South American BirdFair 2023: Mindo to host birding event

From October 25 to 30, 2023, Ecuador, and Mindo in particular, located in the cloud forest and famous for its birdwatching, will be hosting the South American Bird Fair. An opportunity for birdwatching enthusiasts to get together.

A fair dedicated to birdwatching

Last year, the South American Birdfair was held in Cusco, Peru. This year’s edition, “XII South America Bird Faire 2023“, is organized in Mindo, Ecuador, in October 2023 by the World Birdfair Council (WBC). This is the most important bird fair on the continent, and takes place in a different country each year.

It brings together birdwatching enthusiasts around a variety of observation activities in the different ecosystems offered by the host country, as well as workshops with specialists from all over the world. Various vendors of birdwatching equipment are also present on a large number of stands, and conferences, forums and auditoriums are also organized to discuss this activity, which is growing rapidly on the continent.

The World Bird Council

Initiated 12 years ago, the show is organized by the World Birdfair Council, a global non-profit organization (NGO) representing birding events worldwide. Founded by organizers on every continent, the council has an executive committee to represent the NGO to governments and international organizations.

The aim of this organization is to bring together birdwatching fans, a discipline that involves thousands of people of all ages, all over the world. This is an important activity, as it raises awareness, both internationally and locally, of the importance of preserving and conserving nature and the species that live in it.

The WBC’s mission is to support sustainable development worldwide in order to preserve species, enhancing the promotion of bird tourism through events such as the South America Birdfair 2023. The Asian version of this fair will take place this year in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, from October 13 to 17, 2023.

Through these events, the WBC wishes to promote and support bird conservation and international cooperation in conservation matters. Through its events, the WBC also aims to mobilize tourism stakeholders and demonstrate their major role in preserving the environment by implementing conservation and sustainable development initiatives on a local scale.

But why Mindo in Ecuador for this twelfth edition?

Ecuador‘s location is unique in the world. At the crossroads between the equatorial line and the Andes mountain range, this Andean country has inherited a unique biodiversity. Considered one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, Ecuador and the Galapagos are home to over 1,700 species of birds in the 5 bioregions and 90 ecosystems that make it up. Served by various tourism operators, Ecuador seemed the perfect location for the annual world birding meeting.

And why Mindo? Mindo is a town located in Ecuador’s cloud forest, 2 hours from the capital Quito. It has been known for over 20 years as a prime birdwatching spot, teeming with exceptional biodiversity and a unique atmosphere. In 1997, Mindo was even classified as South America’s first Important Bird Area (IBA). This green destination, at the heart of the Choco Andino biosphere, is home to no fewer than 680 species. The ideal location for this new global bird fair.

If you’re passionate about ornithology and would like to discover more about Mindo Cloud Forest and Ecuador’s other birdwatching ecosystems, don’t hesitate to contact the Terra Ecuador team.