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NEBLINA & BIRDERS EXCHANGE CHANGE IDEAS INTO ENDEAVORS IN MINDO
Encouraging kids to go to the woods and birdwatch is one of Neblina Forest motives.
Last November, 2007, Xavier Muñoz was leading one of our birding tours (The Garland Group) when he met two Mindo children: Joffrey and Martín Coral, who deeply amazed him.
After birding the Mindo junction at 1700 m (5100 feet), Xavier and his group descended to the town of Mindo. They stopped on the road at the High school entrance to check for Tanagers and Parrots. Slowly they progressed looking for birds towards Mindo Main Street. At the bridge that accesses Mindo they stopped. While they were standing there, two kids: Joffrey and Martín, approached the group and addressed Xavier up front. Joffrey said: "Sir would you like to see a Common potoo? We can show you where it is perched." Xavier did not believed his ears, a kid was talking about watching a very interesting bird with extreme confidence and knowledge.
He decided -with some hesitation- to follow Joffrey and Martín to see what they had to show.
The Coral kids receiving from Mercedes, thanks to BIRDERS EXCHANGE, a tool that might change their lives. From Left to Right: Joffrey Coral, Mercedes Rivadeneira and Martín Coral, March 2008 (Photo & Edition : Gustavo Cañas-Valle)
They rode the bus to a location nearby were both children showed them the bird. Incredibly, the kids were right and there it was a Common potoo perching relaxed.
Not yet fully recovered from the surprise, Xavier gave the kid a tip for his help and invited to come along to watch birds for the rest of the day. They spent the whole day birding together. At the end of the visit to Mindo, they were driven home where Xavier told their parents where they were.
Xavier shared this story with Mercedes Rivadeneira, his wife and Neblina Forest CEO. Both agreed that it would be a waste not to give those kids the chance to grow their interest in birds. So they contacted Betty Peterson at BIRDERS EXCHANGE - ABA Program and applied for a pair of binoculars for the kids.
This March 15th, 2008, both kids and their parents came to the Neblina Forest headquarters in Quito to meet Mercedes. Then, Joffrey and Martín received through Mercedes a pair of binoculars each, donated by Birders Exchange.
Good luck kids in your birding endeavors.
Warm Regards
Neblina Forest Staff.
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