07/12/2012
What a magnificent week it has been in Peru. The first Birding Rally Challenge was a great success with the winning team from Louisiana State University, nicknamed the ‘Tigrisomas’, identifying 493 species of birds! The challenge, co-organised by Promperu & the Inkaterra Association (ITA) saw six non-stop bird watching days across Lima, Puerto Maldona do, the Inter-Oceanic Highway and Machu Picchu. The UK team – The Forest Falcons – came a close second, narrowly missing out on being crowned the winners by just three species, finding 490 birds in total.
The competition brought together six teams from five different countries, spotting 649 species of the 700 that can be found in the Tambopata Amazon reserve, all the way along to the iconic Machu Picchu in Cusco where the competition came to a close. Many of the birds that were spotted had never been seen by many members of the teams that were taking part, making it a truly unique experience for all.
The event was a tremendous occasion for both Peru and Inkaterra to showcase a very unique experience that enabled visitors to see the vast wildlife that can be found in Peru. As mentioned in the recent article by El Comerico, leader Jordi Sargatell from the Tramuntana team said “Peru is the best country in which species can be seen so close you can almost touch them”.
So closes a very successful first Birding Rally Challenge, with the promise of another in the first half of 2013. Peruvian Vice Minister of Tourism announced another challenge will be on its way in the Northern lowlands of Peru next year.
7.12.12
