| IN THE NEWS | BIRDING SITES | FEATURE BIRD | BIRDING PEOPLE |
Welcome to Guyana Birding News,
We're pleased to bring you the fifth edition of the newsletter sponsored by www.guyanabirding.com. We hope you'll find this publication full of interesting information and useful resources for planning your next birding adventure to the unspoiled wilderness of Guyana.
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions about how to improve both our newsletter and our website. For those of you who have traveled to Guyana, we invite you to send your trip reports, photos and tips for birding in Guyana.
Happy Birding!
IN THIS ISSUE
IN THE NEWS: All the latest news about Guyana birding
BIRDING SITES: Iwokrama Canopy Walkway
FEATURE BIRD: Parrots (Psittacidae) of Guyana
BIRDING PEOPLE: Diane McTurk of Karanambu Ranch
IN THE NEWS
Iwokrama and Canopy Capital Partner to Price "Utility Value" of Rainforest
According to a press release issued by Iwokrama, on March 27, 2008 at the world's first Biodiversity and Finance Conference in New York, Iwokrama and UK investment house, Canopy Capital, announced a deal that will pave the way for financial markets to price the "utility value" of rainforests. . . more>>
President Jagdeo Joins Conservation International to Help Conserve Tropical Rainforests
Continuing his mission of conserving Guyana's rainforests, on May 20 President Jagdeo helped launch Conservation International's global campaign titled, "Lost There, Felt Here." The goal of the campaign ,which includes a video segment featuring Harrison Ford , is to show the impact that destroying tropical forests has on people everywhere. . .more>>
Guyana Welcomes Several Birdwatching Tours
As a result of the Guyana Birding Tourism Program's product familiarization trips and marketing efforts, the first wave of birding trips came through Guyana in early 2008. The tour operators EcoVentures, Eagle Eye Tours and Ornitholidays all brought groups of birdwatchers to Guyana. . .more>>
Fifth Familiarization Trip Explores Guyana
In April a GTA-USAID/GTIS sponsored familiarization trip brought top tourism companies specializing in birding, natural history, and scientific tours to Guyana. . .more>>
Iwokrama Birding Guide Training Program to Increase Local Guide Expertise
From May 31 to June 15, 2008, 16 of Guyana's intermediate-level birding guides will participate in the Iwokrama Birding Guide Training Program to increase their avifauna knowledge and birding guide expertise to a level of professional guides.. . .more>>
British High Commission Offers Tropical Forest Tourism Good Practices Workshops
The British High Commission (BHC) in Guyana funded recent workshops that will help forward sustainable tourism development in Guyana through an ecotourism best practices project. . .more>>
Look for Guyana Exhibits at 2008 ABA and Birdfair
Guyana is once again taking flight and will be landing at two well-regarded birdwatching shows. The first will be at the American Birding Association (ABA) Convention, which will take place in Snowbird, Utah from June 23-29. From there Guyana heads to England to set up an exhibit at the British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland Water from August 15-17. . .more>>
Guyana Birding Tourism Program Changes Its Name
The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) / Guyana Trade and Investment Support (GTIS) Birding Tourism Program is expanding its focus to several niche sustainable tourism markets - namely nature and wildlife viewing, eco-indigenous tourism, and volunteer conservation tourism - and is now called the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative (GSTI). . .more>>
Pick of the Flock
For this issue's Pick of the Flock, we're recommending a couple of excellent bird identification guidebooks that will help you name any new bird species you may see while in Guyana. . . more>>
BIRDING SITES
Iwokrama Canopy Walkway
Simply said, the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is one of the best ways to explore Guyana's rainforests. A normal stroll through any rainforest is an enlightening experience - the dense moisture, the trickles of sunlight, the towering trees, the sounds of the Screaming Piha - but to go from walking along the forest floor to being suspended amongst the canopy provides an unmatched vantage point. At the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, visitors can have the full experience: jungle trails, overnight rainforest accommodations and an easily accessible walkway through the trees that provides excellent birdwatching.
The Iwokrama Canopy Walkway is a series of connected suspension bridges and viewing decks that reach nearly 30 meters in height and 155 meters in length, all in the mid and upper canopy of the Iwokrama Forest. . . more >>
FEATURE BIRD
Parrots of Guyana (Psittacidae)
Due to habitat loss (often attributed to deforestation) and the trappings of birds for the wildlife trade, the Parrot family has one of the highest numbers of endangered or threatened species of birds in the world. Wild populations are dwindling in many of their native habitats, but within Guyana's stronghold of tropical forests, Parrot species are fairly numerous and the birds can be quite easy to spot. Guyana has 28 different species of Parrots, including six species of Macaws; six species of Parakeets; six species of Parrotlets; and ten species of Parrots. . . more >>
BIRDING PEOPLE
Diane McTurk
Karanambu Ranch, once a bustling cattle ranch in the northern Rupununi Savannah, is now widely known for owner Diane McTurk's efforts rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters. Her unique passion, which has garnered the attention of the BBC, Wild Things, Jeff Corwin, and National Geographic, offers an interesting backdrop to the plentiful birding opportunities.
And watching the giant Victoria Amazonica water lilies open at dusk while listening to Diane's many enchanting tales of life at Karanambu and drinking her famous rum punch is an unparalleled experience, but until you can make it to Karanambu to be regaled by Diane yourself, she was kind enough to take some time out of her busy days spent caring for Otters and looking after Karanambu's guests to answer a few questions. . . more >>
