Handing over of boat and engine at Little Baiabu, Mahaica CreekGuyana national bird, the Canje Pheasant was seen along the Mahaica Creek
The Mahaica River Birding Tours on Friday received a brand new four-stroke Yamaha engine and a nine-seater boat, compliments of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Caribbean Aqua Terrestrial Solutions (CATS).
The outfit was handed over during a small ceremony, which was officiated by Director of Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Indranauth Haralsingh, who said that he was proud to be associated with the birding tour development while noting that the contributions are a strategic addition towards the development of the niche product.
Haralsingh pointed out that participating in a birding tour is yet another opportunity to see Guyana. Singh further added that he recently returned from the International Bird Expo in Iowa where Guyana was represented by eight out of 40 booths. This he said is quite impressive and a positive boost for Guyana’s tourism industry, particularly birding.
The Mahaica Birding Tours offers a rich nature-oriented experience to tourists and Guyanese that ranges from fishing to bird watching. Mahaica Birding Tours is located in Little Baiabu, along the Mahaica Creek.
Among the many attractions of the tourist site is Guyana’s National Bird, the Canje Pheasant, which is not only appealing to tourists but to many Guyanese who have never seen the bird before.
National Project Officer, Annette Arjoon-Martins reminded that the bird watching tour was initiated approximately one year ago.
She explained to the media that the tour comprises a three-hour bird watching activity that provides the opportunity to see the howler monkey and many sea creatures. Upon the conclusion of the tour, participants will be treated to a grand musical rendition of Tassa drumming and cultural dancers.
Arjoon-Martins noted the exceptional tour guide, Kavita Ram, was one of the 15 students trained by Iwokrama. Ram was named the best student for exceptional ability to memorise the bird names and characteristics. The programme was funded by the Government of Germany which supported a regional twin programme in Caricom countries titled Caribbean Aqua-Terrestrial Solutions, the result of a merger of two initially separately conceptualised projects, namely on “Adaptation of rural Economics and Natural Resources to Climate Change” and on the “Management of Coastal Resources and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity”.
