Region: Páramo del Sol, Municipality of Urrao, Antioquia department, Colombia

Male Dusky Starfrontlet. Photo: Fundación ProAves

Partner: Fundación ProAves

Funding: Fenwick family through ABC and Jeniam Foundation

Project Initiation: July 2005

Introduction: The Critically Endangered Dusky Starfrontlet was rediscovered by a ProAves expedition at Paramo del Sol (also called Páramo Frontino) after being lost for more than 50 years. This site has dense deposits of high-grade gold, zinc and copper, and mining companies have shown an interest to exploit that area. ABC secured funding for ProAves to acquire one key property and establish a municipality agreement for another to protect the hummingbird and establish the Colibri de Sol reserve. The 8,300 acre reserve and municipality land protects over 155 bird species, including three other threatened species; Rusty-faced Parrot (Endangered; first record for Western Cordillera), Moustached Antpitta (Vulnerable), and Chestnut-bellied Flower-piercer (Endangered; rediscovered in 2003, also after not being seen for 50 years).

Objective: To protect the Dusky Starfrontlet Reserve and ensure the Reserve’s sustainability.

Actions:
1. Acquire surviving forest habitat for threatened birds
2. Assist protection and monitoring through staffing and researchers
3. Assist ecotourism through the construction of visitor and researcher accommodation and trails.

Accomplishments:
1. The reserve of 2000 acres has been established
4. A reserve director has been hired
5. Accommodation facilities being established in April 2007.

Funding needs:
1. Additional 2,000 acres of land acquisition to expand the reserve.
2. Monitoring threatened species to ensure adequate protection.
3. Assist with ecotourism developments to ensure sustainability.