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In 2007 the SJV and Pronatura Noroeste received funds from the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the U.S. Forest Service International Program to develop a program and train residents of communities in or near important conservation sites to be bird guides. The idea was to provide incentives for conservation as well as a way for residents of these areas to supplement their incomes. The project focused on three priority spots in the SJV Region: the Colorado River delta, Álamos, and San José del Cabo, with the overall goal of supporting bird and habitat conservation in these three important areas.
Site coordinators from Pronatura Noroeste worked closely an overall program coordinator to train local guides at each of the three locations. Over the course of two years, these guides gained skills and knowledge in bird identification, bird guiding, natural and cultural history interpretation, and English. They also participated in activities designed to develop their professional skills as a bird guide and volunteered on habitat restoration, bird monitoring, and environmental education efforts in their communities. Together these guides contributed a great deal to their communities and the broader bird conservation community:
- 2308 bird observation hours
- 212 eBird/aVerAves checklists submitted
- 1462 service hours
- 47 projects
- >7,000 trees planted
- 5 km of fence built
- 7 km of riparian habitat restored
Today we are very pleased to announce the next step in this effort: The Mexico Birding Trail. This website encourages birders to visit these three sites and hire local guides to take them birding. We envision the site growing to include more sites and guides with time, but staying focused on areas that are making a real connecting between bird observation and conservation.
Please take a few minutes to visit the website and tell us what you think. And don’t forget to “like” the Mexico Birding Trail on Facebook!