VIII Yucatán Bird "Toh" Festival 2009

Note: the following information is for the 2009 festival. As soon as we have dates for 2010, we will publish the information.

The VIII Yucatán bird festival, which will be celebrated from November 19-22, 2009, will be held in Mérida and Valladolid.

VIII YUCATAN BIRD FESTIVAL 2009
United for Birds
November 19 – 22, 2009
Mérida – Valladolid, Yucatan, Mexico

PROGRAM

Thursday, November 19
6:00 a.m. Bird count (species and number of individuals) in private reserves within ejidos (community properties). Sites of conservation interest:
• Sihunchén Eco-Archeological Park, Hunucmá, Yucatán. A 45 min. drive northwest of Mérida; trails pass through an archeological site amid a dry tropical forest.
• Private ranch in the coastal village of Chabihau. An hour’s drive northeast of Mérida with native coastal scrub vegetation.
Cost: $150.00 mn or $11.00 USd per person. Includes: continental breakfast. It does not include transportation. Sign-up with: Barbara MacKinnon H. at Tel: 927-5947; e-mail: barbaramackinnonde@gmail.com
Note: Limited to 8 persons per group. Maximum 2 groups per site.
9:00 a.m. Educazoo Program for children: workshops, talks, exhibits and videos about birds.
Place: The Century Zoo (Parque Zoológico El Centenario).
4:00 p.m. Register of participants for the Festival and for the Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich’). Cost: $300.00 m.n or $23.00 USd; includes conferences, inaugural cocktail, commemorative kit and closing breakfast.
Place: Salón Izamal at the 21st Century Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).
4:00 p.m. Second Bird Song Contest. Sign-up with Melgar Tabasco. Tel: 925-39-47 or e-mail: mtabasco@ninosycrias.org. Limited number of participants.
Place: Salon Kabah at the 21st Century Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).
5:00 p.m. Conferences in English:
• “Different Migration Aspects of Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers on the Yucatan Peninsula” by: Dr. Jorge Correa Sandoval / Researcher at EcoSur-Chetumal, Q. Roo.
• “Secrets of the Yucatan Flamingo Population” by Dr. Rodrigo Migoya / Director of Niños y Crías A.C.
• “Bird Conservation Efforts on the Yucatan Peninsula” by: Bárbara MacKinnon H. / Honorary Board Member, Amigos de Sian Ka'an A.C.
Place: Salon Kabah at the 21st Century Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).
5:00 p.m. Conferences in Spanish:
• The Avefauna of Six Natural Protected Areas in the state of Yucatan” by: M en C. Juan Chablé Santos and Biol. Rosana Gonzalez Herrera, Autonomous University of Yucatan.
• “The Yucatan Wren: its reproductive life” by: M en C. Jesús Vargas, University of Campeche.
• “Different Migration Aspects of Western and Semipalmated Sandpiper on the Yucatan Peninsula” by: Dr. Jorge Correa Sandoval / Researcher, EcoSur-Chetumal.
Place: Salon Izamal at the 21st Century Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).
7:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony for the Photograph and Drawing Contests.
Place: Salon Izamal at the 21st Century Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).
7:00 p.m. Pictorial Exhibit “The Birds of Yucatan”.
Place: The Cultural Center (Casa de la Cultura), Valladolid.
7:30 p.m. Inauguration of the exhibit composed of the winning works from the photographic and drawing contest.
Place: Corredor of the 21st Century Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).
8:00 p.m. Inaugural coctail.
Place: Salon Izamal of the 21st Century Yucatan Convention Center (Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI).

Friday, November 20
6:30 a.m. Bird count in different reserves (private and within community lands –ejidos- in the area surrounding the 16th c. town of Izamal. Cost: $100.00 mn or $8.00 USd per person.
10:00 a.m. Yucatecan country breakfast in the community (ejido) of Chumbec; reading of the rules for the Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich’).
Cost: $100.00 mn or $8.00 USd per person.
12:00 p.m. Start of the Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich).
• Departure for overnight in Valladolid, Yucatan for “beginner” teams participating in the Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich’).
• Departure for teams participating in the “classic” Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich’) Overnight: Team’s choice within the state of Yucatan.
8:00 p.m. Romantic Musical Serenade Night in Valladolid.
Place: Hero’s Park (Parque de los Héroes), Valladolid, Yucatan.

Saturday, November 21
5:30 a.m. Continuation of the Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich’).
8:00 p.m. Yucatecan Festival: “Valladolid Music & Folklore”.
Place: Principal Park, Historic Center (Parque Principal del Centro Histórico), Valladolid, Yucatan.
NOTE: Overnight in Valladolid.

Sunday, November 22
10:00 a.m. The Bird-a-thon (xoc ch’ich’) ends.
10:30 a.m. Birds lists must be turned in.
Place: The Tourism Information Center at the Zací Sinkhole (Parador Turístico Cenote Zací), Valladolid, Yucatan.
10:30 a.m. Breakfast.
Place: The Tourism Information Center at the Zací Sinkhole (Parador Turístico Cenote Zací), Valladolid, Yucatan.
11:30 a.m. Awards and Closing Ceremony.
Place: The Tourism Information Center at the Zací Sinkhole (Parador Turístico Cenote Zací), Valladolid, Yucatan.
8:00 p.m. Musical Event: A Remembrance of Valladolid.
Place: Principal Park, Historic Center (Parque Principal del Centro Histórico), Valladolid, Yucatan.

To form your Bird-a-thon team (xoc ch’ich) contact:
Mr. David Salas.
Tel. 985 5991
Cell. phone: 045 9991 27 1685
Email: dsalas@cablered.net.mx
Email: dsalas60@gmail.com

Travel agency service with:
Ecoturismo Yucatan
Tel. (999) 920 2772
Tel. 01 800 288 1844 for nacional calls
Email: toh@ecoyuc.com