Audubon presents Birds of Patzcuaro
March 17, 2009
Red warbler. Blue Mockingbird. Black-polled yellowthroat. White-tailed hawk. Mountain Trogon. Squirrel cuckoo. Painted redstart. Russet-crowned motmot. Green kingfisher. White-striped woodcreeper. Cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer. Berylline hummingbird. This is a short list of the birds found in the Pátzcuaro area.
To hear all about them, come to the Audubon presentation on Tuesday, March 17th at 3 p.m. at the Santa Ana Theater in the Biblioteca Allende. when Georgia Conti,
founder of the Pátzcuaro Birding Club, will present a lecture about the avian wonders of Pátzcuaro and its environs. The lecture will be accompanied by beautiful photographs, many by San Miguel resident Wayne Colony. San Miguel’s Audubon Society is planning a field trip to Pátzcuaro in the near future, and this lecture may entice you to join up to see these birds in person.
Many visitors come to Pátzcuaro, a charming colonial town on the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro, for its rich history, the resident Purhépecha people, Day of the Dead and Semana Santa celebrations, and world famous arts and crafts. Others enjoy strolling around lovely plazas, boating to the island of Janitzio, catching a dance performance by Los Viejitos, or downing delicious ice cream. While partaking in these joys of Pátzcuaro, birders also come from far and wide to see colorful birds that call this part of Michoácan home.
Located in the Central Volcanic Highlands, Pátzcuaro lies at 7,200 feet elevation and is surrounded by even higher volcanic mountains. Diverse habitats in this area support a variety of bird life, and many exotic and endemic species can easily be found there.
The presentation will be followed by Audubon’s annual general meeting, where members will vote on this year’s new board of directors. As always, members will be admitted free to the presentation; admission for others is 50 pesos, although that fee will be waived if attendees join the society, for an annual membership charge of 300 pesos. This admits them to walks and hikes and other activities at no charge all year long.