PETEN BIRDERS ASSOCIATION
Our vision is to be the leading community group in knowledge, observation and dissemination of bird watching in Guatemala and to bring together the largest number of amateurs, independent, volunteers or organized, non-profit, who contribute to environmental education, conservation , bird watching in our country.
Peten Birders Association
PETEN BIRDERS ASSOCIATION is a Guatemalan non-profit organization made up of birdwatchers, bird guides and others who contribute to avian conservation through citizen science and outreach. We promote respect for nature and support environmental education in the natural environment through bird watching.
Peten Birders Club
PETEN BIRDERS CLUB observes, educates, and shares the knowledge of the birds of Guatemala, with particular emphasis in the Peten region of northern Guatemala. We are the country ́s leading birding club in knowledge, observation and dissemination of bird watching in Guatemala.
Audubon ́s International Alliances Program
Birder's Exchange
Peten Birder’s Association comprises some of the best bird guides from across the Peten region of northern Guatemala. They have, on average, 10 years experience guiding tourists in nature and Mayan archaeology and 7 years experience birdwatching; and almost all are fluent in English.
Most of their members took National Audubon’s advanced bird guide course given this winter/spring. Taking advantage of prime season for birdwatching when both resident and migratory birds can be seen but working around their busy schedules, the advanced guides focused on bird identification by calls, group management, marketing strategies and English pronunciation. The 2-3 day sessions over 5 months lasted long into the evenings, discussing nuances of each day’s sightings.
After a 3 hour final exam, which included identification by sight of 200 slides of Guatemalan birds, on behalf of ABA’s Birder’s Exchange program, Audubon delivered a Kowa scope, tripod, and a selection of books—including Birds of North America to study up on migratory birds’ ranges--to the Peten Birder’s Club on April 20th.
An area of regional endemism, Peten has some of the best forest birding in Central America, including destinations such as Tikal, Yaxha, Uaxactun and Laguna del Tigre National Park. There are also many lakes for spotting aquatic birds.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Educate, disseminate and share the knowledge of birds in Guatemala, with special attention on protected areas of Peten and the Maya Biosphere. This is an area with more than half of the bird species in Guatemala.
Promotes respect for nature, supporting environmental education in the natural environment with special interest in bird watching.
Provide children and young people interested in birds and their environment interact and share a common hobby.
Protects the natural habitat of birds of Guatemala, educating children love for birds in the country.
Training local communities in birdwatching activities to provide employment and income for their community members.