Audubon Presentation
Georgia Conti
Tue, Nov 10, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25

Colorful birds of Pátzcuaro
By Carol Wheeler

Just in time for you to make a last-minute decision to go on Audubon’s second Pátzcuaro trip of the year, Georgia Conti, founder of the Pátzcuaro Birding Club and leading light of the trip, will arrive in town and give Audubon’s monthly presentation.

Georgia will be accompanied by Víctor Hugo Valencia, Michoacán’s only professional bird guide. Together, they present a lecture on the avian wonders of the Pátzcuaro area, illustrated by wonderful pictures of the many spectacular birds that live there and are often persuaded to appear for Audubon watchers.

Located in the Central Volcanic Highlands, Pátzcuaro lies at 7,200 feet elevation and is surrounded by even higher volcanic mountains. The remarkably diverse habitats in the area support a wide variety of bird life, and many exotic and endemic species can be found there, especially with the aid of the wonderful guides Audubon provides.

Many visitors come to Pátzcuaro, a charming colonial town on the shores of Lake Pátzcuaro, for its rich history, Purhépecha people, Day of the Dead and Semana Santa celebrations, as well as world-famous arts and crafts. Others enjoy strolling around the lovely plazas, boating to the island of Janitzio, catching a dance performance by Los Viejitos, or eating delicious ice cream.

While partaking in these joys, birders also come from far and wide to see colorful birds that call this part of Michoácan home. Among those birds are the: red warbler, blue mockingbird, black-polled yellowthroat, white-striped woodcreeper, blue-throated hummingbird, elegant trogon, gray-barred wren, squirrel cuckoo, painted redstart, russet-crowned motmot, green kingfisher, cinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer and berylline hummingbird. This is just a partial list supplied by Georgia.

As always, this presentation is free to Audubon members. Non-members pay 60 pesos, unless they join on the spot, thus allowing them to partake of the first of many free Audubon events, such as talks and bird walks. Also, it is necessary to become a member of Audubon (US$30 or 400 pesos) to join in the organization’s many wonderful trips.