There's
a little bit of everything for everyone in Chachapoyas, it seems. If
your tastes run to “birdwatching”, you can do this -
http://www.perubeauties.org/2016/01/miss-world-peru-2017-se-realizara-en.html
– or you can watch and learn about actual feathered beauties when
Chachapoyas welcomes hundreds of participants to the Décimo Congreso
Nacional de Ornitología in mid-May.
You
can watch a video invitation to the event at
http://www.xcnochachapoyas2016.com/video-oficial-del-xcno/.
Michell
León, a noted wildlife photographer, and Antonio García-Bravo, an
avian biologist, are the local coordinators for the conclave.
Michell
is enthusiastic about the unique opportunity for birding presented by
the selection of Chachapoyas as the host city. “Chachapoyas sits at
the center of two major bird observation routes – the route from
Chiclayo and the route from Tarapoto”. The conference begins on May
16, immediately after the Global Big Day of birding on May 14, when
groups of birdwatchers all over the planet take up their binoculars
to record as many species as possible. Peru is the reigning champion,
having sent out 122 teams in 2015 to sight 1183
species of birds in a single day, edging
out Brazil's 1125 to take the crown.
 |
| Antonio García-Bravo and Michell León |
 |
| Marvelous Spatuletail Hummingbird |
During
the conference, a number of guided
birding
excursions will be conducted
in the immediate area. Birders will be afforded the chance to view
extremely rare species endemic to the
Amazonas
region,
such as the Marvelous Spatuletail Hummingbird, the Cock of the Rocks,
the Mountain Caracara, and the Buff-Fronted Owl. For those who love
the
visual arts, there
will be contests and judging for birding illustration and
photography. See the galleries here: http://www.xcnochachapoyas2016.com/galeria-concurso-de-fotografia-xcno-2/ and http://www.xcnochachapoyas2016.com/galeria-concurso-de-ilustracion-xcno/
Additionally, the Congreso features a full program of presentations, workshops and conservation-themed expositions conducted by an impressive array of international ornithologists, including Thomas Schulenberg, author of the authoritative Princeton Field Guide, Birds of Peru. As many as 200 participants are expected to attend the weeklong event whose major venues will be the UNTRM and the Auditorio Regional de Amazonas. For more information about the programs, visit the official website, http://www.xcnochachapoyas2016.com/. |
| Cock of the Rocks |
The Congreso Nacional is officially sponsored by the Unión del Ornitólogos del Perú (UNOP), the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad (CORBIDI), the Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza (UNTRM), and the Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica (ACCA)
 |
| Buff-fronted Owl |
Because
ornithologists have been known to work up a thirst, Cafe Fusiones and
Sierra Andina Brewing Company will be sponsoring a beer-tasting event
of craft brews from Huaraz on Friday, May 20. Local live folkloric
music and tasty appetizers will add to the attraction.
Whether
you're an avid birder or just a lover of exotic flora and fauna,
Chachapoyas is a must-visit destination. Its location in the “eyebrow
of the jungle”, at 2300 meters elevation, is the perfect starting
point to observe an incredible diversity of wildlife, including the
elusive spectacle bear and several species of monkeys. You can also
take in the splendors of the ancient pre-Inca fortress of Kuelap and
pay a visit to Gocta, third-highest waterfall in the world. You might
not want to leave until after the Miss World Peru pageant!
