Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Whether you are a hard core birder who realizes "Audubon" refers to John James Audubon, the French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter who was notable for his studies documenting all types of American birds, or just like to watch our feathered friends and think "Audubon" is a German highway, you are sure to enjoy the Second Annual Puerto Vallarta Bird Festival.

This year’s festival will be from March 7th - 10th, and is presented by the Vallarta Bird Conservancy. The Conservancy promotes the conservation, education, and awareness of tropical and migratory birds in the Banderas Bay and Cabo Corrientes regions of Jalisco, Mexico for the benefit of locals and visitors from around the world. Hosted by the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, this 4 day event will feature guided tours, presentations, and lectures - providing a wonderful opportunity to view, learn, and enjoy the wonderful birds in our area.

Greg R. Homel, the keynote speaker and guide, is an award-winning ornithologist, an international nature photo journalist, documentary film producer, and lecturer. Greg will be leading tours and/or giving lectures along with other professional international guides including:

• Paul Hart
• Luis Morales
• Stephen Shunk
• Alex Martinez
• Neil Gerlowski
• Carlos Bonilla
• Sandra Gallo-Corona
• William Tractenberg
• Dr. Tiberio Monterrubio

These tours encompass a wide variety of areas and birds, a privately owned wildlife sanctuary, scenic rural roads high in the mountains with tropical dry forest and ranch lands, a little-known mangrove ecosystem in Nuevo Vallarta, the protected wildlife reserve in Puerto Vallarta, and the hunt to see the protected magnificent Military Macaw. Tours include:

• El Salado
• Bioto Road
• El Jorullo
• Provincia Road
• Rancho Primavera
• Laguna del Quelele
• The Vallarta Botanical Gardens

For those that would like to learn to photograph these beautiful birds, there is also a bird photography workshop.

To name only a few, birds you may see include:

• San Blas Jay
• Elegant Quail
• Masked Tityra
• Mexican Hermit
• Boat-billed Heron
• Black-vented Oriole
• Nutting’s Flycatcher
• Russet-crowned Motmot
• Rufous-necked Wood-Rail
• Grey-crowned Woodpecker

These tours are sure to please every level of birder. At the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, attendees will find a registration table, festival and birding merchandise, displays, and a photo exhibit.

All festival participants (paid registration fee) can go to afternoon lectures that will be either at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens or Host hotel Casa Iguana at no charge. Featured lectures:

• Art and Legacy of John James Audubon
• Conservation of Green Macaws in Mexico
• Spectacular Diversity of Birds of Mexico
• Flying the Ocean: Seabirds of Banderas Bay
• Situation of Yellow Headed Parrot in Mexico
• Tounges, Toes, and Tails of Mexican Woodpecker

Registration is only $30 and space is limited on all tours so register early. To sign up and for complete information visit vallartabirdfestival.org.

Don't forget your binoculars!

Vallarta Bird Festival Organizers Contact:
Email: puertovallartabirdfestival(at)gmail.com
Pat Morrow: morrowpat(at)gmail.com
Tel: +52(322)269-0209 or (322) 269-0257
William Trachtenberg: US phone: (484) 821-3736