Puerto Vallarta Tour Guides Update Training
Recently, at the convention rooms of Canto del Sol Hotel, a five-day update training session for tour guides took place, to meet the requirements established by the Mexican Norm.
According to regulation NOM-08-TUR-2002, tour guides must accumulate at least 160 hours of training every four years in order to renew their license.
Gloria Lopez Gomez, from the Tourism Ministry Procedures and Verification Department was in charge of supervising the organization of the training.
Classes were taught by specialists, and included aspects of History of Puerto Vallarta and the practice of Bird Watching.
The latter was taught by Tour Guide Gerardo Hernandez Vazquez, Specialized in Nature-Oriented Tourism, Certified in Whale watching and whose Bird Watching Certification is in being processed by the Ministry of Tourism.
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White-throated Magpie-Jay |
Gerardo’s appointment as trainer in this session was determined by his ten years of expertise in the field, by his participation in the Bird Watching Guide Training Regional Workshop, and his recent participation in the recent First International Meeting of Tourism in Protected Areas, where he coauthored the paper “Birds of Puerto Vallarta, Natural Legacy of Tourism in Nature; Preservation and Tourism, Experiences in Ecotourism in Natural Protected Areas; Good Practices in Development of Tourism in Natural Protected Areas”.
During the four-hour initial session, Gerardo shared with his peers his experiences in bird watching expeditions, bird migrating cycles, and the specifics on what makes Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay such a paradise for bird watchers. In the region, a variety of ecosystems coexist, which make up the habitat for a wide range of bird species, both resident and migrating.
According to Researcher Fabio Cupul Magaña’s article published in Mexicoa science magazine, volume 3, numbers 1-2, 2001-2002; at least 369 species, 24 of them endemic to Mexico, can be found in the region.
Training was supported by a slide presentation with photos taken by Hernandez Vazquez over his ten years of career as bird watching guide.
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Blue-footed Booby |
Among the birds presented by Gerardo to his peers, the following stand out: Bobo Patiazul (Sula n.Nebouxii) Blue-Footed Booby, Momoto Coronicafé ((Momotus mexicanus) Russet-Crowned Motmot and species endemic to México like: Urraca hermosa carinegra (Calocitta formosa? Colliei) Black-Throated Magpie Jay, Loro Corona-violeta (Amazona Finschi) Lilac-crowned Parrot, Periquito Mexicano (Forpus cyanopygius) Mexican-Blue-Rumped-Parrotlet, Tecolotito Colimense (Glaucidium palmarum) Colima Pygmy-Owl, Trogon Citrolino (Trogon citreolus) Citroline Trogon, Saltapared Feliz (Thryothorus felix) Happy Wren, Saltapared Sinaloense (Thryothorus sinaloa) Sinaloa –Bar-Vented-Wren, Zorzal Dorsirrufo (Turdus rufopalliatus Rufous-backed Thrush-Robin-, Mulato Azul (Melanotis caerulescens) Blue Mockingbird, Vireo Dorado (Vireo hypochyseus) Golden Vireo, Carpinterito Cachetidorado (Centurus chrysogenys) Golden-cheecked woodpecker, Chachalaca Mexicana (Ortalis poliocephala) West Mexican Chachalaca, Chachalaca Vientre-castaña (Ortalis-poliocephala?-wagleri) Rufous-bellied-West Mexican Chachalaca, Codorniz Elegante (Callipepla douglasii) Elegant Quail, and Colorin pecho naranja (Passerina leclancherii) Orange-breasted Bunting.
An emphatic warning was issued by Hernandez to the class against the use of recorded sounds to attract birds to the purpose of watching them, since the recorded birdsong is interpreted by the resident bird as an invasion of his territory, and could reach the point of eliminating its offspring in outrage.
The issues dealt with during the training were of such great interest to the participating guides that they all requested field practices, and according to Ms. Gloria Lopez Gomez’s response, such practices are to be included in the next session’s curriculum.
Undoubtedly, training like this works very well in maintaining quality service standards in tour guide activities, but also to promote awareness as to environmental preservation and protection of bird species. Email to a friend
Miguel Camacho
E-mail: miguelcamachof@msn.com
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