A group of eight birding and natural history tour operators has flown into the Iwokrama reserve in Region Nine as the Guyana Sustainable Tourism Initiative (GSTI) hosts its seventh tourism familiarisation trip.

A group of birders, journalists, photographers and writers participating in the GSTI/USAID/GTA’s seventh tourism familiarisation tour pose on Turtle Mountain for editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest Bill Thompson III.

The trip is a joint venture by the GTIS/USAID and the Guyana Tourism Authority, a joint release said. The group, which also includes photographers and journalists from the USA, UK and South America, plans to chase Guyana’s 815 species of bird around the country during the March 12-23 tour.

The trip, which has been co-planned by GTIS and its tour operator partner Wilder-ness Explorers, will include visits in and around Georgetown as well as the Iwokrama River Lodge, the Atta Rainforest Lodge and Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Surama Village and Eco-Lodge, Rewa Village, Rock View Lodge and Karanambu Ranch, Lethem and Kaieteur Falls.

The birders “rely on birds such as the Harpy Eagle, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Rio Branco Antbird” and others to fuel their stamina, the release said.

This trip includes special guest leader Tim Appleton, originator and co-founder of the British Birdwatching Fair. He first participated in a GSTI familiarisation trip in 2007.

Appleton, who is also the Reserve Manager of the wildfowl refugee at Rutland Water and Vice-President of the British Ornithological Union and is a Recipient of MBE,  Member of the British Empire for services to conservation.

Another prominent figure from the North American birding world Bill Thompson III, editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, is also participating in this tour.

The publication’s 50,000 readers make it a top read for North America’s birders. He also maintains a popular blog, ‘Bill of the Birds,’ and a podcast, ‘This Birding Life,’ which will soon feature Guyana.

Also participating in the tour are Holbrook Travel representative Pelin Karaca, Charlie Vogt, an expert on birds of Ecuador; journalist and photographer Karen Strauss, who coordinates the San Diego Bird Festival and Birding and Optics Expo and is a trip leader for Avian Adventures; and freelance travel writer and photographer Eric Lindberg who specialises in culture, nature and adventure.

Lindberg plans to write several stories about his journey through Guyana.