ANNUAL YUCATAN BIRD FESTIVAL, TOH


This year, the 5th Yucatan Bird Festival will take place in Yucatan, Mexico, the venues will be in Merida and Celestun. This festival, which was started in 2002, has become a popular event for birders the world over, whose attendance directly supports bird conservation efforts in Yucatan.

An important and fun part of the festival is the Xoc ch'ich (show-chee-eech), which in the Maya language literally means "count bird". Since the First Yucatan Bird Festival in November 2002, this name was given to the Yucatan Bird-a-thon. Rather than being a fiercely competitive event in which winning is everything, the emphasis is on having a good time with multi-cultural teammates. Maya bird names are interchanged with English names, and before you know it, everyone is using Maya names for the more common tree species, as well as the most popular birds.

The ostensible objective of the Xoc ch'ich' is the same as other such events held in other parts of the world: teams are rewarded for finding the highest number of bird species in a limited time period. But the more subtle objective is for everyone to enjoy the experience and get to know their teammates.

Participants usually spend two nights at hotels located in rural environments (not difficult to find in Yucatan) so that they have the best of all chances to observe many of the more than 442 bird species registered in the state of Yucatan. Teams are limited to a total of eight people and they try to include the driver in the competition as well. A local professional bird guide will lead each team with the able assistance of a patron-sponsored community guide looking to measure his skills against the best of you. Although we all seek enjoyment, everyone is out to win the coveted, handcrafted trophy of the Toh bird (motmot) for which the festival is named.

The competition runs for 28 hours, ending with the awards dinner in the gardens of a local elegant hotel. In the past, the Governor of Yucatan has done the honors in handing out the trophies. There is a lovely second-place award as well, in addition to prizes for the team with the greatest number of local endemic bird sightings. 2005's winning team registered 187 species and all together, participants found 270 different bird species, including a new one reported for the Peninsula!

The Yucatan Bird Festival �TOH� takes place in a state, which has traditionally served as the region's cultural center; it's a perfect place to combine birds with visits to Maya archeological zones and rural communities. Join us for a well-packed three days of birding among Maya ruins, haciendas and towns, and a costal reserve full of endemic species. Yucatan is home to 442 of the 543 bird species registered for the entire Peninsula. The previous festivals had contributed to the development of abilities of the local guides; they can't wait to introduce you to their land. These festivals had been characterized by the cultural inter-exchange between visitors and "yucatecos".

There are exhibits and conference in the charming city of Merida as well as in the field. An important and fun part of the festival is the Xoc ch'ich, which in Maya means "count bird". The festival is just a part of the entire program during the year, which is offering workshops for children and training of the naturalist guides.

The festival is organized by a committee composed of the state Secretary of Tourism, and representatives of three different non-profit conservation organizations (NGOs): Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan A.C., Ninos y Crias, A.C. and the CAPY bird conservation program of Amigos de Sian Ka�an, A.C. This year the travel agencies are participating, and they can offer you exceptional alternatives for pre and post tours.

PROGRAM
ACTIVITY PRIOR TO THE FESTIVAL
Saturday, November 25
6:00 p.m. Opening of the photographic exhibit. Location: El Olimpo Cultural Center, lower level of the Municipal Palace of Merida, Gran Plaza. The exhibit will remain there until Sunday, December 10.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE FESTIVAL
Thursday, November 30
10:00 a.m. Beginning of the Educa Zoo environmental education program for children �Among wings, legs, bills, feathers�and other birds.� Location: Centenario Zoological Park
5:30 - 6:15 p.m. Conference (English-Spanish). Location: El Olimpo Cultural Center.
6:15 - 7:00 p.m. Presentation on the Birds of Yucatan by Barbara MacKinnon. Location: Video Salon of El Olimpo Cultural Center.
7:00 � 8:30 p.m. Festival Opening and awards ceremony of the winners of the photographic contest. Wine of honor and presentation of the musical group Yahal-kab with bird inspired melodies. Location: Main plaza of El Olimpo Cultural Center.

Friday, December 1
6:00 a.m. Field �practice� trip for bird observation. Open routes.
1:30 p.m. Lunch at the Rey Pakal restaurante, km. 2 M�rida-Motul hwy. Explanation of rules for participating in the Xoc Ch�ich� competition. (Open to all levels of abilities.)
3:00 p.m. Teams leave for overnight location selected. Examples: M�rida, Uxmal, Santa Elena, Celest�n, Kaxil Kiuic etc.

Saturday, December 2
5:30 a.m. The Xoc Ch�ich� birding competition begins. Routes open as long as within the state of Yucatan and rules of the event are followed.

Sunday, December 3
9:30 a.m. Xoc Ch�ich� ends.
10:00 a.m. Birds lists must be turned in at the Pronatura Pen�nsula de Yucat�n Operation Center in Celest�n.
10:00 - 12:00 Closing Brunch and Awards Ceremony at the restaurant La Palapa in Celest�n.
13:00 Return to M�rida.

PRE AND POST-FESTIVAL TOURS
Contact one of the participant travel agencies.
Information and Reservations: ecoyuc.com.mx; toh@ecoyuc.com

Sincerely,
Barbara MacKinnon de Montes
Coordinator, Organizing Committee