This is copied from a closed Manhattan (NYC) birding group (via GroupMe).

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If you have been to Ecuador birding, or you have not, as I have not, you may be aware of Refugio Paz de las Aves. It is a bird refuge owned by a large family, the Paz family, which is one of the first places to preserve antpitta habitat in the world. The Giant Antpitta is one of several antpitta species at Angel Paz's farm, which has been a major birding site in Ecuador for a couple of decades now. For those of you who are not familiar with Antpitta habitat, they live in forests. And as a tangential aside, they are completely adorable! But this precious and sadly increasingly rare forest is about to be completely razed, unless we prevent it.


The matriarch of the family has died, and only two of the nine children wish to preserve the land. The others want to sell so that they can get their share now. The land will be turned into cattle farm, the forest clearcut, and the antpittas will be gone.

Luckily for us, the amount necessary to buy this land in in Ecuador is paltry compared to what such real estate would cost in the United States.


They have done a GoFundMe for the $155,000 the two siblings will need to buy out their family members. They have already raised $127,000 from birders all over the world! They only need about $30,000 remaining in order to buy out their siblings and save this land from complete destruction. Please consider helping save this family farm from being sold and destroyed.


More than 400 species of birds are routinely seen just on this refuge.


We only have until August 1 to help raise the money to save this wonderful place for future birders and all to enjoy. Even a small donation could help Vinicio Paz reach their fundraising goal. Five bucks, whatever you can give, will make a huge difference.


Read more about the family farm and the current situation at this site:


https://gofund.me/a4961f6d



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