Third Festival
THIRD ANNUAL YUCATAN BIRD FESTIVAL
Nov 13, 2004 - Nov 21, 2004
The third edition of the Yucatan Bird Festival drew 150 participants
from three countries in a week-long series of events that began with
the opening of an extraordinary exhibit of Maya bird rubbings from
Chichén Itzá by Merle Greene Robertson intermixed with extraordinary
bird photographs by Antonio Hidalgo and David Andrews. The next day,
approximately 30 local guides alongside international visitors,
participated in one of two 12-hour Bird Marathons held in the Ría
Celestún and Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserves. Local winners were
awarded binoculars, Howell & Webb bird guides, backpacks and
“pájaros”.
The favorite field trip was a three-day excursion to the Calakmul
Biosphere Reserve in southern Campeche prior to the evening conference
given by Troy G. Murphy on the behavior of the Turquoise-browed Motmot
(Toh in Maya) and showing of the internationally awarded video on the
same.
The Third Yucatan Bird Festival "Toh" will be held from November 13 -
21, 2004, here in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico. Conferences, exhibits, field
trips and more with experts Steve N.G. Howell, Eduardo Santana, Paul
Wood and a growing number of community bird guides are on the menu.
Observe new birds! See new places! Make new friends! Your attendance
directly supports bird conservation efforts i
Saturday, November 13
11:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Registration in lobby of Hotel El Castellaño for
ALL participants in any activity associated with the Festival; pick-up
of materials for those who pre-registered electronically.
5:00 P.M. Inauguration of a visual exhibit “From Ancient Times:
The Birds in Chichén Itzá”; stone rubbings by the internationally
renowned Maya scholar, Dr. Merle Greene Robertson, along with
photographs by nationally acclaimed nature photographers of birds found
in Chichén Itzá. Reception following with regional dancing hosted by
the Governor of Yucatan, the Mayor of Mérida and the State Secretary of
Tourism. (Location: Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), downtown.)
Sunday, November 14
6:00 A.M.- 6:00 P.M. Bird Marathon in the reserves of Ría Celestún and
Ría Lagartos organized by Pronatura Península de Yucatán and Niños y
Crías, respectively. All participants are invited to simultaneous
awards’ reception immediately following the competition. Event is open
to local nature guides and visitors with birding experience.
Pre-registration required. Donation $5.00 US.
7:00 A.M.- 12:00 noon Workshop “Introduction to Birdwatching”; open to
the public. Pre-registration required. Donation: $5.00 US. Location:
Chicxulub. Casa Montes Molina.(Map to be obtained when you register)
7:00 A.M.- 11:00 A.M. Workshop “Techniques and Ethics in Photographing
Birds” with Dr. Antonio Hidalgo from Monterrey, N.L. Open to the
public.. Pre-registration required. Donation: $5.00 US. Location:
Chicxulub. Casa Montes Molina.(Map to be obtained when you register)
Monday, November 15
5:30 A.M. One-day “Birding in the Puuc Hills”; guided tour to the
archeological zones of Sayil and Labná in southern Yucatan. Group size
limited to 9 people each. See packages and contact information below
for cost and reservations. Reserve with Ecoturismo Yucatan
7:30 A.M. Three-day guided natural and cultural history tour to the
Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in southern Campeche. Return Wednesday
afternoon. Group size limited to 9 people each. See packages and
contact information below for cost and reservations.
8:30 A.M. Three-day guided birding and archeology tour to Izamal
(morning at Hacienda and lunch in 16th c. town) and Chichén Itzá east
of Mérida, including visit to the nearby Balancanché cave. Group size
limited to 10 people each. See packages and contact information below
for cost and reservations.
4:00 P.M.- 6:00 P.M. Round Table discussions in Spanish; Auditorium of SEDEINCO.
o “Marine Birds of the Yucatan Peninsula: Threats and Solutions.”
o “Environmental and Social Impact of Ecotourism.”
Tuesday, November 16
5:30 A.M. Two-day guided birding and archeology tour to private reserve
of Kiuic and the Hacienda Tabi reserve in southern, Puuc area of
Yucatan. Return late Wednesday afternoon. Group size limited to 9
people. See packages and contact information below for cost and
reservations. Reserve with Ecoturismo Yucatán.
5:30 A.M. Two-day hacienda birding tour to 16th c. town of Izamal;
return Wednesday afternoon. Group size limited to 9 people each. See
packages and contact information below for cost and reservations.
Reserve with Ecoturismo Yucatán.
Wednesday, November 17
• Tour groups to Calakmul, Chichen Itza,Izamal, Kiuic and Hacienda Tabi, return late afternoon.
6:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M. Book signing by Steve N.G. Howell.
6:30 P.M. Special showing of the international award winning
video “Toh – the clock bird”; salon in the Hotel Castellaño following
an introduction by Dr. Troy G. Murphy, expert researcher on the
Turquoise-browed Motmot. Hosted by the Secretary of Tourism of Yucatán.
Thursday, November 18
Simultaneous workshops in adjoining salons at the Mérida Theater. Open to the public.
A. SPANISH:
9:00 A.M.- 10:20 A.M. "What should bird specialists know about the
birds of the Yucatan peninsula, in particular, professional guides" by
Dr. Paul Wood.Followed by a brief break
11:30 P.M.- 1:00 P.M. “Seasonal dynamics of migratory and resident
montane forest birds of Western Mexico” by Dr. Eduardo Santana.
B. ENGLISH:
9:00 A.M.- 10:20 A.M. “Understanding the environmental and social
context for bird conservation in Mexico” by Dr. Eduardo Santana.
10:45 A.M.- 12:30 P.M. “Introduction to neotropical bird families and
difficult to distinguish species” by David Wolf, representative of
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours.
C. English & Spanish (simultaneous translation):
D
o 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Multimedia CD Presentation “Flying in Western
Mexico”. Images, sounds, natural history and pre-Colombian bird art.
Edited by the Federal Commission of Electricity and presented by Biol.
Sandra Fernando Gallo Corona and Biol. Alfonso Langle Flores.
2:45 P.M. Leave for hotel in the field to participate in the xoc
ch’ich’ (Bird-a-thon). (Mérida hotel check-out; stow extra luggage;
lunch prior to leaving.)
• Overnight in hotel in the field according to scheduled route.
Friday, November 19
5:30 A.M. The xoc ch’ich’ competition begins.
• Overnight in hotel in the field according to scheduled route.
Saturday, November 20
• The xoc ch’ich’ ends officially at 10:00 a.m. All bird lists must be
turned in to a committee member in the lobby of the Hotel El Castellaño
promptly at 1:00 p.m.
7:00 P.M. Cocktail and exhibit of winning children’s bird art
contest, followed by the awards banquet. Centro Cultural del Niño
Yucateco, with the presence of the Secretary of Tourism of Yucatán.
(Transportation is provided for all participants between the Hotel El
Castellaño and the Center.) Cost: $25.00 US per person.
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