EVENT

• 29 Jan–5 Feb (varies): FIAM: Festival Internacional de Aves Migratorias de San Blas (‘International Migratory Bird Festival’) – San Blas, Riviera Nayarit, State of Nayarit. An annual festival in San Blas since 2004 that coincides with the Día de San Blas (‘Feast Day of Saint Blas’) (3 Feb), the city’s patron saint (Link 2017 Programme).

Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) drying wet feathers in San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico / © Otto Dusbaba @ 123rf (ID 9603937)

Migratory Birds: Wintering Grounds

Each year thousands of migratory birds inhabit the landscape along the Riviera Nayarit – the jungle, mangroves, wetlands, coffee plantations and mountains – which provides suitable conditions for different species as their wintering grounds.

Activities: Birdwatching

Ornithologists and birdwatchers meet to try to spot as many species as possible of more than 500 species that live in the region.

The festival is focused on conservation, environmental education and ecotourism through participation of the local community. It offers a programme of birdwatching tours (e.g. San Cristobal and El Pozo Estuaries, Isabel Island and La Tovara National Park) and cultural activities (conferences, workshops, children’s activities, dance, plays and music). The festival is one of the best of its type in the country assuring the conservation of the habitat of birds. [For more, see San Blas EcoTours].

Wood storks (Mycteria americana) at a breeding colony in mangroves at San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico / © drferry @ iStock (ID 157705780)

Easy to spot birds include Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), Wood stork (Mycteria americana), Great egret (Ardea alba), Snowy egret (Egretta thula), Boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), Northern jacana (Jacana spinosa), Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus), Mottled owl (Strix virgata) and American white ibis (Eudocimus albus).

Snowy egret (Egretta thula) on a beach by the Pacific Ocean, Nayarit, Mexico / © Otto Dusbaba @ 123rf (ID 25318964)

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia. “List of Birds of Mexico.” Last modified 6 May 2018. Article [Accessed 23 Jun 2018].

Videos

1. Bill Kendall. 1962. “San Blas, Mexico: Views of the Mexican village in 1962 including a boat trip up the San Blas River to a spring that is its source.” YouTube. 20 Dec 2018. Link [Accessed 23 Jun 2018].
2. Tourdottk. 2009. “Jungle Boat Trip, La Tovara National Park, San Blas, Mexico.” YouTube. 2 Feb 2009. Link [Accessed 23 Jun 2018].