INKANATURA'S BLOG

The World Migratory Bird Day is on the second weekend of May. The purpose is to raise awareness and to educate about the importance of protecting the habitats of migratory birds (especially those on the verge of extinction.) Among many organizations, the UN is also there to support this global awareness campaign. People around the world celebrate this day every year by organizing bird-watching excursions, education programs, bird festivals, and other public events.

The threat of extinction of these birds is a reflection of an extinction crisis of much larger proportions as these birds are part of the biological diversity of our planet. If these birds face extinction, it means that the habitats of other species are threatened as well. Namely, migratory birds play the role of indicators, pointing out to the condition of ecosystems they inhabit as well as to other harmful effects of human activities.

Background

The first World Migratory Bird Day was in April 2006. It was launched to help turn the public’s attention to the need for the conservation of migratory birds. Since then, the total number of events supporting the World Migratory Bird Day has increased along with the number of countries participating in this global event.

Villa Marshes, ones of the stops of migratory birds

Migratory Birds in Peru

In Peru, there are hundreds of species of beautiful migratory birds. No wonder that the country is known as the birdwatcher’s paradise, where people can enjoy watching in areas like the Manu National Park, Tambopata National Reserve, Colca Canyon, The Islas Ballestas, the wetlands of Lima, and Huacarpay Wetlands.

Manu National Park is located in Paucartambo and is known as a protected site with the highest biodiversity in the world. It is the essential conservation site for birds in Peru. No wonder it’s placed on the top ten best bird-watching spots on the planet. There, you can see the Cock-of-the-rock, a bird native to Andean Cloud forests.

Cock of the Rock (male)

Tambopata National Reserve is also an excellent choice for bird-watchers. It’s located south of the Madre de Dios River, in the Peruvian Amazon basin. Diverse species of birds are allowed to thrive there because Tambopata is one of the most untouched and wildest habitats on earth. Visitors have minimal access to the park’s wilderness, so it remains preserved as much as possible.

Colca Canyon locates in Southern Peru., at a depth of about 4,160 m (more than double the extent of the Grand Canyon). Next to is it the Colca Valley. This area is the natural habitat of many unique birds, such as the Chilean flamingo, the Andean Goose, and the Giant Colibri. But what many bird-watchers choose to come here for is the Andean Condor.

Andean Condor in Colca Canyon

Wetlands are the place where water meets land. They include flooded forests, coral reefs, floodplains, deltas, rivers, lakes, mangroves, and marshes. In Peru, many wetlands are declared of national importance and are protected. The most notable are the Wetlands in Lima, Cascajo Wetlands, and Huacarpay Wetlands. Wetlands are water flow habitats – breeding, roosting, feeding, and sheltering sites for migratory and resident birds.