Pajarear, the fascinating adventure of bird watching in Argentina

With nearly a thousand species of birds that inhabit very diverse natural environments of unique beauty, Argentina It is a true paradise for lovers of bird watching, an activity that awakens all the senses.

Flamingos, Andean condors, toucans, penguins, rheas, swans… national and provincial parks and innumerable private reserves are home to these and other species and make up the Nature Route, a project promoted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Argentina to promote nature tourism in a sustainable way.

Nearly half of the bird species registered in Argentina live in the province of Misiones, in the extreme northeast of the country, where nature displays its charms in places such as the Iguazú Falls, the Moconá Falls and the biosphere reserve. Yaboti.

A dense jungle hides everything from toucans, hummingbirds, dancers, tanagers and yacutingas to waterfall swifts and eagles.

“Tourism, both national and foreign, sees Misiones as a unique place worldwide, where there are very important species and places to enjoy nature,” points out Sergio Moya, who is dedicated to disseminating through social networks -where he has thousands of followers- impressive images, in video and in photos, of various species of birds that inhabit Misiones.

From patience to surprise

Moya, a 36-year-old electronic engineer and university professor, has spent almost half of his life contemplating nature, with a special focus on birds.

Over the years it has become a true benchmark for those who go out to “birding”as bird watching is colloquially called.

For Moya, it is vital that those who embark on this adventure do so with the utmost respect: cause the least possible impact to the environment, not abuse the use of speakers (speakers) to reproduce sounds that call the birds, not go near the nests or move branches on the whim of wanting to remove the “perfect photo” .

As an expert, he recommends that beginners study the physiognomy and song of the birds that could potentially be seen in that environment beforehand, choose the most appropriate moments for the sighting -usually early in the morning or at sunset- and know how to be patient.

Because with patience you can see truly amazing things, such as the very unusual sighting in Yabotí of a golden crested eagle and a widow eagle, together and about to face each other, a unique moment that Moya managed to capture in a photo that he will never forget.

Learning

Bird watching is a true school: it exercises the senses, helps to have another perspective on life and to look at the environment beyond one’s own navel.

“This activity sharpens your vision, makes you work your vision focus muscles, keeps your visual system active, and the auditory system is amplified. All the senses workMoya points out.

Birds also offer “life lessons”as it is possible to continue singing and flying even in the midst of adversity.

“I learned that you have to enjoy life. It seems that birds are always happy, but this is not always the case. The birds are like the emblem of freedom and it seems that they are only flying and singing, but there are times that they are also doing it when the jungle is on fire ”, Moya account.

Pajarear has also taught her to become aware of the damage to the ecosystem -deforestation, fires, poaching-, but also to discover and value the “good things”those public and private initiatives for the conservation and recovery of the forest.

“This changed my life because it is a super healthy activity, which gives you a lot of satisfaction with very little. I want people to do it and for that I take photos, film and share it“, it states.

Source: EFE