN-World Conservation Union criteria. The species is a large, mostly black bird with brown wings, a pointed gray and orange bill, and a long, yellow tail. The bird has a pink cheek patch that distinguishes it from similar-looking birds. These gregarious birds eat large insects and fruit. They are very vocal, producing a wide range of songs, sometimes including mimicry.

Unfortunately, the two newly discovered colonies are completely unprotected. More alarming is that deforestation in this area is accelerating and urgent conservation measures are required.

Pictures of the bird are available at this site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/proaves/sets/72157624909924430/show/

ABC, working in cooperation with a variety of local partners, has established or expanded 43 bird reserves in Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Many of these reserves are featured on a new website: www.conservationbirding.org. The site encourages the birding community worldwide, to visit these reserves to see the spectacular variety of birds the reserves help protect. Such visits help provide funding that will ensure the long term viability of these world class birding destinations.

American Bird Conservancy (www.abcbirds.org) conserves native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats while building capacity of the bird conservation movement. ABC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.

Fundación ProAves (www.proaves.org) is Colombia's leading conservation charity that protects 55,000 acres of threatened tropical forests across 18 nature reserves, which hold many of the country's most endangered species. It works closely with the local communities around the reserves.