Dr Nigel Simpson meets Dr Ridgely and they agree to start a research and conservation program in the Neotropics, at a location to be decided.

In November, Robert Ridgely, John and Ruth Moore, Lelis Navarrete and Mercedes Rivadeneira discover a strange undescribed species of Antpitta (Grallaria sp) on Cerro Tapichalaca in the far south of Ecuador.It will be named the Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi). It is agreed that the highest priority for the above conservation programme is at Cerro Tapichalaca.