1st San Pancho Bird Diversity Festival
- The Riviera Nayarit is on the western migratory route for the birds that fly from North to South. Some of these species are particular to the region and are a big draw for international tourism.
The first edition of the San Pancho Bird Diversity Festival will take place on October 14, 2017, in San Francisco, Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, with the slogan “Let’s All Celebrate the Diversity of Our Birds.”
The San Pancho Bird Observatory (OASP, by its acronym in Spanish) organized this event, sponsored by the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau. It unites the local public with local guides specialized in bird watching for free treks. Local businesses, international conservation organizations, and civil and private associations are also lending their support.
Attendees will be able to participate in cultural and educational activities celebrating birds, including painting, poetry, photography, music and film; this will all take place in the Plaza del Sol in this coastal village, also known as the Cultural Capital of the Riviera Nayarit.
Biologist Luis Morales, Director of the OASP, said the event is open for the entire family with a special focus on children and teens, as there will be sports activities via the “Skate 4 Birds” event with longboards and sponsors, as well as an awards ceremony for the children’s drawing contest, known as ConCieniArte.
“The purpose of this festival is to encourage learning and conservation through all-day activities that will include birdwatching in the area with the participation of expert guides; we’ll also have educational events, a photo exhibit and a movie viewing,” he added.
Representatives of civil organizations and companies focused on nature conservation and ecotourism will be present at the event. Local companies will be selling food and many other surprises. The activities are free and open to the public.
There are approximately 546 species of birds between the coastal and mountainous areas of the Riviera Nayarit. Of these, 428 are endemic and the rest are migratory, which means the Birdwatching and Observation tourism segment has one of the biggest potentials in the region.
The biologist added that there are about 300 different varieties found around San Pancho alone, making up 30 percent of the biodiversity of the birds in Mexico.
Besides San Pancho there are another 10 communities on the coast of Nayarit where this activity takes place: Bucerias, Punta de Mita, Higuera Blanca, Sayulita, San Ignacio, Villa Morelos, La Peñita de Jaltemba, Guayabitos, Chacala and San Blas, as well as in the National Marshes of Nayarit Biosphere Reserve, which is located in the municipalities of Santiago Ixcuintla, Rosamorada, Tecuala, Tuxpan and Acaponeta. Its area of influence also includes part of the municipalities of Ruiz and Tepic.
Details:
Pre-registration is a must for the birdwatching tours. For more information email birdingsanpancho@gmail.com or call (322) 139-7242 or (322) 154-8108. Facebook: www.facebook.com/SanPanchoBirdObservatory
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