VI Annual Yucatan Bird "Toh" Festival

Nov 29 - Dec 2, 2007

The 6th Annual Bird Festival of Yucatan Toh 2007 is an important yearly event for both the local people and our tourist guests. It is a clear example of what can be done when the three levels of government work together with the private sector, the civil organizations and the Mayan communities. The dates of this years events are from Friday, November 29th to Sunday, December 2nd. The sites of this everyday more popular event are Merida and Izamal. In the birdwatchers world, birders from the US and Mexico await this festival as the Yucatan is every birdwatchers dream come true.

This Bird Festival is a competitive event with something for both novice and expert birders. Because the Yucatan is so rich in bird species (there are 546 recorded species with 11 endemic species) the local, national and international birder community enjoy not only the excellent birding but the other natural activities so available in the area.

The organizers are aware of the importance of this festival to the Mayan communities and visitors. With this in mind, other conservation and conscious-raising related activities are organized so as to promote sustainable tourism. Included in the program are field trip practices to observe the 546 bird species registered in the Yucatan. During these trips, the birders will not only enjoy the birding but also the contact with nature, being near the Mayan archeological sites and the local haciendas.
Bird Festival participants will also be able to participate in workshops and conferences put on by known birders and see photography and drawing contests – all related to birds. One of the most awaited activities is the 28-hour long bird-a-thon, Xox ch’ich’, which is when different groups compete in the bird counting. This is a fun, energizing activity!

With local guides, well practiced in the art of bird watching, this 6th Annual Bird Festival promises to be one of the best yet!
Come join us!

BIRD FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Photography Contest & Drawing Contest
(* Details to be confirmed).

Thursday, November 29th
• 6:30-10:00hrs. Specialized Workshop “Coastline Birds of the North Coast of Yucatan” by Jorge Correa. Place: Progreso, Yucatán. Cost: 260 pesos. Meeting Point: 6:00 AM. Parque Santa Ana. Included: Professional Guide, Transportation and Lunch. Limited Vacancies.
• 9:00-12:00hrs. Opening of the Educa Zoo’s environmental education. Place: Parque Zoológico El Centenario Mérida. Free Entrance.
• 17:00-18:15hrs. Introduction to Birds I. Place: Foyer of the Peon Contreras Theater. Cost: 260 pesos (Workshop Part I + Workshop Part II) Included: Didactic Material. Limited Vacancies.
• 18:15-18:45hrs. Registry of Participants of the Festival. Place: Lobby Peon Contreras Theater.

• 19:00-19:45hrs. Didactic CD-Roms of Yucatan Birds Presentation by Barbara Mackinnon y Mauricio Quijano. Place: Peon Contreras Theater. Free Entrance.
• 19:45hrs. Festival opening and photography contest’s awards ceremony.
• 20:00hrs. Ecotourism conference speaker: Harry Moller. Place: J. Peon Contreras Theater. Cost: 50 pesos.

Friday, November 30th
Introduction to Birds II Place: Parque eco-arquelógico Sihunchén and Hacienda San Antonio Chel.
• 6:30-9:00hrs. Bird watching workshop.
• 9:30hrs. Breakfast.
• 10:30hrs. Return to Merida.
• 5:30hrs. Workshop Part I + Workshop Part II. Cost: 260 pesos. Field practice. Xoc ch’ich’ Marathon. Meeting point: Parque Santa Ana.
• 6:30-9:00hrs. Bird watching activity.
• 9:30hrs. Breakfast.
• 10:30-11:30hrs. Explanation of rules of the Marathon. Team’s integration.
• 11:30hrs. Free Route.

Saturday, December 1st.
• 5:30hrs. Xoc ch’ich’ Bird Marathon begins. (Open routes). Recomended places for beginners: Tekal de Venegas and Chunbec.
• 18:00hrs. Didactic activity for children by Niños y Crías, A.C.*To be confirmed place and hour. Free Entrance.
• 20:00hrs. La Luz de los Mayas. Lights and Sound spectacle. Place: Convento de San Antonio Papua, Izamal.

Sunday, December 1st.
• 6:00-9:30hrs. Xoc ch’ich’ Bird Marathon.
• 9:30hrs. Xoc ch’ich’ Bird Marathon ends. Bird lists must be turned. Closing breakfast of the Xoc ch’ich’ participants. Place: To be confirmed.
• 10:30hrs. Closing ceremony. Awards ceremony of Marathon and Drawing Contest.

Exhibits:
•Hand craft exhibit: Thursday: Merida. Saturday and Sunday: Izamal.
•Photography exhibit at the J. Peon Contreras Teather. November 29th-December 15th (Dates: To be confirmed).

Contact one of the participating travel agencies. For further information please visit www.yucatanbirds.org.mx or you can email us directly at info@yucatanbirds.mx

Recommended articles:

Bird watching in the Yucatan
 Merida
 Izamal
 Photography in the Yucatan

Visit our maps:

 Map of Merida Historical Downtown
 Map of Merida Downtown
 Map of Merida City
 Map of Yucatan Peninsula

To read in Spanish click here